ROSE ROCKMIDSTREAM, L.P. ROSE ROCK FINANCE CORPORATION the SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS named in Schedule I hereto and WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONALASSOCIATION, as Trustee INDENTURE Dated as ofMay 14, 2015 $350,000,000 5.625% Senior NotesDue 2023 Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Indenture, dated as of May 14, 2015*

Contract Categories: Business Finance - Indenture Agreements
EX-4.1 2 d927725dex41.htm EX-4.1 EX-4.1

Exhibit 4.1

EXECUTION VERSION

ROSE ROCK MIDSTREAM, L.P.

ROSE ROCK FINANCE CORPORATION

the SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS named in Schedule I hereto

and

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of May 14, 2015

 

 

$350,000,000

5.625% Senior Notes Due 2023


Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act

of 1939 and Indenture, dated as of May 14, 2015*

 

Trust Indenture Act Section

  

Indenture Section

§ 310   (a)(1)    608
  (a)(2)    N.A.
  (a)(3)    N.A.
  (a)(4)    N.A.
  (b)    605, 609
  (c)    N.A.
§ 311   (a)    605
  (b)    605
  (c)    N.A.
§ 312   (a)    701
  (b)    702
  (c)    702
§ 313   (a)    703
  (a)(4)    703
  (b)(1)    N.A.
  (b)(2)    703
  (c)    602
  (c)(1)    703
  (c)(2)    703
  (d)    N.A.
§ 314   (a)(1)    N.A.
  (a)(4)    103
  (b)    N.A.
  (c)(1)    N.A.
  (c)(2)    N.A.
  (c)(3)    N.A.
  (d)    N.A.
  (e)    N.A.
  (f)    N.A.
§ 315   (a)    603
  (b)    603
  (c)    603
  (d)    603
  (e)    N.A.
§ 316   (a)    N.A.
  (b)    N.A.
  (c)    105
§ 317   (a)(1)    N.A.
  (a)(2)    N.A.
  (b)    N.A.
§ 318   (a)    N.A.

N.A. means Not Applicable.

 

* This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of this Indenture.


Table of Contents*

 

         Page  
ARTICLE ONE   
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS   
OF GENERAL APPLICATION   
SECTION 101.  

Rules of Construction and Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act

     1   
SECTION 102.  

Definitions

     2   
SECTION 103.  

Compliance Certificates and Opinions

     33   
SECTION 104.  

Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee

     34   
SECTION 105.  

Acts of Holders

     34   
SECTION 106.  

Notices, Etc., to the Trustee, the Issuers, and any Subsidiary Guarantor

     35   
SECTION 107.  

Notice to Holders; Waiver

     36   
SECTION 108.  

Effect of Headings and Table of Contents

     36   
SECTION 109.  

Successors and Assigns

     36   
SECTION 110.  

Separability Clause

     37   
SECTION 111.  

Benefits of Indenture

     37   
SECTION 112.  

Governing Law

     37   
SECTION 113.  

Legal Holidays

     37   
SECTION 114.  

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Unitholders and No Recourse to General Partner

     37   
SECTION 115.  

Trust Indenture Act Controls

     37   
SECTION 116.  

Counterparts

     37   
ARTICLE TWO   
NOTE FORMS   
SECTION 201.  

Form and Dating

     37   
SECTION 202.  

Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating

     38   
ARTICLE THREE   
THE NOTES   
SECTION 301.  

Title and Terms

     39   
SECTION 302.  

Denominations

     40   
SECTION 303.  

Temporary Notes

     40   
SECTION 304.  

Note Registrar; Paying Agent; Registration of Transfer and Exchange

     40   
SECTION 305.  

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Notes

     41   
SECTION 306.  

Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved

     41   
SECTION 307.  

Persons Deemed Owners

     42   
SECTION 308.  

Cancellation

     43   
SECTION 309.  

Computation of Interest

     43   
SECTION 310.  

Transfer and Exchange

     43   
SECTION 311.  

CUSIP Numbers

     43   
SECTION 312.  

Issuance of Additional Notes

     43   

 

* This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of this Indenture.

 

-i-


     Page  
ARTICLE FOUR   
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE   
SECTION 401.  

Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture

     44   
SECTION 402.  

Application of Trust Money

     45   
ARTICLE FIVE   
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES   
SECTION 501.  

Events of Default

     45   
SECTION 502.  

Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment

     47   
SECTION 503.  

Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee

     48   
SECTION 504.  

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

     49   
SECTION 505.  

Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Notes

     49   
SECTION 506.  

Application of Money Collected

     49   
SECTION 507.  

Limitation on Suits

     50   
SECTION 508.  

Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest

     50   
SECTION 509.  

Restoration of Rights and Remedies

     50   
SECTION 510.  

Rights and Remedies Cumulative

     51   
SECTION 511.  

Delay or Omission Not Waiver

     51   
SECTION 512.  

Control by Holders

     51   
SECTION 513.  

Waiver of Default

     51   
SECTION 514.  

Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws

     51   
ARTICLE SIX   
THE TRUSTEE   
SECTION 601.  

Duties of the Trustee

     52   
SECTION 602.  

Notice of Defaults

     52   
SECTION 603.  

Certain Rights of Trustee

     53   
SECTION 604.  

Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Notes

     54   
SECTION 605.  

May Hold Notes

     54   
SECTION 606.  

Money Held in Trust

     54   
SECTION 607.  

Compensation and Reimbursement

     54   
SECTION 608.  

Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility

     55   
SECTION 609.  

Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor

     55   
SECTION 610.  

Acceptance of Appointment by Successor

     56   
SECTION 611.  

Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business

     57   
SECTION 612.  

Appointment of Authenticating Agent

     57   
ARTICLE SEVEN   
HOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND ISSUERS   
SECTION 701.  

Holder Lists

     58   
SECTION 702.  

Disclosure of Names and Addresses of Holders

     58   
SECTION 703.  

Reports by Trustee

     59   

 

-ii-


     Page  
ARTICLE EIGHT   
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR SALE   
OF ALL OR SUBSTANTIALLY ALL ASSETS   
SECTION 801.  

Each Issuer May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms

     59   
SECTION 802.  

Successor Substituted

     60   
SECTION 803.  

Assets of Subsidiaries Apply to Issuers

     60   
ARTICLE NINE   
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER   
SECTION 901.  

Amendments or Supplements Without Consent of Holders

     60   
SECTION 902.  

Amendments or Supplements With Consent of Holders

     61   
SECTION 903.  

Execution of Amendments, Supplements or Waivers

     62   
SECTION 904.  

Effect of Amendments, Supplements or Waivers

     62   
SECTION 905.  

Compliance with Trust Indenture Act

     63   
SECTION 906.  

Reference in Notes to Supplemental Indentures

     63   
SECTION 907.  

Revocation and Effect of Consents

     63   
ARTICLE TEN   
COVENANTS   
SECTION 1001.  

Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest

     63   
SECTION 1002.  

Maintenance of Office or Agency

     63   
SECTION 1003.  

Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust

     64   
SECTION 1004.  

Corporate Existence

     64   
SECTION 1005.  

Taxes

     65   
SECTION 1006.  

Reserved

     65   
SECTION 1007.  

Reserved

     65   
SECTION 1008.  

Statement by Officers as to Default

     65   
SECTION 1009.  

Reports and Other Information

     65   
SECTION 1010.  

Limitation on Restricted Payments

     66   
SECTION 1011.  

Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock

     70   
SECTION 1012.  

Liens

     76   
SECTION 1013.  

Limitations on Transactions with Affiliates

     76   
SECTION 1014.  

Limitations on Dividends and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries

     78   
SECTION 1015.  

Future Subsidiary Guarantors

     80   
SECTION 1016.  

Limitation on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions

     81   
SECTION 1017.  

Change of Control Triggering Event

     81   
SECTION 1018.  

Asset Sales

     83   
SECTION 1019.  

Reserved

     85   
SECTION 1020.  

Additional Interest Notice

     85   
SECTION 1021.  

Covenant Termination

     85   

 

-iii-


     Page  
ARTICLE ELEVEN   
REDEMPTION OF NOTES   
SECTION 1101.  

Right of Redemption

     86   
SECTION 1102.  

Applicability of Article

     86   
SECTION 1103.  

Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee

     87   
SECTION 1104.  

Selection by Trustee of Notes to Be Redeemed

     87   
SECTION 1105.  

Notice of Redemption

     87   
SECTION 1106.  

Effect of Notice of Redemption

     88   
SECTION 1107.  

Deposit of Redemption Price

     88   
SECTION 1108.  

Notes Payable on Redemption Date

     89   
SECTION 1109.  

Notes Redeemed in Part

     89   
ARTICLE TWELVE   
GUARANTEES   
SECTION 1201.  

Subsidiary Guarantees

     89   
SECTION 1202.  

Severability

     91   
SECTION 1203.  

Reserved

     91   
SECTION 1204.  

Limitation of Subsidiary Guarantors’ Liability

     91   
SECTION 1205.  

Contribution

     91   
SECTION 1206.  

Subrogation

     91   
SECTION 1207.  

Reinstatement

     91   
SECTION 1208.  

Release of a Subsidiary Guarantor

     91   
SECTION 1209.  

Benefits Acknowledged

     92   
ARTICLE THIRTEEN   
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE   
SECTION 1301.  

Issuers’ Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

     92   
SECTION 1302.  

Legal Defeasance and Discharge

     92   
SECTION 1303.  

Covenant Defeasance

     93   
SECTION 1304.  

Conditions to Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

     93   
SECTION 1305.  

Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions

     94   
SECTION 1306.  

Reinstatement

     95   
SECTION 1307.  

Repayment to Issuers

     95   

 

-iv-


APPENDIX & EXHIBITS

Rule 144A / Regulation S Appendix

EXHIBIT 1 to Rule 144A / Regulation S Appendix - Form of Initial Note

EXHIBIT 2 to Rule 144A / Regulation S Appendix - Form of Transferee Letter of Representation

EXHIBIT 3 to Rule 144A/Regulation S Appendix - Form of Non-U.S. Beneficial Ownership Certification by Euroclear or Clearstream Luxembourg

EXHIBIT A - Form of Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note

EXHIBIT B - Form of Supplemental Indenture

 

-v-


INDENTURE dated as of May 14, 2015 (this “Indenture”), among ROSE ROCK MIDSTREAM, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Company”), ROSE ROCK FINANCE CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (“Finance Corp.” and, together with the Company, the “Issuers”), certain of the Company’s direct and indirect Domestic Subsidiaries (as defined below), each named in Schedule I hereto (each, a “Subsidiary Guarantor” and collectively, the “Subsidiary Guarantors”), and WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee (the “Trustee”).

RECITALS

The Issuers have duly authorized the creation of an issue of (i) 5.625% Senior Notes Due 2023 issued on the date hereof (the “Initial Notes”) and (ii) if and when issued as required by the Registration Rights Agreement dated the date hereof, among the Issuers, the Subsidiary Guarantors and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representative of the several Initial Purchasers (as defined therein) (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), 5.625% Senior Exchange Notes Due 2023 issued in an Exchange Offer in exchange for any Initial Notes (the “Exchange Notes,” and collectively with the Initial Notes, the “Notes”), of substantially the tenor and amount hereinafter set forth, and to provide therefor the Issuers and the Subsidiary Guarantors have duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture.

The Subsidiary Guarantors have each duly authorized their Subsidiary Guarantee of the Initial Notes and, if and when issued, the Exchange Notes, and to provide therefor the Subsidiary Guarantors have each duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture.

All things necessary have been done to make the Notes, when executed by the Issuers and authenticated and delivered hereunder and duly issued by the Issuers, the valid and legally binding obligations of the Issuers and to make this Indenture a valid and legally binding agreement of the Issuers, in accordance with their and its terms.

All things necessary have been done to make the Subsidiary Guarantees, upon execution and delivery of this Indenture, the valid obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor and to make this Indenture a valid and legally binding agreement of each Subsidiary Guarantor, in accordance with their and its terms.

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 all Holders, as follows:

ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS

OF GENERAL APPLICATION

SECTION 101. Rules of Construction and Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article, and words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular;

(2) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with GAAP (as herein defined);


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

(4) all references to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Appendices shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Appendices to, this Indenture;

(5) “or” is not exclusive;

(6) “including” means including without limitation;

(7) all references to the date the Notes were originally issued shall refer to the Issue Date; and

(8) all references, in any context, to any interest or other amount payable on or with respect to the Notes shall be deemed to include any Additional Interest (as herein defined) pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

This Indenture is subject to the mandatory provisions of the TIA (as herein defined), which are incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms have the following meanings:

(1) “Commission” means the SEC;

(2) “indenture securities” means the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees;

(3) “indenture security holder” means a Holder;

(4) “indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture;

(5) “indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee; and

(6) “obligor” on the indenture securities means the Issuers, each Subsidiary Guarantor 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 102. Definitions.

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

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

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

The term “Acquired Indebtedness” does not include Indebtedness of a Person that is redeemed, defeased, retired or otherwise repaid at the time of, or immediately upon, consummation of the transactions by which such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or acquires such assets, as the case may be.

 

-2-


Act,” when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 105 of this Indenture.

Additional Interest” means all liquidated damages then owing pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

Additional Interest Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 1020 of this Indenture.

Additional Notes” means any Notes issued by the Company pursuant to Section 312.

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

Affiliate Transaction” has the meaning specified in Section 1013 of this Indenture.

AMI Development Activities” shall mean, with respect to any AMI Interest, the exploration, production, ownership and operation of drilled wells on the area of mutual interest constituting an AMI Interest, and any business or business activities incidental or related thereto.

AMI Dispositions” shall mean sales, transfers, leases or other dispositions of all or portions of an AMI Interest, in one or more transactions, pursuant to farm-out or similar agreements.

AMI Interest” shall mean any areas of mutual interest in which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary owns an interest.

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

(1) 1.00% of the principal amount of such Note; and

(2) the excess, if any, of:

(a) the present value at such Redemption Date of (i) the redemption price of such Note at May 15, 2019 (such redemption price being set forth in the table appearing in Section 1101(b)), plus (ii) all required interest payments due on the Note through May 15, 2019 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest to the Redemption Date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such Redemption Date plus 50 basis points; over

(b) the principal amount of such Note.

The Issuers shall determine the Applicable Premium, and the Trustee shall have no obligation to verify the same.

Asset Sale” means

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

(2) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions,

 

-3-


in each case, other than:

(a) a disposition of cash, Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities or obsolete or worn out equipment, vehicles or other similar assets or uneconomic or surplus assets in the ordinary course of business or any disposition of inventory or goods held for sale in the ordinary course of business;

(b) the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of an Issuer in a manner permitted pursuant to the provisions described under Section 801 of this Indenture or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control pursuant to this Indenture;

(c) the making of any Permitted Investment or the making of any Restricted Payment that is not prohibited by Section 1010 of this Indenture;

(d) any disposition of assets or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary in any transaction or series of transactions with an aggregate fair market value of less than $25.0 million;

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

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

(g) the lease, license, assignment, sub-lease, sub-license or cross license of any real or personal property (including intellectual property or other general intangibles) in the ordinary course of business;

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

(i) foreclosures on assets;

(j) the unwinding of any Hedging Obligations;

(k) solely for purposes of clauses (a)(1) and (a)(2) of Section 1018, AMI Dispositions;

(l) dispositions of defaulted receivables or of receivables in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof in the ordinary course of business or in bankruptcy or similar proceedings;

(m) sales of assets received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary upon foreclosure on a Lien;

 

-4-


(n) any surrender or waiver of contract rights or settlement, releases, recovery on or surrender of contract, tort or other claims; and

(o) the granting of Liens not prohibited by Section 1012 of this Indenture.

Asset Sale Offer” has the meaning specified in Section 1018(c) of this Indenture.

Attributable Debt” in respect of a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction means, as at the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the interest rate borne by the Notes, compounded annually) of the total obligations of the lessee for rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction (including any period for which such lease has been extended); provided, however, that if such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction results in a Capitalized Lease Obligation, the amount of Indebtedness represented thereby shall be determined in accordance with the definition of “Capitalized Lease Obligation.”

Available Cash” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement, as in effect on the Issue Date.

Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, United States Bankruptcy Code of 1978, as amended, or any similar United States federal or state or foreign law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, winding-up, liquidation, reorganization or relief of debtors or any amendment to, succession to or change in any such law.

Beneficial Owner” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such “person” will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such “person” has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition. The terms “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” have correlative meanings. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Beneficial Owner of 50% or less of the Voting Stock of any entity that owns the General Partner or the Company will not be deemed to Beneficially Own more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the General Partner or the Company by reason of such ownership.

Bilateral Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued for the account of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from time to time.

Board of Directors” means:

(1) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board;

(2) with respect to a partnership, the board of directors of the general partner of the partnership or any authorized committee thereof;

(3) with respect to a limited liability company, the managing member or members or any controlling committee of managing members thereof; and

(4) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.

 

-5-


Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the applicable Person to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of such Person and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

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

Capital Stock” means

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

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

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

(4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.

Capitalized Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with GAAP.

Cash Equivalents” means

(1) United States of America dollars,

(2) (a) Canadian dollars; or

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

(3) securities issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed or insured by the government of the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof the securities of which are unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation of such government with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition,

(4) demand deposits, certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $250.0 million,

(5) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (3) and (4) entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) above,

(6) commercial paper rated at least P-1 by Moody’s or at least A-1 by S&P and in each case maturing within 12 months after the date of acquisition thereof,

(7) investment funds investing at least 95% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (6) above,

 

-6-


(8) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision thereof having one of the two highest rating categories obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition,

(9) Indebtedness or Preferred Stock issued by Persons with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A2” or higher from Moody’s with maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition, and

(10) other time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit and money market deposits in an aggregate face amount not in excess of 1/2 of 1.0% of Total Assets.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cash Equivalents shall include amounts denominated in one or more currencies other than those set forth in clauses (1) and (2) above; provided that such amounts are converted into the currencies set forth in clauses (1) and (2) above as promptly as practicable and in any event within ten Business Days following the receipt of such amounts.

Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:

(1) the sale, lease or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than one or more Qualifying Owners;

(2) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company or removal of the General Partner by the limited partners of the Company;

(3) for so long as the Company is a limited partnership, the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), other than one or more Qualifying Owners, becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the General Partner; or

(4) for so long as the Company is an entity other than a limited partnership, the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), other than one or more Qualifying Owners, becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company.

Notwithstanding the preceding, a conversion of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from a limited partnership, corporation, limited liability company or other form of entity to a limited partnership, corporation, limited liability company or other form of entity or an exchange of all of the outstanding Equity Interests in one form of entity for Equity Interests for another form of entity shall not constitute a Change of Control, so long as following such conversion or exchange the “persons” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) who Beneficially Owned the Voting Stock of the Company (or the General Partner, as applicable) immediately prior to such transactions continue to Beneficially Own in the aggregate more than 50% of the voting power of the Voting Stock of such entity, or continue to Beneficially Own sufficient Equity Interests in such entity to elect a majority of its directors, managers, trustees or other persons serving in a similar capacity for such entity, and, in either case no “person,” other than one or more Qualifying Owners, Beneficially Owns more than 50% of the voting power of the Voting Stock of such entity.

 

-7-


Change of Control Offer” has the meaning specified in Section 1017 of this Indenture.

Change of Control Payment” has the meaning specified in Section 1017 of this Indenture.

Change of Control Payment Date” has the meaning specified in Section 1017 of this Indenture.

Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of a Change of Control that is accompanied or followed by a downgrade by one or more gradations (including gradations within ratings categories as well as between ratings categories) or withdrawal of the rating of the notes within the Ratings Decline Period by at least two of the Rating Agencies, as a result of which the rating of the notes on any day during such Ratings Decline Period is below the rating by such Rating Agency in effect immediately preceding the first public announcement of the Change of Control (or occurrence thereof if such Change of Control occurs prior to public announcement).

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Commercial Operation Date” means the date of the mechanical completion and entering into commercial operation of a Material Project.

Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this Indenture, until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter, “Company” shall mean such successor Person.

Consolidated,” “Consolidated” or “on a consolidated basis” means, with respect to any Person, such Person consolidated with its Restricted Subsidiaries and excludes from such consolidation any Unrestricted Subsidiary as if such Unrestricted Subsidiary were not an Affiliate of such Person.

Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense” means with respect to any Person for any period, the total amount of depreciation and amortization expense, including the amortization of deferred financing fees and other related noncash charges of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP.

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

(a) consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent such expense was deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income (including (i) amortization of original issue discount resulting from the issuance of Indebtedness at less than par, (ii) all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances, (iii) noncash interest payments (but excluding any noncash interest expense attributable to the movement in the mark-to-market valuation of Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments pursuant to GAAP), (iv) the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations and (v) net payments, if any, pursuant to interest rate Hedging Obligations with respect to Indebtedness, and excluding (A) Additional Interest, (B) amortization of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses, (C) any expensing of bridge, commitment and other financing fees (other than those described in clause (ii) above) and (D) any redemption premiums paid in connection with the Transactions), plus

 

-8-


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

(c) interest income for such period.

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

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

(1) any net after-tax extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto) or expenses (including relating to severance, relocation, one-time compensation charges and the Transactions) shall be excluded,

(2) the Net Income for such period shall not include the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period, whether effected through a cumulative effect adjustment or a retroactive application in each case in accordance with GAAP,

(3) any net after-tax income (loss) from disposed or discontinued operations and any net after-tax gains or losses on disposal of disposed or discontinued operations shall be excluded,

(4) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto) attributable to asset dispositions or the sale or other disposition of any Capital Stock of any Person other than in the ordinary course of business, as determined in good faith by the Company, shall be excluded,

(5) the Net Income for such period of any Person that is not a Subsidiary, or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, shall be excluded; provided that Consolidated Net Income of the Company shall be increased by the amount of dividends, distributions or other payments from any Person that is not a Subsidiary, any Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Person that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting that are actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the referent Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period (subject in the case of dividends, distributions or other payments made to a Restricted Subsidiary to the limitations contained in clause (6) below),

(6) any increase in amortization or depreciation or other noncash charges resulting from the application of purchase accounting in relation to any acquisition that is consummated after the Issue Date, net of taxes, shall be excluded,

(7) any net after-tax income (loss) from the early extinguishment of Indebtedness or Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments shall be excluded,

(8) any impairment charge or asset write-off, in each case pursuant to GAAP, and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to GAAP shall be excluded, and

(9) any long-term incentive plan accruals and any noncash compensation expense recorded from grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock or other rights to officers, directors or employees shall be excluded.

 

-9-


Contingent Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (the “primary obligations”) of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent,

(1) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor,

(2) to advance or supply funds

(A) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation or

(B) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, or

(3) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof.

Corporate Trust Office” means the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee, at which at any particular time this Indenture shall be administered, which office at the date of execution of this Indenture is located at 15950 N. Dallas Parkway, Suite 550, Dallas, TX 75248, except that with respect to presentation of the Notes for payment or for registration of transfer or exchange, such term shall mean the office or agency of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate agency business shall be conducted.

Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 1303 of this Indenture.

Credit Facilities” means one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the Senior Credit Facility) or commercial paper facilities, indentures or debt security or note issuances, in each case, with banks, investment banks, insurance companies, mutual funds or other institutional lenders or investors providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders), letters of credit, other borrowings, debt securities or note issuances, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced in any manner (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) or refinanced (including by means of sales of debt securities to institutional investors) in whole or in part from time to time.

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

Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 306(b) of this Indenture.

Depository” means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors.

Designated Noncash Consideration” means the fair market value of noncash consideration received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an Asset Sale that is designated as Designated Noncash Consideration pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation, executed by the principal financial officer of the Company (or of the General Partner, if at the time of determination, the Company is a limited partnership), less the amount of cash or Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of such Designated Noncash Consideration.

 

-10-


Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms, or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is putable or exchangeable, or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Stock), other than as a result of a change of control or asset sale, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, other than as a result of a change of control or asset sale, in whole or in part, in each case prior to the date that is 91 days after the earlier of the maturity date of the Notes and the date the Notes are no longer Outstanding; provided that if such Capital Stock is issued to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Company or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders of the Capital Stock have the right to require the Company to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale will not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the Company may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption complies with Section 1010 of this Indenture.

DTC” means The Depository Trust Company.

