TAMINCO GLOBAL CHEMICALCORPORATION as Issuer and the Guarantors party hereto from time to time 9.75% Second-Priority SeniorSecured Notes due 2020 INDENTURE Datedas of February 3, 2012 Wilmington Trust, National Association as Trustee And Wilmington Trust, National Association as Collateral Agent TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contract Categories: Business Finance - Indenture Agreements
EX-4.1 2 d426208dex41.htm INDENTURE Indenture

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

 

 

TAMINCO GLOBAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION

as Issuer

and the Guarantors party hereto from time to time

9.75% Second-Priority Senior Secured Notes due 2020

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of February 3, 2012

 

 

Wilmington Trust, National Association

as Trustee

And

Wilmington Trust, National Association

as Collateral Agent

 

 

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  
ARTICLE I   
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE   

SECTION 1.01. Definitions

     1   

SECTION 1.02. Other Definitions

     40   

SECTION 1.03. Rules of Construction

     41   
ARTICLE II   
THE NOTES   

SECTION 2.01. Amount of Notes

     43   

SECTION 2.02. Form and Dating

     43   

SECTION 2.03. Execution and Authentication

     44   

SECTION 2.04. Registrar and Paying Agent

     44   

SECTION 2.05. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust

     45   

SECTION 2.06. Holder Lists

     45   

SECTION 2.07. Transfer and Exchange

     45   

SECTION 2.08. Replacement Notes

     46   

SECTION 2.09. Outstanding Notes

     47   

SECTION 2.10. Cancellation

     47   

SECTION 2.11. Defaulted Interest

     47   

SECTION 2.12. CUSIP Numbers, ISINs, Etc

     48   

SECTION 2.13. Calculation of Principal Amount of Notes

     48   
ARTICLE III   
REDEMPTION   

SECTION 3.01. Redemption

     48   

SECTION 3.02. Applicability of Article

     48   

SECTION 3.03. Notices to Trustee

     48   

SECTION 3.04. Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed

     49   

SECTION 3.05. Notice of Optional Redemption

     49   

SECTION 3.06. Effect of Notice of Redemption

     50   

SECTION 3.07. Deposit of Redemption Price

     50   

SECTION 3.08. Notes Redeemed in Part

     50   
ARTICLE IV   
COVENANTS   

SECTION 4.01. Payment of Notes

     51   

SECTION 4.02. Reports and Other Information

     51   

SECTION 4.03. Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock

     54   

SECTION 4.04. Limitation on Restricted Payments

     60   


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(cont’d)

 

     Page  

SECTION 4.05. Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries

     67   

SECTION 4.06. Asset Sales

     69   

SECTION 4.07. Transactions with Affiliates

     72   

SECTION 4.08. Change of Control

     75   

SECTION 4.09. Compliance Certificate

     76   

SECTION 4.10. Further Instruments and Acts

     77   

SECTION 4.11. Future Subsidiary Guarantors

     77   

SECTION 4.12. Liens

     77   

SECTION 4.13. After-Acquired Property

     78   

SECTION 4.14. Maintenance of Office or Agency

     79   

SECTION 4.15. Amendment of Security Documents

     79   

SECTION 4.16. Covenant Suspension

     79   

SECTION 4.17. Maintenance of Insurance

     80   

SECTION 4.18. Activities Prior to Release

     80   

SECTION 4.19. Transactions During Escrow Period

     80   
ARTICLE V   
SUCCESSOR COMPANY   

SECTION 5.01. When Issuer May Merge or Transfer Assets

     81   
ARTICLE VI   
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES   

SECTION 6.01. Events of Default

     84   

SECTION 6.02. Acceleration

     86   

SECTION 6.03. Other Remedies

     86   

SECTION 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults

     86   

SECTION 6.05. Control by Majority

     87   

SECTION 6.06. Limitation on Suits

     87   

SECTION 6.07. Rights of the Holders to Receive Payment

     87   

SECTION 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee

     88   

SECTION 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

     88   

SECTION 6.10. Priorities

     88   

SECTION 6.11. Undertaking for Costs

     89   

SECTION 6.12. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws

     89   
ARTICLE VII   
TRUSTEE   

SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee

     89   

SECTION 7.02. Rights of Trustee

     90   

SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee

     92   

SECTION 7.04. Trustee’s Disclaimer

     92   

SECTION 7.05. Notice of Defaults

     92   

 

ii


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(cont’d)

 

     Page  

SECTION 7.06. Compensation and Indemnity

     93   

SECTION 7.07. Replacement of Trustee

     94   

SECTION 7.08. Successor Trustee by Merger

     95   

SECTION 7.09. Eligibility; Disqualification

     95   

SECTION 7.10. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuer

     95   

SECTION 7.11. Limitation on Duty of Trustee in Respect of Collateral; Indemnification

     95   
ARTICLE VIII   
DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE   

SECTION 8.01. Discharge of Liability on Notes; Defeasance

     96   

SECTION 8.02. Conditions to Defeasance

     97   

SECTION 8.03. Application of Trust Money

     98   

SECTION 8.04. Repayment to Issuer

     99   

SECTION 8.05. Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations

     99   

SECTION 8.06. Reinstatement

     99   
ARTICLE IX   
AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS   

SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of the Holders

     99   

SECTION 9.02. With Consent of the Holders

     101   

SECTION 9.03. Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers

     102   

SECTION 9.04. Notation on or Exchange of Notes

     102   

SECTION 9.05. Trustee to Sign Amendments

     102   

SECTION 9.06. Additional Voting Terms; Calculation of Principal Amount

     103   
ARTICLE X   
RANKING OF NOTE LIENS   

SECTION 10.01. Relative Rights

     103   
ARTICLE XI   
COLLATERAL   

SECTION 11.01. Security Documents

     104   

SECTION 11.02. Collateral Agent

     105   

SECTION 11.03. Authorization of Actions to Be Taken

     107   

SECTION 11.04. Release of Liens

     108   

SECTION 11.05. Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee

     110   

SECTION 11.06. Release Upon Termination of the Issuer’s Obligations

     110   

SECTION 11.07. Designations

     110   

SECTION 11.08. [Intentionally Omitted]

     110   

SECTION 11.09. The Collateral Agent

     110   

SECTION 11.10. Replacement of Collateral Agent

     112   

 

iii


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(cont’d)

 

