SILVERLEAF RESORTS, INC.
EX-10.1 2 d68266exv10w1.htm EX-10.1 exv10w1
Exhibit 10.1
SILVERLEAF RESORTS, INC.
10% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2012
INDENTURE
Dated as of June 30, 2009
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Trustee
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||||
ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE | 1 | |||||||
Section 1.01. | Definitions | 1 | ||||||
Section 1.02. | Other Definitions | 14 | ||||||
Section 1.03. | Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act | 15 | ||||||
Section 1.04. | Rules of Construction | 16 | ||||||
ARTICLE 2. THE NOTES | 16 | |||||||
Section 2.01. | Form and Dating | 16 | ||||||
Section 2.02. | Execution and Authentication | 17 | ||||||
Section 2.03. | Registrar and Paying Agent | 18 | ||||||
Section 2.04. | Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust | 18 | ||||||
Section 2.05. | Holder Lists | 18 | ||||||
Section 2.06. | Transfer and Exchange | 19 | ||||||
Section 2.07. | Replacement Notes | 20 | ||||||
Section 2.08. | Outstanding Notes | 21 | ||||||
Section 2.09. | Treasury Notes | 21 | ||||||
Section 2.10. | Temporary Notes | 21 | ||||||
Section 2.11. | Cancellation | 22 | ||||||
Section 2.12. | Defaulted Interest and Principal | 22 | ||||||
ARTICLE 3. REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT | 22 | |||||||
Section 3.01. | Notices to Trustee | 22 | ||||||
Section 3.02. | Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed | 22 | ||||||
Section 3.03. | Notice of Redemption | 23 | ||||||
Section 3.04. | Effect of Notice of Redemption | 24 | ||||||
Section 3.05. | Deposit of Redemption Price | 24 | ||||||
Section 3.06. | Notes Redeemed in Part | 24 | ||||||
Section 3.07. | Optional Redemption | 24 | ||||||
Section 3.08. | Mandatory Redemption | 24 | ||||||
Section 3.09. | Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds | 25 | ||||||
ARTICLE 4. COVENANTS | 26 | |||||||
Section 4.01. | Payment of Notes | 26 | ||||||
Section 4.02. | Maintenance of Office or Agency | 27 | ||||||
Section 4.03. | Reports | 27 | ||||||
Section 4.04. | Compliance Certificate | 28 | ||||||
Section 4.05. | Taxes | 27 | ||||||
Section 4.06. | Stay, Extension and Usury Laws | 27 | ||||||
Section 4.07. | Restricted Payments | 29 | ||||||
Section 4.08. | Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries | 31 | ||||||
Section 4.09. | Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock | 31 |
Page | ||||||||
Section 4.10. | Asset Sales | 34 | ||||||
Section 4.11. | Transactions with Affiliates | 35 | ||||||
Section 4.12. | Liens | 36 | ||||||
Section 4.13. | Business Activities | 36 | ||||||
Section 4.14. | Corporate Existence | 36 | ||||||
Section 4.15. | Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control | 37 | ||||||
Section 4.16. | Sale and Leaseback Transactions | 38 | ||||||
Section 4.17. | Limitation on Issuances and Sales of Capital Stock of Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries | 38 | ||||||
Section 4.18. | Designation of a Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary | 39 | ||||||
Section 4.19. | Limitation on Status as Investment Company | 40 | ||||||
Section 4.20. | No Senior Subordinated Debt | 40 | ||||||
Section 4.21. | No Amendment of Subordination Provisions | 40 | ||||||
Section 4.22. | Payments for Consent | 40 | ||||||
Section 4.23. | Listings of Company Common Stock on Exchanges | 40 | ||||||
ARTICLE 5. SUCCESSORS | 41 | |||||||
Section 5.01. | Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets | 41 | ||||||
Section 5.02. | Successor Corporation Substituted | 41 | ||||||
ARTICLE 6. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES | 42 | |||||||
Section 6.01. | Events of Default | 42 | ||||||
Section 6.02. | Acceleration | 44 | ||||||
Section 6.03. | Other Remedies | 44 | ||||||
Section 6.04. | Waiver of Past Defaults | 44 | ||||||
Section 6.05. | Control by Majority | 44 | ||||||
Section 6.06. | Limitation on Suits | 45 | ||||||
Section 6.07. | Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment | 45 | ||||||
Section 6.08. | Collection Suit by Trustee | 45 | ||||||
Section 6.09. | Trustee May File Proofs of Claim | 46 | ||||||
Section 6.10. | Priorities | 46 | ||||||
Section 6.11. | Undertaking for Costs | 46 | ||||||
ARTICLE 7. TRUSTEE | 47 | |||||||
Section 7.01. | Duties of Trustee | 47 | ||||||
Section 7.02. | Rights of Trustee | 48 | ||||||
Section 7.03. | Individual Rights of Trustee | 49 | ||||||
Section 7.04. | Trustees Disclaimer | 49 | ||||||
Section 7.05. | Notice of Defaults | 49 | ||||||
Section 7.06. | Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes | 50 | ||||||
Section 7.07. | Compensation and Indemnity | 50 | ||||||
Section 7.08. | Replacement of Trustee | 51 | ||||||
Section 7.09. | Successor Trustee by Merger, etc. | 52 | ||||||
Section 7.10. | Eligibility; Disqualification | 52 | ||||||
Section 7.11. | Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company | 52 | ||||||
ARTICLE 8. LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE | 52 |
ii
Page | ||||||||
Section 8.01. | Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance | 52 | ||||||
Section 8.02. | Legal Defeasance and Discharge | 52 | ||||||
Section 8.03. | Covenant Defeasance | 53 | ||||||
Section 8.04. | Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance | 53 | ||||||
Section 8.05. | Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions | 55 | ||||||
Section 8.06. | Repayment to Company | 55 | ||||||
Section 8.07. | Reinstatement | 55 | ||||||
ARTICLE 9. AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER | 56 | |||||||
Section 9.01. | Without Consent of Holders of Notes | 56 | ||||||
Section 9.02. | With Consent of Holders of Notes | 57 | ||||||
Section 9.03. | Compliance with Trust Indenture Act | 58 | ||||||
Section 9.04. | Revocation and Effect of Consents | 58 | ||||||
Section 9.05. | Notation on or Exchange of Notes | 59 | ||||||
Section 9.06. | Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc. | 59 | ||||||
ARTICLE 10. SUBORDINATION | 59 | |||||||
Section 10.01. | Agreement to Subordinate | 59 | ||||||
Section 10.02. | Certain Definitions | 59 | ||||||
Section 10.03. | Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy | 60 | ||||||
Section 10.04. | Default on Designated Senior Debt | 60 | ||||||
Section 10.05. | Acceleration of Notes | 61 | ||||||
Section 10.06. | When Distribution Must Be Paid Over | 61 | ||||||
Section 10.07. | Notice by Company | 61 | ||||||
Section 10.08. | Subrogation | 61 | ||||||
Section 10.09. | Relative Rights | 61 | ||||||
Section 10.10. | Subordination May Not Be Impaired by Company | 62 | ||||||
Section 10.11. | Distribution or Notice to Representative | 62 | ||||||
Section 10.12. | Rights of Trustee and Paying Agent | 62 | ||||||
Section 10.13. | Authorization to Effect Subordination | 63 | ||||||
ARTICLE 11. GUARANTEES | 63 | |||||||
Section 11.01. | Unconditional Guarantee | 63 | ||||||
Section 11.02. | Subordination of Note Guarantee | 64 | ||||||
Section 11.03. | Severability | 64 | ||||||
Section 11.04. | Release of a Guarantor | 64 | ||||||
Section 11.05. | Limitation of Guarantors Liability | 65 | ||||||
Section 11.06. | Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms | 65 | ||||||
Section 11.07. | Waiver of Subrogation | 65 | ||||||
Section 11.08. | Execution of Guarantee | 66 | ||||||
Section 11.09. | Additional Subsidiary Guarantees | 66 | ||||||
ARTICLE 12. MISCELLANEOUS | 67 | |||||||
Section 12.01. | Trust Indenture Act Controls | 67 | ||||||
Section 12.02. | Notices | 67 |
iii
Page | ||||||||
Section 12.03. | Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes | 68 | ||||||
Section 12.04. | Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent | 68 | ||||||
Section 12.05. | Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion | 69 | ||||||
Section 12.06. | Rules by Trustee and Agents | 69 | ||||||
Section 12.07. | No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders | 69 | ||||||
Section 12.08. | Governing Law | 69 | ||||||
Section 12.09. | No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements | 70 | ||||||
Section 12.10. | Successors | 70 | ||||||
Section 12.11. | Severability | 70 | ||||||
Section 12.12. | Counterpart Originals | 70 | ||||||
Section 12.13. | Table of Contents, Headings, etc. | 70 |
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A | FORM OF NOTE | |
Exhibit A-1 | FORM OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE | |
Exhibit A-2 | AMORTIZATION SCHEDULE | |
Exhibit B | FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE |
iv
INDENTURE dated as of June 30, 2009 among Silverleaf Resorts, Inc., a Texas corporation (the Company), and, as guarantors, Silverleaf Travel, Inc., a Texas corporation, Silverleaf Berkshires, Inc., a Texas corporation, Awards Verification Center, Inc., a Texas corporation, People Really Win Sweepstakes, Inc., a Texas corporation, and SLR Research, Inc., a Texas corporation (each a Guarantor and collectively, the Guarantors), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the Trustee).
The Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the 10% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012 (the Notes):
ARTICLE 1.
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION
BY REFERENCE
BY REFERENCE
Section 1.01. Definitions.
8% Notes means the Companys 8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2010 issued by the Company pursuant to an indenture dated as of June 7, 2004, by and among the Company, certain of the Guarantors, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (as successor by merger to Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association), as trustee.
Acquired Debt means, with respect to any specified Person, (i) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged with or into or becomes a Subsidiary of such specified Person, including, without limitation, Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into or becoming a Subsidiary of such specified Person, and (ii) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.
Affiliate of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, control (including, with correlative meanings, the terms controlling, controlled by and under common control with), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise; provided that beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the voting securities of a Person shall be deemed to be control.
Agent means any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-registrar.
Amortization Schedule means the amortization schedule attached to the Note as Exhibit A-2 thereto, including any amendments to the Amortization Schedule that may be required by the provisions of Exhibit A-2 to the Note due to the cancelation of Notes prior to the date of maturity.
Asset Sale means (i) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any assets or rights (including, without limitation, by way of a sale and leaseback) other than in the ordinary
1
course of business consistent with past practices (provided that the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be governed by the provisions of Section 4.15 hereof and/or the provisions of Section 5.01 hereof and not by the provisions of Section 4.10 hereof), and (ii) the issue or sale by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Equity Interests of any of the Companys Restricted Subsidiaries, in the case of either clause (i) or (ii), whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (a) that have a fair market value in excess of $1.0 million or (b) for net proceeds in excess of $1.0 million. Notwithstanding the foregoing: (i) a transfer of assets by the Company to a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor or by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or to another Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor, (ii) an issuance of Equity Interests by a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or to another Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor, (iii) a Restricted Payment that is permitted by Section 4.07 hereof (iv) sales of Mortgages Receivable to a Receivables Subsidiary, and (v) sales, leases or contracts for deed in the ordinary course of business of Vacation Intervals or Mortgages Receivable, will not be deemed to be Asset Sales.
Attributable Debt in respect of a sale and leaseback transaction means, at the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the rate of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP) of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such sale and leaseback transaction (including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended).