EBITDA” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period,

(1) increased by (without duplication):

(a) provision for taxes based on income or profits, plus franchise or similar taxes, of such Person for such period deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income, plus

(b) consolidated Fixed Charges of such Person for such period to the extent the same was deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income, plus

(c) Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense of such Person for such period to the extent such depreciation and amortization were deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income, plus

(d) any expenses or charges related to any Equity Offering, Permitted Investment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or the incurrence of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by this Indenture including a refinancing thereof (whether or not successful) and any amendment or modification to the terms of any such transactions, including such fees, expenses or charges related to the Transactions, including the offering of the Notes and the Senior Credit Facility, in each case, deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income, plus

(e) the amount of any restructuring charge or reserve deducted in such period in computing Consolidated Net Income, including any one-time costs incurred in connection with acquisitions after the Issue Date, plus

(f) any write offs, write downs or other noncash charges reducing Consolidated Net Income for such period, excluding any such charge that represents an accrual or reserve for a cash expenditure for a future period, plus

 

-11-


(g) the amount of any minority interest expense deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income, plus

(h) any costs or expenses incurred by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or shareholders agreement, to the extent that such costs or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Company or net cash proceeds of issuance of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock that is Preferred Stock) in each case, plus

(i) accretion of asset retirement obligations in accordance with SFAS No. 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations and under similar requirements for any other jurisdiction, plus

(j) Material Project EBITDA Adjustments with respect to Material Projects;

(2) decreased by (without duplication) noncash gains increasing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period, excluding any gains that represent the reversal of any accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated cash charges in any prior period (other than such cash charges that have been added back to Consolidated Net Income in calculating EBITDA in accordance with this definition); and

(3) decreased or increased, as applicable, by (without duplication):

(a) any net gain or loss resulting in such period from Hedging Obligations and the application of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards #133; and

(b) any net gain or loss resulting in such period from currency translation gains or losses related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness (including any net loss or gain resulting from hedge agreements for currency exchange risk).

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

Equity Offering” means (i) any public or private sale of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) made for cash on a primary basis by the Company after the Issue Date or (ii) any contribution to capital of the Company in respect of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company, excluding in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) any sale to or contribution by any Subsidiary of the Company.

Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 501 of this Indenture.

Excess Proceeds” has the meaning specified in Section 1018 of this Indenture.

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

Exchange Notes” has the meaning specified in the first recital of this Indenture.

Exchange Offer” means the Exchange Offer as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

-12-


Exchange Offer Registration Statement” means the Exchange Offer Registration Statement as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement.

Existing Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries in existence on the Issue Date, plus interest accruing thereon.

fair market value” means the value that would be paid by a willing buyer to an unaffiliated willing seller in a transaction not involving distress or necessity of either party, determined in the case of amounts over $50.0 million, by the Board of Directors of the Company.

Finance Corp.” means the Person named as “Finance Corp.” in the first paragraph of this Indenture, until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter, “Finance Corp.” shall mean such successor Person.

First Purchaser Lien” means so-called “first purchaser” Lien, as defined in Texas Bus. & Com. Code Section 9.343, comparable laws of the state of Oklahoma, Kansas, Mississippi, Wyoming or New Mexico, or any other comparable law of any such jurisdiction or any other applicable jurisdiction.

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

For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, consolidations and disposed operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP) that have been made by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, consolidations and disposed operations (and the change in any associated fixed charges and the change in EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the reference period, including giving effect to any pro forma expense and cost reductions that have occurred or are reasonably expected to occur within the next 12 months, in the reasonable judgment of the chief financial or accounting officer of the Company (or of the General Partner, if at the time of determination, the Company is a limited partnership) (regardless of whether those cost savings or operating improvements could then be reflected in pro forma financial statements in accordance with Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act or any other regulation or policy of the SEC related thereto). If since the beginning of such period any Person (that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period) shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation or disposed operation that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation or disposed operation had occurred at the beginning of the reference period.

 

-13-


For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to a transaction, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company (or of the General Partner, if at the time of determination, the Company is a limited partnership). If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness). Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company (or of the General Partner, if at the time of determination, the Company is a limited partnership) to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed on a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Company may designate.

Fixed Charges” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum of

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

(b) all cash dividend payments (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Preferred Stock made during such period, and

(c) all cash dividend payments (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Disqualified Stock made during such period.

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

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

General Partner” means Rose Rock Midstream GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its successors and permitted assigns as general partner of the Company or as the business entity with the ultimate authority to manage the business and operations of the Company.

Government Securities” means securities that are

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

(b) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America,

which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuers thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act), as custodian with respect to any such Government Securities or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Government Securities held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository

 

-14-


receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Securities or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Government Securities evidenced by such depository receipt.

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

Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under currency exchange, interest rate or commodity swap agreements, currency exchange, interest rate or commodity cap agreements and currency exchange, interest rate or commodity collar agreements and other agreements or arrangements, in each case designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in currency exchange, interest rates or commodity prices.

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

Hydrocarbons” means crude oil, natural gas, casinghead gas, drip gasoline, natural gasoline, condensate, distillate, liquid hydrocarbons, gaseous hydrocarbons, sulfur, sulfur derivative products and all constituents, elements or compounds thereof and products or byproducts refined or processed therefrom.

Incremental Funds” means, the sum of:

(a) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Company (including the fair market value of any Similar Business or long-term assets that are used or useful in a Similar Business to the extent acquired in consideration of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock)) on or after the Measuring Date as a contribution to its common equity capital or from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or from the issue or sale of convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Stock or convertible or exchangeable debt securities of the Company that have been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or Disqualified Stock or debt securities) sold to a Subsidiary of the Company); plus

(b) to the extent that any Restricted Investment made after the Measuring Date is sold for cash or Cash Equivalents or otherwise liquidated or repaid for cash or Cash Equivalents, the return of capital with respect to such Restricted Investment (less the cost of disposition, if any); plus

(c) the net reduction in Restricted Investments resulting from dividends, repayments of loans or advances, or other transfers of assets in each case to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from any Person (including Unrestricted Subsidiaries) or from redesignations of Unrestricted Subsidiaries as Restricted Subsidiaries, to the extent such amounts have not been included in Available Cash for any period commencing on or after the Measuring Date.

incur” has the meaning specified in Section 1011 of this Indenture.

incurrence” has the meaning specified in Section 1011 of this Indenture.

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person,

 

-15-


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

(1) in respect of borrowed money,

(2) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances (or, without double counting, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof),

(3) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property (including Capitalized Lease Obligations), except any such balance that constitutes a trade payable or similar obligation to a trade creditor, or

(4) representing any Hedging Obligations,

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

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

(c) to the extent not otherwise included, the obligations of the type referred to in clause (a) of another Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned by such Person, whether or not such obligations are assumed by such Person and whether or not such obligations would appear upon the balance sheet of such Person; provided that the amount of such Indebtedness shall be the lesser of the fair market value of such asset at the date of determination and the amount of Indebtedness so secured, and

(d) Attributable Debt in respect of Sale and Lease-Back Transactions;

provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (A) Contingent Obligations and any other obligation arising from any agreement providing for indemnities, purchase price adjustments, holdbacks, contingency payment obligations based on the performance of the acquired or disposed assets or similar obligations (other than guarantees of Indebtedness) incurred by the specified Person in connection with the acquisition or disposition of assets and (B) with respect to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, liabilities in respect of the Indebtedness of any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company or any Joint Venture but only to the extent that such liability is the result of the Company’s or any such Restricted Subsidiary’s being a general partner of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture and not as guarantor of such Indebtedness.

Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed and as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this Indenture and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively.

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

 

-16-


Initial Notes” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture.

Initial Purchasers” means Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, UBS Securities LLC, ABN AMRO Securities (USA) LLC, BBVA Securities Inc., BMO Capital Markets Corp., Capital One Securities, Inc., Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc., BOSC, Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC.

Interest Payment Date” means May 15 and November 15 of each year, beginning November 15, 2015, to and including the Stated Maturity.

Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other Rating Agency.

Investment Grade Securities” means:

(1) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the government of the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents),

(2) debt securities or debt instruments with a rating of BBB- or higher by S&P or Baa3 or higher by Moody’s or the equivalent of such rating by such rating organization, or, if no rating of S&P or Moody’s then exists, the equivalent of such rating by any other nationally recognized securities rating agency, but excluding any debt securities or instruments constituting loans or advances among the Company and its Subsidiaries,

(3) investments in any fund that invests exclusively in investments of the type described in clauses (1) and (2), which fund may also hold immaterial amounts of cash pending investment and/or distribution and

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

Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including guarantees), advances or capital contributions (including by means of any transfer of cash or other property to others or any payment for property or services for the account or use of others, but excluding accounts receivable, trade credit, advances to customers, commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person and investments that are required by GAAP to be classified on the balance sheet (excluding the footnotes) of such Person in the same manner as the other investments included in this definition to the extent such transactions involve the transfer of cash or other property. For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section 1010 of this Indenture,

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

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

(y) the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and

 

-17-


(2) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its fair market value at the time of such transfer, in each case as determined in good faith by the Company.

Issue Date” means May 14, 2015.

Issuer Request” or “Issuer Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Issuers, in each case by two Officers or one Officer and either an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary of each of the Issuers and delivered to the Trustee.

Issuers” means the Persons named as the “Issuers” in the first paragraph of this Indenture, until any successor Person shall have become an Issuer pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter, “Issuers” shall include any such successor Person and exclude the Issuer to which such successor Person succeeded.

Joint Venture” means any Person that is not a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company in which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries makes any Investment.

Legal Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 1302 of this Indenture.

Legal Holiday” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions are not required to be open in the State of New York or a place of payment.

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

Material Project” means the construction or expansion of any capital project of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, the aggregate capital cost of which exceeds, or is reasonably expected by the Company to exceed, $15.0 million.

Material Project EBITDA Adjustment” means, with respect to each Material Project of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary:

(x) prior to the Commercial Operation Date of a Material Project (but including the fiscal quarter in which such Commercial Operation Date occurs), a percentage (equal to the then current completion percentage of such Material Project) of an amount determined by the Company as the projected EBITDA of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to such

 

-18-


Material Project for the first 12-month period following the scheduled Commercial Operation Date of such Material Project (such amount to be determined on predominantly fee based contracts relating to such Material Project, the creditworthiness of the other party(ies) to such contracts, and projected revenues from such contracts, capital costs and expenses, scheduled Commercial Operation Date, and other factors reasonably deemed appropriate by the Company), which may, at the Company’s option, be added to actual EBITDA for the fiscal quarter in which construction of the Material Project commences and for each fiscal quarter thereafter until the Commercial Operation Date of such Material Project (including the fiscal quarter in which such Commercial Operation Date occurs, but net of any actual EBITDA of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries attributable to such Material Project following such Commercial Operation Date); provided that if the actual Commercial Operation Date does not occur by the scheduled Commercial Operation Date, then the foregoing amount shall be reduced, for quarters ending after the scheduled Commercial Operation Date to (but excluding) the first full quarter after its actual Commercial Operation Date, by the following percentage amounts depending on the period of delay (based on the period of actual delay or then-estimated delay, whichever is longer): (i) 90 days or less, 0%, (ii) longer than 90 days, but not more than 180 days, 25%, (iii) longer than 180 days, but more than 270 days, 50%, and (iv) longer than 270 days, 100%; and

(y) beginning with the first full fiscal quarter following the Commercial Operation Date of a Material Project and for the two immediately succeeding fiscal quarters, an amount determined by the Company as the projected EBITDA of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries attributable to such Material Project (determined in the same manner as set forth in clause (x) above) for the balance of the four full fiscal quarter period following such Commercial Operation Date, which may, at the Company’s option, be added to actual EBITDA for such fiscal quarters (but net of any actual EBITDA of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries attributable to such Material Project following such Commercial Operation Date).

(z) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the aggregate amount of all Material Project EBITDA Adjustments during any period shall be limited to 20% of the total actual EBITDA of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period (which total actual EBITDA shall be determined without including any Material Project EBITDA Adjustments).

Maturity”, when used with respect to any Note, means the date on which the principal of such Note or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, notice of redemption or otherwise.

Measuring Date” means July 2, 2014.

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

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

Net Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any Asset Sale, including any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any Designated Noncash Consideration received in any Asset Sale, net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale, and the sale or disposition of such Designated Noncash Consideration, including legal, accounting and investment banking fees, finder’s fees and brokerage and sales commissions, any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements), amounts required to be applied

 

-19-


to the repayment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on Indebtedness required (other than by Section 1018(b) of this Indenture) to be paid as a result of such transaction and any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the assets disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary after such sale or other disposition thereof, including pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction.

Non-Recourse Debt” means Indebtedness:

(1) as to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) provides credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness) except as contemplated by clause (30) of the definition of Permitted Liens, (b) is directly or indirectly liable as a guarantor or otherwise or (c) is the lender (provided, that agreements to provide management services or operation and maintenance services, performance guarantees with respect to commercial contracts, completion guarantees relating to construction projects or similar contractual arrangements, in each case shall not be considered to constitute a guaranty or credit support for this purpose);

(2) no default with respect to which (including any rights that the holders of the Indebtedness may have to take enforcement action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit upon notice, lapse of time or both any holder of any other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default on such other Indebtedness or cause the payment of the Indebtedness to be accelerated or payable prior to its Stated Maturity; and

(3) the explicit terms of which provide that there is no recourse to the stock or assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries except as contemplated by clause (30) of the definition of Permitted Liens.

For purposes of determining compliance with Section 1011 of this Indenture, if any Non-Recourse Debt of any of the Company’s Unrestricted Subsidiaries ceases to be Non-Recourse Debt of such Unrestricted Subsidiary, such event shall be deemed to constitute an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.

Note Register” and “Note Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 304.

Notes” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Notes authenticated and delivered under this Indenture. The Initial Notes and any Additional Notes shall be treated as a single class for all purposes of this Indenture, including waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase, and unless the context otherwise requires, all references to the Notes shall include the Initial Notes, any Additional Notes and the Exchange Notes issued in exchange for the Initial Notes and any Additional Notes.

Obligations” means any principal (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit whether or not drawn), interest (including, to the extent legally permitted, all interest accrued thereon after the commencement of any insolvency or liquidation proceeding at the rate, including any applicable post-default rate, specified in the applicable agreement), premium (if any), guarantees of payment, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, expenses, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness; provided that Obligations with respect to the Notes shall not include fees or indemnification in favor of the Trustee and any other third parties other than the Holders.

 

-20-


Offering Memorandum” means the Offering Memorandum dated May 11, 2015 with respect to the offering of the Notes.

Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the General Counsel, the Treasurer or the Secretary of an Issuer (or, if such Issuer is a limited partnership, its general partner).

Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of any Issuer by an Officer of such Issuer (or, if such Issuer is a limited partnership, its general partner).

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Issuers.

Outstanding,” when used with respect to Notes, means, as of the date of determination, all Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

(1) Notes theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

(2) Notes, or portions thereof, for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than an Issuer) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by an Issuer (if such Issuer shall act as the Issuers’ Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Notes; provided that, if such Notes are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;

(3) Notes, except to the extent provided in Sections 1302 and 1303, with respect to which the Issuers have effected Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance as provided in Article Thirteen; and

(4) Notes which have been paid pursuant to Section 305 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Notes have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Notes in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Notes are held by a Protected Purchaser in whose hands the Notes are valid obligations of the Issuers;

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Notes have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, consent, notice or waiver hereunder, and for the purpose of making the calculations required by TIA Section 313, Notes owned by either Issuer or any other obligor upon the Notes or any Affiliate of an Issuer or such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in making such calculation or in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Notes which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded.

Partnership Agreement” means the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Company, dated as of December 14, 2011, as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated as of January 11, 2013, as further amended by Amendment No. 2, dated as of December 16, 2013, as in effect on the Issue Date and as such may be further amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

 

-21-


Paying Agent” means any Person (including an Issuer acting as Paying Agent) authorized by the Issuers to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Notes on behalf of the Issuers.

Permitted Asset Swap” means the concurrent purchase and sale or exchange of Related Business Assets or a combination of Related Business Assets and cash or Cash Equivalents between the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and another Person that is not the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that any cash or Cash Equivalents received must be applied in accordance with Section 1018 of this Indenture.

Permitted Business Investments” means Investments by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company or in any Joint Venture, provided that:

(1) either (a) at the time of such Investment and immediately thereafter, the Company could incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test described in Section 1011(a) of this Indenture or (b) such Investment does not exceed the aggregate amount of Incremental Funds not previously expended at the time of making such Investment;

(2) if such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture has outstanding Indebtedness at the time of such Investment, either (a) all such Indebtedness is Non-Recourse Debt or (b) any such Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiaries or Joint Venture that is recourse to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (which shall include all Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture for which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may be directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, obligated to pay, whether pursuant to the terms of such Indebtedness, by law or pursuant to any guarantee, including any “claw-back,” “make-well” or “keepwell” arrangement) could, at the time such Investment is made, be incurred at that time by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test described in Section 1011(a) of this Indenture; and

(3) such Unrestricted Subsidiary’s or Joint Venture’s activities are not outside the scope of a Similar Business.

Permitted Investments” means:

(a) any Investment in the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

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

(c) (i) any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a Person that is engaged in a Similar Business if as a result of such Investment

(1) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or

(2) such Person, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and

(ii) any Investment held by such Person;

(d) any Investment in securities or other assets not constituting cash, Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities received in connection with (i) an Asset Sale made pursuant to the provisions of Section 1018 of this Indenture or (ii) any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;

 

-22-


(e) any Investment existing on the Issue Date or made pursuant to legally binding written commitments in existence on the Issue Date;

(f) loans and advances to, and guarantees of Indebtedness of, employees not in excess of $5.0 million outstanding at any one time, in the aggregate;

(g) any Investment acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary

(1) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the Person in which such other Investment is made or which is the obligor with respect to such accounts receivable or

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

(h) Hedging Obligations permitted under clause (9) of Section 1011(b) of this Indenture;

(i) loans and advances to officers, directors and employees for business-related travel expenses, moving expenses and other similar expenses, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or to fund such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or any indirect parent company thereof under compensation plans approved by the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith;

(j) Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests of the Company, or any of its direct or indirect parent companies (exclusive of Disqualified Stock);

(k) guarantees of Indebtedness permitted under Section 1011 of this Indenture and performance guarantees in the ordinary course of business;

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

(m) additional Investments having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (m) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $75.0 million and (y) 7.5% of Total Assets at the time of such Investment (with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); and

(n) Permitted Business Investments.

Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) Liens with respect to the Senior Credit Facility or any other Credit Facilities;

 

-23-


(2) Liens to secure Indebtedness and Hedging Obligations incurred under clauses (1), (2), and (9) of Section 1011(b) of this Indenture (and any related Obligations);

(3) pledges, deposits and other Liens by such Person under workmen’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith deposits, prepayments or cash pledges to secure bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or U.S. government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(4) Liens imposed by law, such as landlords’, carriers’, warehousemens’, mechanics’, materialmens’, repairmens’, suppliers’, vendors’, repairmens’, landlord’s, mechanics’, and construction contractors’ Liens and other similar Liens, in each case, for sums not yet overdue for a period of more than 30 days or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review;

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

(6) Liens in favor of issuers of performance and surety bonds or bid bonds or with respect to other regulatory requirements or letters of credit issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business;

(7) Liens consisting of minor survey exceptions, minor encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions, by-laws and other ordinances of governmental authorities, minor irregularities in title, boundaries, or other minor survey defects, easements, leases, restrictions, servitudes, licenses, permits, encroachments, reservations, exceptions, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way, trackage rights, permits, special assessments, development agreements, deferred services agreements, owners’ association encumbrances, conditions, covenants mineral or royalty rights or reservations or oil, gas and mineral leases and rights of others in any property of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries, including rights of eminent domain (including those for streets, roads, bridges, pipes, pipelines, natural gas gathering systems, processing facilities, railroads, electric transmission and distribution lines, telegraph and telephone lines, the removal of oil, gas or other minerals or other similar purposes, flood control, air rights, water rights, rights of others with respect to navigable waters, sewage and drainage rights), and other similar charges or encumbrances as to the use of real properties or Liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties, in each case, which were not incurred in connection with Indebtedness and which do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

(8) Liens existing on the Issue Date;

(9) Liens on property or Capital Stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided that such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation

 

-24-


of, such other Person becoming such a Subsidiary; provided, further, that such Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than on improvements thereon, accessions thereto and proceeds thereof;

(10) Liens on property at the time the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired the property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition; provided, further, that the Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than on improvements thereon, accessions thereto and proceeds thereof;

(11) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be incurred in accordance with Section 1011 of this Indenture;

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

(13) leases and subleases granted to others which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries and do not secure any Indebtedness;

(14) Liens arising from financing statement filings under the Uniform Commercial Code or similar state laws regarding operating leases entered into by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(15) Liens in favor of an Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor;

(16) Liens on inventory or equipment of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary granted to the Company’s client at which such inventory or equipment is located;

(17) Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancing, refunding, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (8), (9) and (10) and the following clause (18); provided that (x) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus improvements thereof, accessions thereto and proceeds thereof), and (y) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (A) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clauses (8), (9), (10) and the following clause (18) at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Indenture, and (B) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement;

(18) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to clauses (4), (9), (13)(A), and (16) of Section 1011(b) of this Indenture; provided that such Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to clause (16) thereof are solely on acquired property or the assets of the acquired entity, as the case may be;

 

-25-


(19) deposits in the ordinary course of business to secure liability to insurance carriers;

(20) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under clause (5) under Section 501 of this Indenture, so long as such Liens are adequately bonded and any appropriate legal proceedings that may have been duly initiated for the review of such judgment have not been finally terminated or the period within which such proceedings may be initiated has not expired;

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

(22) Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection, (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodity brokerage accounts and (iii) in favor of banking institutions arising as a matter of law encumbering deposits or other funds maintained with a banking institution (including the right of set-off and other remedies);

(23) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (ii) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(24) other Liens securing obligations not to exceed the greater of $50.0 million and 5.0% of Total Assets at any one time outstanding;

(25) (i) Liens encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to commodity trading accounts or other brokerage accounts, in each case not for speculative purposes and (ii) other Liens on assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries securing Hedging Obligations or Treasury Management Arrangements;

(26) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under Section 1011; provided that such Liens do not extend to any assets other than those assets that are the subject of such repurchase agreement;

(27) contractual Liens that arise under operating agreements, joint venture agreements, oil and gas partnership agreements, oil and gas leases, farm-out agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale transportation or exchange of oil and natural gas, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, overriding royalty agreements, marketing agreement, proceeding agreements, net profits agreements, development agreements, gas balancing or deferred production agreements, injection, repressuring and recycling agreements, sale water or other disposal agreements, seismic or other geophysical permits or agreements, and other agreements which are usual and customary in the oil and gas business and are for claims which are not delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP;

(28) (a) Liens contained in purchase and sale agreements or lease agreements limiting the transfer of assets pending the closing of the transactions contemplated thereby or the termination

 

-26-


of the lease, respectively, (b) leases or other similar lease or licensing arrangements contained in, or entered into in connection with, purchase and sale agreements, and (c) Liens relating to deposits or escrows established in connection with purchase and sale agreements;

(29) First Purchaser Liens;

(30) Liens on the Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture which secure indebtedness or other obligations of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture;

(31) Liens given to a public utility or any governmental authority when required by such utility or governmental authority in connection with the operations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(32) Liens on the assets of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor and which secure Indebtedness or other obligations of such Restricted Subsidiary (or of another Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor) that are permitted to be incurred under Section 1011 of this Indenture;

(33) Liens on the assets or Equity Interests of a Foreign Subsidiary securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 1011 of this Indenture or other obligations of such Foreign Subsidiary (or of another Foreign Subsidiary); provided that such Liens do not extend to any assets or Equity Interests other than the assets or Equity Interests of such Foreign Subsidiary or a Subsidiary of such Foreign Subsidiary; and

(34) Liens securing Bilateral Letters of Credit.

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

Predecessor Note” of any particular Note means every previous Note evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Note; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Note authenticated and delivered under Section 305 in exchange for a mutilated Note or in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Note shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen Note.

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

Protected Purchaser” has the meaning specified in Section 305 of this Indenture.

Qualifying Owners” means (i) SemGroup Corporation and/or any of its subsidiaries (collectively for purposes of this definition, “SemGroup”), (ii) any Person that has no material assets other than the Capital Stock of the General Partner or the Company (or any parent entity of the General Partner or the Company) and, directly or indirectly, Beneficially Owns 100% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company, and of which no other Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), other than SemGroup, Beneficially Owns more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock thereof, and (iii) any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) the members of which include SemGroup and that, directly or indirectly, Beneficially Owns the Voting Stock of the Company or the General Partner, as applicable (a “Qualifying Owner Group”), so long as no Person

 

-27-


or other “group” (other than SemGroup) Beneficially Owns more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock held by the Qualifying Owner Group. Any person or group whose acquisition of beneficial ownership constitutes a Change of Control in respect of which a Change of Control Offer is (or, pursuant, to Section 1017(f) of this Indenture, is not required to be) made in accordance with the requirements of this Indenture will thereafter, together with its controlled Affiliates, constitute an additional Qualifying Owner.