     Page  
ARTICLE XII   
GUARANTEE   

SECTION 12.01. Guarantee

     113   

SECTION 12.02. Limitation on Liability

     115   

SECTION 12.03. Taxes With Respect to Guarantees of Foreign Subsidiaries

     116   

SECTION 12.04. Successors and Assigns

     117   

SECTION 12.05. No Waiver

     118   

SECTION 12.06. Modification

     118   

SECTION 12.07. Execution of Supplemental Indenture for Future Guarantors

     118   

SECTION 12.08. Non-Impairment

     118   
ARTICLE XIII   
ESCROW ARRANGEMENTS   

SECTION 13.01. Escrow Account

     118   

SECTION 13.02. Special Mandatory Redemption

     119   

SECTION 13.03. Release of Escrow Property

     119   
ARTICLE XIV   
MISCELLANEOUS   

SECTION 14.01. Notices

     119   

SECTION 14.02. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

     120   

SECTION 14.03. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

     120   

SECTION 14.04. When Notes Disregarded

     121   

SECTION 14.05. Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar

     121   

SECTION 14.06. Legal Holidays

     121   

SECTION 14.07. GOVERNING LAW

     121   

SECTION 14.08. No Recourse Against Others

     121   

SECTION 14.09. Successors

     121   

SECTION 14.10. Multiple Originals

     121   

SECTION 14.11. Table of Contents; Headings

     121   

SECTION 14.12. Indenture Controls

     122   

SECTION 14.13. Severability

     122   

SECTION 14.14. Intercreditor Agreement

     122   

SECTION 14.15. Waiver of Jury Trial

     122   

Appendix A — Provisions Relating to Initial Notes and Additional Notes

 

iv


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(cont’d)

 

              Page  
    EXHIBIT INDEX   
Exhibit A  

  Form of Initial Note      A-1   
Exhibit B  

  Form of Transferee Letter of Representation      B-1   
Exhibit C-1  

  Form of Supplemental Indenture Related to Guarantors      C-1-1   
Exhibit C-2  

  Form of Supplemental Indenture as of Acquisition Date and for Certain Foreign Restricted Subsidiaries      C-2-1   
Exhibit D  

  Form of Escrow and Security Agreement      D-1   
Exhibit E  

  Form of Intercreditor Agreement      E-1   
Exhibit F  

  Form of U.S. Second Lien Collateral Agreement      F-1   
Exhibit G  

  Form of Parallel Debt Agreement      G-1   
Exhibit H  

  Form of Foreign Collateral Agreements      H-1   

 

v


INDENTURE dated as of February 3, 2012 among TAMINCO GLOBAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), the Guarantors party hereto from time to time (as defined below) and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) and as collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”).

Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other parties and for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of (i) $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuer’s 9.75% Second-Priority Senior Secured Notes due 2020 issued on the date hereof (the “Initial Notes”) and (ii) Additional Notes issued from time to time (together with the Initial Notes, the “Notes”):

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

SECTION 1.01. Definitions.

Accrued Yield” means an amount in respect of each $1,000 principal amount of Notes that, together with the accrued interest to be paid on a Special Mandatory Redemption Date, will provide the holder thereof with the yield to maturity on such Note, calculated on the basis of a 360-day year and payable for the actual number of days elapsed from the Issue Date. “Yield to maturity” means the annual yield to maturity of the Notes, calculated based on market conventions and as reflected in the pricing term sheet for the offering of the Initial Notes.

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

(1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into or became a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, and

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

Acquisition” means the acquisition of the equity of Taminco Group Holdings S.à r.l. indirectly by the Issuer as described in the Offering Memorandum under the heading “The Transactions.”

Acquisition Date” means the day upon which the Acquisition is consummated.

Additional Notes” means Notes issued under the terms of this Indenture subsequent to the Issue Date.

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, means 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.


Applicable Premium” means, with respect to any Note on any applicable redemption date, the greater of:

(1) 1% of the then outstanding principal amount of the Note; and

(2) the excess of:

(a) the present value at such redemption date of (i) the redemption price of the Note at March 31, 2015 (such redemption price being set forth in Paragraph 5 of the Note) plus (ii) all required interest payments due on the Note through March 31, 2015 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such redemption date plus 50 basis points; over

(b) the then outstanding principal amount of the Note.

Asset Sale” means:

(1) the sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of property or assets (including by way of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction) outside the ordinary course of business of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (each referred to in this definition as a “disposition”); or

(2) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests (other than directors’ qualifying shares and shares issued to foreign nationals or other third parties to the extent required by applicable law) of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary) (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions),

in each case other than:

(a) a disposition of Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities or obsolete, damaged or worn out property or equipment in the ordinary course of business;

(b) the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer in a manner permitted pursuant to Section 5.01 or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control;

(c) any Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment that is permitted to be made, and is made, under Section 4.04;

(d) any disposition of assets of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary, which assets or Equity Interests so disposed or issued have an aggregate Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of less than $20 million;

 

2


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

(f) any exchange of assets (including a combination of assets and Cash Equivalents) for assets related to a Similar Business of comparable or greater market value or usefulness to the business of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the Issuer;

(g) foreclosure or any similar action with respect to any property or other asset of the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries;

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

(i) the lease, assignment or sublease of any real or personal property in the ordinary course of business;

(j) any sale of inventory or other assets in the ordinary course of business;

(k) any grant in the ordinary course of business of any license of patents, trademarks, know-how or any other intellectual property;

(l) in the ordinary course of business, any swap of assets, or lease, assignment or sublease of any real or personal property, in exchange for services (including in connection with any outsourcing arrangements) of comparable or greater value or usefulness to the business of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the Issuer;

(m) a transfer of accounts receivable and related assets pursuant to the Factoring Facility or of the type specified in the definition of “Receivables Financing” (or a fractional undivided interest therein) by a Receivables Subsidiary in a Qualified Receivables Financing;

(n) any financing transaction with respect to property built or acquired by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, including any Sale/Leaseback Transaction or asset securitization permitted by this Indenture;

(o) dispositions in connection with Permitted Liens;

(p) any disposition of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement or other obligation with or to a Person (other than the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) from whom such Restricted Subsidiary was acquired or from whom such Restricted Subsidiary acquired its business and assets (having been newly formed in connection with such acquisition), made as part of such acquisition and in each case comprising all or a portion of the consideration in respect of such sale or acquisition;

 

3


(q) the sale of any property in a Sale/Leaseback Transaction within twelve months of the acquisition of such property;

(r) dispositions of receivables in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof in the ordinary course of business or in bankruptcy or similar proceedings and exclusive of factoring or similar arrangements; and

(s) any surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release, recovery on or surrender of contract, tort or other claims of any kind.

Bank Indebtedness” means any and all amounts payable under or in respect of the Credit Agreement and the other Credit Agreement Documents as amended, restated, supplemented, waived, replaced, restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time (including after termination of the Credit Agreement), including principal, premium (if any), interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Issuer whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceedings), fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement obligations, guarantees and all other amounts payable thereunder or in respect thereof.

Board of Directors” means, as to any Person, the board of directors or managers, as applicable, of such Person (or, if such Person is a partnership, the board of directors or other governing body of the general partner of such Person) or any duly authorized committee thereof.

Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law to close in New York City.