Bankruptcy Law means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
Board of Directors means the Board of Directors of the Company, or any authorized committee of the Board of Directors.
Business Day means any day other than a Legal Holiday.
Capital Lease Obligation means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP.
Capital Stock means (i) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock, (ii) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock, (iii) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited) and (iv) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.
Cash Equivalents means (i) United States dollars, (ii) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the full faith and credit of the United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof having maturities of not more than six months from the date of acquisition, (iii) certificates of deposit and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of six months
2
or less from the date of acquisition, bankers acceptances with maturities not exceeding six months and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million and a Thompson Bank Watch Rating of B or better, (iv) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (ii) and (iii) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (iii) above and (v) commercial paper having the highest rating obtainable from Moodys Investors Service, Inc. or Standard & Poors Corporation and in each case maturing within six months after the date of acquisition.
Change of Control means the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any person (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), (ii) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, (iii) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any person (as defined above), becomes the beneficial owner (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that a person shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the Company (measured by voting power rather than number of shares), or (iv) the Company consolidates with, or merges with or into, any Person, or sells, assigns, conveys, transfers, leases or otherwise disposes of all or substantially all of its assets to any Person, or any Person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the Voting Stock of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such transaction is converted into or exchanged for Voting Stock of the surviving or transferee Person constituting a majority of the outstanding shares of such Voting Stock of such surviving or transferee Person (immediately after giving effect to such issuance).
Club means the owners associations for any of the Companys resorts or developments, or of nearby residential or condominium tracts developed by the Company or its predecessors, and the Silverleaf Club.
Company means Silverleaf Resorts, Inc., a Texas corporation, and any and all successors thereto.
Consolidated Cash Flow means, with respect to any Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period plus (i) an amount equal to any extraordinary loss plus any net loss realized in connection with an Asset Sale (to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income), plus (ii) provision for taxes based on income or profits of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such provision for taxes was included in computing such Consolidated Net Income, plus (iii) Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued and whether or not capitalized (including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the
3
interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, imputed interest with respect to Attributable Debt, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers acceptance financings, and net payments (if any) pursuant to Hedging Obligations), to the extent that any such expense was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income, plus (iv) depreciation, amortization (including amortization of goodwill and other intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period) and other non-cash expenses (excluding any such non-cash expense to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income, minus (v) non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period (excluding any such non-cash items to the extent they represent a reversal of amounts that were accrued in prior periods and were then excluded from Consolidated Cash Flow as a result of the second parenthetical in clause (iv)), plus, (vi) non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for a prior period which were excluded from Consolidated Cash Flow in such period due to the application of clause (v), to the extent such non-cash item is collected in cash in a subsequent period, in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP. The recognition of revenue on the accrual basis in accordance with GAAP upon the sale, lease, or sale by contract for deed of Vacation Intervals shall not be deemed a non-cash item increasing Consolidated Net Income. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provision for taxes on the income or profits of, and the depreciation and amortization and other non-cash charges of, a Restricted Subsidiary of the referent Person shall be added to Consolidated Net Income to compute Consolidated Cash Flow only to the extent (and in the same proportion) that the Net Income of such Person was included in calculating Consolidated Net Income.
Consolidated Coverage Ratio means with respect to any Person for any period, the ratio of the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period. In the event that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, issues Guarantees, repays, redeems, retires, repurchases or defeases any Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock (other than revolving credit borrowings) subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Consolidated Coverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Consolidated Coverage Ratio is made (the Calculation Date), then the Consolidated Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, issuance, Guarantee, repayment, redemption, retirement, repurchase, or defeasance of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock (and in the case of incurrence or issuance, the pro forma application of the net proceeds thereof) as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable reference period. In addition, for purposes of making the computation referred to above, (i) acquisitions that have been made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers or consolidations and including any related financing transactions, during the applicable reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date shall be deemed to have occurred on the first day of the reference period and Consolidated Cash Flow for such reference period shall be calculated without giving effect to clause (iii) of the proviso set forth in the definition of Consolidated Net Income, and (ii) the Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to discontinued operations, as
4
determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, shall be excluded, and (iii) the Consolidated Interest Expense attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, shall be excluded, but only to the extent that the obligations giving rise to such Consolidated Interest Expense will not be obligations of the referent Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries following the Calculation Date. For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is given to an acquisition of assets, the amount of income or earnings relating thereto and the amount of Consolidated Interest Expense associated with any Indebtedness incurred in connection therewith shall be determined in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company.
Consolidated Interest Expense means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of (i) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued (including, without limitation, amortization of original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, imputed interest with respect to Attributable Debt, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers acceptance financings, and net payments (if any) pursuant to Hedging Obligations), (ii) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period, (iii) any interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person that is Guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries (whether or not such Guarantee or Lien is called upon), and (iv) the product of (a) all dividend payments, whether or not in cash, on any series of Disqualified Stock of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than dividend payments on Equity Interests payable solely in Equity Interests of the Company, times (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is one minus the then current combined federal, state and local statutory tax rate of such Person, expressed as a decimal, in each case on a consolidated basis and 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, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that (i) the Net Income of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash by the referent Person to the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary thereof, (ii) the Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary shall be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Subsidiary or its stockholders, (iii) the Net Income of any Person acquired in a pooling of interests transaction for any period prior to the date of such acquisition shall be excluded, and (iv) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles shall be excluded.
5
Consolidated Net Worth means, with respect to any Person as of any date, the sum of (i) the consolidated equity of the common stockholders of such Person and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date plus (ii) the respective amounts reported on such Persons balance sheet as of such date with respect to any series of preferred stock (other than Disqualified Stock) that by its terms is not entitled to the payment of dividends unless such dividends may be declared and paid only out of net earnings in respect of the year of such declaration and payment, but only to the extent of any cash received by such Person upon issuance of such preferred stock, less (x) all write-ups (other than write-ups resulting from foreign currency translations and write-ups of tangible assets of a going concern business made within 12 months after the acquisition of such business) subsequent to the date hereof in the book value of any asset owned by such Person or a consolidated Restricted Subsidiary of such Person, (y) all investments as of such date in unconsolidated Subsidiaries and in Persons that are not Restricted Subsidiaries (except, in each case, Permitted Investments), and (z) all unamortized debt discount and expense and unamortized deferred charges as of such date, all of the foregoing determined in accordance with GAAP.
Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee shall be at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 12.02 hereof or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Company.
Credit Facilities means those certain credit facilities at the date hereof between the Company and certain lenders providing for revolving credit on the security of Mortgages Receivable in an aggregate amount up to $338 million, including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, in each case as amended, modified, restated, renewed, increased, supplemented, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time, whether with the same or different lenders and in the same or different amounts.
Default means any event that is or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be an Event of Default.
Definitive Notes means certificated Notes registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in the form of Exhibit A hereto except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached thereto.
Depositary means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.03 hereof as the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture.
Designated Senior Debt means (i) any Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Facilities and (ii) any other Senior Debt permitted under this Indenture, the principal amount of which is $25 million or more and that has been designated by the Company as Designated Senior Debt.
6
Disqualified Stock means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the Holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 360 days after the date on which the Notes mature.
Domestic Restricted Subsidiary means a Restricted Subsidiary that is not formed, incorporated or organized in a jurisdiction outside the United States.
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).
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Existing Indebtedness means up to $213.9 million in aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities) in existence on the date hereof, until such amounts are repaid.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect on the date hereof.
Global Note means a Note in the form of Exhibit A bearing the Global Note Legend and with the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached thereto.
Global Note Legend means the legend contained in footnote 1 of Exhibit A which is to be placed on Global Notes.
Government Securities means direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America and the payment for which the United States pledges its full faith and credit.
Guarantee means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness.
Guarantors means each of (i) Awards Verification Center, Inc., a Texas corporation, Silverleaf Travel, Inc., a Texas corporation, Silverleaf Berkshires, Inc., a Texas corporation, People Really Win Sweepstakes, Inc., a Texas corporation, and SLR Research, Inc., a Texas corporation and (ii) any other Subsidiary that executes a Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, and their respective successors and assigns.
Hedging Obligations means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under (i) interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar
7
agreements and (ii) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in interest rates.
Holder means a Person in whose name a Note is registered.
Indebtedness means, with respect to any Person, any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, in respect of borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof) or bankers acceptances or representing Capital Lease Obligations or the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or representing any Hedging Obligations, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable, if and to the extent any of the foregoing indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP, as well as all indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person (whether or not such indebtedness is assumed by such Person) and, to the extent not otherwise included, the Guarantee by such Person of any indebtedness of any other Person. The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date shall be (i) the accreted value thereof, in the case of any Indebtedness that does not require current payments of interest, and (ii) the principal amount thereof, together with any interest thereon that is more than 30 days past due, in the case of any other Indebtedness.
Indenture means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.
Investments means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of direct or indirect loans (including Guarantees of Indebtedness or other obligations), advances or capital contributions (excluding commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, in each case excluding (i) Mortgages Receivable (ii) receivables from Sampler contracts or lot or condominium sales, and (iii) management fees owed to the Company by a Club or Clubs pursuant to the terms of a Management Agreement, the payment of which is deferred pursuant to any net income limitations imposed by such agreement. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of the Company such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the Company shall be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition equal to the fair market value of the Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of Section 4.07 hereof.
Legal Holiday means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York or at a place of payment are authorized by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the intervening period.
8
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).
Management Agreement means any agreement between the Company and a Club or Clubs for the management of a Company resort or resorts.
Mortgages Receivable means (i) the gross principal amount of notes receivable of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries secured by Liens on Vacation Intervals (including notes receivable secured by Vacation Intervals or other comparable timeshare interests acquired by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries), determined in accordance with the books and records of the Company, and (ii) all related customer files, instruments or other assets.
Net Income means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends, excluding, however, (i) any gain or loss, together with any related provision for taxes on (or tax benefit from) such gain or loss, realized in connection with (a) any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, dispositions pursuant to sale and leaseback transactions) or (b) the disposition of any securities by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and (ii) any extraordinary or nonrecurring gain or loss, together with any related provision for taxes on (or tax benefit from) such extraordinary or nonrecurring gain or loss.
Net Proceeds means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale (including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions) and any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements), amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness (other than the Credit Facilities or other revolving Indebtedness if there is no corresponding permanent reduction in commitments with respect thereto) secured by a Lien on the asset or assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale and any reserve for adjustment in respect of the sale price of such asset or assets established in accordance with GAAP.
Non-Recourse Debt means Indebtedness (i) as to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) provides credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness), (b) is directly or indirectly liable (as a guarantor or otherwise), or (c) constitutes the lender and (ii) no default with respect to which (including any rights that the holders thereof may have to take enforcement action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit (upon notice, lapse of time or both) any holder of any other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default on such other Indebtedness or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its
9
stated maturity; and (iii) as to which the lenders have been notified in writing that they will not have any recourse to the stock or assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
Note Custodian means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Notes in global form, or any successor entity thereto.
Notes means the 10% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012 issued under this Indenture.
Obligations means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.
Officer means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary or any Vice-President of such Person.
Officers Certificate means a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by two Officers of the Company, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Company, that meets the requirements of Section 12.05 hereof.
Opinion of Counsel means an opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of Section 12.05 hereof. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or the Trustee.
Payment Date means the date on which any payment of principal or interest on the Notes is due.