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

Ratings Decline Period” means the period that (i) begins on the occurrence of a Change of Control and (ii) ends 90 days following consummation of such Change of Control.

Redemption Date,” when used with respect to any Note to be redeemed, in whole or in part, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

Redemption Price,” when used with respect to any Note to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.

Refinancing Indebtedness” has the meaning specified in Section 1011 of this Indenture.

Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Issuers, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers and, with respect to any Additional Notes, one or more registration rights agreements among the Issuers, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the other parties thereto, as such agreement(s) may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, relating to rights given by the Issuers to the purchasers of Additional Notes to register such Additional Notes under the Securities Act.

Regular Record Date” has the meaning specified in Section 301 of this Indenture.

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

Remaining Present Value” means, as of any date with respect to any lease, the present value as of such date of the scheduled future lease payments with respect to such lease, determined with a discount rate equal to a market rate of interest for such lease reasonably determined at the time such lease was entered into.

Reporting Default” means an event that, with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both, would constitute an Event of Default described in Section 501(3) of this Indenture.

Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any vice president, any assistant treasurer, any trust officer or assistant trust officer, or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above-designated officers and, in each case, who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture, and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

 

-28-


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

Restricted Payments” has the meaning specified in Section 1010 of this Indenture.

Restricted Subsidiary” means, at any time, any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company (including any Foreign Subsidiary) that is not then an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that upon the occurrence of an Unrestricted Subsidiary ceasing to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such Subsidiary shall be included in the definition of “Restricted Subsidiary.” Notwithstanding any provision of this Indenture to the contrary, Finance Corp. shall be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.

Retired Capital Stock” has the meaning specified in Section 1010 of this Indenture.

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

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

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Secured Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness secured by a Lien.

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

Senior Credit Facility” means the Credit Agreement, dated as of November 10, 2011 and amended prior to the Issue Date, among the Company, the guarantors party thereto, the lenders and other parties party thereto from time to time, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent for the lenders, including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced in any manner (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) or refinanced (including by means of sales of debt securities to institutional investors) in whole or in part from time to time.

Senior Indebtedness” means with respect to any Person:

(1) all Indebtedness of such Person, whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter incurred; and

(2) all other Obligations of such Person (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to such Person, whether or not post-filing interest is allowed in such proceeding) in respect of Indebtedness described in clause (1) above;

unless, in the case of clauses (1) and (2), the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding expressly provides that such Indebtedness or other Obligations are subordinate in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Person, as the case may be; provided that Senior Indebtedness shall not include:

(1) any obligation of such Person to the Company or any Subsidiary or to any joint venture in which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary has an interest;

 

-29-


(2) any liability for Federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by such Person;

(3) any accounts payable or other liability to trade creditors in the ordinary course of business (including guarantees thereof as instruments evidencing such liabilities);

(4) any Indebtedness or other Obligation of such Person that is subordinate or junior in any respect to any other Indebtedness or other Obligation of such Person; or

(5) that portion of any Indebtedness that at the time of Incurrence is Incurred in violation of this Indenture.

Shelf Registration Statement” means the Shelf Registration Statement as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement.

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

Similar Business” means either (i) any business conducted by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Issue Date or any business that is similar, reasonably related, incidental or ancillary thereto (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the AMI Development Activities) and in each case reasonable extensions thereof or (ii) any other business that generates gross income that constitutes “qualifying income” under Section 7704(d) of the Code.

Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Company pursuant to Section 306.

Stated Maturity” has the meaning specified in Section 301 of this Indenture.

Subordinated Indebtedness” means:

(a) with respect to an Issuer, any Indebtedness of such Issuer that is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, and

(b) with respect to any Subsidiary Guarantor, any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary Guarantor that is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor.

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person,

(1) any corporation, association, or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity) of which more than 50% of the Voting Stock is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof; and

 

-30-


(2) any partnership (whether general or limited) or limited liability company (a) the sole general partner or member of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person, or (b) if there is more than a single general partner or member, either (x) the only managing general partners or managing members of which are such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof) or (y) such Person owns or controls, directly or indirectly, a majority of the outstanding general partner interests, member interests or other Voting Stock of such partnership or limited liability company, respectively.

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

Subsidiary Guarantor” means each Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that executes this Indenture as a guarantor on the Issue Date and each other Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that thereafter guarantees the Notes pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

Successor Company” has the meaning specified in Section 801 of this Indenture.

Total Assets” means the total amount of all assets of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP as shown on the most recent balance sheet of the Company; provided that, for purposes of calculating “Total Assets” for purposes of testing the covenants under this Indenture in connection with any transaction, the total consolidated assets of the Issuers and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be adjusted to reflect any acquisitions and dispositions of assets that have occurred during the period from the date of the applicable balance sheet through the applicable date of determination but without giving effect to the transaction being tested under this Indenture.

Transactions” means the issuance of the Notes and the use of the proceeds thereof as described in the Offering Memorandum, in particular as described under the section thereof entitled “Use of Proceeds.”

Treasury Management Arrangement” means any agreement or other arrangement governing the provision of treasury or cash management services, including deposit accounts, overdraft, credit or debit card, funds transfer, automated clearinghouse, zero balance accounts, returned check concentration, controlled disbursement, lockbox, account reconciliation and reporting and trade finance services and other cash management services.

Treasury Rate” means, as of any Redemption Date, the yield to maturity as of the earlier of (a) such Redemption Date or (b) the date on which such Notes are defeased or satisfied and discharged, of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to such date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to May 15, 2019; provided, however, that if the period from the Redemption Date to May 15, 2019, is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used.

Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this Indenture was executed, except as provided in Section 905.

Trustee” means Wilmington Trust, National Association until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.

 

-31-


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

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means:

(1) any Subsidiary of the Company (other than Finance Corp. or any successor to it) that at the time of determination is an Unrestricted Subsidiary (as designated by the Company, as provided below) and

(2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

As of the Issue Date, White Cliffs Pipeline, L.L.C., has been designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The Company may, after the Issue Date, designate any Subsidiary of the Company (including any existing Subsidiary and any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on, any property of, the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (other than any Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated); provided that:

(a) except to the extent permitted by subclause (2)(b) of the definition of “Permitted Business Investments,” such Subsidiary has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt,

(b) any Unrestricted Subsidiary must be an entity of which shares of the capital stock or other equity interests (including partnership interests) entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes that may be cast by all shares or equity interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, and

(c) such designation complies with Section 1010 of this Indenture.

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

(1) the Company could incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test described in Section 1011(a) of this Indenture or

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

Any such designation by the Company shall be notified by the Company to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of any applicable Board Resolution giving effect to such designation and an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

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

Vice President,” when used with respect to any Issuer or the Trustee, means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “vice president.”

Voting Stock” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person (or, if such Person is a limited partnership, such Person or its general partner, as applicable) that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person (or, if such Person is a limited partnership, its general partner).

 

-32-


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

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

(2) the sum of all such payments.

Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person, 100% of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

Working Capital Borrowings” means borrowings used solely for working capital purposes or to pay distributions to shareholders to the extent permitted pursuant to Section 1010 of this Indenture; provided that when such borrowings are incurred it is the intent of the Company to repay such borrowings within 12 months other than from additional Working Capital Borrowings.

SECTION 103. Compliance Certificates and Opinions. Upon any application or request by the Issuers to the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action under this Indenture, the Issuers shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the signers of such Officer’s Certificate, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture (including any covenant compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent) relating to the proposed action have been satisfied and, other than in connection with the authentication of the Initial Notes, an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been satisfied, except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 1008(a) of this Indenture or Section 314(a)(4) of the TIA) shall include:

(1) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;

(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

(3) a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been satisfied; and

(4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been satisfied.

 

-33-


SECTION 104. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee. In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Issuers may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or opinion may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Issuers stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Issuers unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

SECTION 105. Acts of Holders. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agents duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Issuers. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Issuers, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

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

The principal amount and serial numbers of Notes held by any Person, and the date of holding the same, shall be proved by the Note Register.

If the Issuers shall solicit from the Holders any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Issuers may, at their option, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, but the Issuers shall have no obligation to do so. Notwithstanding TIA Section 316(c), such record date shall be a date not earlier than the date 30 days prior to the first solicitation of Holders generally in connection therewith and not later than the date such solicitation is completed. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on such record

 

-34-


date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Notes have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the Outstanding Notes shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders on such record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than eleven months after the record date. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Note shall bind every future Holder of the same Note and the Holder of every Note issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee, the Issuers or any Subsidiary Guarantor in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Note.

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

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

The Issuers may fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons who are beneficial owners of interests in any Global Note held by the Depository entitled under the procedures of such depositary to make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders.

SECTION 106. Notices, Etc., to the Trustee, the Issuers, and any Subsidiary Guarantor. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,

(1) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Issuers or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing (which may be via facsimile or any other electronic means the Trustee agrees to accept) to or with the Trustee at Wilmington Trust, National Association, Global Capital Markets, 15950 N. Dallas Parkway, Suite 550, Dallas, TX 75248, Attn: Rose Rock Midstream, L.P. Administrator, or

(2) the Issuers or any Subsidiary Guarantor by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if made, given, furnished or delivered in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, or delivered by recognized overnight courier, to the Issuers or such Subsidiary Guarantor at Rose Rock Midstream, L.P., Two Warren Place, 6120 S. Yale Avenue, Suite 700, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136-4216; Attn: General Counsel and Secretary, with a copy to Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166. Attention: Darius Mehraban (Facsimile: 212 ###-###-####).

 

-35-


The Trustee agrees to accept instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by unsecured e-mail, pdf, facsimile transmission or other similar unsecured electronic methods, provided, however, that the Trustee shall have received an incumbency certificate listing persons designated to give such instructions or directions and containing specimen signatures of such designated persons, which such incumbency certificate shall be amended and replaced whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Issuers elect to give the Trustee e-mail or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method) and the Trustee acts upon such instructions as required or permitted by this Indenture, then the Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance with such instructions notwithstanding such instructions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The Issuers agree to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk or interception and misuse by third parties.

SECTION 107. Notice to Holders; Waiver. Where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to Holders by the Issuers or the Trustee, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, or if electronically, by any appropriate applicable means, in each case to each Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Note Register, within the time prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Notices given by publication shall be deemed given on the first date on which publication is made and notices given by first class mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed given five calendar days after mailing. Notices given electronically shall be deemed given when sent.

In case by reason of the suspension of or irregularities in regular mail service or by reason of any other cause, it shall be impracticable to mail notice of any event to Holders when such notice is required to be given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, then any manner of giving such notice as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee shall be deemed to be a sufficient giving of such notice for every purpose hereunder.

If a notice or communication is mailed or otherwise delivered in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

SECTION 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents. The Article and Section headings herein, the Table of Contents and the reconciliation and tie between the TIA and this Indenture are for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall in no way affect the construction of, or modify or restrict, any of the terms or provisions hereof.

SECTION 109. Successors and Assigns. All agreements of the Issuers in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind their respective successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors. All agreements of each Subsidiary Guarantor in this Indenture shall bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 1208 hereof.

 

-36-


SECTION 110. Separability Clause. In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

SECTION 111. Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Notes, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Paying Agent, any Note Registrar and their successors hereunder and the Holders any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

SECTION 112. Governing Law. This Indenture, the Notes and any Subsidiary Guarantee shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.

SECTION 113. Legal Holidays. In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity or Maturity of any Note shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Notes) payment of principal (or premium, if any) or interest need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, or at the Stated Maturity or Maturity; provided that no interest shall accrue for purposes of such payment for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Stated Maturity or Maturity, as the case may be.

SECTION 114. No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Unitholders and No Recourse to General Partner. Neither the General Partner nor any director, officer, partner, employee, incorporator, manager or unitholder or other owner of Capital Stock of any Issuer, the General Partner or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers or the Subsidiary Guarantors under the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees and this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation to the extent permitted by applicable law; provided that the foregoing shall not limit any Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee and any of the Issuers’ obligations under the Notes and this Indenture. Each Holder by accepting a Note and the related Subsidiary Guarantee waives and releases all such liability to the extent permitted by applicable law. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees.

SECTION 115. Trust Indenture Act Controls. Upon qualification of this Indenture under the TIA, if any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision which is required to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, the provision required by the TIA shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the TIA that may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or excluded, as the case may be.

SECTION 116. Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be original; but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. One signed copy is enough to prove this Indenture.

ARTICLE TWO

NOTE FORMS

SECTION 201. Form and Dating. Provisions relating to the Initial Notes, the Private Exchange Notes and the Exchange Notes are set forth in the Rule 144A / Regulation S Appendix attached

 

-37-


hereto (the “Appendix”), which is hereby incorporated in, and expressly made part of, this Indenture. The Initial Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit 1 to the Appendix, which is hereby incorporated in, and expressly made a part of, this Indenture. The Exchange Notes, the Private Exchange Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Issuers are subject, if any, or usage (provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form reasonably acceptable to the Issuers). Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The terms of the Notes set forth in the Appendix and exhibits thereto are part of the terms of this Indenture.

SECTION 202. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating. The Notes shall be executed on behalf of the Issuers by an Officer of each Issuer. The signature of such Officers on the Notes may be manual or facsimile signature of the present or any future such authorized officer and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Notes.

Notes bearing the manual or facsimile signature of an individual who was at any time a proper officer of an Issuer shall bind such Issuer, notwithstanding that such individual ceased to hold such office prior to the authentication and delivery of such Notes or did not hold such office at the date of such Notes.

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Issuers may deliver Notes executed by the Issuers to the Trustee for authentication, together with an Issuer Order for the authentication and delivery of such Notes, and the Trustee in accordance with such Issuer Order shall authenticate and deliver such Notes.

On the Issue Date, the Issuers shall deliver the Initial Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $350,000,000 executed by the Issuers to the Trustee for authentication, together with an Issuer Order directing the Trustee to authenticate the Notes and certifying that all conditions precedent to the issuance of Notes contained herein have been fully complied with, and the Trustee in accordance with such Issuer Order shall authenticate and deliver such Initial Notes. At any time and from time to time after the Issue Date, the Issuers may deliver Additional Notes executed by the Issuers to the Trustee for authentication, together with an Issuer Order for the authentication and delivery of such Additional Notes, directing the Trustee to authenticate the Additional Notes and certifying that the issuance of such Additional Notes is in compliance with Article Ten hereof and that all other conditions precedent to the issuance of Notes contained herein have been fully complied with, and the Trustee in accordance with such Issuer Order shall authenticate and deliver such Additional Notes.

Upon receipt of an Issuer Order, the Trustee shall authenticate for original issue Exchange Notes in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $350,000,000; provided that such Exchange Notes shall be issuable only upon the valid surrender for cancellation of Initial Notes and any Additional Notes of a like aggregate principal amount in accordance with an Exchange Offer pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement and an Issuer Order for the authentication and delivery of such Exchange Notes and certifying that all conditions precedent to the issuance of such Exchange Notes are complied with. In each case, the Trustee shall receive an Issuer Order, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel of the Issuers that it may reasonably require in connection with such authentication of Notes. Such Issuer Order shall specify the amount of Notes to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated.

Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

-38-


No Note shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Note a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for in the applicable exhibit to the Appendix, duly executed by the Trustee by manual signature of an authorized officer, and such certificate upon the applicable Note shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Note has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

In case either Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, pursuant to Article Eight of this Indenture, shall be consolidated or merged with or into any other Person or shall convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, and the successor Person resulting from such consolidation, or surviving such merger, or into which such Issuer or such Subsidiary Guarantor shall have been merged, or the Person which shall have received a conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition as aforesaid, shall have executed a supplemental indenture hereto with the Trustee pursuant to Article Eight of this Indenture, any of the Notes authenticated or delivered prior to such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition may, from time to time, at the request of the successor Person, be exchanged for other Notes executed in the name of the successor Person with such changes in phraseology and form as may be appropriate, but otherwise in substance of like tenor as the Notes surrendered for such exchange and of like principal amount; and the Trustee, upon an Issuer Request of the successor Person, shall authenticate and deliver Notes as specified in such request for the purpose of such exchange. If Notes shall at any time be authenticated and delivered in any new name of a successor Person pursuant to this Section in exchange or substitution for or upon registration of transfer of any Notes, such successor Person, at the option of the Holders but without expense to them, shall provide for the exchange of all Notes at the time outstanding for Notes authenticated and delivered in such new name.

ARTICLE THREE

THE NOTES

SECTION 301. Title and Terms. The aggregate principal amount of Notes which may be authenticated and issued under this Indenture is not limited; provided, however, that any Additional Notes issued under this Indenture rank pari passu with the Initial Notes, are issued in accordance with Sections 202 and 1011 hereof, form a single class with the Initial Notes and shall have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as the Initial Notes. Any Additional Notes shall be issued pursuant to a supplemental indenture to this Indenture.

The Notes shall be known and designated as the “5.625% Senior Notes Due 2023” of the Issuers. The stated maturity of the Notes shall be November 15, 2023 (the “Stated Maturity”), and the Notes shall bear interest at the rate provided in the Notes from May 14, 2015, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, until the principal thereof is paid or duly provided for and to the Person in whose name the Note (or any Predecessor Note) is registered at the close of business on the May 1 and November 1 immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date (each, a “Regular Record Date”).

The principal of (and premium, if any), interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes shall be payable at the office or agency of the Issuers maintained for such purpose or, at the option of the Issuers, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders of the Notes at their respective addresses set forth in the Note Register; provided that all payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest and Additional Interest, if any, with respect to Notes represented by one or more permanent global Notes registered in the name of or held by the Depository or its nominee shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Holder or Holders thereof.

 

-39-


Holders shall have the right to require the Issuers to purchase their Notes, in whole or in part, in the event of a Change of Control pursuant to Section 1017. The Notes shall be subject to repurchase pursuant to an offer to purchase as provided in Section 1018.

The Notes shall be redeemable as provided in Article Eleven of this Indenture and Paragraph 5 of the Notes.

The due and punctual payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes payable by the Issuers is irrevocably unconditionally guaranteed, to the extent set forth herein, by each of the Subsidiary Guarantors.

SECTION 302. Denominations. The Notes shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons and only in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

SECTION 303. Temporary Notes. Pending the preparation of definitive Notes, the Issuers may execute, and upon receipt of an Issuer Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Notes which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Notes in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Notes may determine, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Notes.

If temporary Notes are issued, the Issuers shall cause definitive Notes to be prepared without unreasonable delay. Subject to the provisions set forth in the Rule 144A/Regulation S Appendix, after the preparation of definitive Notes, the temporary Notes shall be exchangeable for definitive Notes upon surrender of the temporary Notes at the office or agency of the Issuers designated for such purpose pursuant to Section 1002, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Notes, the Issuers shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Notes of authorized denominations. Until so exchanged, the temporary Notes shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Notes.

SECTION 304. Note Registrar; Paying Agent; Registration of Transfer and Exchange. The Issuers shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee a register (the register maintained in such office and in any other office or agency designated pursuant to Section 1002 being herein sometimes referred to as the “Note Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Issuers shall provide for the registration of Notes and of transfers of Notes. The Note Register shall be in written form or any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. At all reasonable times, the Note Register shall be open to inspection by the Trustee. The Trustee is hereby initially appointed as note registrar (the “Note Registrar”) for the purpose of registering Notes and transfers of Notes as herein provided. The Trustee is hereby initially appointed to act as the Paying Agent and to act as Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Note at the office or agency of the Issuers designated pursuant to Section 1002, the Issuers shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount.

At the option of the Holder, Notes may be exchanged for other Notes of any authorized denomination and of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Notes to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Issuers shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Notes which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive; provided that no exchange of Notes for Exchange Notes shall occur until an Exchange Offer Registration

 

-40-


Statement shall have been declared effective by the SEC, the Trustee shall have received an Officer’s Certificate confirming that the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC and the Initial Notes to be exchanged for the Exchange Notes shall be cancelled by the Trustee.

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

Every Note presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Issuers or the Note Registrar) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by written instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Issuers and the Note Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange or redemption of Notes, but the Issuers may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any taxes, fees or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Notes, other than exchanges pursuant to Sections 202, 303, 906, 1017, 1018 or 1108 not involving any transfer.

SECTION 305. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Notes. If (1) any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee, or (2) the Issuers and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Note, and there is delivered to the Issuers and the Trustee such security or indemnity that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Issuers to protect the Issuers, the Trustee, any agent and any Authenticating Agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced, then, in the absence of notice to the Issuers or the Trustee that such Note has been acquired by a Protected Purchaser (as defined in Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code) (a “Protected Purchaser”), the Issuers shall execute and upon an Issuer Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for any such mutilated Note or in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Note, a new Note of like tenor and principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note has become or is about to become due and payable, the Issuers in their discretion may, instead of issuing a new Note, pay such Note.

Upon the issuance of any new Note under this Section, the Issuers may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) in replacing a Note.

Every new Note issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Issuers and each Subsidiary Guarantor, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Notes duly issued hereunder.

The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes.

SECTION 306. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

(a) Interest on any Note which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note (or one or more Predecessor

 

-41-


Notes) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest at the office or agency of the Issuers maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 1002; provided that, subject to Section 301 hereof, each installment of interest may at the Issuers’ option be paid by (1) mailing a check for such interest, payable to or upon the written order of the Person entitled thereto pursuant to Section 307, to the address of such Person as it appears in the Note Register or (2) transfer to an account located in the United States maintained by the payee.

(b) Any interest on any Note which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such defaulted interest and (to the extent lawful) interest on such defaulted interest at the rate borne by the Notes (such defaulted interest and interest thereon herein collectively called “Defaulted Interest”) may be paid by the Issuers at their election, in each case as provided in clause (1) or (2) below:

(1) The Issuers may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Notes (or their respective Predecessor Notes) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Issuers shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Issuers shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Issuers shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Issuers shall promptly notify the Trustee of such Special Record Date, and in the name and at the expense of the Issuers, the Trustee shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be given in the manner provided for in Section 107, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so given, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Notes (or their respective Predecessor Notes) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (2).

(2) The Issuers may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Issuers to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

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

SECTION 307. Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to the due presentment of a Note for registration of transfer, the Issuers, any Subsidiary Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuers or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Sections 304 and 306) interest on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note be overdue, and none of the Issuers, the Trustee or any agent of the Issuers or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

-42-


SECTION 308. Cancellation. All Notes surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Issuers may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Notes previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Issuers may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Notes previously authenticated hereunder which the Issuers have not issued and sold, and all Notes so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. If the Issuers shall so acquire any of the Notes, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Notes unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation. No Notes shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Notes cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Notes held by the Trustee shall be disposed of by the Trustee in accordance with its customary procedures (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act). Certification of the cancellation of all cancelled Notes shall be delivered to the Issuers by the Trustee upon written request of the Issuers.

SECTION 309. Computation of Interest. Interest on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

SECTION 310. Transfer and Exchange. The Notes shall be issued in registered form and shall be transferable only upon the surrender of a Note for registration of transfer. When a Note is presented to the Note Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer, the Note Registrar shall register the transfer as requested if the requirements of this Indenture and Section 8-401(a) of the Uniform Commercial Code are met. When Notes are presented to the Note Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Notes of other denominations, the Note Registrar shall make the exchange as requested if the same requirements are met.

SECTION 311. CUSIP Numbers. The Issuers in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP” numbers, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers (in each case, if then generally in use) in addition to serial numbers, and, if so, the Trustee shall use such “CUSIP” numbers, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers in addition to serial numbers in notices of redemption, repurchase or other notices to Holders as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such “CUSIP” numbers, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of a redemption or repurchase and that reliance may be placed only on the serial or other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption or repurchase shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuers shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the “CUSIP” numbers, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers applicable to the Notes.

SECTION 312. Issuance of Additional Notes. The Issuers may, subject to Section 1011 of this Indenture, issue additional Notes having identical terms and conditions to the Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, other than with respect to the date of issuance and issue price (the “Additional Notes”). The Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date and any Additional Notes subsequently issued shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture; provided that if the Additional Notes are not fungible with the Initial Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, they will be issued with a different CUSIP. Exchange Notes issued in exchange for Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date and Exchange Notes issued for any Additional Notes subsequently issued shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture; provided that if the Exchange Notes are not fungible with the Initial Notes and/or Additional Notes, as applicable, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, they will be issued with a different CUSIP.