Capital Stock” means:

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

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

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

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

Capitalized Development Expenditures” means, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities) by a Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period in respect of licensed or purchased software or internally developed software and software enhancements, product development testing, approval and registration that, in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards in effect as of the Issue Date, are permitted to be reflected as capitalized costs on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person and such Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

4


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

Cash Equivalents” means:

(1) U.S. dollars, pounds sterling, euros, the national currency of any member state in the European Union or, in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary, such local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

(2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any country that is a member of the European Union or any agency or instrumentality thereof in each case maturing not more than two years from the date of acquisition;

(3) certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances, in each case with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $250 million and whose long-term debt is rated “A” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency);

(4) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2) and (3) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above;

(5) commercial paper issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Issuer) rated at least “A-1” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) and in each case maturing within one year after the date of acquisition;

(6) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision thereof having one of the two highest rating categories obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;

(7) Indebtedness issued by Persons (other than the Sponsor or any of its Affiliates) with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A-2” or higher from Moody’s (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition; and

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

 

5


CFC” means a controlled foreign corporation within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code.

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

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

(2) the Issuer becomes aware (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) of the acquisition by any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act), other than any of the Permitted Holders, in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, by way of merger, consolidation, amalgamation or other business combination or purchase of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Issuer.

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

Collateral” means all property subject or purported to be subject, from time to time, to a Lien under any Security Documents.

Collateral Agent” means Wilmington Trust, National Association in its capacity as “Collateral Agent” under this Indenture and under the Security Documents and any successor thereto in such capacity (it being understood that subagents may be appointed with respect to Collateral owned by a Foreign Subsidiary).

Collateral Agreements” means the U.S. Collateral Agreement and the Foreign Collateral Agreements.

Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the total amount of depreciation and amortization expense, including the amortization of intangible assets, deferred financing fees and amortization of unrecognized prior service costs and actuarial gains and losses related to pensions and other post-employment benefits, of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with IFRS.

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

(1) consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent such expense was deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income (including amortization of original issue discount, the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations, and net payments and receipts (if any) pursuant to Hedging Obligations and excluding unrealized mark-to-market gains and

 

6


losses attributable to Hedging Obligations, amortization of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses and expensing of any bridge, commitment or other financing fees); plus

(2) consolidated capitalized interest of such Person and such Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued; plus

(3) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges Incurred in connection with any Receivables Financing (but not in connection with the Factoring Facility) which are payable to Persons other than the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries; minus

(4) interest income for such period.

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

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; provided, however, that:

(1) any net after-tax extraordinary, nonrecurring or unusual gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto) or expenses or charges, any severance expenses, relocation expenses, curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans, any expenses related to any reconstruction, decommissioning, recommissioning or reconfiguration of fixed assets for alternate uses and fees, expenses or charges relating to new product lines, facilities closing costs, acquisition integration costs, facilities opening costs, project start-up costs, business optimization costs, signing, retention or completion bonuses, expenses or charges related to any issuance of Equity Interests, Investment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or issuance, repayment, refinancing, amendment or modification of Indebtedness (in each case, whether or not successful), and any fees, expenses, charges or change of control payments related to the Transactions, in each case, shall be excluded;

(2) effects of purchase accounting adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to such Person and such Subsidiaries) in amounts required or permitted by IFRS, resulting from the application of purchase accounting in relation to the Transactions or any consummated acquisition or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof, net of taxes, shall be excluded;

(3) the Net Income for such period shall not include the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles (which shall in no case include any change in the comprehensive basis of accounting) during such period;

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

 

7


(5) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to business dispositions or asset dispositions other than in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by management of the Issuer) shall be excluded;

(6) any net after-tax gains or losses, or any subsequent charges or expenses, (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to the early extinguishment of indebtedness, Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments shall be excluded;

(7) the Net Income for such period of any Person that is not a Subsidiary of such Person, or is an Unrestricted 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 or other payments paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the referent Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period;

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

(9) an amount equal to the amount of Tax Distributions actually made to any parent or equity holder of such Person in respect of such period in accordance with Section 4.04(b)(xii) shall be included as though such amounts had been paid as income taxes directly by such Person for such period;

(10) any impairment charges or asset write-offs, in each case pursuant to IFRS, and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to IFRS shall be excluded;

(11) any non-cash expense realized or resulting from stock option plans, employee benefit plans or post-employment benefit plans, or grants or sales of stock, stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock, preferred stock or other rights, shall be excluded;

(12) any (a) non-cash compensation charges, (b) costs and expenses after the Issue Date related to employment of terminated employees, or (c) costs or expenses realized in connection with or resulting from stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options or other rights existing on the Issue Date of officers, directors and employees, in each case of such Person or any such Subsidiary, shall be excluded;

 

8


(13) accruals and reserves that are established or adjusted within 12 months after the Acquisition Date and that are so required to be established or adjusted in accordance with IFRS or as a result of adoption or modification of accounting policies shall be excluded;

(14) (a) the Net Income of any Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be calculated without deducting the income attributable to, or adding the losses attributable to, the minority equity interests of third parties in any non-Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary except to the extent of dividends declared or paid in respect of such period or any prior period on the shares of Capital Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary held by such third parties and (b) any ordinary course dividend, distribution or other payment paid in cash and received from any Person in excess of amounts included in clause (7) above shall be included;

(15) any unrealized gains and losses related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness, and any unrealized net loss or gain resulting from hedging transactions for interest rates or currency exchange risk, shall be excluded;

(16) to the extent covered by insurance and actually reimbursed, or, so long as such Person has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurer and only to the extent that such amount is (a) not denied by the applicable carrier in writing within 180 days and (b) in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of such evidence (with a deduction for any amount so added back to the extent not so reimbursed within 365 days), expenses with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption shall be excluded;

(17) Capitalized Development Expenditures shall be excluded; and

(18) non-cash charges for deferred tax asset valuation allowances shall be excluded (except to the extent reversing a previously recognized increase to net income).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purpose of Section 4.04 only, there shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income any dividends, repayments of loans or advances or other transfers of assets from Unrestricted Subsidiaries or Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent such dividends, repayments or transfers increase the amount of Restricted Payments permitted under Section 4.04 pursuant to clauses (4) and (5) of the definition of “Cumulative Credit” contained therein. For purposes of determining Cumulative Credit, Consolidated Net Income presented in a currency other than U.S. Dollars will be converted to U.S. Dollars based on the average exchange rate for such currency during, and applied to, each fiscal quarter in the period for which Consolidated Net Income is being calculated.

Consolidated Non-Cash Charges” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the non-cash expenses (other than Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries reducing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with IFRS,

 

9


provided that if any such non-cash expenses represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from EBITDA in such future period to the extent paid, but excluding from this proviso, for the avoidance of doubt, amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period.

Consolidated Taxes” means, with respect to any Person, for any period, the provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital, including, without limitation, state, franchise, property and similar taxes, foreign withholding taxes (including penalties and interest related to such taxes or arising from tax examinations) and any Tax Distributions taken into account in calculating Consolidated Net Income.

Contingent Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (“primary obligations”) of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent:

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

(2) to advance or supply funds:

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

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

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

Corporate Trust Office” means the designated office of the Trustee in the United States of America at which at any time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the dated hereof is located at 246 Goose Lane, Suite 105, Guilford, CT 06437, Attention: Taminco Administrator, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuer, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuer).