Permitted Investments means (a) any Investment in the Company or in a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; (b) any Investment in Cash Equivalents; (c) any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a Person, if as a result of such Investment (i) such Person becomes a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and a Guarantor that is engaged in the same business as the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries were engaged in on the date hereof or a Related Business, or (ii) such Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a Guarantor and that is engaged in the same line of business as the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries were engaged in on the date hereof or a Related Business; (d) any Restricted Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.10 hereof; (e) any acquisition of assets solely in exchange for the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company; (f) payroll, travel, and similar advances to cover matters that are expected at the time of such advances ultimately to be treated as expenses for accounting purposes and that are made in the ordinary course of business; (g) loans or advances to employees made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices in an aggregate amount outstanding at any one time not to exceed $500,000; (h) stock, obligations, or securities received in settlement of debts created in the ordinary course of business and owing to the Company or a Restricted
10
Subsidiary; (i) any Investment acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (1) in exchange for any other Investment or receivable held by the Company of any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of any bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the issuer of such other Investment or receivable or (2) as a result of a foreclosure (or deed in lieu of) by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default; (j) Hedging Obligations permitted under Section 4.09 hereof; (k) all Investments existing on the date hereof; (l) Investments by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in a Club or Clubs in an aggregate amount outstanding at any one time not to exceed $2.0 million; (m) investments in a Receivables Subsidiary; and (n) other Investments in any Person having an aggregate fair market value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed $5.0 million.
Permitted Liens means (i) Liens existing on the date hereof to the extent and in the manner such Liens are in effect on such date; (ii) Liens securing Senior Debt and Liens on assets securing Guarantees of Senior Debt, in each case permitted to be incurred pursuant to this Indenture, (iii) Liens (if any) securing the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees; (iv) Liens securing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness which is incurred to refinance any Indebtedness which has been secured by a Lien permitted under this Indenture and which has been incurred in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, provided, however, that such Liens are not materially less favorable to the Holders and are not materially more favorable to the Lien Holder with respect to such Liens than the Liens in respect of the Indebtedness being refinanced; (v) Liens in favor of the Company or any Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary; (vi) Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged into or consolidated with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such merger or consolidation and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person merged into or consolidated with the Company; (vii) Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition thereof by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such acquisition; (viii) Liens to secure the performance of statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds, performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business; (ix) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently concluded, provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision as shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made therefor; (x) Liens on assets of Unrestricted Subsidiaries that secure Non-Recourse Debt of Unrestricted Subsidiaries; (xi) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company with respect to obligations that do not exceed $1.0 million at any one time outstanding and that (a) are not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of advances or credit (other than trade credit in the ordinary course of business) and (b) do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of the affected property or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of business by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary; and (xii) Liens on assets of Receivables Subsidiaries.
11
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness means any Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that: (i) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of (or accreted value, if applicable), plus accrued interest on, the Indebtedness so extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded (plus the amount of reasonable expenses incurred in connection therewith); (ii) such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date the same as or later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; (iii) if the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, as applicable, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of, and is subordinated in right of payment to, the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees, as applicable, on terms at least as favorable to the Holders of Notes as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; and (iv) such Indebtedness is incurred either by the Company or by the Restricted Subsidiary who is the obligor on the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded.
Person means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or agency or political subdivision thereof (including any subdivision or ongoing business of any such entity or substantially all of the assets of any such entity, subdivision or business).
Receivables Subsidiary of any Person means a Subsidiary which (i) is established and continues to operate for the limited purpose of acquiring, selling and financing Mortgages Receivable and related assets in connection with receivables securitization or financing transactions and (ii) all of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors qualifying shares) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries of such Person.
Related Business means, at any time, any business related, ancillary or complementary (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors) to the business conducted by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the date hereof.
Remaining Principal Balance of each Note means the original principal amount of each $500 Note less any amount of principal paid pursuant to the terms of each Note.
Responsible Officer, when used with respect to the Trustee, means any Officer within the Corporate Trust Administration of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) or any other Officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated Officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other Officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
12
Restricted Investment means any Investment other than a Permitted Investment.
Restricted Subsidiary of a Person means any Subsidiary of the referent Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Senior Debt means (i) all Indebtedness outstanding under Credit Facilities, (ii) any other Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary under the terms of this Indenture, unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is on a parity with or subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or Subsidiary Guarantees, as applicable, and (iii) all Obligations with respect to the foregoing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Senior Debt will not include (v) the 8% Notes (w) any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by the Company, (x) any Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor to the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries or other Affiliates, (y) any trade payables or (z) any Indebtedness that is incurred in violation of this Indenture.
Significant Restricted Subsidiary of a Person means any Significant Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary.
Significant Subsidiary means any Subsidiary that would be a significant subsidiary as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Regulation is in effect on the date of this Indenture.
Stated Maturity means, with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which such payment of interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the original documentation governing such Indebtedness, and shall not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof) and (ii) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general partners of which are such Person or of one or more Subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof).
Subsidiary Guarantees means, individually and collectively, the Guarantees given by the Guarantors pursuant to Article 11 hereof, including a notation in the Notes substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A-1.
TIA means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA.
13
Trustee means the party named as such above until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.
Unrestricted Subsidiary means (i) any Subsidiary that is designated by the Board of Directors as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Board Resolution; but only to the extent that such Subsidiary: (a) has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt; (b) is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company; (c) is a Person with respect to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (x) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (y) to maintain or preserve such Persons financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results; (d) has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and (e) has at least one director on its Board of Directors that is not a director or executive officer of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and has at least one executive officer that is not a director or executive officer of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or (ii) any Receivables Subsidiary.
Vacation Interval means an interest entitling the holder to use, for a limited period on an annual or other recurrent basis, a lodging unit, together with associated privileges and rights, at a Company resort, including, without limitation, a fee interest, a leasehold, a vendees interest under a contract of deed, or other interest based on a floating period or points based system.
Voting Stock of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.
Weighted Average Life to Maturity means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (i) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment, by (ii) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.
Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of any Person means a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person all of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors qualifying shares) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries of such Person and one or more Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries of such Person.
Section 1.02. Other Definitions.
14
Defined in | ||||
Term | Section | |||
Affiliate Transaction | 4.11 | |||
Asset Sale Offer | 3.09 | |||
Authentication Order | 2.02 | |||
Change of Control Offer | 4.15 | |||
Change of Control Payment | 4.15 | |||
Change of Control Payment Date | 4.15 | |||
Covenant Defeasance | 8.03 | |||
Event of Default | 6.01 | |||
Excess Proceeds | 4.10 | |||
incur | 4.09 | |||
Legal Defeasance | 8.02 | |||
Offer Amount | 3.09 | |||
Offer Period | 3.09 | |||
Payment Default | 6.01 | |||
Paying Agent | 2.03 | |||
Permitted Debt | 4.09 | |||
Purchase Date | 3.09 | |||
Registrar | 2.03 | |||
Restricted Payments | 4.07 |
Section 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.
The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:
indenture securities means the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees;
indenture security Holder means a Holder of a Note;
indenture to be qualified means this Indenture;
15
indenture trustee or institutional trustee means the Trustee;
obligor on the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees means the Company and the Guarantors, respectively, and any successor obligor upon the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees, respectively.
All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA have the meanings so assigned to them.
Section 1.04. Rules of Construction.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(2) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;
(3) or is not exclusive;
(4) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;
(5) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; and
(6) references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act shall be deemed to include substitute, replacement of successor sections or rules adopted by the SEC from time to time.
ARTICLE 2.
THE NOTES
Section 2.01. Form and Dating.
(a) General. The Notes and the Trustees certificate of authentication in respect thereof shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, the terms of which are incorporated in and made part of this Indenture. The Subsidiary Guarantees shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1, the terms of which are incorporated in and made part of this Indenture. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be in denominations of the original principal amount of $500 and integral multiples thereof.
The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any
16
Note or Subsidiary Guarantee conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.
(b) Global Notes. Notes shall be issued initially in the form of one or more Global Notes in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons, which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with the Trustee, at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary (or with such other custodian as the Depositary may direct), and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of the Depositary, duly executed by the Company and authenticated. Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified therein and each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect payments of principal, exchanges and redemptions. Interest on each Global Note shall be paid on October 1, 2009 and April 1, 2010, and thereafter interest and principal shall be paid in accordance with the Amortization Schedule on January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 of each year, commencing July 1, 2010, until the Notes are paid in full on April 1, 2012. Interest on each Global Note will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid on the Global Note, from the date of issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest or principal, and if this Global Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Payment Date. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Note Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee.
(c) Certificated Securities. Except as provided in Section 2.06(a), owners of beneficial interests in Global Notes will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Definitive Notes.
Section 2.02. Execution and Authentication.
Two Officers shall sign the Notes for the Company by manual or facsimile signature. If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time a Note is authenticated, the Note shall nevertheless be valid.
A Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee shall, upon a written order of the Company signed by two Officers (an Authentication Order), authenticate Notes for original issue up to the aggregate principal amount stated in paragraph 4 of the Notes. The aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding at any time may not exceed such amount except as provided in Section 2.07 hereof.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Notes. An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may
17
do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries.
Section 2.03. Registrar and Paying Agent.
The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange (Registrar) and an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (Paying Agent). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term Registrar includes any co-registrar and the term Paying Agent includes any additional paying agent. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.
The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company (DTC) to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.
The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar and Paying Agent in connection with the Notes and to act as Note Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.
Section 2.04. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.
The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal or interest on the Notes, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Company or any Guarantor in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any assets distributed. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company, a Guarantor or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders or the Trustee all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Company or any Guarantor, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.
Section 2.05. Holder Lists.
The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company and/or the Guarantors shall cause the Registrar to furnish to the Trustee at least seven Business Days before each Payment Date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of Notes and the Company and the Guarantors shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a).
18
Section 2.06. Transfer and Exchange.
(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. Global Notes may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. Global Notes may be exchanged for Definitive Notes only if (i) the Depositary (x) notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the Global Notes and the Company thereupon fails to appoint a successor depositary within 90 days or (y) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, (ii) the Company, in its sole discretion, determines that the Global Notes (in whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and delivers a written notice to such effect to the Trustee or (iii) there shall have occurred and be continuing a Default or an Event of Default with respect to the Notes. Upon the occurrence of any of the preceding events in (i), (ii) or (iii) above, (x) the Company shall execute and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Notes in exchange for such Global Notes, and (y) Definitive Notes shall be issued in such names and issued in any approved denominations as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee. At such time as all beneficial interests in Global Notes have been exchanged for Definitive Notes pursuant to this Section 2.06(a), redeemed, repurchased or cancelled, all Global Notes shall be returned to or retained and cancelled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof. Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and 2.10 hereof. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note except as provided in this Section 2.06(a).
(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes. Nothing in this Indenture precludes the transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes by lawful means and in accordance with any applicable provisions of this Indenture and any applicable procedures of the Depositary.
(c) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.
(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, subject to this Section 2.06, the Company shall execute and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon the Company or the Registrars request.
(ii) No service charge shall be made to a Holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.10, 3.06, 3.09, 4.10, 4.15 and 9.05 hereof).
19
(iii) The Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if its requirements for such transactions are met; provided, however, that any Note presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar and the Trustee duly executed by the Holder thereof or by his attorney duly authorized in writing.
(iv) All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes shall be the valid Obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
(v) The Company shall not be required (A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of selection or (B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.
(vi) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Company may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Company shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
(vii) The Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof.
(viii) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.06 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile, unless originals are required by the Trustee.