 

-43-


ARTICLE FOUR

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

SECTION 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. This Indenture shall upon an Issuer Request and at the Issuers’ expense cease to be of further effect as to all Notes issued hereunder (except as set forth in the last paragraph of this Section and as to surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Notes expressly provided for herein or pursuant hereto) and the Trustee, at the expense of the Issuers, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture when:

(1) either,

(A) all such Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Notes which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 305 and (ii) Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust with the Trustee or any Paying Agent or segregated and held in trust by the Issuers and thereafter repaid to the Issuers or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(B) all such Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation,

(i) have become due and payable by reason of the making of a notice of redemption pursuant to Section 1105 or otherwise, or

(ii) shall become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or

(iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuers,

and the Issuers or any Subsidiary Guarantor, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) of this clause (B), has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as shall be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(2) in respect of clause (1)(B) above, no Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, and the granting of Liens in connection therewith) with respect to this Indenture or the Notes issued hereunder shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or shall occur as a result of such deposit and such deposit shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the Senior Credit Facility or any other material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company, Finance Corp. or any Subsidiary Guarantor is a party or by which the Company, Finance Corp. or any Subsidiary Guarantor

 

-44-


is bound (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, and the granting of Liens in connection therewith);

(3) the Issuers have paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by them under this Indenture;

(4) the Issuers have delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee under this Indenture to apply the deposited money toward the payment of such Notes at Maturity or the Redemption Date, as the case may be; and

(5) the Issuers have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been satisfied.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money or Government Securities shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive such satisfaction and discharge. In addition, nothing in this Section 401 shall be deemed to discharge the obligations of the Issuers to the Trustee under Section 607 and the obligations of the Issuers to any Authenticating Agent under Section 612 that, by their terms, survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

SECTION 402. Application of Trust Money. Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money or Government Securities deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including an Issuer acting as the Issuers’ Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium and Additional Interest, if any) and interest for whose payment such money or Government Securities has been deposited with the Trustee, but such money or Government Securities need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 401 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Issuers’ and any Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 401 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 401; provided that if the Issuers have made any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Notes because of the reinstatement of their obligations, the Issuers shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE FIVE

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

SECTION 501. Events of Default. “Event of Default,” wherever used herein, means any one of the following events:

(1) default in payment when due and payable, upon redemption, acceleration or otherwise, of principal of, or premium, if any, on the Notes issued under this Indenture;

 

-45-


(2) default for 30 days or more in the payment when due of interest on or with respect to the Notes issued under this Indenture;

(3) failure by the Company for 180 days after receipt of written notice given by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding and issued under this Indenture voting as a single class to comply with Section 1009;

(4) failure by the Company for 60 days after receipt of written notice given by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes issued under this Indenture voting as a single class to comply with any of the other agreements contained in this Indenture or the Notes;

(5) failure by the Company to make a Change of Control Offer or an Asset Sale Offer within the time periods set forth in Section 1017 or 1018, or to consummate a purchase of Notes when required pursuant to Section 1017 or 1018 or to comply with the provisions of Article Eight;

(6) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there is issued or by which there is secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists or is created after the issuance of the Notes, if both

(A) such default either

(i) results from the failure to pay any principal of such Indebtedness at its stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods) or

(ii) relates to an obligation other than the obligation to pay principal of any such Indebtedness at its stated final maturity and results in the holder or holders of such Indebtedness causing such Indebtedness to become due prior to its Stated Maturity and

(B) the principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness in default for failure to pay principal at stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods), or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregate $50.0 million or more at any one time outstanding;

(7) failure by an Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $50.0 million, which final judgments remain unpaid, undischarged and unstayed for a period of more than 60 days after such judgment becomes final, and in the event such judgment is covered by insurance, an enforcement proceeding has been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or decree which is not promptly stayed;

 

-46-


(8) any of the following events with respect to the Company, Finance Corp. or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary:

(A) the Company, Finance Corp. or any Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law;

(i) commences a voluntary case;

(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case;

(iii) consents to the appointment of a custodian of it or for any substantial part of its property;

(iv) takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency; or

(B) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

(i) is for relief against the Company, Finance Corp. or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case;

(ii) appoints a custodian of the Company, Finance Corp. or any Significant Subsidiary or for any substantial part of its property; or

(iii) orders the winding up or liquidation of the Company, Finance Corp. or any Significant Subsidiary;

and, solely with respect to clause (B), the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days; provided, that for the purposes of this clause (8), a Significant Subsidiary shall include any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; or

(9) the Subsidiary Guarantee of any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) shall for any reason cease to be in full force and effect or be declared null and void or any responsible officer of any Subsidiary Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary (or the responsible officers of any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), as the case may be, denies that it has any further liability under its Subsidiary Guarantee or gives notice to such effect, other than by reason of the termination of this Indenture or the release of any such Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture.

SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

(a) If any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 501(8)) occurs and is continuing under this Indenture, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes issued under this Indenture may declare the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary Obligations on all the Outstanding Notes issued under this Indenture to be due and payable immediately by a notice in writing to the Issuers (and to the Trustee if given by the Holders).

(b) Upon the effectiveness of such declaration, such principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Notes shall be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in Section 501(8) occurs and is continuing with respect to the Company, Finance Corp.

 

-47-


or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Restricted Subsidiary), then the principal amount of all Outstanding Notes shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any notice, declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.

(c) At any time after a declaration of acceleration has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter provided in this Article, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes, by written notice to the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

(1) the Issuers have paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:

(A) all overdue interest on all Outstanding Notes,

(B) all unpaid principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Outstanding Notes which has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration, and interest on such unpaid principal at the rate borne by the Notes,

(C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest on overdue interest at the rate borne by the Notes, and

(D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel; and

(2) Events of Default, other than the non-payment of amounts of principal of (or premium, if any, on) or interest on Notes which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513.

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

(d) Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, in the event of any Event of Default specified in Section 501(6) above, such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding any resulting payment default) shall be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the Holders, if within 20 days after such Event of Default arose,

(1) the Indebtedness or guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged, or

(2) the holders thereof have rescinded or waived the acceleration, notice or action (as the case may be) giving rise to such Event of Default, or

(3) if the default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured.

SECTION 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee. If an Event of Default specified in Section 501(1) or (2) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, in its own name as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums due hereunder pursuant to this Article 5 and unpaid, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

-48-


SECTION 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company, Finance Corp. or any other obligor including any Subsidiary Guarantor, upon the Notes or the property of the Company, Finance Corp. or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Notes shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Issuers for the payment of overdue principal, premium, if any, or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,

(1) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (and premium, if any) and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Notes and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

(2) to collect, receive and distribute any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay the Trustee any amount due 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 607.

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Notes. All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Notes may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Notes or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected. Any money or property collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, upon presentation of the Notes and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 607;

SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Notes in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Notes for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, respectively; and

THIRD: The balance, if any, to the Issuers or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct in writing; provided that all sums due and owing to the Holders and the Trustee have been paid in full as required by this Indenture.

 

-49-


The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 506.

SECTION 507. Limitation on Suits. Subject to Section 508, no Holder of any Notes shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:

(1) such Holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing;

(2) Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

(3) such Holders have offered the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense;

(4) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt thereof and the offer of security or indemnity; and

(5) Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period,

it being understood and intended that no one or more Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture or the Subsidiary Guarantees to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture or the Subsidiary Guarantees, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all the Holders (it being further understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are unduly prejudicial to such Holders).

SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Note shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment, as provided herein (including, if applicable, Article Eleven) and in such Note of the principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 306) interest on such Note on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Note (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

SECTION 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture or the Subsidiary Guarantees and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, Finance Corp., any Subsidiary Guarantor, any other obligor of the Notes, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

 

-50-


SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative. Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes in the last paragraph of Section 305, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Note to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

SECTION 512. Control by Holders. The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes shall have the right to 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 the Trustee, provided that:

(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture,

(2) subject to Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction, and

(3) the Trustee need not take any action which might involve it in personal liability or be unduly prejudicial to the Holders not consenting.

SECTION 513. Waiver of Default. Subject to Sections 508 and 902, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes may on behalf of the Holders of all such Notes, rescind an acceleration, waive any Default of Event of Default hereunder and its consequences, except a continuing Default or Event of Default (1) in respect of the payment of interest on, premium, if any, or the principal of any such Note held by a non-consenting Holder, or (2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Note affected.

Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

SECTION 514. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws. Each of the Company, Finance Corp., the Subsidiary Guarantors and any other obligor on the Notes covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force that would prohibit or forgive the Company, Finance Corp., or a Subsidiary Guarantor from paying any portion of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Notes.

 

-51-


ARTICLE SIX

THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 601. Duties of the Trustee.

(a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default,

(1) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(2) in the absence of bad faith or willful misconduct 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; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions specifically required by any provision hereof to be provided to it, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture, but not to verify the contents thereof.

(b) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing of which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge or of which written notice of such Event of Default shall have been given to the Trustee by the Issuers, any other obligor of the Notes or by any Holder, 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 Person’s own affairs.

(c) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that

(1) this paragraph (c) shall not be construed to limit the effect of paragraph (a) of this Section;

(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture; and

(4) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

SECTION 602. Notice of Defaults. If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall transmit, in the manner

 

-52-


and to the extent provided in TIA Section 313(c), notice of such Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs unless such Default or Event of Default shall have been cured or waived. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) or interest on any Note, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if it determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders. In addition, the Trustee shall have no obligation to accelerate the Notes if in the judgment of the Trustee acceleration is not in the interest of the Holders of such Notes.

SECTION 603. Certain Rights of Trustee. Subject to the provisions of TIA Sections 315(a) through 315(d):

(1) the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document (whether in original or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

(2) any request or direction of the Issuers mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Issuer Request or an Issuer Order and any resolution of the Board of Directors of an Issuer may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution of the applicable Board of Directors;

(3) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officer’s Certificate and/or an Opinion of Counsel;

(4) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its own selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel;

(5) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses, losses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

(6) 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 Issuers, personally or by agent or attorney at the expense of the Issuers and shall incur no liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation;

(7) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;

 

-53-


(8) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture; provided, however, that the Trustee’s conduct does not constitute willful misconduct or negligence;

(9) the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder; and

(10) 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.

SECTION 604. Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Notes. The recitals contained herein and in the Notes, except for the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Issuers, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Notes, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Notes and perform its obligations hereunder and that the statements made by it in a Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 supplied to the Issuers are true and accurate, subject to the qualifications set forth therein. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Issuers of Notes or the proceeds thereof.

SECTION 605. May Hold Notes. The Trustee, any Paying Agent, any Note Registrar or any other agent of the Issuers or of the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and, subject to TIA Sections 310(b) and 311, may otherwise deal with the Issuers with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee, Paying Agent, Note Registrar or such other agent; provided, however, that, if it acquires any conflicting interest, it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue or resign.

SECTION 606. 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 Issuers.

SECTION 607. Compensation and Reimbursement.

(1) The Issuers agree to pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation as shall be agreed in writing between the Issuers and the Trustee for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

(2) The Issuers agree to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as shall be determined to have been caused by its own negligence or willful misconduct; and

(3) The Issuers and the Subsidiary Guarantors, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss,

 

-54-


liability, claim, damage or expense, including taxes (other than the taxes based on the income of the Trustee), incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Indenture, the Notes and the trust created hereby (including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim regardless of whether the claim is asserted by the Company, Finance Corp., a Subsidiary Guarantor, a Holder or any other Person) or arising out of or in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The Trustee shall notify the Issuers promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Issuers will not relieve the Issuers or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors of their obligations hereunder. Neither the Issuers nor any Subsidiary Guarantor need pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

The obligations of the Issuers under this Section to compensate the Trustee, to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances and to indemnify and hold harmless the Trustee shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder. As security for the performance of such obligations of the Issuers, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Notes upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on particular Notes.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 501(8), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) of and the compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Bankruptcy Law.

The provisions of and obligations of the Issuers under this Section shall survive the satisfaction, discharge and termination of this Indenture and resignation or removal of the Trustee.

SECTION 608. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility. There shall be at all times a Trustee hereunder which shall be eligible to act as Trustee under TIA Section 310(a)(1) and shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of Federal, State, territorial or District of Columbia supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

SECTION 609. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 610.

(b) The Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Issuers at least 30 days prior to the effective date of such resignation. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Issuers shall promptly appoint a successor trustee by written instrument executed by authority of the Board of Directors of each Issuer, copies of which shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and to the successor Trustee. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 610 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 60 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Issuers, or the Issuers or the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of Outstanding Notes may petition, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

-55-


(c) The Trustee may be removed at any time by Act of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes, delivered to the Trustee and to the Issuers. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 610 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Issuers, or the Issuers or the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of Outstanding Notes may petition, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(d) The Trustee shall comply with TIA Section 310(b); provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of TIA Section 310(b)(1) any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Company or Finance Corp. are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in TIA Section 310(b)(1) are met. The Issuers may remove the Trustee if: (1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 608 hereof, (2) the Trustee is adjudged to a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law, (3) a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property, or (4) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

(e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, the Issuers, by a Board Resolution of the Board of Directors of each Issuer, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes delivered to the Issuers and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment, become the successor Trustee and supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Issuers. If no successor Trustee shall have been so appointed by the Issuers or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner hereinafter provided, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Note for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(f) The Issuers shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee and each appointment of a successor Trustee to the Holders in the manner provided for in Section 107. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

SECTION 610. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

(a) Every successor Trustee appointed hereunder shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Issuers and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on request of the Issuers or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder. Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Issuers shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts.

(b) No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.

 

-56-


SECTION 611. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business. Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder without any further act; provided that such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Notes shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Notes so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Notes. In case at that time any of the Notes shall not have been authenticated, any successor Trustee may authenticate such Notes either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor Trustee. In all such cases such certificates shall have the full force and effect which this Indenture provides for the certificate of authentication of the Trustee shall have; provided, however, that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or to authenticate Notes in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.

SECTION 612. Appointment of Authenticating Agent. At any time when any of the Notes remain Outstanding, the Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent or agents (each an “Authenticating Agent”) with respect to the Notes which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Notes and the Trustee shall give written notice of such appointment to all Holders of Notes with respect to which such Authenticating Agent shall serve, in the manner provided for in Section 107. Notes so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument in writing signed by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, and a copy of such instrument shall be promptly furnished to the Issuers. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Notes by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Issuers and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or state authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent; provided that such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Issuers. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Issuers. Upon receiving such a notice

 

-57-


of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Issuers and shall give written notice of such appointment to all Holders of Notes, in the manner provided for in Section 107. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

The Issuers agree to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time such compensation for its services under this Section as shall be agreed in writing between the Issuers and such Authenticating Agent.

If an appointment is made pursuant to this Section, the Notes may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in the following form:

This is one of the Notes designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION as Trustee
By:

 

as Authenticating Agent
By:

 

as Authorized Officer

ARTICLE SEVEN

HOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND ISSUERS

SECTION 701. Holder Lists. The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders and shall otherwise comply with Trust Indenture Act Section 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Note Registrar, the Issuers shall furnish to the Trustee at least two Business Days before each Interest Payment Date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing within 30 days after receipt by the Issuers of any such request, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of Notes and the Issuers shall otherwise comply with Trust Indenture Act Section 312(a).

SECTION 702. Disclosure of Names and Addresses of Holders. Every Holder, by receiving and holding Notes, agrees with the Issuers and the Trustee that none of the Issuers or the Trustee or any agent of any of them shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders in accordance with TIA Section 312, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under TIA Section 312(b).

 

-58-


SECTION 703. Reports by Trustee. Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with May 15, 2016, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee shall mail to the Holders (with a copy to the Issuers at the address specified in Section 106), in the manner and to the extent provided in TIA Section 313(c), a brief report dated as of such May 15 that complies with TIA Section 313(a). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA Section 313(b). The Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports as required by the TIA Section 313(c).

ARTICLE EIGHT

MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR SALE

OF ALL OR SUBSTANTIALLY ALL ASSETS

SECTION 801. Each Issuer May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

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

(1) such Issuer is the surviving company or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Issuer) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Issuer or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Company”); provided that Finance Corp. may not consolidate or merger with or into any Person other than a corporation satisfying such requirement so long as the Company is not a corporation;

(2) the Successor Company, if other than such Issuer, expressly assumes all the obligations of such Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

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

(4) in the case of a transaction involving the Company and not Finance Corp., immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction, as if such transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period,

(A) the Successor Company would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 1011(a) of this Indenture or

(B) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Successor Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis would be greater than such ratio for the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction;

provided that compliance with this clause (4) shall not be required after the Notes have an Investment Grade Rating as specified under Section 1021 of this Indenture; and

(5) such Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indentures, if any, comply with this Indenture.

 

-59-


(b) Notwithstanding clauses (a)(3) and (a)(4) above,

(1) any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Finance Corp.) may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Company; and

(2) the Company may merge with an Affiliate of the Company incorporated solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Company in another State of the United States of America or converting into a different form of business entity so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries is not increased thereby.

SECTION 802. Successor Substituted. Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of either Issuer in accordance with Section 801 hereof, the Successor Company formed by such consolidation or into which such Issuer is merged or the Successor Company to which such sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or disposition is made, shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, such Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes, with the same effect as if such Successor Company had been named as such Issuer herein; provided that such predecessor Issuer shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes except in the case of a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all of the assets of such Issuer that meets the requirements of Section 801 hereof.

SECTION 803. Assets of Subsidiaries Apply to Issuers. For purposes of this Article Eight, the sale, lease, conveyance, assignment, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries of an Issuer, which properties and assets, if held by such Issuer, instead of such Subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties and assets of such Issuer and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of such Issuer.

ARTICLE NINE

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

SECTION 901. Amendments or Supplements Without Consent of Holders. Notwithstanding Section 902 hereof, without the consent of any Holder, the Issuers, any Subsidiary Guarantor (with respect to a Subsidiary Guarantee or this Indenture to which it is a party), and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may amend or supplement this Indenture, any Subsidiary Guarantee or the Notes, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

(1) to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency;

(2) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;

(3) to comply with Article Eight hereof and to provide for the assumption of the Issuers’ or any Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations to Holders in connection therewith;

(4) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders or that does not adversely affect the legal rights of any such Holder under this Indenture;

(5) to add covenants for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power conferred in this Indenture upon the Issuers or any Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

-60-


(6) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

(7) to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee pursuant to the requirements of Sections 609 and 610 hereof;

(8) to provide for the issuance of Exchange Notes or private exchange notes, which are identical to Exchange Notes except that they are not freely transferable;

(9) to add a Subsidiary Guarantor or any other guarantor under this Indenture or to evidence the release of any Subsidiary Guarantor from its Subsidiary Guarantee as provided in this Indenture;

(10) to conform the text of this Indenture, Subsidiary Guarantees or the Notes to any provision of the “Description of the Notes” section of the Offering Memorandum to the extent that such provision in the “Description of the Notes” was intended (as evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate of the Issuers) to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture, the Subsidiary Guarantees or the Notes; or

(11) to make any amendment to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Notes; provided that (A) compliance with this Indenture as so amended would not result in Notes being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable securities law and (B) such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Notes.

Upon the request of the Issuers accompanied by a Board Resolution of the Board of Directors of each Issuer authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 603 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Issuers and the Subsidiary 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise provided in Section 1015 hereof, no Opinion of Counsel shall be required in connection with the addition of a Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture upon execution and delivery by such Subsidiary Guarantor and the Trustee of a supplemental indenture to this Indenture, the form of which is attached as Exhibit B hereto, and delivery of an Officer’s Certificate.

SECTION 902. Amendments or Supplements With Consent of Holders. With the written consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes voting as a single class (other than Notes Beneficially Owned by an Issuer or its Affiliates, except that in relying on any such consent only Notes the Trustee knows are so Beneficially Owned shall be disregarded), delivered to the Issuers and the Trustee, the Issuers, any Subsidiary Guarantor (with respect to any Subsidiary Guarantee or this Indenture to which it is a party) and the Trustee may (a) amend or supplement this Indenture, any Subsidiary Guarantee or the Notes (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or Exchange Offer for, the Notes) and (b) waive any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or Exchange Offer, for Notes). Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, no such amendment, supplement or waiver shall, without the consent of each Holder of the Outstanding Notes, affected thereby:

(1) reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver,

 

-61-


(2) reduce the principal of or change the Maturity of any such Note or alter or waive the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Notes (other than Sections 1017 and 1018),

(3) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Note,

(4) waive a Default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes issued under this Indenture, except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration, or in respect of a covenant or provision contained in this Indenture or any Subsidiary Guarantee that cannot be amended or modified without the consent of all Holders,

(5) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the Notes,

(6) make any change in the provisions of Section 508 or Section 513 of this Indenture,

(7) modify the Subsidiary Guarantee of any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) in any manner adverse to the Holders,

(8) make any change in these amendment and waiver provisions, or

(9) impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of, or interest on, such Holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Notes.

The consent of the Holders is not necessary under this Indenture to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver. It is sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment or waiver.

SECTION 903. Execution of Amendments, Supplements or Waivers. The Trustee shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article Nine if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. An Issuer may not sign an amendment, supplement or waiver until its Board of Directors approves it. In executing any amendment, supplement or waiver, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 103 hereof, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise provided in Section 1015 hereof, no Opinion of Counsel will be required for the Trustee to execute any amendment or supplement adding a new Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture.

SECTION 904. Effect of Amendments, Supplements or Waivers. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such amendment, supplement or waiver shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Notes theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

 

-62-


SECTION 905. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes shall be set forth in an amended or supplemental indenture that complies with the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

SECTION 906. Reference in Notes to Supplemental Indentures. Notes authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Issuers so determine, new Notes so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Issuers, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Issuers and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Notes.

SECTION 907. Revocation and Effect of Consents. Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a Note may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder; except as provided in Section 902.

ARTICLE TEN

COVENANTS

SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest. The Issuers shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, Additional Interest, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, Additional Interest, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Issuers or a Subsidiary of an Issuer, holds as of noon Eastern Time on the due date money deposited by the Issuers in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, interest and Additional Interest to be paid in cash, if any, then due.

The Issuers shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate equal to the then applicable interest rate on the Notes, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate, in any case to the extent lawful.

SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Issuers shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuers in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee shall be such office or agency of the Issuers, unless the Issuers shall designate and maintain some other office or agency for one or more of such purposes. The Issuers shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any change in the location of any such office or agency. If at any time the Issuers shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Issuers hereby appoint the Trustee as their agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

The Issuers may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind any such designation. The Issuers shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

 

-63-


SECTION 1003. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. If the Issuers shall at any time act as their own Paying Agent, they shall, on or before each due date of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any of the Notes, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto an amount of cash sufficient to pay the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and shall promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

Whenever the Issuers shall have one or more Paying Agents for the Notes, they shall, on or before each due date of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Notes, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Issuers shall promptly notify the Trustee of such action or any failure so to act.

The Issuers shall cause each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent shall:

(1) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on Notes in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;

(2) give the Trustee notice of any Default by the Issuers (or any other obligor upon the Notes) in the making of any payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest; and

(3) at any time during the continuance of any such Default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.

The Issuers may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by an Issuer Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Issuers or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Issuers or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such sums.

Subject to applicable laws relating to abandoned property, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Issuers, in trust for the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Issuers on an Issuer Request, or (if then held by the Issuers) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Issuers for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Issuers as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

SECTION 1004. Corporate Existence. Subject to Article Eight, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect the corporate existence of the Company and that of each Restricted Subsidiary and the corporate rights (charter and statutory) and franchises of the Company and each Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that, other than with respect

 

-64-


to Finance Corp., the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as a whole. The Company shall maintain, directly or indirectly, a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company organized as a corporation under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia that will serve as a co-obligor of the Notes unless the Company is itself a corporation under the laws of United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

SECTION 1005. Taxes. Each Issuer shall pay, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental levies except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.

SECTION 1006. Reserved.

SECTION 1007. Reserved.

SECTION 1008. Statement by Officers as to Default.