Credit Agreement” means (i) Credit Agreement, dated as of the Acquisition Date, among the Issuer, Holdings, the financial institutions named therein and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent, as amended, restated, supplemented, waived, replaced (whether or not upon termination, and whether with the original lenders or otherwise), restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time, including any agreement or indenture extending the maturity thereof, refinancing, replacing or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreement or agreements or indenture or indentures or any successor or replacement agreement or agreements or indenture or indentures or increasing

 

10


the amount loaned or issued thereunder or altering the maturity thereof and (ii) whether or not the credit agreement referred to in clause (i) remains outstanding, if designated by the Issuer to be included in the definition of “Credit Agreement,” one or more (A) debt facilities or commercial paper facilities, providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, (B) debt securities, indentures or other forms of debt financing (including convertible or exchangeable debt instruments or bank guarantees or bankers’ acceptances) or (C) instruments or agreements evidencing any other Indebtedness, in each case, with the same or different borrowers or issuers and, in each case, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, refinanced, restated, replaced or refunded in whole or in part from time to time.

Credit Agreement Documents” means the collective reference to any Credit Agreement, any notes issued pursuant thereto and the guarantees thereof, and the collateral documents relating thereto, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, refunded, replaced, restructured, repaid, refinanced or otherwise modified, in whole or in part, from time to time.

Cumulative Credit” means the sum of (without duplication):

(1) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer for the period (taken as one accounting period), from January 1, 2012 to the end of the Issuer’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, in case such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit) plus

(2) 100% of the aggregate net proceeds, including cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of property other than cash, received by the Issuer since immediately after the Acquisition Date (other than net proceeds to the extent such net proceeds have been used to incur Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(xiii)) from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Issuer (excluding Refunding Capital Stock, Designated Preferred Stock, Excluded Contributions and Disqualified Stock), including Equity Interests issued upon exercise of warrants or options (other than an issuance or sale to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary), plus

(3) 100% of the aggregate amount of contributions to the capital of the Issuer received in cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of property other than cash after the Acquisition Date (other than Excluded Contributions, Refunding Capital Stock, Designated Preferred Stock and Disqualified Stock and other than contributions to the extent such contributions have been used to incur Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(xiii)), plus

(4) 100% of the principal amount of any Indebtedness or the liquidation preference or maximum fixed repurchase price, as the case may be, of any Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary issued after the Acquisition Date (other than Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock issued to a Restricted Subsidiary) that has been converted into or exchanged for Equity Interests in the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock) or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer (provided in the case of any such parent, such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock is retired or extinguished), plus

 

11


(5) 100% of the aggregate amount received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of property other than cash received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary from:

(a) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) of Restricted Investments made by the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries and from repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries by any Person (other than the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary) and from repayments of loans or advances, and releases of guarantees, which constituted Restricted Investments (other than in each case to the extent that the Restricted Investment was made pursuant to clause (vii) of Section 4.04(b)),

(b) the sale (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) of the Capital Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or

(c) a distribution or dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary, plus

(6) in the event any Unrestricted Subsidiary has been redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary or has been merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of the Investment of the Issuer or the Restricted Subsidiaries in such Unrestricted Subsidiary (which, if the fair market value of such investment shall exceed $40 million, shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Issuer) at the time of such redesignation, combination or transfer (or of the assets transferred or conveyed, as applicable) (other than in each case to the extent that the designation of such Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary was made pursuant to clause (vii) of Section 4.04(b) or constituted a Permitted Investment).

Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

Designated Non-cash Consideration” means the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of non-cash consideration received by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation, less the amount of Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of such Designated Non-cash Consideration.

Designated Preferred Stock” means Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock), that is issued for cash (other than to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, on the issuance date thereof.

 

12


Discharge of Senior Lender Claims” shall mean, except to the extent otherwise provided in the Intercreditor Agreement, the payment in full in cash (except for contingent indemnities and cost and reimbursement obligations not then due to the extent no claim has been made) of (a) all Obligations in respect of all outstanding First Priority Lien Obligations and, with respect to letters of credit or letter of credit guaranties outstanding thereunder, delivery of cash collateral or backstop letters of credit in respect thereof in compliance with the Credit Agreement, in each case after or concurrently with the termination of all commitments to extend credit thereunder and (b) any other First Priority Lien Obligations that are due and payable or otherwise accrued and owing at or prior to the time such principal and interest are paid; provided that the Discharge of Senior Lender Claims shall not be deemed to have occurred if such payments are made with the proceeds of other First Priority Lien Obligations that constitute an exchange or replacement for or a refinancing of such Obligations or First Priority Lien Obligations. In the event the First Priority Lien Obligations are modified and the Obligations are paid over time or otherwise modified pursuant to Section 1129 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, the First Priority Lien Obligations shall be deemed to be discharged when the final payment is made, in cash, in respect of such indebtedness and any obligations pursuant to such new indebtedness shall have been satisfied.

Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is redeemable or exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event:

(1) matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (other than as a result of a change of control or asset sale),

(2) is convertible or exchangeable for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or

(3) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part (other than solely as a result of a change of control or asset sale),

in each case prior to 91 days after the earlier of the maturity date of the Notes or the date the Notes are no longer outstanding; provided, however, that only the portion of Capital Stock which so matures or is mandatorily redeemable, is so convertible or exchangeable or is so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date shall be deemed to be Disqualified Stock; provided, further, however, that if such Capital Stock is issued to any employee or to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by such Person in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability; provided, further, that any class of Capital Stock of such Person that by its terms authorizes such Person to satisfy its obligations thereunder by delivery of Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Stock shall not be deemed to be Disqualified Stock.

 

13


EBITDA” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period plus, without duplication, to the extent the same was deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income:

(1) Consolidated Taxes; plus

(2) Fixed Charges; plus

(3) Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense; plus

(4) Consolidated Non-Cash Charges; plus

(5) any expenses or charges (other than Consolidated Depreciation or Amortization Expense) related to any issuance of Equity Interests, Investment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or the incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by this Indenture (including a refinancing thereof) (whether or not successful), including (i) such fees, expenses or charges related to the Transactions, (ii) any amendment or other modification of the Notes or other Indebtedness, and (iii) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) related to the Factoring Facility or any Qualified Receivables Financing; plus

(6) business optimization expenses and other restructuring charges, reserves or expenses (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include, without limitation, the effect of inventory optimization programs, facility closures, facility consolidations, retention, severance, systems establishment costs, contract termination costs, future lease commitments and excess pension charges); plus

(7) the amount of loss on sale of receivables and related assets to the Factoring Facility or a Receivables Subsidiary in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing; plus

(8) any costs or expense incurred pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement, to the extent that such cost or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Issuer or a Guarantor or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock) solely to the extent that such net cash proceeds are excluded from the calculation of the Cumulative Credit; plus

(9) the amount of any management, monitoring, consulting, transaction and advisory fees and related expenses paid to the Sponsor (or any accruals relating to such fees and related expenses) during such period; plus

(10) all adjustments of the nature used in connection with the calculation of “Consolidated EBITDA” as set forth in footnote (4) to the “Summary Historical and Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information” under “Summary” in the Offering Memorandum to the extent such adjustments, without duplication, continue to be applicable to such period;

less, without duplication,

 

14


(11) non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period (excluding the recognition of deferred revenue or any items which represent the reversal of any accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated cash charges that reduced EBITDA in any prior period and any items for which cash was received in a prior period).