(d) Character of Notes. The Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act, and are being issued under the Indenture in reliance upon a specific exemption from the registration provisions of the Securities Act afforded by Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act.
Section 2.07. Replacement Notes
If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company and the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Note, the Company shall issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustees requirements are met. If required by the Trustee or the Company, an indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of
20
the Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Company may charge for its expenses in replacing a Note.
Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.
Section 2.08. Outstanding Notes.
The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those cancelled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.09 hereof, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note; however, Notes held by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company shall not be deemed to be outstanding for purposes of Section 3.07(b) hereof.
If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.
If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.01 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.
If the Paying Agent (other than the Company or a Subsidiary) holds, on a redemption date or maturity date, money sufficient to pay Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding and shall cease to accrue interest.
Section 2.09. Treasury Notes.
In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Company or by an officer or director of the Company or any Subsidiary shall be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
Section 2.10. Temporary Notes
Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes and as shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.
Holders of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture.
21
Section 2.11. Cancellation.
The Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy cancelled Notes (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act). Certification of the destruction of all cancelled Notes shall be delivered to the Company. The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.12. Defaulted Interest and Principal.
If the Company defaults in a payment of interest or principal on the Notes, it shall pay the defaulted interest or principal in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest or principal, to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest or principal proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment. The Company shall fix or cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date, provided that no such special record date shall be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest or principal. At least 15 days before the special record date, the Company (or, upon the written request of the Company, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company) shall send or cause to be sent to Holders a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest or principal to be paid.
ARTICLE 3.
REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT
Section 3.01. Notices to Trustee.
If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 3.07 hereof, it shall furnish to the Trustee, at least 45 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), an Officers Certificate setting forth (a) the clause of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (b) the redemption date, (c) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and (d) the redemption price.
Section 3.02. Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed.
If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed or purchased in an offer to purchase at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed or purchased among the Holders of the Notes in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed or, if the Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or in accordance with any other method the Trustee considers fair and appropriate. In the event of partial redemption by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed shall be selected, unless otherwise
22
provided herein, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption.
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes selected for redemption. and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Notes and portions of Notes selected shall be in amounts equal to the Remaining Principal Balance of each Note or whole multiples of such Remaining Principal Balance.
Section 3.03. Notice of Redemption.
Subject to the provisions of Section 3.09 hereof, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall send or cause to be sent via electronic delivery or mailed, by first class mail, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address.
The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:
(a) the redemption date;
(b) the redemption price;
(c) if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion shall be issued upon cancellation of the original Note;
(d) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(e) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;
(f) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;
(g) the paragraph of the Notes and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed; and
(h) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes.
At the Companys request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Companys name and at its expense; provided, however, that the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the redemption date, an Officers Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.
23
Section 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption.
Once notice of redemption is sent in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price. A notice of redemption may not be conditional.
Section 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price.
One Business Day prior to the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Notes to be redeemed on that date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest on, all Notes to be redeemed.
If the Company complies with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption. If a Note is redeemed on or after a payment record date but on or prior to the related Payment Date, then any accrued and unpaid interest and principal shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such record date. If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption because of the failure of the Company to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof.
Section 3.06. Notes Redeemed in Part.
Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Company shall issue and, upon the Companys written request, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Company a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered.
Section 3.07. Optional Redemption.
(a) The Company shall have the option to redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice at a redemption price equal to the Remaining Principal Balance of each Note redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the applicable redemption date.
(b) Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.
Section 3.08. Mandatory Redemption.
Except as set forth under Sections 4.10 and 4.15 hereof, the Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption payments with respect to the Notes.
24
Section 3.09. Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds.
In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof, the Company shall be required to commence an offer to all Holders to purchase Notes (an Asset Sale Offer), it shall follow the procedures specified below.
The Asset Sale Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 Business Days following its commencement and no longer, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the Offer Period). No later than five Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the Purchase Date), the Company shall purchase the principal amount of Notes required to be purchased pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof (the Offer Amount) or, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered in response to the Asset Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased shall be made in the same manner as interest and principal payments are made.
If the Purchase Date is on or after a record date and on or before the related Payment Date, any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such record date, and no additional interest shall be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer.
Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company shall send, by electronic transmission or by first class mail, a notice to the Trustee and each of the Holders, with a copy to the Trustee. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer. The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders. The notice, which shall govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, shall state:
(a) that the Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.09 and Section 4.10 hereof and the length of time the Asset Sale Offer shall remain open;
(b) the Offer Amount, the purchase price and the Purchase Date;
(c) that any Note not tendered or accepted for payment shall continue to accrete or accrue interest;
(d) that, unless the Company defaults in making such payment, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer shall cease to accrete or accrue interest after the Purchase Date;
(e) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer may only elect to have Notes purchased in integral multiples equal to the Remaining Principal Balance of each Note purchased;
(f) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to any Asset Sale Offer shall be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled Option of Holder to Elect Purchase on the reverse of the Note completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Company, a Depositary, if appointed by the Company, or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice at least three days before the Purchase Date;
25
(g) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Company, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than the close of business on the business day prior to the expiration of the Offer Period, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased;
(h) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders exceeds the Offer Amount, the Company shall select the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in denominations equal to the Remaining Principal Balance of each Note or integral multiples thereof, shall be purchased).
(i) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered.
On or before the Purchase Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful, accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary, the Offer Amount of Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer, or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered, and shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers Certificate stating that such Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Company in accordance with the terms of this Section 3.09. The Company, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall promptly (but in any case not later than five days after the Purchase Date) mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Company for purchase, and the Company shall promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee, upon written request from the Company shall authenticate and mail or deliver such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof. The Company shall publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on the Purchase Date.
Other than as specifically provided in this Section 3.09, any purchase pursuant to this Section 3.09 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.
ARTICLE 4.
COVENANTS
Section 4.01. Payment of Notes.
The Company shall pay or cause to be paid the principal and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the due date money deposited by the Company in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal and interest then due. The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to 1% per annum in excess of the then
26
applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.
Section 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Company shall maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency for such purposes. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.
The Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof.
Section 4.03. Reports.
Whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission), so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company and the Guarantors shall furnish to the Holders of Notes (i) all quarterly and annual financial information that would be required to be contained in a filing with the Commission on Forms 10-Q and 10-K on behalf of the Company and the Guarantors were such Forms required to be filed in consequence of the Notes, including a Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations that describes the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries (showing in reasonable detail, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto and in Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company), and, with respect to the annual information only, a report thereon by the Companys independent certified public accountants, and (ii) all current reports that would be required to be filed with the Commission on Form 8-K if the Company were required to file such reports, in each case, within the time periods specified in the SECs rules and regulations. In addition, whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Company shall file a copy of all such information with the Commission for public availability within the time periods specified in the SECs rules and regulations. The Company and the Guarantors shall at all times comply with TIA § 314(a).
27
Section 4.04. Compliance Certificate.
(a) The Company and each Guarantor (to the extent that such Guarantor is so required under the TIA) shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, an Officers Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled 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 has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto) and that to the best of his or her knowledge no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which payments on account of the principal of or interest, if any, on the Notes is prohibited or if such event has occurred, a description of the event and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
(b) So long as not contrary to the then current recommendations of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the year-end financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 4.03 above shall be accompanied by a written statement of the Companys independent public accountants (who shall be a firm of established national reputation) that in making the examination necessary for certification of such financial statements, nothing has come to their attention that would lead them to believe that the Company has violated any provisions of Article 4 or Article 5 hereof or, if any such violation has occurred, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof, it being understood that such accountants shall not be liable directly or indirectly to any Person for any failure to obtain knowledge of any such violation.
(c) The Company shall, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, within five business days upon any Officer becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
Section 4.05. Taxes.
The Company 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 4.06. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.
The Company and each of the Guarantors covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the
28
benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company and each of the Guarantors (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.
Section 4.07. Restricted Payments.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly: (i) declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment or distribution on account of the Companys or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company) or to the direct or indirect holders of the Companys or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Equity Interests in their capacity as such (other than dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company and dividends and distributions payable solely to the Company or to a Guarantor); (ii) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value (including without limitation, in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company) any Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company; (iii) make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Indebtedness that is subordinate to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, except a payment of interest or principal at Stated Maturity; or (iv) make any Restricted Investment (all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) above being collectively referred to as Restricted Payments), unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment:
(a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof; and
(b) the Company would, at the time of such Restricted Payment and after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Restricted Payment had been made at the beginning of the applicable reference period set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof, have been permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Consolidated Coverage Ratio test set forth in such Section 4.09; and
(c) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the date hereof (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clause (ii) of the next succeeding paragraph), is less than the sum of (i) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period (taken as one accounting period) from June 7, 2004 to the end of the Companys most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, if such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, less 100% of such deficit), plus (ii) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Company from the issue or sale since the date of this Indenture of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or of Disqualified Stock or debt securities of the Company that have been converted into or
29
exchanged for such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or Disqualified Stock or debt securities) sold to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and other than Disqualified Stock or debt securities that have been converted into or exchanged for Disqualified Stock), plus (iii) to the extent that any Unrestricted Subsidiary is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary after the date hereof, the fair market value of the Companys Investment in such Subsidiary as of the date of such redesignation; provided, however, that the foregoing amount shall not exceed the amount of Investments made (and treated as a Restricted Investment) by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Unrestricted Subsidiary, plus (iv) an amount equal to the net reduction in Investments (other than Permitted Investments) made by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiaries in any Person resulting from dividends or distributions on, or repurchases or redemptions of, such Investments by such Person, net cash proceeds realized upon the sale of such Investment to an unaffiliated purchaser, reductions in obligations of such Person guaranteed by, and repayments of loans or advances or other transfers of assets by such Person to, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, provided, however, that no amount shall be included under this clause (iv) to the extent it is already included in Consolidated Net Income.
The foregoing provisions will not prohibit (i) the payment of any dividend within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at said date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture; (ii) the redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition of any subordinated Indebtedness or Equity Interests of the Company in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of, other Equity Interests of the Company (other than any Disqualified Stock); provided that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition shall be excluded from clause (c) (ii) of the preceding paragraph; (iii) the defeasance, redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of subordinated Indebtedness with the net cash proceeds from an incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness; (iv) the defeasance, redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of subordinated Indebtedness with Excess Proceeds remaining after an Asset Sale Offer; (v) the payment of any dividend by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the holders of its respective Equity Interests on a pro rata basis; (vi) repurchases of Equity Interests of the Company deemed to occur upon exercise of employee options, warrants or rights if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of or withholding tax due upon exercise of such options, warrants or rights; (vii) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary held by any employee or former employee pursuant to the terms of any of the Companys or such Restricted Subsidiaries benefit plans or arrangements; provided that the aggregate price paid for all such repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests shall not exceed $1.0 million in any twelve-month period and $5.0 million in the aggregate and no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing immediately after such transaction; and (viii) additional Restricted Payments in an amount not to exceed $5.0 million in the aggregate.
The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the fair market value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The fair market value of any non-cash Restricted Payment shall be
30
determined by the Board of Directors whose resolution with respect thereto shall be delivered to the Trustee, such determination to be based upon an opinion or appraisal issued by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing if such fair market value exceeds $1.0 million. Not later than the date of making any Restricted Payment, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers Certificate stating that such Restricted Payment is permitted and setting forth the basis upon which the calculations required by this Section 4.07 were computed, which calculations may be based upon the Companys latest available financial statements, together with a copy of any fairness opinion or appraisal required by this Indenture.