(a) The Issuers shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, an Officer’s Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether it has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled, and has caused each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to keep, observe, perform and fulfill its obligations under this Indenture and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that, to the best of his or her knowledge, the Company during such preceding fiscal year has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled, and has caused each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to keep, observe, perform and fulfill each and every such covenant contained in this Indenture and no Default occurred during such year and at the date of such certificate there is no Default which has occurred and is continuing or, if such signers do know of such Default that is continuing, the certificate shall describe such Default and what action each is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto and that, to the best of his or her knowledge, no event has occurred and remains by reason of which payments on the account of the principal of or interest, if any, on the Notes is prohibited or if such event has occurred, a description of the event. The Officer’s Certificate shall also notify the Trustee should the Company elect to change the manner in which it fixes its fiscal year-end. For purposes of this Section 1008(a), such compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice under this Indenture.

(b) So long as any Notes are Outstanding, the Issuers shall deliver to the Trustee, forthwith upon any Officer becoming aware of any Default, an Officer’s Certificate specifying such Default and what action the Issuers are taking or propose to take with respect thereto.

SECTION 1009. Reports and Other Information.

(a) Notwithstanding that the Company may not be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or otherwise report on an annual and quarterly basis on forms provided for such annual and quarterly reporting pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, the Company shall file with the SEC (and provide the Trustee and Holders with copies thereof, without cost to each Holder, within 15 days after the Company files them with the SEC):

(i) within the time period specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations, annual reports on Form 10-K (or any successor or comparable form) containing the information required to be contained therein (or required in such successor or comparable form); and

 

-65-


(ii) within the time period specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations, reports on Form 10-Q (or any successor or comparable form) containing the information required to be contained therein (or required in such successor or comparable form); and

(iii) promptly from time to time after the occurrence of an event required to be therein reported (and in any event within the time period specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations), such other reports on Form 8-K (or any successor or comparable form);

provided, however, that (1) if the Company is not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company may complete any such reports as though our only registered securities are non-convertible debt securities and (2) the Company shall not be so obligated to file such reports with the SEC if the SEC does not permit such filing, in which event, the Company shall make available such information to prospective purchasers of notes in addition to providing such information to the Trustee and the Holders, in each case within 15 days after the time the Company would be required to file such information with the SEC if the Company were subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall be deemed to have furnished such reports referred to above to the Trustee and Holders if the Company has filed such reports with the SEC via the EDGAR filing system (or any successor system) or, if the Company is not subject to reporting under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and are not permitted to file such reports with the SEC, if the Company posts such reports on its publicly available website.

(c) Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuers’ compliance with any of the covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates delivered under this Indenture).

SECTION 1010. Limitation on Restricted Payments.

(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:

(1) declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution on account of the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s Equity Interests, including any dividend or distribution payable in connection with any merger or consolidation, other than

(x) dividends or distributions by the Company payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or in options, warrants or other rights to purchase such Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock), or

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

 

-66-


(2) purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company (except, in each case, in exchange for Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company), including in connection with any merger or consolidation;

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

(x) Indebtedness permitted under clauses (7)(A) and (7)(B) of Section 1011(b) of this Indenture or

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

(4) make any Restricted Investment;

(all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (1) through (4) above (other than the exceptions thereto) being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”), unless, at the time of such Restricted Payment no Default (except a Reporting Default) or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a consequence of such Restricted Payment and either:

(A) if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment is not less than 1.75 to 1.00, such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2) through (8) of Section 1010(b)) with respect to the quarter for which such Restricted Payment is made, is less than the sum, without duplication, of:

(x) Available Cash in respect of the Company’s immediately preceding fiscal quarter, plus

(y) the aggregate amount of Incremental Funds, minus

(z) the aggregate amount of Incremental Funds previously expended pursuant to this clause (A) and clause (B) below; or

(B) if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment is less than 1.75 to 1.00, such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2) through (8) of Section 1010(b)) with respect to the quarter for which such Restricted Payment is made (such Restricted Payments for purposes of this clause (B) meaning only distributions on limited partnership interests of the Company (including any common units, preferred units and subordinated units), plus the related distribution on the general partner interest and any distributions made with respect to incentive distribution rights to the General Partner), is less than the sum, without duplication, of:

(x) $75.0 million less the aggregate amount of all Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to this clause (B)(x) since the Measuring Date, plus

(y) Incremental Funds to the extent not previously expended pursuant to this clause (B) or clause (A) above.

 

-67-


(b) The foregoing provisions shall not prohibit:

(1) the payment of any dividend or distribution or the consummation of any irrevocable redemption within 60 days after the date of declaration or giving notice of redemption thereof, if at the date of declaration or giving of the redemption notice, as applicable, such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;

(2) the redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests (“Retired Capital Stock”) or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent company of the Company, in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent (i) contribution (other than from a Restricted Subsidiary) to the equity capital of the Company or (ii) sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of, Equity Interests of the Company (in each case, other than any contribution in exchange for, or any sale of, Disqualified Stock), with a sale being deemed substantially concurrent if such redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or acquisition occurs not more than 120 days after such sale; provided, however, that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition will be excluded (or deducted, if included) from the calculation of Available Cash and Incremental Funds;

(3) the defeasance, redemption, repurchase or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuers or a Subsidiary Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent issuance or other incurrence of, new Indebtedness of such Person that is incurred in compliance with Section 1011 of this Indenture so long as

(A) the principal amount of such new Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so defeased, redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired for value, plus the amount of any premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument governing the Subordinated Indebtedness being so defeased, redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired and any fees and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness,

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

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

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

 

-68-


(4) a Restricted Payment to pay for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or any of its direct or indirect parent companies or any Restricted Subsidiary held by any future, present or former employee, director, manager or consultant of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement; provided that the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause (4) do not exceed in any calendar year $5.0 million (with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years and added to such amount); provided, further, that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

(A) the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company and, to the extent contributed to the Company, Equity Interests of any of the Company’s direct or indirect parent companies, in each case to members of management, directors, managers or consultants of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies that occurs after the Issue Date, plus

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

(C) the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made pursuant to clauses (A) and (B) of this clause (4);

and provided, further, that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Company from members of management, directors, managers or consultants of the Company, any of its direct or indirect parent companies or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Company or any of its direct or indirect parent companies shall not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 1010(b) or any other provision of this Indenture;

(5) the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary issued in accordance with Section 1011 of this Indenture to the extent such dividends are included in the definition of Fixed Charges;

(6) purchases, repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions or retirements of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of unit options, warrants, incentives or other similar rights if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise or exchange price of such options, warrants, incentives or similar rights, and the purchase, repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement of Equity Interests made in lieu of withholding taxes resulting from the exercise or exchange of unit options, warrants, incentives or other similar rights;

(7) the declaration and payment of dividends by the Company to, or the making of loans to, its direct parent company in amounts required for the Company’s direct or indirect parent companies to pay

(A) customary salary, bonus and other benefits payable to officers and employees of any direct or indirect parent company of the Company to the extent such salaries, bonuses and other benefits are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries,

 

-69-


(B) general corporate overhead expenses of any direct or indirect parent company of the Company to the extent such expenses are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, and

(C) reasonable fees and expenses incurred in connection with any unsuccessful debt or equity offering by such direct or indirect parent company of the Company;

(8) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Subordinated Indebtedness pursuant to provisions similar to those described under Section 1017 and Section 1018 of this Indenture; provided that prior to such repurchase, redemption or other acquisition, the Company (or a third party to the extent permitted by this Indenture) shall have made a Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as the case may be, with respect to the Notes and shall have repurchased all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn in connection with such Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer; and

(9) other Restricted Payments, taken together with all other Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (9), not to exceed $50.0 million.

provided, however, that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clauses (4), (5) and (9) of this Section 1010(b), no Default (other than a Reporting Default) shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof.

(c) The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the fair market value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The fair market value of any assets or securities that are required to be valued by this covenant will be determined by an officer of the Company (or of the General Partner, if at the time of determination, the Company is a limited partnership) reasonably and in good faith and, in the case of amounts over $50.0 million, by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution. For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 1010, if a Restricted Payment meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Restricted Payments described in clauses (1) through (9) of Section 1010(b), the Company will be permitted to classify (or later classify or reclassify in whole or in part in its sole discretion) such Restricted Payment in any manner that complies with this Section 1010.

(d) As of the Issue Date, all of the Company’s Subsidiaries shall be Restricted Subsidiaries other than White Cliffs Pipeline, L.L.C. The Company shall not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the penultimate paragraph of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.” For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in such Subsidiary so designated shall be deemed to be Restricted Payments in an amount determined as set forth in the last sentence of the definition of “Investments.” Such designation shall be permitted only if a Restricted Payment in such amount would be permitted at such time, whether pursuant to Section 1010(a) or under clause (9) of Section 1010(b), or pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Investments,” and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Unrestricted Subsidiaries shall not be subject to any of the restrictive covenants set forth in this Indenture.

SECTION 1011. Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock.

(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently

 

-70-


or otherwise, (collectively, “incur” and collectively, an “incurrence”) with respect to any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), and the Company shall not issue any shares of Disqualified Stock and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue any shares of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock; provided that the Company may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock, and any Restricted Subsidiary may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), issue shares of Disqualified Stock or issue shares of Preferred Stock, if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio on a consolidated basis for the Company’s and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued would have been at least 2.00 to 1.00, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of the proceeds therefrom had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

(b) The foregoing limitations shall not apply to any of the following items (collectively, “Permitted Debt”):

(1) Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Credit Facilities by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that immediately after giving effect to any such incurrence, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred under this clause (1) and then outstanding does not exceed the greater of (i) $600.0 million and (ii) $400.0 million plus 30.0% of Total Assets;

(2) the incurrence by the Issuers and any Subsidiary Guarantor of Indebtedness represented by the Notes (including any Subsidiary Guarantees thereof) issued on the Issue Date and the Exchange Notes and related exchange guarantees to be issued in exchange for the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees issued on the Issue Date pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement;

(3) Existing Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness described in clauses (1) and (2) of this Section 1011(b));

(4) Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations), Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock incurred by the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to finance (whether prior to or within 270 days after) all or any part of the development, construction, purchase, lease, repairs, additions or improvement of property (real or personal), equipment or other fixed or capital assets that are used or useful in a Similar Business, whether or not through the direct purchase of assets or the Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets (including any refinancing or replacement thereof); provided that the aggregate amount of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock incurred pursuant to this clause (4) does not, at any one time outstanding, exceed the greater of (x) $75.0 million and (y) 6.0% of Total Assets;

(5) Indebtedness incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit, including letters of credit in respect of workers’ compensation claims, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement type obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims; provided that upon the drawing of such letters of credit or the incurrence of such Indebtedness, such obligations are reimbursed within 30 days following such drawing or incurrence;

(6) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price, earn outs or similar obligations, or

 

-71-


guarantees or letters of credit, surety bonds or performance bonds securing any obligation of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to such agreements, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary, other than guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition; provided that the maximum assumable liability in respect of all such Indebtedness shall at no time exceed the gross proceeds including noncash proceeds (the fair market value of such noncash proceeds being measured at the time received and without giving effect to any subsequent changes in value) actually received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such disposition;

(7) Indebtedness of:

(A) the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any such Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes; provided, further, that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness; or

(B) a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if a Subsidiary Guarantor incurs such Indebtedness to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor, such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor; provided, further, that any subsequent issuance or transfer of Capital Stock or any other event that results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness;

(8) shares of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an issuance of such shares of Preferred Stock;

(9) Hedging Obligations entered into for non-speculative purposes;

(10) obligations in respect of workers’ compensation claims, self-insurance obligations, performance, bid, appeal, injunctive, warranty, labor and surety bonds and performance and completion guarantees and similar bonds or obligations provided by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, and any guarantees or letters of credit functioning as or supporting any of the foregoing;

(11) (x) any guarantee by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other Obligations of any Restricted Subsidiary, so long as the incurrence of such Indebtedness by such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the terms of this Indenture or (y) any guarantee by a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Company permitted to be incurred under the terms of this Indenture; provided that such guarantee is incurred in accordance with Section 1015 of this Indenture;

 

-72-


(12) the incurrence by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock that serves to extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew or defease any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred as permitted under Section 1011(a) and clauses (2) and (3) above, this clause (12) and clause (13) below of this Section 1011(b) or any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued to so extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew or defease such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock including additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred to pay premiums and fees in connection therewith (the “Refinancing Indebtedness”) prior to its respective maturity; provided, however, that such Refinancing Indebtedness:

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

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

(C) shall not include:

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

(y) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Subsidiary Guarantor or

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

(13) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (x) of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred to finance the acquisition of any Person or assets or (y) constituting Acquired Indebtedness; provided that either:

(A) after giving effect to such acquisition or merger, either:

(i) the Company would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 1011(a); or

(ii) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis is greater than immediately prior to such acquisition or merger; or

 

-73-


(B) such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (i) is not Secured Indebtedness and, if constituting Indebtedness, is Subordinated Indebtedness, (ii) is not incurred while a Default exists and no Default shall result therefrom, (iii) does not mature (and is not mandatorily redeemable in the case of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock) and does not require any payment of principal prior to the final maturity of the Notes and (iv) in the case of sub-clause (y) above only, is not incurred in contemplation of such acquisition or merger;

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

(15) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary supported by a letter of credit issued pursuant to the Senior Credit Facility, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit;

(16) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary incurred to finance or assumed in connection with an acquisition which, when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock incurred pursuant to this clause (16) and then outstanding (including any refinancing or replacement thereof), does not exceed the greater of $50.0 million and 5.0% of Total Assets (it being understood that any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock incurred pursuant to this clause (16) shall cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (16) but shall be deemed incurred pursuant to Section 1011(a) from and after the first date on which the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary could have incurred such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 1011(a) without reliance on this clause (16));

(17) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary not otherwise permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference, which, when aggregated with the principal amount and liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock incurred pursuant to this clause (17) and then outstanding, does not at any one time outstanding exceed the greater of $100.0 million and (ii) 7.5% of Total Assets (it being understood that any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock incurred pursuant to this clause (17) shall cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (17) but shall be deemed incurred pursuant to Section 1011(a) from and after the first date on which the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary could have incurred such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 1011(a) without reliance on this clause (17));

(18) Indebtedness consisting of Indebtedness issued by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to current or former officers, directors and employees thereof, their respective estates, spouses, domestic partners, partners in civil union or former spouses, former domestic partners or former partners in civil union, in each case to finance the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement or redemption of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company to the extent described in clause (4) of Section 1010(b) of this Indenture;

(19) to the extent constituting Indebtedness, the incurrence by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of take-or-pay obligations contained in supply agreements;

 

-74-


(20) Indebtedness under Treasury Management Arrangements; and

(21) Indebtedness in respect of Bilateral Letters of Credit in an aggregate amount not to exceed $100.0 million.

(c) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 1011, in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (1) through (21) of Section 1011(b) or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to Section 1011(a), the Issuers, in their sole discretion, shall classify or reclassify, or later divide, classify or reclassify, such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) and shall only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in one or more of the above clauses.

(d) The accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value and the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock shall not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock for purposes of this Section 1011.

(e) For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit debt; provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew or defease other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance, such U.S. dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased.

(f) The principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred to extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew or defease other Indebtedness, if incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such respective Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance.

(g) The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date will be:

(1) the accreted value of the Indebtedness, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount;

(2) in the case of Hedging Obligations, the termination value of the agreement or arrangement giving rise to such obligations that would be payable by such Person at such time;

(3) the principal amount of the Indebtedness, in the case of any other Indebtedness; and

(4) in respect of Indebtedness of another Person secured by a Lien on the assets of the specified Person, the lesser of:

(A) the fair market value of such assets at the date of determination; and

(B) the amount of the Indebtedness of the other Person.

 

-75-


SECTION 1012. Liens. The Issuers shall not, and shall not permit any of the Subsidiary Guarantors to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien (except Permitted Liens) that secures obligations under any Indebtedness on any asset or property of the Issuers or any Subsidiary Guarantor now owned or hereafter acquired, or any income or profits therefrom, or assign or convey any right to receive income therefrom, unless:

(1) in the case of Liens securing Subordinated Indebtedness, the Notes or the applicable Subsidiary Guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, are secured by a Lien on such property or assets that is senior in priority to such Liens; and

(2) in all other cases, the Notes or the applicable Subsidiary Guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, are equally and ratably secured;

provided that any Lien that is granted to secure the Notes under this Section 1012 shall be discharged at the same time as the discharge of the Lien that gave rise to the obligation to so secure the Notes.

SECTION 1013. Limitations on Transactions with Affiliates.

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

(1) such Affiliate Transaction (taken as a whole, in the case of a series or group of related transactions, whether or not occurring substantially simultaneously) is on terms that are not materially less favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person, and

(2) the Company delivers to the Trustee with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $50.0 million, a Board Resolution adopted by the majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company approving such Affiliate Transaction and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (1) above.

(b) The following items will be deemed not to be Affiliate Transactions and, therefore, the foregoing provisions shall not apply to the following:

(1) transactions between or among the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(2) (i) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 1010 of this Indenture and (ii) Permitted Investments;

(3) employment agreements, employee benefits plans, any indemnification agreement or any similar arrangement entered into and customary fees paid to, reimbursement of expenses

 

-76-


paid to and indemnities provided on behalf of, officers, directors, managers, employees or consultants of the Company, any of its direct or indirect parent companies or any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(4) transactions in which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or meets the requirements of clause (1) of Section 1013(a);

(5) payments or loans (or cancellations of loans) to employees or consultants of the Company, any of its direct or indirect parent companies or any Restricted Subsidiary and employment agreements, stock option plans and other compensatory arrangements with such employees or consultants that are, in each case, approved by the Company in good faith and payments pursuant to the foregoing;

(6) any agreement, instrument or arrangement as in effect as of the Issue Date, or any amendment, modification or supplement thereto or replacement thereof (so long as any such amendment, modification, supplement or replacement is not disadvantageous to the Holders in any material respect as compared to the applicable agreement as in effect on the Issue Date as reasonably determined in good faith by the Company) and any transaction contemplated by any of the foregoing;

(7) the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under the terms of, any stockholders agreement or its equivalent (including any registration rights agreement or purchase agreement related thereto) to which it is a party as of the Issue Date and any similar agreements which it may enter into thereafter; provided, however, that the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of obligations under any future amendment to any such existing agreement or under any similar agreement entered into after the Issue Date shall only be permitted by this clause (7) to the extent that the terms of any such existing agreement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, or new agreement are not disadvantageous to the Holders in any material respect as compared to the terms of the original agreement as in effect on the Issue Date as reasonably determined in good faith by the Company;

(8) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture that are fair to the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors of the Company or the senior management of the Company, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party;

(9) the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company to any Affiliate of the Company or receipt by the Company of capital contributions from holders of its Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock);

(10) transactions between the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any Person that would not otherwise constitute an Affiliate Transaction except for the fact that one director of such other Person is also a director of the General Partner or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable; provided that such director abstains from voting as a director of the General Partner or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, on any matter involving such other Person;

 

-77-


(11) leases entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as lessor, and an Unrestricted Subsidiary, as lessee, with respect to a pipeline or similar asset operated by such Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that the Remaining Present Value of any such leases shall not exceed $30.0 million in the aggregate;

(12) any agreement between any Person and an Affiliate of such Person existing at the time such Person is acquired by, merged into or amalgamated, arranged or consolidated with the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation, arrangement or consolidation, and any amendment, modification or supplement thereto, or replacement thereof (so long as any such amendment, modification, supplement or replacement is not more disadvantageous to the Holders in any material respect as compared to the applicable agreement as in effect on the date of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation, arrangement or consolidation) and any transaction contemplated by any of the foregoing; and

(13) in the case of contracts for the provision of gathering, treating or compression services with respect to Hydrocarbons or activities or services reasonably related thereto, or other operational contracts, any such contracts that are entered into in the ordinary course of business on terms substantially similar to those contained in similar contracts entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with unrelated third parties or otherwise on terms not materially less favorable to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries than those that would be available in a transaction with an unrelated third party.

SECTION 1014. Limitations on Dividends and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any such Restricted Subsidiary to:

(a) (1) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary on its Capital Stock or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits or

(2) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(b) make loans or advances to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (it being understood that the subordination of, or a requirement to subordinate, loans or advances made to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to other Indebtedness incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make loans or advances); or

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

except (in each case) for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

(1) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Issue Date, including pursuant to the Senior Credit Facility and the related documentation (including security documents and intercreditor agreements) and Hedging Obligations and contractual encumbrances or restrictions in agreements or instruments governing Credit Facilities not in effect on the Issue Date so long as the encumbrances and restrictions contained therein are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, than the restrictions contained in those agreements on the Issue Date;

 

-78-


(2) this Indenture and the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees of the Notes issued hereunder;

(3) purchase money obligations for property acquired and Capitalized Lease Obligations that impose restrictions of the nature discussed in clause (c) above on the property so acquired and other Liens permitted to be incurred under Section 1012 that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets subject to such Liens;

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

(5) any agreement or other instrument of a Person acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in existence at the time of such acquisition (but not created in connection therewith or in contemplation thereof), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired or as may be amended, restated, modified, renewed, extended, supplemented, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time (so long as the encumbrances and restrictions in any such amendment, restatement, modification, renewal, extension, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing are, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those in effect on the date of the acquisition), which encumbrances or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired; provided that, in the case of agreements or instruments governing Indebtedness, such Indebtedness was permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred;

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

(7) Secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to Sections 1011 and 1012 of this Indenture that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness;

(8) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers, suppliers or landlords or required by insurance, surety or bonding companies, in each case under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(9) other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred after the Issue Date pursuant to Section 1011 of this Indenture;

(10) provisions in partnership and joint venture agreements, asset sale agreements, leases, licenses, sale-lease back agreements, stock sale agreements and other similar agreements;

(11) non-assignment provisions contained in leases, licenses and other agreements;

(12) any agreement for the sale or other disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary that restricts distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary pending such sale or other disposition;

 

-79-


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

(14) with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary, any encumbrance or restriction contained in the terms of any Indebtedness or any agreement pursuant to which such Indebtedness was incurred if either (a) the encumbrance or restriction applies only in the event of a payment default or a default with respect to a financial covenant in such Indebtedness or agreement or (b) the Company determines in good faith that any such encumbrance or restriction will not materially affect the Company’s ability to make principal or interest payments on the Notes; and

(15) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (1) through (14) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of the Company, not materially more restrictive with respect to such encumbrance and other restrictions than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing; provided, further, that with respect to contracts, instruments or obligations existing on the Issue Date, any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are not materially more restrictive with respect to such encumbrances and other restrictions than those contained in such contracts, instruments or obligations as in effect on the Issue Date.

SECTION 1015. Future Subsidiary Guarantors. The Company shall cause each of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries, other than a Subsidiary Guarantor, that becomes a borrower or guarantor under the Senior Credit Facility or guarantees, on the Issue Date or any time thereafter, any other Indebtedness of either of the Issuers, which Indebtedness exceeds $25.0 million in aggregate principal amount, to, within 30 days:

(1) execute and deliver a supplemental indenture to this Indenture providing for a Subsidiary Guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary, except that with respect to a guarantee of Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor that is by its express terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Subsidiary Guarantee, any such guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary with respect to such Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to such Subsidiary Guarantee substantially to the same extent as such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes;

(2) deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that:

(a) such Subsidiary Guarantee has been duly executed and authorized; and

(b) such Subsidiary Guarantee constitutes a valid, binding and enforceable obligation of such Restricted Subsidiary, except insofar as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws (including all laws relating to fraudulent transfers) and except insofar as enforcement thereof is subject to general principles of equity.

 

-80-


SECTION 1016. Limitation on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction with respect to any property unless:

(1) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary would be entitled to (A) incur additional Indebtedness in an amount equal to the Attributable Debt with respect to such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction pursuant to Section 1011 of this Indenture and (B) create a Lien on such property securing such Attributable Debt without equally and ratably securing the Notes pursuant to Section 1012 of this Indenture; provided that compliance with clause (A) of this clause (1) shall not be required after such time that the Notes have an Investment Grade Rating as specified in Section 1021;

(2) the consideration received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction is at least equal to the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Company) of such property; and

(3) the Company of such Restricted Subsidiary applies the proceeds of such transaction in compliance with Section 1018 of this Indenture.

SECTION 1017. Change of Control Triggering Event.