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

Equity Offering” means any public or private sale after the Issue Date of common Capital Stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, as applicable (other than Disqualified Stock), other than:

(1) public offerings with respect to the Issuer’s or such direct or indirect parent’s common Capital Stock registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8;

(2) issuances to any of its Subsidiaries; and

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

Escrow Account” means a segregated account, under the sole control of the Trustee, established pursuant to the Escrow and Security Agreement.

Escrow Agent” means Wilmington Trust, National Association.

Escrow and Security Agreement” means the Escrow and Security Agreement, dated as of February 3, 2012 and in the form set forth in Exhibit D hereto, among the Issuer, the Trustee and the Escrow Agent.

Escrow Outside Date” means June 30, 2012.

Escrow Release Conditions” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Escrow and Security Agreement.

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

Excluded Contributions” means the Cash Equivalents or other assets (valued at their Fair Market Value as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Issuer) received by the Issuer after the Acquisition Date from:

(1) contributions to its common equity capital, and

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

 

15


in each case designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate on or promptly after the date such capital contributions are made or the date such Capital Stock is sold, as the case may be.

Factoring Facility” means the non-recourse factoring facility contemplated by the Non-Recourse Factoring Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2007, between Taminco NV (and certain of its affiliates), on the one hand, and Fortis Commercial Finance N.V., on the other hand, as the same has been and may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time; provided that the amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified facility shall be a comparable non-recourse factoring facility to that in effect on the Issue Date or shall be a Receivables Financing.

Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any asset or property, the price which could be negotiated in an arm’s-length transaction, for cash, between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction.

First Lien Agent” has the meaning given to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

First Priority After-Acquired Property” means any property of the Issuer or any Guarantor that secures First Priority Lien Obligations that is not already subject to the Lien under the Security Documents.

First Priority Lien Obligations” means (i) all Indebtedness (including Bank Indebtedness) secured by a first-priority lien on the Collateral and (ii) all other Obligations of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of Hedging Obligations or Obligations in respect of cash management services in each case owing to a Person that is a holder of Indebtedness secured by a first-priority lien referred to in clause (i) or an Affiliate of such holder at the time of entry into such Hedging Obligations or Obligations in respect of cash management services, provided that, solely for the purpose of the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio under clause (i) of Section 4.03(b) all Secured Indebtedness incurred in reliance on such clause shall be deemed to be a First Priority Lien Obligation.

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the ratio of EBITDA of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurs, repays, repurchases or redeems any Indebtedness (other than in the case of any Qualified Receivables Financing, in which case interest expense shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period) or issues, repurchases or redeems Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “Calculation Date”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence, repayment, repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period; provided that the Issuer may elect pursuant to an

 

16


Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee to treat all or any portion of the commitment under any Indebtedness as being Incurred at such time, in which case any subsequent Incurrence of Indebtedness under such commitment shall not be deemed, for purposes of this calculation, to be an Incurrence at such subsequent time.

For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and discontinued operations, in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, and any operational changes that the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary has determined to make and/or made during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations, discontinued operations and other operational changes (and the change of any associated fixed charge obligations and the change in EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation, amalgamation, discontinued operation or operational change, in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, discontinued operation, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or operational change had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period. If since the beginning of such period any Restricted Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated a Restricted Subsidiary, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any event, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer. Any such pro forma calculation may include adjustments appropriate, in the reasonable good faith determination of the Issuer as set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, to reflect (1) operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies reasonably expected to result from the applicable event, and (2) all adjustments of the nature used in connection with the calculation of “Consolidated EBITDA” as set forth in footnote (4) to the “Summary Historical and Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information” under “Summary” in the Offering Memorandum to the extent such adjustments, without duplication, continue to be applicable to such four-quarter period.

If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness if such Hedging Obligation has a remaining term in excess of 12 months). Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease

 

17


Obligation in accordance with IFRS. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed on a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Issuer may designate.

For purposes of this definition, any amount in a currency other than U.S. dollars will be converted to U.S. dollars based on the average exchange rate for such currency for the most recent twelve-month period immediately prior to the date of determination in a manner consistent with that used in calculating EBITDA for the applicable period.

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

(1) Consolidated Interest Expense (excluding amortization or write-off of deferred financing costs) of such Person for such period, and

(2) all cash dividend payments (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Foreign Collateral Agreements” means the (i) Second Ranking Share Pledge Agreement (Belgium) in respect of shares in Taminco NV, Taminco Group NV and Taminco North BVBA; (ii) Second Ranking Bank Accounts Pledge Agreement (Belgium); (iii) Second Ranking Receivables Pledge Agreement (Belgium); (iv) Second Ranking Intellectual Property Rights Pledge Agreement (Belgium); (v) Second Ranking Floating Charge and Floating Charge Mandate; (vi) Share Pledge Agreement (Germany); (vii) Global Assignment Agreement (Globalabtretung) (Germany); (viii) Account Pledge Agreement (Kontoverpfandung) (Germany); (ix) Security Transfer Agreement in relation to Tangible Assets (Germany); (x) Second Ranking Pledge Over Bank Accounts Agreement (Luxembourg); and (xi) Second Ranking Pledge Over Shares Agreement (Luxembourg), each to be dated as of the Acquisition Date and substantially in the respective forms attached hereto under Exhibit H; and the Land Charge, Security Purpose Agreement and Submission to Immediate Enforcement (Germany) to be dated within 90 days following the Acquisition Date (or such longer period as the First Lien Agent shall agree, provided that such longer period also applies to first lien mortgages); and each as may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms and in accordance with this Indenture.

Foreign Subsidiary” means a Restricted Subsidiary not organized or existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory thereof or the District of Columbia.

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

 

18


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 from time to time, it being understood that, for purposes of this Indenture, all references to codified accounting standards specifically named in this Indenture shall be deemed to include any successor, replacement, amended or updated accounting standard under GAAP.

Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

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 or other obligations.

Guarantee” means any guarantee of the obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes by any Person in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

Guarantor” means any Person that Incurs a Guarantee; provided that upon the release or discharge of such Person from its Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture, such Person ceases to be a Guarantor.

Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under:

(1) currency exchange, interest rate or commodity swap agreements, currency exchange, interest rate or commodity cap agreements and currency exchange, interest rate or commodity collar agreements; and

(2) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in currency exchange, interest rates or commodity prices.

holder” or “noteholder” means the Person in whose name a Note is registered on the Registrar’s books.

Holdings” means Taminco Intermediate Corporation and its successors.