Section 4.08. Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to (a)(i) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (A) on its Capital Stock or (B) with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits or (ii) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (b) make loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or (c) transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, except for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (i) Existing Indebtedness as in effect on the date of this Indenture, (ii) this Indenture and the Notes, (iii) applicable law, (iv) any instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of such acquisition (except to the extent such Indebtedness was incurred in connection with or in contemplation of such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired, provided that, in the case of Indebtedness, such Indebtedness was permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred, (v) by reason of customary non-assignment provisions in leases entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices, (vi) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions of the nature described in clause (c) above on the property so acquired, (vii) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, provided that the restrictions contained in the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are no more restrictive than those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being refinanced, (viii) restrictions contained in security agreements or mortgages to the extent such restrictions restrict the transfer of the property or assets subject to such security agreements or mortgages, (ix) any restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the capital stock or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary pending the closing of the sale of such sale or disposition, or (x) any restriction in any agreement that is not more restrictive than the restrictions in the Credit Facilities as in effect on the date of this Indenture and such restrictions contained in the Credit Facilities on the date of this Indenture.
Section 4.09. Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly
31
liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to (collectively, incur) any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) and the Company and the Guarantors shall not issue any Disqualified Stock and the Company shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries which are not Guarantors to issue any shares of preferred stock other than to the Company or to a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary which is a Guarantor, provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of Capital Stock that results in such Guarantor ceasing to be a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary or any subsequent transfer of such preferred stock (other than to the Company or another Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary which is a Guarantor) will be deemed, in each case, to be the issuance of such preferred stock by the issuer thereof; provided, however, that the Company and any Guarantor may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock if the Consolidated Coverage Ratio for the four most recently ended calendar quarters is at least 1.25:1.
The Consolidated Coverage Ratio shall be determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds from such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred, or the Disqualified Stock had been issued, as the case may be, at the beginning of the four-quarter period. The most recently ended calendar quarters shall be determined on the basis of the Companys calendar quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock is issued.
The foregoing limitations shall not apply to the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness (collectively, Permitted Debt):
(i) the incurrence by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness secured by Mortgages Receivable;
(ii) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, in each case incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of construction or improvement of property, plant, equipment, land or inventory used or held for sale in the business of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, in an aggregate principal amount outstanding for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries not to exceed $5.0 million at any time outstanding;
(iii) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness in connection with the acquisition of assets or a new Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such Indebtedness was incurred by the prior owner of such assets or such Restricted Subsidiary prior to such acquisition by the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries and was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition by the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and provided further that the principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of such Indebtedness, together with any other outstanding Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (iii), does not exceed $5.0 million;
32
(iv) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to refund, refinance or replace Existing Indebtedness or Indebtedness that was permitted by this Indenture to be incurred;
(v) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that (A) if the Company or a Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness, such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations with respect to the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees and (B)(i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be;
(vi) the incurrence by the Company of Hedging Obligations that are incurred for the purpose of fixing or hedging interest rate risk with respect to any floating rate Indebtedness that is permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be outstanding;
(vii) the guarantee by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this covenant;
(viii) the incurrence by the Companys Unrestricted Subsidiaries of Non-Recourse Debt, provided, however, that if any such Indebtedness ceases to be Non-Recourse Debt of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such event shall be deemed an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;
(ix) the incurrence by the Company and the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees thereof and this Indenture in an aggregate principal amount up to $10 million;
(x) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Existing Indebtedness of the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary;
(xi) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business of Indebtedness (A) in respect of performance, completion, surety or similar bonds or guarantees (including pursuant to letters of credit) in connection with new construction, development, leasing of billboards, or compliance with federal, state or local law, or (B) in respect of bankers acceptances, letters of credit, appeal or similar bonds other than
33
pursuant to clause (A) in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries not to exceed $5.0 million;
(xii) the incurrence of Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary arising from agreements providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations in connection with the disposition of any assets of the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary (other than Guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such assets for the purpose of financing such acquisition), in principal amount not to exceed the gross proceeds actually received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such disposition;
(xiii) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of additional Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) at any time (including all indebtedness incurred to replace, refund or refinance any such indebtedness) outstanding for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries not to exceed $7.5 million; and
(xiv) the incurrence by a Receivables Subsidiary of Indebtedness.
For purposes of determining compliance with this covenant, in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (i) through (xiv) of this paragraph or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant, the Company shall, in its sole discretion, classify such item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this covenant and such item of Indebtedness will be treated as having been incurred pursuant to only one of such clauses or pursuant to the first paragraph hereof. Accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value and the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 4.09.
Section 4.10. Asset Sales.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale unless (i) the Company (or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value (evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors set forth in an Officers Certificate delivered to the Trustee) of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of and (ii) at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of cash; provided that the amount of (x) any liabilities (as shown on the Companys or such Restricted Subsidiarys most recent balance sheet) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or any guarantee thereof) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation agreement that releases the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from further liability and (y) any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are promptly converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash (to the extent of the cash received), shall be
34
deemed to be cash for purposes of this Section 4.10. Any Restricted Payment that is permitted by Section 4.07 hereof or any Permitted Investment will not be deemed to be an Asset Sale.
Within 360 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale, the Company (or such Restricted Subsidiary) may apply such Net Proceeds, at its option, either (a) to repay any Senior Debt of the Company or a Guarantor, or (b) to the acquisition of a controlling interest in another business, the making of a capital expenditure or the acquisition of other long-term assets, in each case, in the same line of business as the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries were engaged on the date hereof or in a Related Business. Pending the final application of any such Net Proceeds, the Company may temporarily reduce revolving Senior Debt or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture. Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in the first sentence of this paragraph will be deemed to constitute Excess Proceeds. Within five days of each date on which the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $5.0 million hereunder, the Company shall commence a pro rata Asset Sale Offer pursuant to Section 3.09 hereof to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date of repurchase, in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3.09 hereof. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Upon completion of such offer to purchase, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.
Section 4.11. Transactions with Affiliates.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate (each of the foregoing, an Affiliate Transaction), unless (i) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person and (ii) the Company delivers to the Trustee (a) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $1.0 million, a resolution of the Board of Directors set forth in an Officers Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (i) above and that such Affiliate Transaction has been approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors and (b) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $5.0 million, an opinion as to the fairness to the Holders of such Affiliate Transaction from a financial point of view issued by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing; provided that (x) any employment, compensation or indemnity agreement entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and consistent with the past practice of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, (y) transactions between or among the Company and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries, and (z) Restricted Payments that are permitted by Section 4.07
35
hereof, in each case, shall not be deemed Affiliate Transactions; and provided further that (i) transactions between the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and any Club in the ordinary course of business, (ii) a securitization or similar transaction between the Company and a Receivables Subsidiary, and (iii) transactions with Grace Brothers, Ltd. or any of its Affiliates shall not be subject to clause (ii)(b) above.
Section 4.12. Liens.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any Lien of any kind (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of their property or assets, now owned or hereafter acquired, or any income or profits therefrom (or assign or convey any right to receive income therefrom), which secures Indebtedness or trade payables that rank pari passu with or subordinate to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, as applicable, unless (i) if such Lien secures Indebtedness or trade payables that rank pari passu with the Notes or Subsidiary Guarantees, as applicable, the Notes and such Subsidiary Guarantees are secured on an equal and ratable basis with the obligation so secured until such time as such obligation is no longer secured by a Lien or (ii) if such Lien secures Indebtedness or trade payables that are subordinated to the Notes or Subsidiary Guarantees, as applicable, such Lien shall be subordinated to a Lien granted to the Holders of Notes and Subsidiary Guarantees on the same collateral as that securing such Lien to the same extent as such Indebtedness, as applicable, until such obligation is no longer secured by a lien.
Section 4.13. Business Activities.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, engage in any business other than the same line of business in which the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries are engaged on the date hereof or a Related Business, except to such extent as would not be material to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole. The Company shall not permit any of its Receivables Subsidiaries to engage in any business other than the business for which the Receivables Subsidiary was established.
Section 4.14. Corporate Existence.
(a) Subject to Article 5 hereof, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect (i) its corporate existence, and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Company or any such Subsidiary and (ii) the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.
36
(b) The Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect the corporate, partnership or other existence of each of its Receivables Subsidiaries in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of such Receivables Subsidiary; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve the corporate, partnership or other existence of any of its Receivables Subsidiaries, if the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine that the purpose for which the Receivables Subsidiary was established has been fulfilled.
Section 4.15. Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control.
(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company shall make an offer (a Change of Control Offer) to each Holder to repurchase all or any part (equal to the Remaining Principal Balance or an integral multiple thereof), of each Holders Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 100% of the aggregate Remaining Principal Balance plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date of purchase (the Change of Control Payment). Within ten days following any Change of Control, the Company shall send a written notice to each Holder stating: (1) that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.15 and that all Notes tendered will be accepted for payment; (2) the purchase price and the purchase date, which shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is sent (the Change of Control Payment Date); (3) that any Note not tendered will continue to accrue interest; (4) that, 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 after the Change of Control Payment Date; (5) that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender the Notes, with the form entitled Option of Holder to Elect Purchase on the reverse of the Notes completed, to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date; (6) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on the second Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of Notes delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have the Notes purchased; and (7) that Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, which unpurchased portion must be equal to the Remaining Principal Balance or an integral multiple thereof. The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Notes as a result of a Change of Control.
(b) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful, (1) accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, (2) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof so tendered and (3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an
37
Officers Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions thereof being purchased by the Company. The Paying Agent shall promptly pay to each Holder of Notes so tendered the Change of Control Payment in an amount equal to the purchase price for the Notes, and the Trustee shall promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered by such Holder, if any; provided, that each such new Note shall be in a principal amount of the Remaining Principal Balance or an integral multiple thereof. The Company shall publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.15, the Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section 4.15 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.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to complying with the provisions of this Section 4.15, but in any event within 90 days following a Change of Control, the Company will either repay all outstanding Senior Debt or obtain the requisite consents, if any, under all agreements governing outstanding Senior Debt to permit the repurchase of Notes required by this Section 4.15.
Section 4.16. Sale and Leaseback Transactions.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any sale and leaseback transaction; provided that the Company may enter into a sale and leaseback transaction if (i) the Company could have (a) incurred Indebtedness in an amount equal to the Attributable Debt relating to such sale and leaseback transaction pursuant to the Consolidated Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof and (b) incurred a Lien to secure such Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.12 hereof, (ii) the gross cash proceeds of such sale and leaseback transaction are at least equal to the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors and set forth in an Officers Certificate delivered to the Trustee) of the property that is the subject of such sale and leaseback transaction, and (iii) the transfer of assets in such sale and leaseback transaction is permitted by, and the Company applies the proceeds of such transaction in compliance with the provisions of Section 4.10 hereof.
Section 4.17. Limitation on Issuances and Sales of Capital Stock of Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries.
The Company (i) shall not, and shall not permit any Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to, transfer, convey, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any Capital Stock of any Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to any Person (other than to the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor), unless (a) such transfer, conveyance, sale, lease or other disposition is of all the Capital Stock of such Wholly Owned
38
Restricted Subsidiary and (b) the cash Net Proceeds from such transfer, conveyance, sale, lease or other disposition are applied in accordance with Section 4.10 hereof, and (ii) will not permit any Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary or Receivables Subsidiary of the Company to issue any of its Equity Interests (other than, if necessary, shares of its Capital Stock constituting directors qualifying shares) to any Person other than to the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a Guarantor.