(a) If a Change of Control Triggering Event occurs, the Company shall make an offer to purchase all of the Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”) at a price in cash (the “Change of Control Payment”) equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, to, but not including, the date of purchase, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date. Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event, the Company shall send notice of such Change of Control Offer by first class mail or electronically, to each Holder to the address of such Holder appearing in the security register with a copy to the Trustee, with the following information:

(1) a description of the transaction or transactions and identification of the ratings decline that together constitute a Change of Control Triggering Event and stating that a Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 1017, and that all Notes properly tendered pursuant to such Change of Control Offer shall be accepted for payment;

(2) the purchase price and the purchase date, which shall be no earlier than 15 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the “Change of Control Payment Date”);

(3) any Note not properly tendered shall remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest;

(4) unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer shall cease to accrue interest on the Change of Control Payment Date;

(5) Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer shall be required to surrender the Notes, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect

 

-81-


Purchase” on the reverse of the Notes completed, to the paying agent specified in the notice at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date;

(6) Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their tendered Notes and their election to require the Company to purchase such Notes; provided that the paying agent receives, not later than the close of business on the last day of the offer period, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of Notes tendered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its tendered Notes and its election to have such Notes purchased; and

(7) Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (which unpurchased portion must be equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000); provided that no Notes of less than $2,000 shall be redeemed in part.

(b) While the Notes are in global form and the Company makes an offer to purchase all of the Notes pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, a Holder may exercise its option to elect for the purchase of the Notes through the facilities of DTC, subject to its rules and regulations.

(c) The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Triggering Event provisions of this Indenture, or compliance with the Change of Control Triggering Event provisions of this Indenture would constitute a violation of any such law or regulation, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 1017 by virtue thereof.

(d) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, to the extent permitted by law,

(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 aggregate Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof so tendered, and

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

(e) The Paying Agent shall promptly mail to each Holder the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee shall promptly authenticate and mail to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided that no Notes of $2,000 or less shall be redeemed in part and each such new Note shall be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. 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.

(f) The Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control Triggering Event if (1) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner,

 

-82-


at the time and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in 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 or (2) notice of redemption has been given pursuant to Section 1105 unless and until there is a default in payment of the applicable redemption price. A Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control Triggering Event, conditional upon such Change of Control Triggering Event, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making of the Change of Control Offer.

(g) In the event that Holders of not less than 90% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes accept a Change of Control Offer and the Company (or the third party making the Change of Control Offer as described above) purchases all of the Notes held by such Holders, the Company shall have the right, upon not less than 15 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following the purchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer described above, to redeem all of the Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a redemption price equal to the Change of Control Payment plus, to the extent not included in the Change of Control Payment, accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes that remain outstanding to, but not including, the date of redemption, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.

SECTION 1018. Asset Sales.

(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, cause, make or suffer to exist an Asset Sale, unless:

(1) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Company) of the assets or Equity Interests sold or otherwise disposed of; and

(2) other than in the case of a Permitted Asset Swap, at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of

(A) any liabilities (as shown on the Company’s most recent consolidated balance sheet or in the notes thereto) of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes, that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets (or a third party on behalf of the transferee) and for which the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary has been validly released by all relevant creditors in writing,

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

(C) any Designated Noncash Consideration received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Sale having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Noncash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (C) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $75.0 million and (y) 4.0% of Total Assets at the time of the receipt of such Designated Noncash Consideration,

 

-83-


with the fair market value of each item of Designated Noncash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value,

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

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

(1) to repay, redeem or repurchase Senior Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; or

(2) to an investment in (A) any one or more businesses; provided that such investment in any business is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock and results in the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary owning an amount of the Capital Stock of such business such that it constitutes a Restricted Subsidiary, (B) properties, (C) capital expenditures and (D) acquisitions of other assets, that in each of (A), (B), (C) and (D), are used or useful in a Similar Business or replace the businesses, properties and assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale.

(c) Any Net Proceeds from any Asset Sale that are not invested or applied in accordance with the preceding paragraph within 365 days from the date of the receipt of such Net Proceeds shall be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds;provided that if during such 365-day period the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary enters into a definitive binding agreement committing it to apply such Net Proceeds in accordance with the requirements of clause (2) of Section 1018(b) after such 365th day, such 365-day period shall be extended with respect to the amount of Net Proceeds so committed, but such extension shall in no event be for a period longer than 180 days, until such Net Proceeds are required to be applied in accordance with such agreement (or, if such agreement is terminated before such Net Proceeds are applied, then such Net Proceeds shall constitute Excess Proceeds from and after the date of such termination). When the aggregate amount of such Excess Proceeds exceeds $25.0 million, the Company shall make an offer to all Holders and, if required by the terms of any Senior Indebtedness, to the holders of such other Senior Indebtedness (other than with respect to Hedging Obligations) (an “Asset Sale Offer”), to purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of Notes and such other Senior Indebtedness that is an integral multiple of $1,000 (subject to any required minimum denominations) that may be purchased out of such Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture. The Company shall commence an Asset Sale Offer with respect to such Excess Proceeds within ten Business Days after the date that such Excess Proceeds exceed $25.0 million by mailing the notice required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, with a copy to the Trustee. The Company may satisfy the foregoing obligations with respect to any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale by making an Asset Sale Offer with respect to such Net Proceeds prior to the expiration of the relevant 365 days (or such longer period provided above) or with respect to Excess Proceeds of $25.0 million or less. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes and such other Senior Indebtedness tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for any purpose not prohibited by this Indenture. Subject to Section 1018(f), if the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other Senior Indebtedness surrendered by the holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select or cause to be selected the Notes and the Company or agent for such other Senior Indebtedness shall select such other Senior Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Notes or such other Senior Indebtedness tendered. Upon completion of any such Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds related to such Asset Sale Offer shall be reset at zero.

 

-84-


(d) Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds pursuant to this Section 1018, the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary may apply such Net Proceeds temporarily to reduce Indebtedness outstanding under a revolving credit facility or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture.

(e) The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with this Section 1018, or compliance with the Section 1018 would constitute a violation of any such laws or regulations, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the provisions of this Section 1018, as applicable, by virtue thereof.

(f) If the Company is repurchasing less than all of the Notes at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be repurchased (a) if the Notes are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which such Notes are listed or (b) if such Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis or by lot or by such other method as may be required by the procedures of DTC; provided that no Notes of $2,000 or less shall be repurchased in part.

(g) Notices of repurchase shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, at least 15 days but not more than 60 days before the date of repurchase to each Holder at such Holder’s registered address, except that notices of repurchase may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a date of repurchase if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture. If any Note is to be repurchased in part only, any notice of repurchase that relates to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be repurchased.

(h) A new Note in principal amount equal to the unrepurchased portion of any Note repurchased in part shall be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note. Notes called for repurchase become due and payable on the date fixed for repurchase. On and after the date of repurchase, unless the Company defaults in the repurchase payment, interest shall cease to accrue on the Note or portions thereof called for repurchase.

SECTION 1019. Reserved.

SECTION 1020. Additional Interest Notice. In the event that the Issuers are required to pay Additional Interest to Holders pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Issuers shall provide written notice (an “Additional Interest Notice”) to the Trustee of their obligation to pay Additional Interest no later than fifteen days prior to the proposed payment date for the Additional Interest, and the Additional Interest Notice shall set forth the amount of Additional Interest to be paid by the Issuers on such payment date. The Trustee shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder to determine the Additional Interest, or with respect to the nature, extent, or calculation of the amount of Additional Interest owed, or with respect to the method employed in such calculation of the Additional Interest.

SECTION 1021. Covenant Termination.

(a) If at any time the Notes have an Investment Grade Rating from both Rating Agencies and no Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture, then from such time the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to the provisions of Sections 801(a)(4), 1010, 1011, 1013, 1014, 1016 (only to the extent set forth in Section 1016) and 1018; provided that the provisions of Article Eight (except with respect to Section 801(a)(4)), Section 1009, 1012, 1015, 1016 (except to the extent set forth in such Section 1016) and 1017 will not be terminated.

(b) The Company, in an Officer’s Certificate, shall promptly provide notice to the Trustee of a termination of covenants pursuant to clause (a) above. The Trustee shall have no obligation to (i) independently determine or verify if such termination has occurred or (ii) notify the holders of any such termination.

 

-85-


ARTICLE ELEVEN

REDEMPTION OF NOTES

SECTION 1101. Right of Redemption.

(a) At any time prior to May 15, 2019, the Issuers may redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon not less than 15 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, to, but not including, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

(b) From and after May 15, 2019, the Issuers may on one or more occasions redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon not less than 15 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on May 15 of each of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2019

     102.813

2020

     101.406

2021 and thereafter

     100.000

(c) Prior to May 15, 2018, the Issuers may, at their option, on one or more occasions, redeem up to 35% of the sum of the original aggregate principal amount of Notes and the original principal amount of any Additional Notes issued under this Indenture at a redemption price equal to 105.625% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company to the extent such net cash proceeds are contributed to the Company; provided that at least 65% of the sum of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued under this Indenture and the original principal amount of any Additional Notes issued under this Indenture after the Issue Date remains Outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption; provided, further, that each such redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of closing of each such Equity Offering.

SECTION 1102. Applicability of Article. Redemption of Notes at the election of the Issuers or otherwise, as permitted or required by any provision of this Indenture or the Notes, shall be made in accordance with such provision and this Article.

 

-86-


SECTION 1103. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee. The election of the Issuers to redeem any Notes pursuant to Section 1101 above shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution of the Board of Directors of each Issuer. If the Issuers elect to redeem Notes pursuant to Section 1101 hereof, they shall furnish to the Trustee, at least five Business Days before notice of redemption is required to be mailed or caused to be mailed to Holders pursuant to Section 1105 hereof, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth (i) the paragraph or subparagraph of such Note and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the Redemption Date, (iii) the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the Redemption Price.

SECTION 1104. Selection by Trustee of Notes to Be Redeemed.

(a) If the Issuers are redeeming less than all of the Notes at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed (a) if the Notes are listed on any national securities exchange (and such listing is known to the Trustee), in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which such Notes are listed or (b) if such Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis to the extent practicable or by lot or by such other method as may be required by the procedures of DTC; provided that no Notes of $2,000 or less shall be redeemed in part.

(b) If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, any notice of redemption that relates to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

(c) A new Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of any Note redeemed in part shall be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note. Notes called for redemption become due and payable on the date fixed for redemption. On and after the Redemption Date, unless the Issuers default in the redemption payment, interest shall cease to accrue on the Note or portions thereof called for redemption.

SECTION 1105. Notice of Redemption. Notices of redemption shall be sent electronically or be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, at least 15 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder at such Holder’s registered address, except that notices of redemption may be sent electronically or mailed more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

All notices of redemption shall state:

(1) the Redemption Date,

(2) the Redemption Price and the amount of accrued interest to the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 1107, if any,

(3) if less than all Outstanding Notes are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of a partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the particular Notes to be redeemed,

(4) in case any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice which relates to such Note shall state that on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Note, the Holder shall receive, without charge, a new Note or Notes of authorized denominations for the principal amount thereof remaining unredeemed,

(5) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price (and accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 1107) shall become due and payable upon each such Note, or the portion thereof, to be redeemed, and that interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and after said date,

 

-87-


(6) the place or places where such Notes are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any,

(7) the name and address of the Paying Agent,

(8) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the Redemption Price,

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

(10) the “CUSIP” number, ISIN or “Common Code” number and that no representation is made as to the accuracy or correctness of the “CUSIP” number, ISIN or “Common Code” number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes, and

(11) the paragraph of the Notes or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Notes are to be redeemed.

At the Issuers’ request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Issuers’ name and at the Issuers’ expense; provided that the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least five Business Days before notice of redemption is required to be mailed or caused to be mailed to Holders pursuant to this Section 1105 (unless a shorter notice shall be agreed to by the Trustee), an Officer’s Certificate from the Issuers requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in Section 1103 and this Section 1105.

SECTION 1106. Effect of Notice of Redemption. Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 1105 hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the Redemption Date at the Redemption Price. The notice, if mailed in a manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Note designated for redemption in whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Note. Subject to Section 1107 hereof, on and after the Redemption Date, interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption.

SECTION 1107. Deposit of Redemption Price. Prior to 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) on any Redemption Date, the Issuers shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if an Issuer is acting as the Issuers’ Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and accrued interest and Additional Interest, if any, on, all the Notes that are to be redeemed on that date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Issuers any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Issuers in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, on, all Notes to be redeemed or purchased. If the Issuers comply with the provisions of this Section 1107, on and after the Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption.

 

-88-


SECTION 1108. Notes Payable on Redemption Date.

(a) Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Notes so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified (together with accrued interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the Redemption Date), and from and after such date (unless the Issuers shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Notes shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Note for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Note shall be paid by the Issuers at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest and Additional Interest, if any, to, but not including, the applicable Redemption Date and such Notes shall be canceled by the Trustee; provided, however, that installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Notes, or one or more Predecessor Notes, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant record dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 306.

(b) If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption because of the failure of the Issuers to comply with Section 1108(a), the principal (and premium, if any) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate borne by the Notes.

SECTION 1109. Notes Redeemed in Part. Any Note which is to be redeemed only in part (pursuant to the provisions of this Article) shall be surrendered at the office or agency of the Issuers maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 1002 (with, if the Issuers or the Trustee so require, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Issuers and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Issuers shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Note without service charge, a new Note or Notes, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Note so surrendered; provided that no Note of $2,000 or less shall be redeemed in part.

ARTICLE TWELVE

GUARANTEES

SECTION 1201. Subsidiary Guarantees. Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby jointly and severally, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees, as primary obligor and not merely as surety, the Notes and obligations of the Issuers hereunder and thereunder, and guarantees to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, and to the Trustee for itself and on behalf of such Holder, that: (1) the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on, or Additional Interest in respect of, the Notes shall be paid in full when due, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration or otherwise (including the amount that would become due but for the operation of the automatic stay under Section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Law), together with interest on the overdue principal, if any, and interest on any overdue interest, to the extent lawful, and all other obligations of the Issuers to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder shall be paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (2) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or of any such other obligations, the same shall be 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, subject, however, in the case of clauses (1) and (2) above, to the limitation set forth in Section 1204 hereof.

(a) Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, any release of any other Subsidiary Guarantor, the recovery

 

-89-


of any judgment against the Issuers, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a Subsidiary Guarantor.

(b) Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby waives (to the extent permitted by law) the benefits of diligence, presentment, demand for payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company or Finance Corp., any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, Finance Corp. or any other Person, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor shall not be discharged as to any Note except by complete performance of the obligations contained in such Note, this Indenture and such Subsidiary Guarantee. Each Subsidiary Guarantor acknowledges that the Subsidiary Guarantee is a guarantee of payment, performance and compliance when due and not of collection. Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agrees that, in the event of a default in payment of principal (or premium, if any) or interest on such Note, whether at its Stated Maturity, by acceleration, purchase or otherwise, legal proceedings may be instituted by the Trustee on behalf of, or by, the Holder of such Note, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Indenture, directly against each of the Subsidiary Guarantors to enforce such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Subsidiary Guarantee without first proceeding against the Company, Finance Corp. or any other Subsidiary Guarantor.

(c) If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Issuers or any Subsidiary Guarantor, or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Issuers or any Subsidiary Guarantor, any amount paid by any of them to the Trustee or such Holder, the Subsidiary Guarantee of each of the Subsidiary Guarantors, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect. Each Subsidiary Guarantor further agrees that, as between each Subsidiary Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee on the other hand, (1) subject to this Article Twelve, the Maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article Five hereof for the purposes of the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (2) in the event of any acceleration of such obligation as provided in Article Five hereof, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by each Subsidiary Guarantor for the purpose of the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor. The Subsidiary Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Subsidiary Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Subsidiary Guarantees.

(d) Each Subsidiary Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against the Company or Finance Corp. for liquidation, reorganization, should the Company or Finance Corp. become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of the Company’s or Finance Corp.’s assets, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Notes are, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee on the Notes, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent transfer” or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made. In the event that any payment or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Notes shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

 

-90-


SECTION 1202. Severability. In case any provision of any Subsidiary Guarantee shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby to the extent permitted by applicable law.

SECTION 1203. Reserved.

SECTION 1204. Limitation of Subsidiary Guarantors’ Liability. Each Subsidiary Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor 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 the extent applicable to any Subsidiary Guarantee or the provisions of its local law relating to fraudulent transfer or conveyance. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and each such Subsidiary Guarantor hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Subsidiary Guarantor that are relevant under such laws and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Subsidiary Guarantor under this Article Twelve, result in the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable law.

SECTION 1205. Contribution. Each Subsidiary Guarantor that makes a payment under its Subsidiary Guarantee shall be entitled upon payment in full of all guaranteed obligations under this Indenture to a contribution from each other Subsidiary Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Subsidiary Guarantor’s pro rata portion of such payment based on the respective net assets of all the Subsidiary Guarantors at the time of such payment determined in accordance with GAAP.

SECTION 1206. Subrogation. Each Subsidiary Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of Holders against the Issuers in respect of any amounts paid by any Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of Section 1201; provided, however, that, if a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no Subsidiary Guarantor shall be entitled to enforce or receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all amounts then due and payable by the Issuers under this Indenture or the Notes shall have been paid in full.

SECTION 1207. Reinstatement. Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees (and each Person who becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor shall agree) that the Subsidiary Guarantee provided for in Section 1201 shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time, payment, or any part thereof, of any obligations or interest thereon is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by a Holder to the Issuers upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of the Company, Finance Corp. or any Subsidiary Guarantor.

SECTION 1208. Release of a Subsidiary Guarantor. The Subsidiary Guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor shall automatically and unconditionally be released and discharged, and no further action by such Subsidiary Guarantor, the Issuers or the Trustee is required for the release of such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Subsidiary Guarantee, upon:

(1) (A) the sale, disposition or other transfer (including through merger or consolidation) of all of the Capital Stock (or any sale, disposition or other transfer of Capital Stock following which such Subsidiary Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary), or all or substantially all the assets, of such Subsidiary Guarantor (other than a sale, disposition or other transfer to a Restricted Subsidiary) if such sale, disposition or other transfer is made in compliance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture;

 

-91-


(B) the designation by the Company of such Subsidiary Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 1010 of this Indenture and the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary;”

(C) the release or discharge of such Subsidiary Guarantor from its guarantee of Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facility or the guarantee that resulted in the obligation of such Subsidiary Guarantor to guarantee the Notes, in each case, if such Subsidiary Guarantor would not then otherwise be required to guarantee the Notes pursuant to Section 1015 of this Indenture (treating any guarantees of such Subsidiary Guarantor that remain outstanding as incurred at least 30 days prior to such release); or

(D) exercise by the Issuers of their Legal Defeasance option of the Notes under Section 1302 of this Indenture or their Covenant Defeasance option of the Notes under Section 1303 of this Indenture or if the Issuers’ obligations under this Indenture are discharged in accordance with Section 401 of this Indenture; and

(2) in the case of clause (1)(A) above, the release or discharge of such Subsidiary Guarantor from its guarantee, if any, of and all pledges and security, if any, granted in connection with, the Senior Credit Facility and any other Indebtedness of either of the Issuers.

SECTION 1209. Benefits Acknowledged. Each Subsidiary Guarantor acknowledges that it shall receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by this Indenture and from its guarantee and waivers pursuant to its Subsidiary Guarantees under this Article Twelve.

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

SECTION 1301. Issuers’ Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. The Issuers may, at their option, and at any time, elect to have either Section 1302 or Section 1303 be applied to all Outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article Thirteen.

SECTION 1302. Legal Defeasance and Discharge. Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 1301 of the option applicable to this Section 1302, each of the Issuers and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be deemed to have been discharged from its respective obligations with respect to all Outstanding Notes on the date the conditions set forth in Section 1304 are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Legal Defeasance means that each of the Issuers and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the Outstanding Notes, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “Outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 1305 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (1) and (2) below, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Notes and this Indenture insofar as such Notes and their related Subsidiary Guarantees are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Issuers, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

(1) the rights of Holders of Outstanding Notes to receive payments in respect of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest on such Notes when such payments are due solely out of the trust created pursuant to this Indenture (as described in Section 1304),

 

-92-


(2) the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such Notes under Sections 303, 304, 305, 1002 and 1003,

(3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder, and the obligations of each of the Issuers and the Subsidiary Guarantors in connection therewith and

(4) this Article Thirteen.

Subject to compliance with this Article Thirteen, the Issuers may exercise their option under this Section 1302 notwithstanding the prior exercise of their option under Section 1303 with respect to the Notes.

SECTION 1303. Covenant Defeasance. Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 1301 of the option applicable to this Section 1303, each of the Issuers and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be released from its respective obligations under any covenant contained in Sections 801, 1005, and 1009 through and including 1018 with respect to the Outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not to be “Outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or Act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “Outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the Outstanding Notes, either Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default. In addition, upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 1301 of the option applicable to this Section 1303, subject to the satisfaction of conditions set forth in Section 1304, Sections 501(3), 501(4), 501(5), 501(6) and 501(7) will not constitute Events of Default.

SECTION 1304. Conditions to Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. The following shall be the conditions to application of either Section 1302 or Section 1303 to the Outstanding Notes:

(1) the Issuers shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 608 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article Thirteen applicable to it) 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 Notes; (A) cash in U.S. dollars, or (B) non-callable Government Securities, or (C) a combination thereof, in such amounts as shall be 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 and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest due on the Outstanding Notes on the Stated Maturity (or applicable Redemption Date, if applicable) of such principal (and premium, if any) or, interest due on the Notes; provided that the Trustee shall have been irrevocably instructed to apply such cash or the proceeds of such Government Securities to said payments with respect to the Notes; before such a deposit, the Issuers may give to the Trustee, in accordance with Section 1103 hereof, a notice of their election to redeem all of the Outstanding Notes at a future date in accordance with Article Eleven hereof, which notice shall be irrevocable; such irrevocable redemption notice, if given, shall be given effect in applying the foregoing;

 

-93-


(2) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions,

(A) the Issuers have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or

(B) since the issuance of the Notes, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. Federal income tax law,

in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel in the United States shall confirm that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders shall not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. Federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and shall be subject to U.S. Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

(3) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders shall not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. Federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and shall be subject to such tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

(4) no Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit (and any similar concurrent depositing relating to other Indebtedness, or a Default or Event of Default that will be cured by such Covenant Defeasance or Legal Defeasance) and the granting of Liens in connection therewith) shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any of the Senior Credit Facility or any other material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which, the Company, Finance Corp. or any Subsidiary Guarantor is a party or by which the Company, Finance Corp. or any Subsidiary Guarantor is bound;

(6) the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuers with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of the Issuers or any Subsidiary Guarantor or others; and

(7) the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel in the United States of America (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions) each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with.

SECTION 1305. Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions. All cash and Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 1305, the “Qualifying Trustee”) pursuant to Section 1304 in respect of the Outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Qualifying Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including an Issuer acting as the Issuers’ Paying

 

-94-


Agent) as the Qualifying Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, but such money or Government Securities need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Issuers shall pay and indemnify the Qualifying Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 1304 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the Outstanding Notes.

Anything in this Article Thirteen to the contrary notwithstanding, the Qualifying Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Issuers from time to time upon an Issuer Request any money or Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 1304 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Qualifying Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as applicable, in accordance with this Article.