IFRS” means International Financial Reporting Standards promulgated from time to time by the International Accounting Standards Board (or any successor board or agency, together the “IASB”) and as adopted by the European Union and statements and pronouncements of the IASB 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 from time to time (other than with respect to Capital Lease Obligations), it being understood that, for purposes of this Indenture, all references to codified accounting standards specifically named in this Indenture shall be deemed to include any successor, replacement, amended or updated accounting standard

 

19


under IFRS; provided that, at any time after adoption of GAAP by the Issuer (or the relevant reporting entity) for its financial statements and reports for all financial reporting purposes, the issuer (or the relevant Reporting Entity) may irrevocably elect to apply GAAP for all purposes of this Indenture, and, upon any such election, references in this Indenture to IFRS shall be construed to mean GAAP as in effect on the date of such election and thereafter from time to time; provided that (1) all financial statements and reports required to be provided after such election pursuant to this Indenture shall be prepared on the basis of GAAP, (2) from and after such election, all ratios, computations, calculations and other determinations based on IFRS contained in this Indenture shall be computed in conformity with GAAP (other than with respect to Capital Lease Obligations) with retroactive effect being given thereto assuming that such election had been made on the Issue Date, (3) such election shall not have the effect of rendering invalid any payment or Investment made prior to the date of such election pursuant to Section 4.04 or any Incurrence of Indebtedness Incurred prior to the date of such election pursuant to Section 4.03 (or any other action conditioned on the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries having been able to Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness) if such payment, Investment, Incurrence or other action was valid under this Indenture on the date made, Incurred or taken, as the case may be and (4) all accounting terms and references in this Indenture to accounting standards shall be deemed to be references to the most comparable terms or standards under GAAP. The Issuer shall give written notice of any election to the Trustee and the holders of Notes with 15 days of such election. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) solely making an election (without any other action) referred to in this definition will not be treated as an Incurrence of Indebtedness, and (ii) nothing herein shall prevent the Issuer, any Restricted Subsidiary or Reporting Entity from adopting or changing its functional or reporting currency in accordance with IFRS, or GAAP, as applicable; provided that (1) from and after such election, all ratios, computations, calculations and other relevant determinations shall be computed using such newly adopted or changed functional or reporting currency, and (2) such adoption or change shall not have the effect of rendering invalid any payment or Investment made prior to the date of such election pursuant to Section 4.04 or any Incurrence of Indebtedness Incurred prior to the date of such adoption or change pursuant to Section 4.03 (or any other action conditioned on the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries having been able to Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness) if such payment, Investment, Incurrence or other action was valid under this Indenture on the date made, Incurred or taken, as the case may be.

Incur” means issue, assume, guarantee, incur or otherwise become liable for; provided, however, that any Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person existing at the time such person becomes a Subsidiary (whether by merger, amalgamation, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) shall be deemed to be Incurred by such Person at the time it becomes a Subsidiary.

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) the principal and premium (if any) of any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, (a) in respect of borrowed money, (b) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances (or, without duplication, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), (c) representing the deferred and unpaid purchase price of any property (except any such balance that (i) constitutes a trade payable or similar obligation to a trade creditor Incurred in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any earn-out obligations until such obligation becomes a

 

20


liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with IFRS and (iii) liabilities accrued in the ordinary course of business), which purchase price is due more than six months after the date of placing the property in service or taking delivery and title thereto, (d) in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations, or (e) representing any Hedging Obligations, if and to the extent that any of the foregoing indebtedness would appear as a liability (or in the case of (e), an asset or a liability) on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with IFRS;

(2) to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation of such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, the obligations referred to in clause (1) of another Person (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business); and

(3) to the extent not otherwise included, Indebtedness of another Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned by such Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person); provided, however, that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of: (a) the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of such asset at such date of determination, and (b) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Person;

provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (1) Contingent Obligations Incurred in the ordinary course of business and not in respect of borrowed money; (2) deferred or prepaid revenues; (3) purchase price holdbacks in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warranty or other unperformed obligations of the respective seller; (4) Hedging Obligations entered into prior to the Issue Date; or (5) Obligations under or in respect of the Factoring Facility or any Qualified Receivables Financing.

Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, Indebtedness shall not include, and shall be calculated without giving effect to, the effects of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose under this Indenture as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness; and any such amounts that would have constituted Indebtedness under this Indenture but for the application of this sentence shall not be deemed an Incurrence of Indebtedness under this Indenture.

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

Independent Financial Advisor” means an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm or consultant, in each case of nationally recognized standing, that is, in the good faith determination of the Issuer, qualified to perform the task for which it has been engaged.

Intercreditor Agreement” means the Notes Intercreditor Agreement among the Trustee, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Credit Agreement and the other parties from time to time party thereto, to be dated as of the Acquisition Date and substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit E hereto, as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Indenture.

 

21


Interest Payment Date” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit A hereto.

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

Investment Grade Securities” means:

(1) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents),

(2) securities that have a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or equivalent) by S&P, but excluding any debt securities or loans or advances between and among the Issuer and its Subsidiaries,

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

(4) corresponding instruments in countries other than the United States customarily utilized for high quality investments and in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition.

Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including guarantees), advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, trade credit and advances to customers and commission, travel and similar advances to officers, employees and consultants made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person and investments that are required by IFRS to be classified on the balance sheet of such Person in the same manner as the other investments included in this definition to the extent such transactions involve the transfer of cash or other property. For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section 4.04:

(1) “Investments” shall include the portion (proportionate to the Issuer’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of the net assets of a Subsidiary of the Issuer at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Issuer shall be deemed to continue to have a permanent “Investment” in an Unrestricted Subsidiary equal to an amount (if positive) equal to:

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

 

22


(b) the portion (proportionate to the Issuer’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and

(2) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) at the time of such transfer, in each case as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Issuer.

Issue Date” means the date on which the Notes are originally issued.

Junior Lien Obligations” means the Obligations with respect to other Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Indenture, which is by its terms intended to be secured by the Collateral on a basis junior to the Notes pursuant to customary intercreditor arrangements similar to those specified in the Intercreditor Agreement; provided such Lien is permitted to be incurred under this Indenture.

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

Management Group” means the group consisting of the directors, executive officers and other management personnel of Holdings, the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, as the case may be, on the Acquisition Date together with (1) any new directors whose election by such boards of directors or whose nomination for election by the shareholders of Holdings, the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, as applicable, was approved by a vote of a majority of the directors of Holdings, the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, as applicable, then still in office who were either directors on the Acquisition Date or whose election or nomination was previously so approved and (2) executive officers and other management personnel of Holdings, the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, as applicable, hired at a time when the directors on the Acquisition Date together with the directors so approved constituted a majority of the directors of Holdings, the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, as applicable.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

Net Income” means, with respect to any Person, the profit (loss) for the period or net income (loss), as applicable, of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, determined in accordance with IFRS and before any reduction in respect of Preferred Stock dividends.