Section 4.18. Designation of a Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
A Subsidiary, other than a Receivables Subsidiary, is a Restricted Subsidiary unless designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if at the time of such designation: (a) all outstanding Investments by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid in cash) in the Subsidiary so designated are deemed to be a Restricted Payment at the time of such designation (all such outstanding Investments will be deemed to constitute an amount equal to the greatest of (i) the net book value of such Investments at the time of such designation, (ii) the fair market value of such Investments at the time of such designation and (iii) the original fair market value of such Investments at the time they were made), and such Restricted Payment is permitted at such time under Section 4.07 hereof; (b) giving pro forma effect thereto as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the Companys most recently completed applicable reference period set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof for which internal financial statements are available preceding the date of such designation, the pro forma Consolidated Coverage Ratio for such period is greater than the historical Consolidated Coverage Ratio for such period; (c) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing immediately preceding such designation and giving pro forma effect thereto or would occur as a consequence thereof; and (d) such Restricted Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. In the event that a Restricted Subsidiary becomes an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with this paragraph, then such Restricted Subsidiary shall be released from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with Section 11.04 hereof.
The Board of Directors of the Company may redesignate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary, if at the time of such redesignation: (x) giving pro forma effect to the redesignation and incurrence of Indebtedness of the Unrestricted Subsidiary (if any) as if they occurred at the beginning of the Companys most recently completed applicable reference period set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof for which internal financial statements are available preceding the date of such redesignation, (i) any Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary (including any Non-Recourse Debt) could be incurred pursuant to the Consolidated Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof and (ii) the pro forma Consolidated Coverage Ratio for such period is greater than the historical Consolidated Coverage Ratio for such period; (y) the newly redesignated Domestic Restricted Subsidiary executes and delivers a Subsidiary Guarantee and an Opinion of Counsel; and (z) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing immediately preceding such redesignation and giving pro forma effect thereto or would occur as a consequence thereof.
Any such designation or redesignation by the Board of Directors shall be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of the board resolution giving effect to such
39
designation or redesignation and an Officers Certificate certifying that such designation or redesignation complied with the foregoing conditions. If any Unrestricted Subsidiary becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, such Subsidiary shall be subject to the provisions of Article 11 hereof. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it shall thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Indenture. If the Unrestricted Subsidiary at such time would not be permitted to be redesignated a Restricted Subsidiary, the Company shall be in default of this Section 4.18.
Section 4.19. Limitation on Status as Investment Company.
The Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall take all actions (and refrain from taking all actions) necessary to ensure that neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries will be required to register as an investment company (as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended), or will otherwise become subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act.
Section 4.20. No Senior Subordinated Debt.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4.09 hereof, (i) the Company shall not incur, create, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness that is subordinate or junior in right of payment to any Senior Debt and senior in any respect in right of payment to the Notes, and (ii) no Guarantor shall incur, create, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness that is subordinate or junior in right of payment to any Senior Debt and senior in any respect in right of payment to the Subsidiary Guarantees. No Indebtedness shall be deemed to be Senior Debt solely because it is secured and no Indebtedness shall be deemed to be subordinated solely because it is convertible into Equity Interests.
Section 4.21. No Amendment of Subordination Provisions.
Without the consent of the Holders of at least 75% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, the Company will not amend, modify or alter the provisions of Article 10 of this Indenture in any way that will adversely affect the rights of Holders of Notes.
Section 4.22. Payments for Consent.
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any Holder of any Notes for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture or the Notes unless such consideration is offered to be paid or is paid to all Holders of the Notes that consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in the solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.
Section 4.23. Listings of Company Common Stock on Exchanges.
The Company will use reasonable efforts to maintain the listing of the Companys common stock on the NASDAQ Capital Market. The Company shall remain compliant with the corporate governance regulations set forth in Section 5600 of the Market Place Rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (the Nasdaq), as in effect from time to time (or any successor
40
regulations), other than, unless otherwise required of the Company, any provisions relating to the filing of reports or other information with Nasdaq or the execution of a listing agreement.
ARTICLE 5.
SUCCESSORS
Section 5.01. Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets.
The Company shall not consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation) or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions, to another corporation, Person or entity unless (i) the Company is the surviving corporation or the entity or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is a corporation organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (ii) the entity or Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or the entity or Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made assumes all the obligations of the Company pursuant to a supplemental indenture under the Notes and this Indenture in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, (iii) immediately after such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists and (iv) except in the case of a merger of the Company with or into a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the Company or the entity or Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made (A) shall have Consolidated Net Worth immediately after the transaction equal to or greater than the Consolidated Net Worth of the Company immediately preceding the transaction and (B) shall, immediately after such transaction and after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable reference period test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof, be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Consolidated Coverage Ratio set forth in such Section 4.09.
Section 5.02. Successor Corporation Substituted.
Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 5.01 hereof, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the Company shall refer instead to the successor corporation and not to the Company), and may exercise every right and power of the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein; provided, however, that the predecessor Company shall not be relieved from the obligation to
41
pay the principal of and interest on the Notes except in the case of a sale of all of the Companys assets that meets the requirements of Section 5.01 hereof.
ARTICLE 6.
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.01. Events of Default.
An Event of Default occurs if:
(a) the Company defaults in the payment when due of interest on the Notes (whether or not prohibited by the subordination provisions hereof) and such default continues for a period of 30 days;
(b) the Company defaults in the payment when due of principal on the Notes (whether or not prohibited by the subordination provisions hereof) when the same becomes due and payable as scheduled, upon redemption (including in connection with an offer to purchase) or otherwise;
(c) the Company fails to comply for 30 days after written notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes with any of the provisions of Section 4.07, 4.09, 4.10, 4.15 or 5.01 hereof;
(d) the Company fails to observe or perform any other covenant, representation, warranty or other agreement in this Indenture or the Notes for 60 days after written notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes;
(e) a default occurs under any mortgage, indenture, or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is created after the date of this Indenture, which default (a) is caused by a failure to pay principal of, premium, if any, or interest on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default (a Payment Default) or (b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $5.0 million or more; provided, that in the case of any such Payment Default under clause (a) such default continues beyond the lesser of 30 days or the longest period for cure provided in any such Indebtedness as to which a Payment Default exists, or in the case of any acceleration of Indebtedness described in clause (b), such Indebtedness is not discharged or such acceleration cured, waived, rescinded or annulled within the lesser of 30 days after acceleration or the longest period for cure provided in any such Indebtedness which has been accelerated;
42
(f) a final judgment or final judgments for the payment of money are entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction against the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and such judgment or judgments remain undischarged for a period (during which execution shall not be effectively stayed) of 60 days, provided that the aggregate of all such undischarged judgments exceeds $5.0 million;
(g) except as permitted by this Indenture, any Subsidiary Guarantee shall be held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, shall deny or disaffirm its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee;
(h) the Company, any Significant Restricted Subsidiary, or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Restricted 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 all or substantially all of its property,
(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or
(v) generally is not paying its debts as they become due; or
(i) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(i) is for relief against the Company, any Significant Restricted Subsidiary, or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Restricted Subsidiary, in an involuntary case;
(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company, any Significant Restricted Subsidiary, or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Restricted Subsidiary, or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company, any Significant Restricted Subsidiary, or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Restricted Subsidiary; or
(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company, any Significant Restricted Subsidiary, or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Restricted Subsidiary,
and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days.
43
Section 6.02. Acceleration.
If any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (h) or (i) of Section 6.01 hereof) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately; provided, however, that so long as any Designated Senior Debt is outstanding, no such acceleration shall be effective until five business days after the giving of written notice of such acceleration to the Company and the Representatives (as defined in Section 10.02) under the Designated Senior Debt at addresses (if any) previously reported to the Trustee by the Company. Upon any such declaration (and such period after notice, if applicable), the Notes shall become due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in clause (h) or (i) of Section 6.01 hereof occurs, all outstanding Notes shall be due and payable immediately without further action or notice. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may on behalf of all of the Holders rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (except nonpayment of principal or interest that has become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived.
Section 6.03. Other Remedies.
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal and interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.
The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.
Section 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults.
Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive an existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences hereunder, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal or interest on the Notes (including in connection with an offer to purchase) (provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration). Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.05. Control by Majority.
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the
44
Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Notes or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability.
Section 6.06. Limitation on Suits.
A Holder of a Note may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes only if:
(a) the Holder of a Note gives to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default;
(b) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(c) such Holder of a Note or Holders of Notes offer and, if requested, provide to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;
(d) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of indemnity; and
(e) during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.
A Holder of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of a Note.
Section 6.07. Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal and interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note (including in connection with an offer to purchase), or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.
Section 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee.
If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a) or (b) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company or any Guarantor for the whole amount of principal and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and, to the extent lawful, interest on overdue principal and interest as provided in Section 4.01 and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
45
Section 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Notes), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
Section 6.10. Priorities.
If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article, it shall pay out the money in the following order:
First: to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expense and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection;
Second: to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal and interest, respectively; and
Third: to the Company or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.
The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 6.10.
Section 6.11. Undertaking for Costs.
In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys fees,
46
against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.
ARTICLE 7.
TRUSTEE
Section 7.01. Duties of Trustee.
(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(i) the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein.)
(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.01;
(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05 hereof.
47
(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this Section.
(e) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at the request of any Holders, unless such Holder shall have offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.
(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
(g) 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 7.02. Rights of Trustee.
(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.
(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.
(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.
(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company or any Guarantor shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company or such Guarantor.
(f) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity
48
against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.
(g) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by the agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Company and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.
(h) The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Event of Default with respect to the Notes for which it is acting as Trustee unless either (1) a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have actual knowledge of the Event of Default or (2) written notice of such Event of Default shall have been given to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee by the Company, any other obligor on such Notes or by any Holder of such Notes.
Section 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee.
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or any Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11 hereof.
Section 7.04. Trustees Disclaimer.
The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Companys use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Company or upon the Companys direction under any provision of this Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.
Section 7.05. Notice of Defaults.
If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall send to Holders of Notes a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.
49
Section 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes.
Within 60 days after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following the date of this Indenture, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee shall send to the Holders of the Notes a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with TIA § 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA § 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA § 313(b)(2). The Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports as required by TIA § 313(c).
A copy of each report at the time of its sending to the Holders of Notes shall be sent to the Company and filed with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Notes are listed in accordance with TIA § 313(d). The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing when the Notes are listed on any stock exchange.
Section 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity.
The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder. The Trustees compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustees agents and counsel.
The Company shall indemnify the Trustee against any and all losses, liabilities or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company or any Holder or any other person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability or expense may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.
To secure the Companys payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(h) or (i) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services
50
(including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.
The Trustee shall comply with the provisions of TIA § 313(b)(2) to the extent applicable.
Section 7.08. Replacement of Trustee.
A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustees acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section.
The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company may remove the Trustee if:
(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;
(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;
(c) a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or
(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.
If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company, or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a Holder for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10, such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.
A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall send a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, provided all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee
51
pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Companys obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.
Section 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.
If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.
Section 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification.
There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $100.0 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.
This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA § 310(b).
Section 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.
The Trustee is subject to TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.
ARTICLE 8.
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
Section 8.01. Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
The Company may, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by a resolution set forth in an Officers Certificate, at any time, elect to have either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof be applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.
Section 8.02. Legal Defeasance and Discharge.