SECTION 1306. Reinstatement. If the Trustee or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 1305 by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Issuers’ and each Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture and the Outstanding Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 1302 or 1303, as the case may be, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 1305; provided, however, that if the Issuers make any payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of their obligations, the Issuers shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

SECTION 1307. Repayment to Issuers. Subject to applicable laws relating to abandoned property, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Issuers, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium and Additional Interest, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium and Additional Interest, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Issuers on their request or (if then held by the Issuers) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter look only to the Issuers for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Issuers as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

[signature pages follow]

 

-95-


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

ROSE ROCK MIDSTREAM, L.P.
By: Rose Rock Midstream GP, LLC,
its general partner
By:

/s/ Robert N. Fitzgerald

Name: Robert N. Fitzgerald
Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
ROSE ROCK FINANCE CORPORATION
By:

/s/ Robert N. Fitzgerald

Name: Robert N. Fitzgerald
Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
ROSE ROCK MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LLC

ROSE ROCK MIDSTREAM FIELD SERVICES, LLC

ROSE ROCK MIDSTREAM ENERGY GP, LLC
SEMCRUDE PIPELINE, L.L.C.
By:

/s/ Robert N. Fitzgerald

Name: Robert N. Fitzgerald
Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page to Rose Rock Indenture]


ROSE ROCK MIDSTREAM CRUDE, L.P.
By: Rose Rock Midstream Energy GP, LLC,

its general partner

By:

/s/ Robert N. Fitzgerald

Name: Robert N. Fitzgerald
Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
GLASS MOUNTAIN HOLDING, LLC
By: Rose Rock Midstream Operating, LLC, its sole Manager
By:

/s/ Robert N. Fitzgerald

Name: Robert N. Fitzgerald
Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
WATTENBERG HOLDING, LLC
By: Rose Rock Midstream Operating, LLC, its sole Manager
By:

/s/ Robert N. Fitzgerald

Name: Robert N. Fitzgerald
Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page to Rose Rock Indenture]


WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:

/s/ Shawn Goffinet

Name: Shawn Goffinet
Title: Assistant Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Rose Rock Indenture]


SCHEDULE I

Subsidiary Guarantors

 

1. Rose Rock Midstream Operating, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

2. Rose Rock Midstream Field Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

3. Rose Rock Midstream Energy GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

4. Rose Rock Midstream Crude, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

 

5. SemCrude Pipeline, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company

 

6. Glass Mountain Holding, LLC, an Oklahoma limited liability company

 

7. Wattenberg Holding, LLC, an Oklahoma limited liability company

 

Schedule I-1


Rule 144A / Regulation S Appendix

PROVISIONS RELATING TO INITIAL NOTES,

PRIVATE EXCHANGE NOTES

AND EXCHANGE NOTES

 

  1. Definitions

 

  1.1 Definitions.

For the purposes of this Appendix the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:

“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Temporary Regulation S Global Note or beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of the Depository for such a Temporary Regulation S Global Note, to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.

“Certificated Note” means a certificated Initial Note or Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note (other than a Global Note) bearing, if required, the restricted notes legend set forth in Section 2.3(e) of this Appendix.

“Depository” means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors.

“Distribution Compliance Period,” with respect to any Notes, means the period of 40 consecutive days beginning on and including the later of (i) the day on which such Notes are first offered to Persons other than distributors (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) in reliance on Regulation S and (ii) the issue date with respect to such Notes.

“Exchange Notes” means (1) the 5.625% Senior Notes Due 2023 issued pursuant to the Indenture in connection with a Registered Exchange Offer pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement and (2) Additional Notes, if any, issued pursuant to a registration statement filed with the SEC under the Securities Act.

“Initial Notes” means (1) $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.625% Senior Notes Due 2023 issued on the Issue Date and (2) Additional Notes, if any, issued in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

“Initial Purchasers” means (1) with respect to the Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, UBS Securities LLC, ABN AMRO Securities (USA) LLC, BBVA Securities Inc., BMO Capital Markets Corp., Capital One Securities, Inc., Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc., BOSC, Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and (2) with respect to each issuance of Additional Notes, the Persons purchasing such Additional Notes under the related Purchase Agreement.

“Notes” means the Initial Notes, any Additional Notes, the Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes, treated as a single class.

“Notes Custodian” means the custodian with respect to a Global Note (as appointed by the Depository), or any successor Person thereto and shall initially be the Trustee.

 

Appendix-1


“Private Exchange” means the offer by the Issuers, pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement, to the Initial Purchasers to issue and deliver to each Initial Purchaser, in exchange for the Initial Notes held by the Initial Purchaser as part of its initial distribution, a like aggregate principal amount of Private Exchange Notes.

“Private Exchange Notes” means any 5.625% Senior Notes Due 2023 issued in connection with a Private Exchange.

“Purchase Agreement” means (1) with respect to the Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, the Purchase Agreement dated May 11, 2015, among the Issuers, the Subsidiary Guarantors and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representative of the several Initial Purchasers, and (2) with respect to each issuance of Additional Notes, the purchase agreement or underwriting agreement among the Issuers, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Persons purchasing such Additional Notes.

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

“Registered Exchange Offer” means the offer by the Issuers, pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement, to certain Holders of Initial Notes, to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the Initial Notes, a like aggregate principal amount of Exchange Notes registered under the Securities Act.

“Registration Rights Agreement” means (1) with respect to the Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, the Registration Rights Agreement dated May 14, 2015, among the Issuers, the Subsidiary Guarantors and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representative of the several Initial Purchasers and (2) with respect to each issuance of Additional Notes issued in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, the registration rights agreement, if any, among the Issuers and the Persons purchasing such Additional Notes under the related Purchase Agreement.

“Rule 144A Notes” means all Notes offered and sold to QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“Shelf Registration Statement” means the registration statement issued by the Issuers in connection with the offer and sale of Initial Notes or Private Exchange Notes pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement.

“Transfer Restricted Notes” means Notes that bear or are required to bear the legend relating to restrictions on transfer relating to the Securities Act set forth in Section 2.3(e) hereto.

1.2 Other Definitions.

 

Term

  

Defined in

Section

“Agent Members”    2.1(b)
“Global Notes”    2.1(a)
“Permanent Regulation S Global Note”    2.1(a)
“Regulation S”    2.1(a)
“Regulation S Global Note”    2.1(a)
“Rule 144A”    2.1(a)
“Rule 144A Global Note”    2.1(a)
“Temporary Regulation S Global Note”    2.1(a)

 

Appendix-2


1.3 Capitalized terms used in this Appendix, but not defined, have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Indenture to which this Appendix is attached.

 

  2. The Notes.

2.1 (a) Form and Dating. The Initial Notes shall be offered and sold by the Issuers pursuant to a Purchase Agreement. The Initial Notes shall be resold initially only to (i) QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”) and (ii) Persons other than U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S) in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act (“Regulation S”). Initial Notes may thereafter be transferred to, among others, QIBs and purchasers in reliance on Regulation S, subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein. Initial Notes initially resold pursuant to Rule 144A shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent global Notes in definitive, fully registered form (collectively, the “Rule 144A Global Note”); and Initial Notes initially resold pursuant to Regulation S shall be issued initially in the form of one or more temporary global notes in fully registered form (collectively, the “Temporary Regulation S Global Note”), in each case without interest coupons and with the global notes legend and the restricted notes legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto, which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Initial Notes represented thereby with the Notes Custodian and registered in the name of the Depository or a nominee of the Depository, duly executed by the Issuers and authenticated by the Trustee as provided in this Indenture. Except as set forth in the immediately succeeding paragraph, beneficial ownership interests in the Temporary Regulation S Global Note shall be held only through the Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System (“Euroclear”) and Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme (“Clearstream”) (as indirect participants in the Depository) and shall not be exchangeable for interests in the Rule 144A Global Note, a permanent Regulation S Global Note in fully registered form (the “Permanent Regulation S Global Note,” and together with the Temporary Regulation S Global Note, the “Regulation S Global Note”) or any other Note prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period and then, after the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, may be exchanged for interests in a Rule 144A Global Note or the Permanent Regulation S Global Note only upon certification in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 3 or otherwise in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee that beneficial ownership interests in such Temporary Regulation S Global Note are owned either by non-U.S. persons or U.S. persons who purchased such interests in a transaction that is exempt from the registration requirements under the Securities Act.

Prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, beneficial interests in Temporary Regulation S Global Notes may be exchanged for interests in Rule 144A Global Notes if (1) such exchange occurs in connection with a transfer of Notes in compliance with Rule 144A and (2) the transferor of the beneficial interest in the Temporary Regulation S Global Note first delivers to the Trustee a written certificate (in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit 2) to the effect that the beneficial interest in the Temporary Regulation S Global Note is being transferred (a) to a Person who the transferor reasonably believes to be a QIB that is purchasing for its own account or the account of a QIB in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and (b) in accordance with all applicable securities laws of the States of the United States and other jurisdictions.

Beneficial interests in a Rule 144A Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in a Regulation S Global Note, whether before or after the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, only if the transferor first delivers to the Trustee a written certificate (in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit 2) to the effect that such transfer is being made in accordance with Rule 903 or 904 of Regulation S or Rule 144 (if applicable).

 

Appendix-3


The Rule 144A Global Note, the Temporary Regulation S Global Note and the Permanent Regulation S Global Note are collectively referred to herein as “Global Notes.” The aggregate principal amount of the Global Notes may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depository or its nominee as hereinafter provided.

(b) Book-Entry Provisions. This Section 2.1(b) shall apply only to a Global Note deposited with or on behalf of the Depository.

The Issuers shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section 2.1(b), authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global Notes that (a) shall be registered in the name of the Depository or the nominee of the Depository and (b) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the Depository or pursuant to the Depository’s instructions or held by the Trustee as custodian for the Depository.

Members of, or participants in, the Depository (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depository or by the Trustee as the custodian of the Depository or under such Global Note, and the Issuers, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuers or the Trustee shall be entitled to treat the Depository as the absolute owner of such Global Note for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Issuers, the Trustee or any agent of the Issuers or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depository or impair, as between the Depository and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices of such Depository governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Note.

(c) Certificated Notes. Except as provided in this Section 2.1 or Section 2.3 or 2.4, owners of beneficial interests in Global Notes shall not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Certificated Notes.

2.2 Authentication. The Trustee shall upon receipt of an Issuer Order specified in Section 202 of the Indenture authenticate and deliver: (1) on the Issue Date, an aggregate principal amount of $350,000,000 5.625% Senior Notes Due 2023, (2) any Additional Notes for an original issue in an aggregate principal amount specified in the written order of the Issuers pursuant to Section 202 of the Indenture and (3) Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes for issue only in a Registered Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange, respectively, pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement, for a like principal amount of Initial Notes, in each case upon an Issuer Order signed by two Officers or by an Officer and either an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary of each Issuer. Such Issuer Order shall specify the amount of the Notes to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated and, in the case of any issuance of Additional Notes pursuant to Section 312 of the Indenture, shall certify that such issuance is in compliance with Section 1011 of the Indenture.

2.3 Transfer and Exchange.

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Certificated Notes. When Certificated Notes are presented to the Note Registrar with a request:

(x) to register the transfer of such Certificated Notes; or

(y) to exchange such Certificated Notes for an equal principal amount of Certificated Notes of other authorized denominations,

 

Appendix-4


the Note Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its reasonable requirements for such transaction are met; provided, however, that the Certificated Notes surrendered for transfer or exchange:

(i) shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Issuers and the Note Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing; and

(ii) if such Certificated Notes are required to bear a restricted notes legend, they are being transferred or exchanged pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, pursuant to Section 2.3(b) or pursuant to clause (A), (B) or (C) below, and are accompanied by the following additional information and documents, as applicable:

(A) if such Certificated Notes are being delivered to the Note Registrar by a Holder for registration in the name of such Holder, without transfer, a certification from such Holder to that effect; or

(B) if such Certificated Notes are being transferred to the Issuers, a certification to that effect; or

(C) if such Certificated Notes are being transferred (x) pursuant to an exemption from registration in accordance with Rule 144A, Regulation S or Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or (y) in reliance upon another exemption from the requirements of the Securities Act: (i) a certification to that effect (in the form set forth on the reverse of the Note) and (ii) if the Issuers so request, an Opinion of Counsel or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Issuers as to the compliance with the restrictions set forth in the legend set forth in Section 2.3(e)(i).

(b) Restrictions on Transfer of a Certificated Note for a Beneficial Interest in a Global Note. A Certificated Note may not be exchanged for a beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Note or a Permanent Regulation S Global Note except upon satisfaction of the requirements set forth below. Upon receipt by the Trustee of a Certificated Note, duly endorsed or accompanied by appropriate instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, together with:

(i) certification, in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit 2, that such Certificated Note is either (A) being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A or (B) being transferred after expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period by a Person who initially purchased such Note in reliance on Regulation S to a buyer who elects to hold its interest in such Note in the form of a beneficial interest in the Permanent Regulation S Global Note; and

(ii) written instructions directing the Trustee to make, or to direct the Notes Custodian to make, an adjustment on its books and records with respect to such Rule 144A Global Note (in the case of a transfer pursuant to clause (b)(i)(A)) or Permanent Regulation S Global Note (in the case of a transfer pursuant to clause (b)(i)(B)) to reflect an increase in the aggregate principal amount of the Notes represented by the Rule 144A Global Note or Permanent Regulation S Global Note, as applicable, such instructions to contain information regarding the Depository account to be credited with such increase,

then the Trustee shall cancel such Certificated Note and cause, or direct the Notes Custodian to cause, in accordance with the standing instructions and procedures existing between the Depository and the Notes Custodian, the aggregate principal amount of Notes represented by the Rule 144A Global Note or Permanent

 

Appendix-5


Regulation S Global Note, as applicable, to be increased by the aggregate principal amount of the Certificated Note to be exchanged and shall credit or cause to be credited to the account of the Person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Note or Permanent Regulation S Global Note, as applicable, equal to the principal amount of the Certificated Note so canceled. If no Rule 144A Global Notes or Permanent Regulation S Global Notes, as applicable, are then outstanding, the Issuers shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate, upon receipt of an Issuer Order, a new Rule 144A Global Note or Permanent Regulation S Global Note, as applicable, in the appropriate principal amount.

(c) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes.

(i) The transfer and exchange of Global Notes or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the Depository, in accordance with this Indenture (including applicable restrictions on transfer set forth herein, if any) and the procedures of the Depository therefor. A transferor of a beneficial interest in a Global Note shall deliver to the Note Registrar a written order given in accordance with the Depository’s procedures containing information regarding the participant account of the Depository to be credited with a beneficial interest in the Global Note. The Note Registrar shall, in accordance with such instructions instruct the Depository to credit to the account of the Person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in the Global Note and to debit the account of the Person making the transfer the beneficial interest in the Global Note being transferred.

(ii) If the proposed transfer is a transfer of a beneficial interest in one Global Note to a beneficial interest in another Global Note, the Note Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of the Global Note to which such interest is being transferred in an amount equal to the principal amount of the interest to be so transferred, and the Note Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and a corresponding decrease in the principal amount of the Global Note from which such interest is being transferred.

(iii) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Appendix (other than the provisions set forth in Section 2.4), a Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depository to a nominee of the Depository or by a nominee of the Depository to the Depository or another nominee of the Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such successor Depository.

(iv) In the event that a Global Note is exchanged for Certificated Notes pursuant to Section 2.4 of this Appendix, prior to the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer or the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Notes, such Notes may be exchanged only in accordance with such procedures as are substantially consistent with the provisions of this Section 2.3 (including the certification requirements set forth on the reverse of the Initial Notes (as set forth in Exhibit 2, hereto) intended to ensure that such transfers comply with Rule 144A, Regulation S or another applicable exemption under the Securities Act, as the case may be) and such other procedures as may from time to time be adopted by the Issuers.

(d) Restrictions on Transfer of Temporary Regulation S Global Notes. Subject to Section 2.1(a), during the Distribution Compliance Period, beneficial ownership interests in Temporary Regulation S Global Notes may only be sold, pledged or transferred in accordance with the Applicable Procedures and only (i) to the Issuers, (ii) in an offshore transaction in accordance with Regulation S (other than a transaction resulting in an exchange for an interest in a Permanent Regulation S Global Note), (iii) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, in each case in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any State of the United States.

 

Appendix-6


(e) Legend.

(i) Except as permitted by the following paragraphs (ii), (iii) and (iv), each Note certificate evidencing the Global Notes (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof), in the case of Notes offered otherwise than in reliance on Regulation S shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT WITHIN [IN THE CASE OF RULE 144A NOTES: ONE YEAR] [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: 40 DAYS] AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE ISSUERS OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUERS WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY) RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY EXCEPT (A) TO THE ISSUERS OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) PURSUANT TO THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE), (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(A)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF THE NOTES AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN RESPECT OF AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES LESS THAN $250,000, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE ISSUERS, IF THEY SO REQUEST, THAT THE TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT, (F) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IF THE ISSUERS SO REQUEST), OR (G) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION,” “UNITED STATES” AND “U.S. PERSON” HAVE THE MEANING GIVEN TO THEM BY REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

Each certificate evidencing a Note offered in reliance on Regulation S shall, in addition to the foregoing, bear a legend in substantially the following form:

BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS THAT IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON, NOR IS IT PURCHASING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A U.S. PERSON, AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

Appendix-7


Each Certificated Note shall also bear the following additional legend:

IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE NOTE REGISTRAR SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH NOTE REGISTRAR MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

(ii) Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Note (including any Transfer Restricted Note represented by a Global Note) pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, the Note Registrar shall permit the transferee thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Note for a Certificated Note that does not bear the legend set forth above and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Note, if the transferor thereof certifies in writing to the Note Registrar that such sale or transfer was made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse of the Note).

(iii) After a transfer of any Initial Notes or Private Exchange Notes pursuant to and during the period of the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Initial Notes or Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, all requirements pertaining to legends on such Initial Note or such Private Exchange Note shall cease to apply, the requirements requiring any such Initial Note or such Private Exchange Note issued to certain Holders be issued in global form shall cease to apply, and a certificated Initial Note or Private Exchange Note or an Initial Note or Private Exchange Note in global form, in each case without restrictive transfer legends, shall be available to the transferee of the Holder of such Initial Notes or Private Exchange Notes upon exchange of such transferring Holder’s certificated Initial Note or Private Exchange Note or directions to transfer such Holder’s interest in the Global Note, as applicable.

(iv) Upon the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer with respect to the Initial Notes, all requirements pertaining to such Initial Notes that Initial Notes issued to certain Holders be issued in global form shall still apply with respect to Holders of such Initial Notes that do not exchange their Initial Notes, and Exchange Notes in certificated or global form, in each case without the restricted notes legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto shall be available to Holders that exchange such Initial Notes in such Registered Exchange Offer.

(v) Upon the consummation of a Private Exchange with respect to the Initial Notes, all requirements pertaining to such Initial Notes that Initial Notes issued to certain Holders be issued in global form shall still apply with respect to Holders of such Initial Notes that do not exchange their Initial Notes, and Private Exchange Notes in global form with the global notes legend and the restricted notes legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto shall be available to Holders that exchange such Initial Notes in such Private Exchange.

(f) Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Note. At such time as all beneficial interests in a Global Note have been exchanged for Certificated Notes, redeemed, purchased or canceled, such Global Note shall be returned to the Depository for cancellation or retained and canceled by the Trustee. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for Certificated Notes, redeemed, purchased or canceled, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced and an adjustment shall be made on the books and records of the Trustee (if it is then the Notes Custodian for such Global Note) with respect to such Global Note, by the Trustee or the Notes Custodian, to reflect such reduction.

 

Appendix-8


(g) No Obligation of the Trustee.

(i) The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Note, a member of, or a participant in the Depository or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depository or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Notes or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depository) of any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Notes. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders under the Notes shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holders (which shall be the Depository or its nominee in the case of a Global Note). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Note shall be exercised only through the Depository subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depository with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.

(ii) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depository participants, members or beneficial owners 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.

2.4 Certificated Notes.

(a) A Global Note deposited with the Depository or with the Trustee as Notes Custodian for the Depository pursuant to Section 2.1 shall be transferred to the beneficial owners thereof in the form of Certificated Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Note, in exchange for such Global Note, only if such transfer complies with Section 2.3 hereof and (i) the Depository notifies the Issuers that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depository for such Global Note and the Depository fails to appoint a successor depository or if at any time such depository ceases to be a “clearing agency” registered under the Exchange Act, in either case, and a successor depository is not appointed by the Issuers within 90 days of such notice, or (ii) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (iii) the Issuers, in their sole discretion, notify the Trustee in writing that they elect to cause the issuance of Certificated Notes under this Indenture (although Temporary Regulation S Global Notes at the Issuers’ election pursuant to this clause may not be exchanged for Certificated Notes prior to (a) the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period and (b) the receipt of any certificates required under the provisions of Regulation S).

(b) Any Global Note that is transferable to the beneficial owners thereof pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall be surrendered by the Depository to the Trustee located at its principal corporate trust office to be so transferred, in whole or from time to time in part, without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, upon such transfer of each portion of such Global Note, an equal aggregate principal amount of Certificated Notes of authorized denominations. Any portion of a Global Note transferred pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall be executed, authenticated and delivered only in denominations of $2,000 principal amount and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof and registered in such names as the Depository shall direct. Any Certificated Note delivered in exchange for an interest in the Transfer Restricted Note shall, except as otherwise provided by Section 2.3(e) hereof, bear the restricted notes legend and certificated notes legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto.

 

Appendix-9


(c) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.4(b) hereof, the registered Holder of a Global Note shall be entitled to grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Notes.

(d) In the event of the occurrence of one of the events specified in Section 2.4(a) hereof, the Issuers shall promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of Certificated Notes in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons. In the event that such Certificated Notes are not issued, the Issuers expressly acknowledge, with respect to the right of any Holder to pursue a remedy pursuant to this Indenture, including pursuant to Section 507, the right of any beneficial owner of Notes to pursue such remedy with respect to the portion of the Global Note that represents such beneficial owner’s Notes as if such Certificated Notes had been issued.

 

Appendix-10


EXHIBIT 1

to Rule 144A / Regulation S Appendix

[FORM OF FACE OF INITIAL NOTE]

[Global Notes Legend]

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE ISSUERS OR THEIR AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC) ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

[[FOR REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE ONLY] UNTIL 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF COMMENCEMENT OR COMPLETION OF THE OFFERING, AN OFFER OR SALE OF SECURITIES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES BY A DEALER (AS DEFINED IN THE SECURITIES ACT) MAY VIOLATE THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT IF SUCH OFFER OR SALE IS MADE OTHERWISE THAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A THEREUNDER.]

[Restricted Notes Legend]

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT WITHIN [IN THE CASE OF RULE 144A NOTES: ONE YEAR] [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: 40 DAYS] AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE ISSUERS OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUERS WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY) RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY EXCEPT (A) TO THE ISSUERS OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) PURSUANT TO THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE), (E) TO AN

 

Ex. 1-1


INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(A)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF THE NOTES AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN RESPECT OF AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES LESS THAN $250,000, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE ISSUERS, IF THEY SO REQUEST, THAT THE TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT, (F) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IF THE ISSUERS SO REQUEST), OR (G) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION,” “UNITED STATES” AND “U.S. PERSON” HAVE THE MEANING GIVEN TO THEM BY REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

[[FOR REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE ONLY] BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS THAT IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON, NOR IS IT PURCHASING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A U.S. PERSON, AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.]

[Temporary Regulation S Global Note Legend]

EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW, BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP INTERESTS IN THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE WILL NOT BE EXCHANGEABLE FOR INTERESTS IN THE PERMANENT REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE OR ANY OTHER NOTE REPRESENTING AN INTEREST IN THE NOTES REPRESENTED HEREBY WHICH DO NOT CONTAIN A LEGEND CONTAINING RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER, UNTIL THE EXPIRATION OF THE “40-DAY DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 903(b)(2) OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND THEN ONLY UPON CERTIFICATION IN FORM REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE TRUSTEE THAT SUCH BENEFICIAL INTERESTS ARE OWNED EITHER BY NON-U.S. PERSONS OR U.S. PERSONS WHO PURCHASED SUCH INTERESTS IN A TRANSACTION THAT DID NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. DURING SUCH 40-DAY DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD, BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP INTERESTS IN THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE MAY ONLY BE SOLD, PLEDGED OR TRANSFERRED (I) TO THE ISSUERS, (II) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN A TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (III) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (III) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES. HOLDERS OF INTERESTS IN THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE WILL NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO ABOVE, IF THEN APPLICABLE.

AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED FOR INTERESTS IN A RULE 144A GLOBAL NOTE ONLY IF (1) SUCH EXCHANGE OCCURS IN CONNECTION WITH A TRANSFER OF THE NOTES IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A AND (2) THE TRANSFEROR OF THE REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE FIRST DELIVERS TO THE TRUSTEE A WRITTEN CERTIFICATE (IN THE FORM ATTACHED TO THIS

 

Ex. 1-2


CERTIFICATE) TO THE EFFECT THAT THE REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE IS BEING TRANSFERRED (A) TO A PERSON WHO THE TRANSFEROR REASONABLY BELIEVES TO BE A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A, (B) TO A PERSON WHO IS PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, AND (C) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF THE STATES OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS.

BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN A RULE 144A GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A PERSON WHO TAKES DELIVERY IN THE FORM OF AN INTEREST IN THE REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE, WHETHER BEFORE OR AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE 40-DAY DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD, ONLY IF THE TRANSFEROR FIRST DELIVERS TO THE TRUSTEE A WRITTEN CERTIFICATE (IN THE FORM ATTACHED TO THIS CERTIFICATE) TO THE EFFECT THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR 904 OF REGULATION S OR RULE 144 (IF AVAILABLE).