Upon the Companys exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Company and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, Legal Defeasance). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company 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 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Notes and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on
52
demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive solely from the trust fund described in Section 8.04 hereof, and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal and interest on such Notes when such payments are due, (b) the Companys and the Guarantors obligations with respect to such Notes under Article 2 and Section 4.02 hereof, (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Companys and the Guarantors obligations in connection therewith and (d) this Article 8. Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof.
Section 8.03. Covenant Defeasance.
Upon the Companys exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Company and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from its obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, 4.18, 4.19, 4.20, 4.21, 4.22 and 5.01 hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 are satisfied (hereinafter, Covenant Defeasance), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not outstanding for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed outstanding for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Companys exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03 hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Sections 6.01(d) through 6.01(f) hereof shall not constitute Events of Default.
Section 8.04. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.
The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof to the outstanding Notes:
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:
(a) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in United States dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal and interest on the outstanding Notes on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be;
53
(b) in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;
(c) in the case of an election under Section 8.03 hereof, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;
(d) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the incurrence of Indebtedness all or a portion of the proceeds of which will be used to defease the Notes pursuant to this Article 8 concurrently with such incurrence) or insofar as Sections 6.01(h) or 6.01(i) hereof is concerned, at any time in the period ending on the 91st day after the date of deposit;
(e) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;
(f) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel (which may be subject to customary exceptions) to the effect that on the 91st day following the deposit, the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors rights generally;
(g) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company; and
(h) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.
54
Section 8.05. Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.
Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05, the Trustee) pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.
Anything in this Article 8 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(a) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
Section 8.06. Repayment to Company.
Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter, as a secured creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.
Section 8.07. Reinstatement.
If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States dollars or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may
55
be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Companys obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any payment of principal or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
ARTICLE 9.
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
Section 9.01. Without Consent of Holders of Notes.
Notwithstanding Section 9.02 of this Indenture, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Subsidiary Guarantees or the Notes without the consent of any Holder of a Note:
(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
(b) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes or to alter the provisions of Article 2 hereof (including the related definitions) in a manner that does not materially adversely affect any Holder;
(c) to provide for the assumption of the Companys or a Guarantors obligations to the Holders of the Notes by a successor to the Company or a Guarantor pursuant to Article 5 or Article 11 hereof;
(d) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights hereunder of any Holder of a Note;
(e) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA;
(f) to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in this Indenture as of the date hereof; or
(g) to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture and/or Subsidiary Guarantee with respect to the Notes.
Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental Indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of any amended or supplemental Indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate
56
agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Section 9.02. With Consent of Holders of Notes.
Except as provided in Section 4.21 and below in this Section 9.02, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture (including Sections 3.09, 4.10 and 4.15 hereof), the Subsidiary Guarantees and the Notes with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes), and, subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal or interest on the Notes, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Subsidiary Guarantees or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer, or purchase of, the Notes).
In addition, without the consent of the Holders of at least 66-2/3% in principal amount of then outstanding Notes (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for Notes), no waiver or amendment to this Indenture may make any change in the provisions of Section 4.15 hereof that adversely affects the rights of any Holder of Notes. Section 2.08 hereof shall determine which Notes are considered to be outstanding for purposes of this Section 9.02.
Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental Indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such amended or supplemental Indenture unless such amended or supplemental Indenture directly affects the Trustees own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.
After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section becomes effective, the Company shall send to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company to send such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental Indenture or waiver. Subject to Sections 4.21, 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, without the consent of each
57
Holder affected, an amendment or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):
(a) reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;
(b) reduce the principal of, alter the principal payment schedule of, or change the fixed maturity of any Note or alter or waive any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Notes, except as provided above with respect to Sections 3.09, 4.10 and 4.15 hereof;
(c) reduce the rate of interest, including default interest, or change the time for payment of principal on any Note;
(d) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal or interest on the Notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);
(e) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the Notes;
(f) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments of principal of or interest on the Notes;
(g) make any change in Section 6.04 or 6.07 hereof or in the foregoing amendment and waiver provisions; or
(h) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee or this Indenture, except in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.
Section 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.
Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes shall be set forth in an amended or supplemental Indenture that complies with the TIA as then in effect.
Section 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents.
Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder 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 Holders Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a Note may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the waiver, supplement or amendment becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note.
58
Section 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Notes.
The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.
Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.
Section 9.06. Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.
The Trustee shall sign any amended or supplemental Indenture authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. The Company may not sign an amendment or supplemental Indenture until the Board of Directors approves it. In executing any amended or supplemental indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 12.04 hereof, an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.
ARTICLE 10.
SUBORDINATION
Section 10.01. Agreement to Subordinate.
The Company agrees, and each Holder by accepting a Note agrees, that the Indebtedness evidenced by the Notes is subordinated in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner provided in this Article 10, to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt (whether outstanding on the date hereof or hereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed), and that the subordination is for the benefit of the holders of Senior Debt. The Notes shall rank pari passu with the 8% Notes.
Section 10.02. Certain Definitions.
Permitted Junior Securities means Equity Interests in the Company or debt securities that are subordinated to all Senior Debt (and any debt securities issued in exchange for Senior Debt) to substantially the same extent as, or to a greater extent than, the Notes are subordinated to Senior Debt pursuant to the Indenture.
Representative means the indenture trustee or other trustee, agent or representative for any Senior Debt.
A distribution may consist of cash, securities or other property, by set-off or otherwise.
59
Section 10.03. Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy.
Upon any distribution to creditors of the Company in a liquidation or dissolution of the Company or in a bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding relating to the Company or its property, in an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any marshalling of the Companys assets and liabilities:
(1) holders of Senior Debt shall be entitled to receive payment in full of all Obligations due in respect of such Senior Debt (including interest after the commencement of any such proceeding at the rate specified in the applicable Senior Debt) before Holders of the Notes shall be entitled to receive any payment with respect to the Notes; and
(2) until all Obligations with respect to Senior Debt (as provided in subsection (1) above) are paid in full, any distribution to which Holders would be entitled but for this Article 10 shall be made to holders of Senior Debt (except that Holders of Notes may receive (i) Permitted Junior Securities and (ii) payments and other distributions made from any defeasance trust created pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof), as their interests may appear.
Section 10.04. Default on Designated Senior Debt.
The Company may not make any payment or distribution to the Trustee or any Holder in respect of Obligations (other than (i) Permitted Junior Securities and (ii) payments and other distributions made from any defeasance trust created pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof) until all principal and other Obligations with respect to the Senior Debt have been paid in full if:
(i) a default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on Designated Senior Debt occurs and is continuing beyond any applicable grace period in the agreement, indenture or other document governing such Designated Senior Debt; or
(ii) a default, other than a payment default, on Designated Senior Debt occurs and is continuing that then permits holders of the Designated Senior Debt to accelerate its maturity and the Trustee receives a notice of the default (a Payment Blockage Notice) from the Company or the holders of any Designated Senior Debt.
The Company may and shall resume payments on and distributions in respect of the Notes and may acquire them upon the earlier of:
(1) the date upon which the default is cured or waived, or
(2) in the case of a default referred to in Section 10.04(ii) hereof, 179 days pass after notice is received if the maturity of such Designated Senior Debt has not been accelerated,
if this Article 10 otherwise permits the payment, distribution or acquisition at the time of such payment or acquisition.
60
Section 10.05. Acceleration of Notes.
If payment of the Notes is accelerated because of an Event of Default, the Company shall promptly notify holders of Senior Debt of the acceleration.
Section 10.06. When Distribution Must Be Paid Over.
In the event that the Trustee or any Holder receives any payment of any Obligations with respect to the Notes at a time when the Trustee or such Holder, as applicable, has actual knowledge that such payment is prohibited by Section 10.04 hereof, such payment shall be held by the Trustee or such Holder, in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid forthwith over and delivered, upon written request, to, the holders of Senior Debt as their interests may appear or their Representative under the indenture or other agreement (if any) pursuant to which Senior Debt may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, for application to the payment of all Obligations with respect to Senior Debt remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay such Obligations in full in accordance with their terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of Senior Debt.
With respect to the holders of Senior Debt, the Trustee undertakes to perform only such obligations on the part of the Trustee as are specifically set forth in this Article 10, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Debt shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Debt, and shall not be liable to any such holders if the Trustee shall pay over or distribute to or on behalf of Holders or the Company or any other Person money or assets to which any holders of Senior Debt shall be entitled by virtue of this Article 10, except if such payment is made as a result of the willful misconduct or gross negligence of the Trustee.
Section 10.07. Notice by Company.
The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee and the Paying Agent of any facts known to the Company that would cause a payment of any Obligations with respect to the Notes to violate this Article 10, but failure to give such notice shall not affect the subordination of the Notes to the Senior Debt as provided in this Article 10.
Section 10.08. Subrogation.
After all Senior Debt is paid in full and until the Notes are paid in full, Holders of Notes shall be subrogated (equally and ratably with all other Indebtedness pari passu with the Notes) to the rights of holders of Senior Debt to receive distributions applicable to Senior Debt to the extent that distributions otherwise payable to the Holders of Notes have been applied to the payment of Senior Debt. A distribution made under this Article 10 to holders of Senior Debt that otherwise would have been made to Holders of Notes is not, as between the Company and Holders, a payment by the Company on the Notes.
Section 10.09. Relative Rights.
This Article 10 defines the relative rights of Holders of Notes and holders of Senior Debt. Nothing in this Indenture shall:
61
(1) impair, as between the Company and Holders of Notes, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay principal of and interest on the Notes in accordance with their terms;
(2) affect the relative rights of Holders of Notes and creditors of the Company other than their rights in relation to holders of Senior Debt; or
(3) prevent the Trustee or any Holder of Notes from exercising its available remedies upon a Default or Event of Default, subject to the rights of holders and owners of Senior Debt to receive distributions and payments otherwise payable to Holders of Notes.
If the Company fails because of this Article 10 to pay principal of or interest on a Note on the due date, the failure is still a Default or Event of Default.
Section 10.10. Subordination May Not Be Impaired by Company.
No right of any holder of Senior Debt to enforce the subordination of the Indebtedness evidenced by the Notes shall be impaired by any act or failure to act by the Company or any Holder or by the failure of the Company or any Holder to comply with this Indenture.
Section 10.11. Distribution or Notice to Representative.
Whenever a distribution is to be made or a notice given to holders of Senior Debt, the distribution may be made and the notice given to their Representative.
Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article 10, the Trustee and the Holders of Notes shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction or upon any certificate of such Representative or of the liquidating trustee or agent or other Person making any distribution to the Trustee or to the Holders of Notes for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of the Senior Debt and other Indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article 10.
Section 10.12. Rights of Trustee and Paying Agent.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article 10 or any other provision of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment or distribution by the Trustee, and the Trustee and the Paying Agent may continue to make payments on the Notes, unless the Trustee shall have received at its Corporate Trust Office at least five Business Days prior to the date of such payment written notice of facts that would cause the payment of any Obligations with respect to the Notes to violate this Article 10. Only the Company or a Representative may give the notice. Nothing in this Article 10 shall impair the claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 7.07 hereof.
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may hold Senior Debt with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights.
62
Section 10.13. Authorization to Effect Subordination.
Each Holder of Notes, by the Holders acceptance thereof, authorizes and directs the Trustee on such Holders behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in this Article 10, and appoints the Trustee to act as such Holders attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.
ARTICLE 11.
GUARANTEES
Section 11.01. Unconditional Guarantee.