[Certificated Notes Legend]

IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE NOTE REGISTRAR SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH NOTE REGISTRAR MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

 

Ex. 1-3


No.                        $               

CUSIP:

5.625% Senior Notes Due 2023

Rose Rock Midstream, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and Rose Rock Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation, jointly and severally promise to pay to                                         , or registered assigns, the principal sum of                                          Dollars [(or such greater or lesser amount as may be indicated on Schedule A hereto)] on November 15, 2023.

Interest Payment Dates: May 15 and November 15.

Record Dates: May 1 and November 1.

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.

Dated:                     

 

Ex. 1-4


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuers have caused this instrument to be duly executed.

Dated:

 

ROSE ROCK MIDSTREAM, L.P.
By: Rose Rock Midstream GP, LLC,
its general partner
By:

 

Name:
Title:
ROSE ROCK FINANCE CORPORATION
By:

 

Name:
Title:

 

Ex. 1-5


TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

certifies that this is one of the Notes referred to in the Indenture.

By:

 

Authorized Signatory

 

Dated:

 

Ex. 1-6


[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF INITIAL NOTE]

5.625% Senior Notes Due 2023

Capitalized terms used herein but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Indenture.

 

1. Principal and Interest.

Rose Rock Midstream, L.P. and Rose Rock Finance Corporation (collectively, the “Issuers”) shall jointly and severally pay the principal of this Note on November 15, 2023.

The Issuers promise to pay interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the principal amount of this Note on each Interest Payment Date, as set forth below, at the rate of 5.625% per annum (subject to adjustment as provided below).

Interest, and Additional Interest, if any, shall be payable semi-annually (to the Holders of the Notes at the close of business on May 1 or November 1 immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date) in arrears on each Interest Payment Date, commencing November 15, 2015.

The Holder of this Note is entitled to the benefits of the Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 14, 2015, among the Issuers, the Subsidiary Guarantors and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representative of the several Initial Purchasers (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), including with respect to Additional Interest.

Interest, including Additional Interest, if any, on this Note shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid on this Note or the Note surrendered in exchange herefor or, if no interest has been paid, from May 14, 2015; provided that, if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest and if this Note is authenticated between a Regular Record Date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

The Issuers shall pay interest on overdue principal and premium, if any, and interest on overdue installments of interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the extent lawful, at a rate per annum equal to the rate of interest applicable to the Notes.

 

2. Method of Payment.

The Issuers shall pay interest (except defaulted interest) on the principal amount of the Notes on each May 15 and November 15 to the Persons who are Holders (as reflected in the Note Register at the close of business on May 1 and November 1 immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date), in each case, even if the Note is transferred or exchanged after such Regular Record Date, except as provided in Section 306(b) with respect to Defaulted Interest; provided that, with respect to the payment of principal, the Issuers shall make payment to the Holder that surrenders this Note to any Paying Agent on or after November 15, 2023.

The Issuers shall pay principal (premium, if any) and interest in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. However, the Issuers may pay principal (premium, if any) and interest by their check payable in such money. The Issuers may pay interest on the Notes either (a) by mailing a check for such interest to a Holder’s registered address (as reflected in the Note Register) or (b) by wire transfer to an account located in the United States maintained by the payee. If a payment date is a date other than a Business Day at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.

 

Ex. 1-7


3. Paying Agent and Note Registrar.

Initially, Wilmington Trust, National Association (the “Trustee”), shall act as Paying Agent and Note Registrar. The Issuers may change any Paying Agent or Note Registrar upon written notice thereto and without notice to the Holders. The Issuers, any Subsidiary of the Company or any Affiliate of any of them may act as Paying Agent, Note Registrar or co-registrar.

 

4. Indenture.

The Issuers issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of May 14, 2015 (the “Indenture”), among the Issuers, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act 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.

The Notes are unsecured senior obligations of the Issuers. The Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of the Notes. Subject to the conditions set forth in the Indenture, the Issuers may issue Additional Notes.

 

5. Redemption.

At any time prior to May 15, 2019, the Issuers may redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon not less than 15 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

On and after May 15, 2019, the Issuers may on one or more occasions redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon not less than 15 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice to each Holder at the Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on May 15 of each of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2019

     102.813

2020

     101.406

2021 and thereafter

     100.000

In addition, prior to May 15, 2018, the Issuers may, at their option, on one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the sum of the original aggregate principal amount of Notes and the original principal amount of any Additional Notes issued under the Indenture at a redemption price equal to 105.625% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings of

 

Ex. 1-8


the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company to the extent such net cash proceeds are contributed to the Company; provided that at least 65% of the sum of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued under the Indenture and the original principal amount of any Additional Notes issued under the Indenture after the Issue Date remains Outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption; provided, further, that each such redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of closing of each such Equity Offering.

 

6. Repurchase upon a Change of Control Triggering Event and Asset Sales.

Upon the occurrence of (a) a Change of Control Triggering Event, the Company will be required to make an offer to purchase such Holder’s outstanding Notes, in whole or in part, at a purchase price of 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of purchase and (b) Asset Sales, the Company may be obligated to make offers to purchase Notes and Senior Indebtedness of the Company with a portion of the Net Proceeds of such Asset Sales at a redemption price of 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of purchase.

 

7. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange.

The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 principal amount and integral multiples of $1,000. A Holder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Note Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Issuers may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Note Registrar need not register the transfer or exchange of a Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption (except, in the case of a Note to be redeemed in part, the portion of the Note not to be redeemed) or any Note or portion of a Note for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or 15 days before an Interest Payment Date.

 

8. Persons Deemed Owners.

A registered Holder may be treated as the owner of a Note for all purposes.

 

9. Unclaimed Money.

Subject to any laws relating to abandoned property, if money for the payment of principal (premium, if any) or interest remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Issuers on an Issuer Request or (if then held by the Issuers) shall be discharged from such trust. After that, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Issuers for payment and all liability of the Trustee and such Paying Agent with respect to such money, and all liability of the Issuers as trustee thereof, shall cease.

 

10. Discharge and Defeasance Prior to Redemption or Maturity.

Subject to satisfaction of conditions set forth in the Indenture, the Issuers at any time may terminate some or all of their obligations under the Notes and the Indenture if the Issuers irrevocably deposit with the Trustee cash or Government Securities or a combination thereof sufficient for the payment of the then outstanding principal of and interest on the Notes to Redemption or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.

 

Ex. 1-9


11. Amendment; Supplement; Waiver.

Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes, including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, the Notes, and any existing Default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes. Without notice to or the consent of any Holder, the parties thereto may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Notes to, among other things, cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency and make any change that does not adversely affect the legal rights of any Holder.

 

12. Covenants.

The Indenture contains certain covenants, including covenants with respect to the following matters: (i) Restricted Payments; (ii) incurrence of Indebtedness and issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock; (iii) Liens; (iv) transactions with Affiliates; (v) dividend and other payment restrictions affecting Restricted Subsidiaries; (vi) future Subsidiary Guarantors; (vii) reports and other information; (viii) merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all assets; (ix) purchase of Notes upon a Change of Control Triggering Event; (x) sale and lease-back transactions and (xi) disposition of proceeds of Asset Sales. Within 120 days (or the successor time period then in effect under the rules and regulations of the Exchange Act) after the end of each fiscal year, the Company must report to the Trustee on compliance with such limitations.

 

13. Successor Persons.

When a successor Person or other entity assumes all the obligations of its predecessor under the Notes and the Indenture, the predecessor Person shall be released from those obligations, subject to certain exceptions.

 

14. Remedies for Events of Default.

If an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes may declare all Outstanding Notes to be immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company, Finance Corp. or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company occurs and is continuing, the Notes automatically become immediately due and payable. Subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to the duties of the Trustee, in case an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense. Subject to certain restrictions, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes are given the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder of a Note or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

 

15. Subsidiary Guarantees.

The Issuers’ obligations under the Notes are fully, irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed on an unsecured senior basis, to the extent set forth in the Indenture, by each of the Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

Ex. 1-10


16. Trustee Dealings with Issuers.

The Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may make loans to, accept deposits from, perform services for, and otherwise deal with, the Issuers and any of their Affiliates as if it were not the Trustee.

 

17. Authentication.

This Note shall not be valid until the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note.

 

18. 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).

 

19. CUSIP Numbers.

Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuers have caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and have directed the Trustee to 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 that reliance may be placed only on the serial or other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

20. Holders’ Compliance with the Registration Rights Agreement.

Each Holder of a Note, by acceptance hereof, acknowledges and agrees to the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement, including the obligations of the Holders with respect to a registration and the indemnification of the Issuers to the extent provided therein.

 

21. Governing Law.

THIS SECURITY AND THE INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

The Issuers shall furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to Rose Rock Midstream, L.P., Two Warren Place, 6120 S. Yale Avenue, Suite 700, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136-4216; Attn: General Counsel and Secretary.

 

Ex. 1-11


EXHIBIT 2

to Rule 144A / Regulation S Appendix

ASSIGNMENT/TRANSFER FORM

To assign and transfer this Note, fill in the form below:

 

I or we assign and transfer this Note to

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)

and irrevocably appoint                                      agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuers. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Date:                      Your Signature:

 

Sign exactly as your name appears

on the other side of this Note.

In connection with any transfer of this Note occurring prior to the date which is the date following the expiration of the applicable holding period set forth in Rule 144(d) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of this Note, the undersigned confirms that it has not utilized any general solicitation or general advertising in connection with such transfer and is making such transfer pursuant to one of the following:

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

 

¨ to the Issuers or any Subsidiary of the Company; or
¨ (1) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act; or
¨ (2) inside the United States to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act; or
¨ (3) outside the United States in an offshore transaction within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act in compliance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act; or
¨ (4) to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act) that has furnished to the Trustee a signed letter containing certain representations and agreements (the form of which letter can be obtained from the Trustee); or
¨ (5) pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

 

Ex. 2-1


Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee shall refuse to register the Note evidenced by this certificate in the name of any person other than the registered holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (4) or (5) is checked, the Trustee shall be entitled to require, prior to registering any such transfer of this Note, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Issuers have reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act, such as the exemption provided by Rule 144 under such Act.

 

 

Signature
Signature Guarantee:

 

 

Signature must be guaranteed Signature

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Note Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Note Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Ex. 2-2


TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (2) 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 and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act, 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 Issuers 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 undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

 

Date:                     

 

Notice: To be executed by an executive officer

 

Ex. 2-3


[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL NOTES]

SCHEDULE A - INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE

The following increases or decreases in this Global Note have been made:

 

Date of Exchange

   Amount of decrease
in Principal amount
of this Global Note
   Amount of increase in
Principal amount of
this Global Note
   Principal amount of
this Global Note
following such
decrease or increase
   Signature of
authorized officer of
Trustee or Notes
Custodian
           
           
           
           
           

 

Ex. 2-4


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 1017 or 1018 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:

¨  Section 1017            ¨  Section 1018

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 1017 or 1018 of the Indenture, state the amount in principal amount: $        

 

Date: Your Signature:

 

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.)

 

Signature Guarantee:

 

(Signature must be guaranteed)

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Note Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Note Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Ex. 2-5


EXHIBIT 3

to Rule 144A / Regulation S Appendix

FORM OF NON-U.S. BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

CERTIFICATION BY EUROCLEAR OR CLEARSTREAM

[Date]

Wilmington Trust, National Association

Global Capital Markets

15950 N. Dallas Parkway, Suite 550

Dallas, TX 75248

Attention: Rose Rock Midstream, L.P. Administrator

 

  Re: 5.625% Senior Notes Due 2023 (the “Notes”) of Rose Rock Midstream, L.P. and Rose Rock Finance Corporation (collectively, the “Issuers”)

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of May 14, 2015 (as amended and supplemented from time to time, the “Indenture”), among the Issuers, the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given them in the Indenture.

This is to certify with respect to $        principal amount of the Notes that, except as set forth below, we have received in writing, by tested telex or by electronic transmission, from member organizations appearing in our records as persons being entitled to a portion of such principal amount (our “Member Organizations”) certifications with respect to such portion, that such portion is beneficially owned by (a) non-U.S. person(s) or (b) U.S. person(s) who purchased the portion beneficially owned by such U.S. person(s) in transactions that did not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”). As used in this paragraph the term “U.S. person” has the meaning given to it by Regulation S under the Act.

We further certify:

(i) that we are not making available herewith for exchange (or, if relevant, exercise of any rights or collection of any interest) any portion of the Temporary Regulation S Global Note excepted in such certifications; and

(ii) that as of the date hereof we have not received any notification from any of our Member Organizations to the effect that the statements made by such Member Organizations with respect to any portion of the part submitted herewith for exchange (or, if relevant, exercise of any rights or collection of any interest) are no longer true and cannot be relied upon as the date hereof.

We understand that this certification is required in connection with certain securities laws of the United States. In connection therewith, if administrative or legal proceedings are commenced or threatened in connection with which this certification is or would be relevant, we irrevocably authorize you or the Issuers to produce this certification to any interested party in such proceedings.

 

Ex. 3-1


Dated:             , 20  

 

Yours faithfully,
[Euroclear or Clearstream Luxembourg]
By:

 

 

Ex. 3-2


EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF FACE OF EXCHANGE NOTE

OR PRIVATE EXCHANGE NOTE]1,2

 

 

1  [If the Note is to be issued in global form add the Global Notes Legend from Exhibit 1 to Appendix A and the attachment from such Exhibit 1 captioned “[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL NOTES] SCHEDULE A - INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE.”]
2  [If the Note is a Private Exchange Note issued in a Private Exchange to an Initial Purchaser holding an unsold portion of its initial allotment, add the Restricted Notes Legend from Exhibit 1 to Appendix A and replace the Assignment Form included in this Exhibit A with the Assignment Form included in such Exhibit 1.]

 

Ex. A-1


No.                      $            

CUSIP:

5.625% Senior Notes Due 2023

Rose Rock Midstream, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and Rose Rock Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation, jointly and severally promise to pay to                                         , or registered assigns, the principal sum of                                          Dollars [(or such greater or lesser amount as may be indicated on Schedule A hereto)] on November 15, 2023.

Interest Payment Dates: May 15 and November 15.

Record Dates: May 1 and November 1.

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.

Dated:

 

ROSE ROCK MIDSTREAM, L.P.
By: Rose Rock Midstream GP, LLC,
its general partner
By:

 

Name:
Title:
ROSE ROCK FINANCE CORPORATION
By:

 

Name:
Title:

 

Ex. A-2


TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

certifies that this is one of the Notes referred to in the Indenture.

By:

 

Authorized Signatory

 

Dated:

 

Ex. A-3


[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF EXCHANGE NOTE

OR PRIVATE EXCHANGE NOTE]

5.625% Senior Notes Due 2023

Capitalized terms used herein but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Indenture.

 

1. Principal and Interest.

Rose Rock Midstream, L.P. and Rose Rock Finance Corporation (collectively, the “Issuers”) shall jointly and severally pay the principal of this Note on November 15, 2023.

The Issuers promise to pay interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the principal amount of this Note on each Interest Payment Date, as set forth below, at the rate of 5.625% per annum (subject to adjustment as provided below).

Interest, and Additional Interest, if any, shall be payable semi-annually (to the Holders of the Notes at the close of business on May 1 or November 1 immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date) in arrears on each Interest Payment Date, commencing November 15, 2015.

The Holder of this Note is entitled to the benefits of the Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 14, 2015, among the Issuers, the Subsidiary Guarantors and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representative of the several Initial Purchasers named therein (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), including with respect to Additional Interest.1

Interest, including Additional Interest, if any, on this Note shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid on this Note or the Note surrendered in exchange herefor or, if no interest has been paid, from May 14, 2015; provided that, if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest and if this Note is authenticated between a Regular Record Date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

The Issuers shall pay interest on overdue principal and premium, if any, and interest on overdue installments of interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the extent lawful, at a rate per annum equal to the rate of interest applicable to the Notes.

 

2. Method of Payment.

The Issuers shall pay interest (except defaulted interest) on the principal amount of the Notes on each May 15 and November 15 to the Persons who are Holders (as reflected in the Note Register at the close of business on May 1 and November 1 immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date), in each case, even if the Note is transferred or exchanged after such Regular Record Date, except as provided in Section 306(b) with respect to Defaulted Interest; provided that, with respect to the payment of principal, the Issuers shall make payment to the Holder that surrenders this Note to any Paying Agent on or after November 15, 2023.

 

1  Insert if at the date of issuance of the Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note (as the case may be) any Registration Default has occurred with respect to the related Initial Notes during the interest period in which such date of issuance occurs.

 

Ex. A-4


The Issuers shall pay principal (premium, if any) and interest in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. However, the Issuers may pay principal (premium, if any) and interest by their check payable in such money. The Issuers may pay interest on the Notes either (a) by mailing a check for such interest to a Holder’s registered address (as reflected in the Note Register) or (b) by wire transfer to an account located in the United States maintained by the payee. If a payment date is a date other than a Business Day at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.

 

3. Paying Agent and Note Registrar.

Initially, Wilmington Trust, National Association (the “Trustee”), shall act as Paying Agent and Note Registrar. The Issuers may change any Paying Agent or Note Registrar upon written notice thereto and without notice to the Holders. The Issuers, any Subsidiary of the Company or any Affiliate of any of them may act as Paying Agent, Note Registrar or co-registrar.

 

4. Indenture.

The Issuers issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of May 14, 2015 (the “Indenture”), among the Issuers, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act 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.

The Notes are unsecured senior obligations of the Issuers. The Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of the Notes. Subject to the conditions set forth in the Indenture, the Issuers may issue Additional Notes.

 

5. Redemption.

At any time prior to May 15, 2019, the Issuers may redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon not less than 15 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

On and after May 15, 2019, the Issuers may on one or more occasions redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon not less than 15 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice to each Holder at the Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on May 15 of each of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2019

     102.813

2020

     101.406

2021 and thereafter

     100.000

 

Ex. A-5


In addition, prior to May 15, 2018, the Issuers may, at their option, on one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the sum of the original aggregate principal amount of Notes and the original principal amount of any Additional Notes issued under the Indenture at a redemption price equal to 105.625% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company to the extent such net cash proceeds are contributed to the Company; provided that at least 65% of the sum of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued under the Indenture and the original principal amount of any Additional Notes issued under the Indenture after the Issue Date remains Outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption; provided, further, that each such redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of closing of each such Equity Offering.

 

6. Repurchase upon a Change of Control Triggering Event and Asset Sales.

Upon the occurrence of (a) a Change of Control Triggering Event, the Company will be required to make an offer to purchase such Holder’s outstanding Notes, in whole or in part, at a purchase price of 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of purchase, (b) Asset Sales, the Company may be obligated to make offers to purchase Notes and Senior Indebtedness of the Company with a portion of the Net Proceeds of such Asset Sales at a redemption price of 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of purchase.

 

7. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange.

The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 principal amount and integral multiples of $1,000. A Holder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Note Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Issuers may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Note Registrar need not register the transfer or exchange of a Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption (except, in the case of a Note to be redeemed in part, the portion of the Note not to be redeemed) or any Note or portion of a Note for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or 15 days before an Interest Payment Date.

 

8. Persons Deemed Owners.

A registered Holder may be treated as the owner of a Note for all purposes.

 

9. Unclaimed Money.

Subject to any laws relating to abandoned property, if money for the payment of principal (premium, if any) or interest remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Issuers on an Issuer Request (if then held by the Issuers) shall be discharged from such trust. After that, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Issuers for payment and all liability of the Trustee and such Paying Agent with respect to such money, and all liability of the Issuers as trustee thereof, shall cease.

 

10. Discharge and Defeasance Prior to Redemption or Maturity.

Subject to satisfaction of conditions set forth in the Indenture, the Issuers at any time may terminate some or all of their obligations under the Notes and the Indenture if the Issuers irrevocably deposit

 

Ex. A-6


with the Trustee cash or Government Securities or a combination thereof sufficient for the payment of the then outstanding principal of and interest on the Notes to Redemption or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.

 

11. Amendment; Supplement; Waiver.

Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes, including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, the Notes, and any existing Default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes. Without notice to or the consent of any Holder, the parties thereto may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Notes to, among other things, cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency and make any change that does not adversely affect the legal rights of any Holder.

 

12. Covenants.

The Indenture contains certain covenants, including covenants with respect to the following matters: (i) Restricted Payments; (ii) incurrence of Indebtedness and issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock; (iii) Liens; (iv) transactions with Affiliates; (v) dividend and other payment restrictions affecting Restricted Subsidiaries; (vi) future Subsidiary Guarantors; (vii) reports and other information; (viii) merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all assets; (ix) purchase of Notes upon a Change of Control Triggering Event; (x) sale and lease-back transactions and (xi) disposition of proceeds of Asset Sales. Within 120 days (or the successor time period then in effect under the rules and regulations of the Exchange Act) after the end of each fiscal year, the Company must report to the Trustee on compliance with such limitations.

 

13. Successor Persons.

When a successor Person or other entity assumes all the obligations of its predecessor under the Notes and the Indenture, the predecessor Person shall be released from those obligations, subject to certain exceptions.

 

14. Remedies for Events of Default.

If an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes may declare all Outstanding Notes to be immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company, Finance Corp. or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company occurs and is continuing, the Notes automatically become immediately due and payable. Subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to the duties of the Trustee, in case an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense. Subject to certain restrictions, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes are given the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder of a Note or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

 

Ex. A-7


15. Subsidiary Guarantees.

The Issuers’ obligations under the Notes are fully, irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed on an unsecured senior basis, to the extent set forth in the Indenture, by each of the Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

16. Trustee Dealings with Issuers.

The Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may make loans to, accept deposits from, perform services for, and otherwise deal with, the Issuers and any of their Affiliates as if it were not the Trustee.

 

17. Authentication.

This Note shall not be valid until the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note.

 

18. 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).

 

19. CUSIP Numbers.

Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuers have caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and have directed the Trustee to 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. Holders’ Compliance with the Registration Rights Agreement.

Each Holder of a Note, by acceptance hereof, acknowledges and agrees to the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement, including the obligations of the Holders with respect to a registration and the indemnification of the Issuers to the extent provided therein.

 

21. Governing Law.

THIS SECURITY AND THE INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

The Issuers shall furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to Rose Rock Midstream, L.P., Two Warren Place, 6120 S. Yale Avenue, Suite 700, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136-4216; Attn: General Counsel and Secretary.

 

Ex. A-8


ASSIGNMENT/TRANSFER FORM

To assign and transfer this Note, fill in the form below:

 

I or we assign and transfer this Note to

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)

and irrevocably appoint                                          agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuers. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Date:                     Your Signature:

 

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.)

 

Ex. A-9


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 1017 or 1018 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:

¨  Section 1017             ¨  Section 1018

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 1017 or 1018 of the Indenture, state the amount in principal amount: $        

 

Date: Your Signature:

 

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.)

 

Signature Guarantee:

 

(Signature must be guaranteed)

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Note Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Note Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Ex. A-10


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of             , 201  , among                                          (the “Guaranteeing Subsidiary”), a subsidiary of Rose Rock Midstream, L.P. (or its permitted successor), a Delaware limited partnership (the “Company”), Rose Rock Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation (together with the Company, the “Issuers”), the other Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture referred to herein) and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the “Trustee”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Issuers have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee a senior unsecured indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of May 14, 2015 providing for the issuance of 5.625% Senior Notes Due 2023 (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Issuers’ Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein (the “Subsidiary Guarantee”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 901 of the Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:

1. CAPITALIZED TERMS. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

2. AGREEMENT TO SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees to provide an unconditional Subsidiary Guarantee on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Note Subsidiary Guarantee and in the Indenture including but not limited to Article 12 thereof.

3. NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder or agent of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers or any Guaranteeing Subsidiary under the Notes, any Note Guarantees, the Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation; provided that the foregoing shall not limit any of the Issuers’ obligations under the Notes. Each Holder of the Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. Such waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.

4. GOVERNING LAW. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

Ex. B-1


5. COUNTERPARTS. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

6. EFFECT OF HEADINGS. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

7. THE TRUSTEE. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Issuers.

 

Ex. B-2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above written.

Dated:             , 20  

 

[GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY]
By:

 

Name:
Title:
ROSE ROCK MIDSTREAM, L.P.
By: Rose Rock Midstream GP, LLC,
By:

 

Name:
Title:
ROSE ROCK FINANCE CORPORATION
By:

 

Name:
Title:
[Existing Subsidiary Guarantors]
By:

 

Name:
Title:
WILMINGTON TRUST,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:

 

Authorized Signatory

 

Ex. B-3