Subject to the provisions of this Article 11, each Guarantor hereby unconditionally, jointly and severally, on a senior subordinated basis, guarantees (each such Guarantee being a Subsidiary Guarantee and all such Guarantees being the Subsidiary Guarantees) to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, that: (i) the principal and interest on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise and interest on the overdue principal of, and interest on, to the extent lawful, the Notes and all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder will be promptly paid in full or performed all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or of any such other obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, subject, however, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) above, to the limitations set forth in Section 11.05 hereof. Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, subject to Section 11.05 hereof, the Guarantors shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.
Each 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 of the Notes with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a Guarantor. Each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that the Subsidiary Guarantees will not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes, this Indenture and in the Subsidiary Guarantees.
If any Holder of Notes or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, any Guarantor, or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to the Company or any Guarantor, any amount paid by the Company or any Guarantor to
63
the Trustee or such Holder of Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect. Each Guarantor agrees that they shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders of the Notes in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby.
Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between each Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 for the purposes of the Subsidiary Guarantees, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article 6, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by each Guarantor for the purpose of the Subsidiary Guarantees. The Guarantors shall have the right to contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under this Guarantee. The Notes will not be guaranteed by any present or future Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Restricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary.
Section 11.02. Subordination of Note Guarantee.
The Obligations of each Guarantor under its Note Guarantee pursuant to this Article 10 shall be junior and subordinated in right of payment to the rights of holders of the Senior Debt of such Guarantor on the same basis as the Notes are junior and subordinated to Senior Debt of the Company. For the purposes of the foregoing sentence, the Trustee and the Holders shall have the right to receive and/or retain payments by any of the Guarantors only at such times as they may receive and/or retain payments in respect of the Notes pursuant to this Indenture, including Article 10 hereof.
Section 11.03. Severability.
In case any provision of a 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.
Section 11.04. Release of a Guarantor.
In the event of a sale or other disposition of all of the assets of any Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, or a sale or other disposition of all of the capital stock of any Guarantor, in each case to a corporation, Person or entity which is not, and giving effect to the transaction will not be, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, then such Guarantor (in the event of a sale or other disposition, by way of such a merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all of the capital stock of such Guarantor) or the corporation acquiring the property (in the event of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Guarantor) shall be released and relieved of any obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee; provided that the Net Proceeds of such sale or other disposition shall be applied in accordance with Section 4.10 and the other applicable provisions of the Indenture. The Trustee shall deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing such release upon receipt of a request by the Company accompanied by an Officers Certificate certifying as to the compliance with Section 4.17 hereof
64
and this Section 11.04. Any Guarantor not so released remains liable for the full amount of principal of and interest on the Notes as provided in this Article 11.
Section 11.05. Limitation of Guarantors Liability.
Each Guarantor and by its acceptance of a Note each Holder confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Subsidiary Guarantee by such Guarantor pursuant to its Subsidiary Guarantee does not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of the Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Holders and such Guarantor hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Guarantor under the Subsidiary Guarantees shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article 11, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under the Subsidiary Guarantees not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.
Section 11.06. Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.
Subject to the provisions of Section 11.04, no Guarantor may consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person) another corporation, Person or entity whether or not affiliated with such Guarantor, or sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to or liquidate into any such corporation (other than the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary), Person or entity, unless:
(i) subject to the provisions of Section 11.05, the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger or acquiring such assets upon such sale, disposition or liquidation (if other than a Guarantor or the Company) unconditionally assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor pursuant to a supplemental indenture in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee under the Notes, the Indenture and the Subsidiary Guarantee on the terms set forth herein or therein;
(ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and
(iii) such Guarantor, or any Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger or acquiring such assets upon a sale, disposition or liquidation, would have Consolidated Net Worth (immediately after giving effect to such transaction) equal to or greater than the Consolidated Net Worth of such Guarantor immediately preceding the transaction.
Section 11.07. Waiver of Subrogation.
Each Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives, until and unless all of the Obligations guaranteed hereby are indefeasibly discharged, any claim or other rights which it may now or hereafter acquire against the Company that arise from the existence, payment, performance or enforcement of such Guarantors obligations under the Subsidiary Guarantees and this Indenture,
65
including, without limitation, any right of subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, indemnification, and any right to participate in any claim or remedy of any Holder of Notes against the Company, whether or not such claim, remedy or right arises in equity, or under contract, statute or common law, including, without limitation, the right to take or receive from the Company, directly or indirectly, in cash or other property or by set-off or in any other manner, payment or security on account of such claim or other rights. If any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence and the Notes shall not have been paid in full, such amount shall have been deemed to have been paid to such Guarantor for the benefit of, and held in trust for the benefit of, the Holders of the Notes, and shall forthwith be paid to the Trustee for the benefit of such Holders to be credited and applied upon the Notes, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture. Each Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by this Indenture and that the waiver set forth in this Section 11.07 is knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.
Section 11.08. Execution of Guarantee.
To evidence its Subsidiary Guarantee to the Holder of Notes specified in Section 11.01, each Guarantor hereby agrees that a notation of such Subsidiary Guarantee in the form set forth in Exhibit A-1 hereto shall be endorsed on each Note ordered to be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that the Subsidiary Guarantees set forth in Section 11.01 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of the Subsidiary Guarantees. Each such Subsidiary Guarantee shall be signed on behalf of each Guarantor by two Officers, or an Officer and an Assistant Secretary, or one Officer shall sign and one Officer or an Assistant Secretary (each of whom shall, in each case, have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate actions) shall attest to such Subsidiary Guarantee prior to the authentication of the Note on which it is endorsed, and the delivery of such Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of such Subsidiary Guarantee on behalf of such Guarantor. Such signatures upon the Subsidiary Guarantees may be by manual or facsimile signature of such Officers and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Subsidiary Guarantees, and in case any such Officer who shall have signed the Subsidiary Guarantees shall cease to be such Officer before the Note on which such Subsidiary Guarantee is endorsed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or disposed of by the Company, such Note nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the person who signed the Subsidiary Guarantees had not ceased to be such Officer of the Guarantor.
Section 11.09. Additional Subsidiary Guarantees.
If the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall acquire or create another Restricted Subsidiary after the date of the Indenture, then such newly acquired or created Restricted Subsidiary shall become a Guarantor, on a senior subordinated basis, of the Companys obligations under the Notes and this Indenture by (i) executing a supplemental indenture to this Indenture in the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto, (ii) executing a Subsidiary Guarantee in the form set forth in Exhibit A-1 hereto and (iii) delivering to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, that the Subsidiary Guarantee and supplemental indenture have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Restricted Subsidiary and
66
constitute the valid and binding obligations of such Restricted Subsidiary and enforceable against such Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with their respective terms, subject to customary exceptions for bankruptcy and equitable principles; provided, however, that this Section 11.09 shall not apply to any Subsidiary during such period as such Subsidiary (y) would not be a Domestic Restricted Subsidiary or (z) has been properly designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with this Indenture for so long as it continues to constitute an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
ARTICLE 12.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 12.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls.
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by TIA §318(c), the imposed duties shall control.
Section 12.02. Notices.
Any notice or communication by the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, fax, electronic transmission or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others address:
If to the Company or any Guarantor:
Silverleaf Resorts, Inc.
1221 River Bend Drive, Suite 120
Dallas, Texas 75247
Fax No.: (214)  ###-###-####
1221 River Bend Drive, Suite 120
Dallas, Texas 75247
Fax No.: (214)  ###-###-####
Attention: Robert E. Mead
With a copy to:
Meadows, Collier, Reed, Cousins & Blau, L.L.P.
901 Main Street, Suite 3700
Dallas, Texas ###-###-####
Fax No.: (214)  ###-###-####
901 Main Street, Suite 3700
Dallas, Texas ###-###-####
Fax No.: (214)  ###-###-####
Attention: David N. Reed
67
If to the Trustee:
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
Corporate Trust Department
625 Marquette Avenue South
MAC N9311-110
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55479
Fax No.: (612)  ###-###-####
Corporate Trust Department
625 Marquette Avenue South
MAC N9311-110
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55479
Fax No.: (612)  ###-###-####
Attention: Silverleaf Resorts, Inc. Administrator
The Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee, by notice to the others may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt acknowledged, if faxed or sent electronically; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.
Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be sent electronically, mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Any notice or communication shall also be so mailed to any Person described in TIA § 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA. Failure to send a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.
If a notice or communication is sent in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.
If the Company or any Guarantor sends a notice or communication to Holders, it shall send a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
Section 12.03. Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes.
Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).
Section 12.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.
Upon any request or application by the Company and/or any Guarantor to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company and/or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee:
(a) an Officers Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.05 hereof) stating
68
that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and
(b) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.
Section 12.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA § 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA § 314(e) and shall include:
(a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;
(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been satisfied; and
(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been satisfied.
Section 12.06. Rules by Trustee and Agents.
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.
Section 12.07. No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders.
No past, present or future director, Officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Guarantor under the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees, this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.
Section 12.08. Governing Law.
THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE SUBSIDIARY
69
GUARANTEES WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUESTED THEREBY.
Section 12.09. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.
This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture, the Notes, or the Subsidiary Guarantees.
Section 12.10. Successors.
All agreements of the Company and the Guarantors in this Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees shall bind the respective successors of the Company and the Guarantors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.
Section 12.11. Severability.
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 12.12. Counterpart Originals.
The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.
Section 12.13. Table of Contents, Headings, etc.
The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and Headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
[Signatures on following page]
70
SIGNATURES
Dated as of June 30, 2009 | SILVERLEAF RESORTS, INC. | |||
By: | /S/ ROBERT E. MEAD | |||
Name: | Robert E. Mead | |||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |||
By: | /S/ ROBERT M. SINNOTT | |||
Name: | Robert M. Sinnott | |||
Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |||
Dated as of June 30, 2009 | AWARDS VERIFICATION CENTER, INC. | |||
By: | /S/ ROBERT E. MEAD | |||
Name: | Robert E. Mead | |||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |||
By: | /S/ JOE W. CONNER | |||
Name: | Joe W. Conner | |||
Title: | Vice President and Treasurer | |||
Dated as of June 30, 2009 | SILVERLEAF TRAVEL, INC. | |||
By: | /S/ ROBERT E. MEAD | |||
Name: | Robert E. Mead | |||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |||
By: | /S/ JOE W. CONNER | |||
Name: | Joe W. Conner | |||
Title: | Vice President and Treasurer |
71
Dated as of June 30, 2009 | SILVERLEAF BERKSHIRES, INC. | |||
By: | /S/ ROBERT E. MEAD | |||
Name: | Robert E. Mead | |||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |||
By: | /S/ JOE W. CONNER | |||
Name: | Joe W. Conner | |||
Title: | Treasurer | |||
Dated as of June 30, 2009 | PEOPLE REALLY WIN SWEEPSTAKES, INC. | |||
By: | /S/ ROBERT E. MEAD | |||
Name: | Robert E. Mead | |||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |||
By: | /S/ JOE W. CONNER | |||
Name: | Joe W. Conner | |||
Title: | Vice President and Treasurer | |||
Dated as of June 30, 2009 | SLR RESEARCH, INC. | |||
By: | /S/ ROBERT E. MEAD | |||
Name: | Robert E. Mead | |||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |||
By: | /S/ JOE W. CONNER | |||
Name: | Joe W. Conner | |||
Title: | Vice President and Treasurer | |||
Dated as of June 30, 2009 | WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE | |||
By: | /S/ LYNN M. STEINER | |||
Name: | Lynn M. Steiner | |||
Title: | Vice President | |||
[Exhibits A, A-1, A-2 and B Omitted]
72