Net Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash

 

23


received in respect of or upon the sale or other disposition of any Designated Non-cash Consideration received in any Asset Sale and any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received, but excluding the assumption by the acquiring Person of Indebtedness relating to the disposed assets or other consideration received in any other non-cash form), net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale and the sale or disposition of such Designated Non-cash Consideration (including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and brokerage 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 related solely to such disposition and including Tax Distributions paid or payable as a result thereof), amounts required to be applied to the repayment of principal, premium (if any) and interest on Indebtedness required (other than pursuant to Section 4.06(b)) to be paid as a result of such transaction, and any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Issuer as a reserve in accordance with IFRS against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Issuer after such sale or other disposition thereof, including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction.

Notes Obligations” means Obligations in respect of this Indenture, the Notes, and the Security Documents.

Obligations” means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements (including, without limitation, reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances), damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness; provided that Obligations with respect to the Notes shall not include fees or indemnifications in favor of third parties other than the Trustee, the Collateral Agent, the First Lien Agent and the holders of the Notes.

Offering Memorandum” means the offering memorandum, dated January 20, 2012, as supplemented or amended from time to time, relating to the issuance of the Initial Notes.

Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Issuer.

Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Issuer by an Officer of the Issuer that meets the requirements set forth in this Indenture.

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

Other Second-Lien Obligations” means other Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries that is equally and ratably secured with the Notes as permitted by this Indenture and is designated by the Issuer as an Other Second-Lien Obligation; provided that an authorized representative on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness has executed joinders to the Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents in the form or substantially in the form provided therein.

 

24


Parallel Debt Agreement” means that certain Parallel Debt Agreement to be entered into on the Acquisition Date and substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G, by and among the German Guarantors, the Belgian Guarantors, the Collateral Agent, the Trustee and Citi International plc, as Belgian sub-agent of the Collateral Agent, and Citibank, N.A., as common collateral agent under the Intercreditor Agreement, as the same may be amended or modified from time to time.

Pari Passu Indebtedness” means (1) with respect to the Issuer, the Notes and Indebtedness which ranks pari passu in right of payments to the Notes and is secured by Lien on the Collateral with the same priority as the Liens securing the Notes; and (2) with respect to any Guarantor, its Guarantee and any Indebtedness which ranks pari passu in right of payment to such Guarantor’s Guarantee and is secured by Liens on the Collateral with the same priority as the Liens securing the Guarantees.

Parent Guarantee” means a guarantee of the Notes Obligations by Holdings.

Permitted Holders” means, at any time, each of (i) the Sponsor, (ii) the Management Group, (iii) any Person that has no material assets other than the Capital Stock of Holdings and/or the Issuer and, directly or indirectly, holds or acquires 100% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Issuer, and of which no other Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), other than the other Permitted Holders specified in clauses (i) and (ii) above, holds more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock thereof and (iv) any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) the members of which include any of the Permitted Holders specified in clauses (i) and (ii) above and that, directly or indirectly, hold or acquire beneficial ownership of the Voting Stock of the Issuer (a “Permitted Holder Group”), so long as (1) each member of the Permitted Holder Group has voting rights proportional to the percentage of ownership interests held or acquired by such member and (2) no Person or other “group” (other than the Permitted Holders specified in clauses (i) and (ii) above) beneficially owns more than 50% on a fully diluted basis of the Voting Stock held by the Permitted Holder Group. Any Person or group whose acquisition of beneficial ownership constitutes a Change of Control in respect of which a Change of Control Offer is made in accordance with the requirements of this Indenture will thereafter, together with its Affiliates, constitute an additional Permitted Holder.

Permitted Investments” means:

(1) any Investment in the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary;

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

(3) any Investment by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in a Person if as a result of such Investment (a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, or (b) such Person, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

25


(4) any Investment in securities or other assets not constituting Cash Equivalents and received in connection with an Asset Sale made pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.06 or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;

(5) any Investment existing on, or made pursuant to binding commitments existing on, the Issue Date or an Investment consisting of any extension, modification or renewal of any Investment existing on the Issue Date; provided that the amount of any such Investment may be increased (x) as required by the terms of such Investment as in existence on the Issue Date or (y) as otherwise permitted under this Indenture;

(6) advances to employees, taken together with all other advances made pursuant to this clause (6), not to exceed $5 million at any one time outstanding;

(7) any Investment acquired by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (a) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the issuer of such other Investment or accounts receivable, or (b) as a result of a foreclosure by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

(8) Hedging Obligations permitted under Section 4.03(b)(x);

(9) any Investment by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in a Similar Business having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer), taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (9) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $75 million and (y) 4.0% of Total Assets at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (9) is made in any Person that is not the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (9) for so long as such Person continues to be the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(10) Investments by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer), taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (10) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $100 million and (y) 5.5% of Total Assets at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (10) is made in any

 

26


Person that is not the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (10) for so long as such Person continues to be the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(11) loans and advances to officers, directors or employees for business-related travel expenses, moving expenses and other similar expenses, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or to fund such person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer;

(12) Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock) or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, as applicable; provided, however, that such Equity Interests will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (3) of the definition of “Cumulative Credit”;

(13) any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted by and made in accordance with Section 4.07(b) (except transactions described in clauses (ii), (iv), (vi), (ix)(B), (xv) and (xvi) of such paragraph);

(14) Investments consisting of the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons;

(15) guarantees issued in accordance with Section 4.03 and Section 4.11, including, without limitation, any guarantee or other obligation issued or Incurred under the Credit Agreement in connection with any letter of credit issued for the account of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries (including with respect to the issuance of, or payments in respect of drawings under, such letters of credit);

(16) Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials, services or equipment or purchases of contract rights or licenses or leases of intellectual property;

(17) any Investment in a Receivables Subsidiary or any Investment by a Receivables Subsidiary in any other Person in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing, including Investments of funds held in accounts permitted or required by the arrangements governing such Qualified Receivables Financing or any related Indebtedness;

(18) advances, loans or extensions of trade credit in the ordinary course of business by the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of assets or services in the ordinary course of business; and Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of Article 3 endorsements for collection or deposit and Article 4 customary trade arrangements with customers consistent with past practices;

 

27


(19) any Investment in an entity which is not a Restricted Subsidiary to which a Restricted Subsidiary sells accounts receivable pursuant to a Receivables Financing;

(20) additional Investments in joint ventures not to exceed at any one time in the aggregate outstanding under this clause (20) $50 million; provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (20) is made in any Person that is not the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (20) for so long as such Person continues to be the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary; and

(21) Investments of a Restricted Subsidiary acquired after the Issue Date or of an entity merged into, amalgamated with or consolidated with the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in a transaction that is not prohibited by Section 5.01 after the Issue Date to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation.

Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person:

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

(2) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case for sums not yet due or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review;

(3) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet due or payable or subject to penalties for nonpayment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

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

(5) minor survey exceptions, minor encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real properties or Liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties which were not Incurred in connection with Indebtedness and which do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

 

28


(6) (A) Liens on assets of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor securing Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03;

(B) Liens on the Collateral securing (i) First Priority Lien Obligations referred to in clause (ii) of the definition thereof and (ii) Indebtedness constituting First Priority Lien Obligations incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(i), which obligations under clause (i) and (ii) may be secured on a basis ranking senior to the Liens securing the Notes and the Guarantees as set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement and (iii) other Indebtedness, secured on a basis ranking junior to the Liens securing the Notes and the Guarantees on terms substantially similar to the terms by which the Notes rank junior to First Priority Lien Obligations pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement; and

(C) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred pursuant to clauses (iv), (xii) or (xx) of Section 4.03(b) (provided that in the case of clause (xx), such Lien does not extend to the property or assets of any Subsidiary of the Issuer other than a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary);

(7) Liens existing on the Issue Date (other than Liens in favor of the lenders under the Credit Agreement);

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

(9) Liens on assets or property at the time the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired the assets or property, including any acquisition by means of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation with or into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that such Liens (other than Liens to service Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to clause (xvi) of Section 4.03(b)) are not created or Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition; provided, further, however, that the Liens (other than Liens to service Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to clause (xvi) of Section 4.03(b)) may not extend to any other property owned by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than pursuant to After-Acquired Property clauses in effect with respect to such Lien at the time of acquisition on property of the type that would have been subject to such Lien notwithstanding the occurrence of such acquisition);

(10) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Issuer or a Guarantor permitted to be Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03;

 

29


(11) Liens securing Hedging Obligations not Incurred in violation of this Indenture; provided that with respect to Hedging Obligations relating to Indebtedness, such Lien extends only to the property securing such Indebtedness;

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

(13) leases and subleases of real property which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(14) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings regarding operating leases entered into by the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

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

(16) Liens on accounts receivable and related assets of the type specified in the definition of “Receivables Financing” Incurred in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing;

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

(18) Liens on the Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(19) grants of software and other technology licenses in the ordinary course of business;

(20) Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancings, refundings, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (6), (7), (8) and (9); provided, however, that (x) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus improvements on such property), and (y) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (A) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clauses (6), (7), (8) and (9) at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Indenture, and (B) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement; provided further, however, that in the case of any Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension or renewal of Indebtedness secured by a Lien referred to in clause (6)(B), the principal amount of any Indebtedness Incurred for such refinancing, refunding, extension or renewal shall be deemed secured by a Lien under clause (6)(B) and not this clause (20) for purposes of determining the principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under clause (6)(B), for the purpose of Section 4.03(b)(i) and for purposes of Section 11.04(a)(1);

 

30


(21) Liens on equipment of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary granted in the ordinary course of business to the Issuer’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s client at which such equipment is located;

(22) judgment and attachment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default and notices of lis pendens and associated rights related to litigation being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been made;

(23) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(24) Liens incurred to secure cash management services or to implement cash pooling arrangements in the ordinary course of business;

(25) other Liens securing obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business which obligations do not exceed $50 million at any one time outstanding;

(26) any encumbrance or restriction (including put and call arrangements) with respect to Capital Stock of any joint venture or similar arrangement pursuant to any joint venture or similar agreement;

(27) any amounts held by a trustee in the funds and accounts under an indenture securing any revenue bonds issued for the benefit of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary under any indenture issued in escrow pursuant to customary escrow arrangements pending the release thereof, or under any indenture pursuant to customary discharge, redemption or defeasance provisions; and

(28) Liens arising by virtue of any statutory or common law provisions relating to banker’s Liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a depository or financial institution.

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

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

Purchase Agreement” means the Agreement for the Sale of the Share Capital of Taminco Group Holdings Sàrl dated December 15, 2011 between Taminco International S.à r.l., as seller, and Issuer, as purchaser, and in effect on the Issue Date and as amended thereafter; provided that such amendment is not materially adverse to the holders of the Notes.

 

31


Qualified Receivables Financing” means any Receivables Financing of a Receivables Subsidiary that meets the following conditions:

(1) the Board of Directors of the Issuer shall have determined in good faith that such Qualified Receivables Financing (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Issuer and the Receivables Subsidiary;

(2) all sales of accounts receivable and related assets to the Receivables Subsidiary are made at Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer); and

(3) the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof shall be market terms (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) and may include Standard Securitization Undertakings.

The grant of a security interest in any accounts receivable of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Receivables Subsidiary) to secure Bank Indebtedness, Indebtedness in respect of the Notes or any Refinancing Indebtedness with respect to the Notes shall not be deemed a Qualified Receivables Financing.

Rating Agency” means (1) each of Moody’s and S&P and (2) if Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Notes for reasons outside of the Issuer’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15cs-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act selected by the Issuer, the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P, as the case may be.

Receivables Fees” means distributions or payments made directly or by means of discounts with respect to any participation interests issued or sold in connection with, and all other fees paid to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with, any Receivables Financing.

Receivables Financing” means any transaction or series of transactions that may be entered into by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to which the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may sell, convey or otherwise transfer to (a) a Receivables Subsidiary (in the case of a transfer by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries); and (b) any other Person (in the case of a transfer by a Receivables Subsidiary), or may grant a security interest in, any accounts receivable (whether now existing or arising in the future) of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, and any assets related thereto including, without limitation, all collateral securing such accounts receivable, all contracts and all guarantees or other obligations in respect of such accounts receivable, proceeds of such accounts receivable and other assets which are customarily transferred or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted in connection with asset securitization transactions involving accounts receivable and any Hedging Obligations entered into by the Issuer or any such Subsidiary in connection with such accounts receivable.

Receivables Repurchase Obligation” means any obligation of a seller of receivables in a Qualified Receivables Financing to repurchase receivables arising as a result of a breach of a representation, warranty or covenant or otherwise, including as a result of a receivable or portion thereof becoming subject to any asserted defense, dispute, off-set or counterclaim of any kind as a result of any action taken by, any failure to take action by or any other event relating to the seller.

 

32


Receivables Subsidiary” means a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary (or another Person formed for the purposes of engaging in Qualified Receivables Financing with the Issuer in which the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer makes an Investment and to which the Issuer or any such Subsidiary transfers accounts receivable and related assets) which engages in no activities other than in connection with the financing of accounts receivable of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, all proceeds thereof and all rights (contractual or other), collateral and other assets relating thereto, and any business or activities incidental or related to such business, and which is designated by the Board of Directors of the Issuer (as provided below) as a Receivables Subsidiary and:

(a) no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise) of which (i) is guaranteed by the Issuer or any other Subsidiary of the Issuer (excluding guarantees of obligations (other than the principal of and interest on, Indebtedness) pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings), (ii) is recourse to or obligates the Issuer or any other Subsidiary in any way other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings, or (iii) subjects any property or asset of the Issuer or any other Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings;

(b) with which neither the Issuer nor any other Subsidiary has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding other than on terms which the Issuer reasonably believes to be no less favorable to the Issuer or such Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of the Issuer; and

(c) to which none of the Issuer or its other Subsidiaries has any obligation to maintain or preserve such entity’s financial condition or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operating results.

Any such designation by the Board of Directors of the Issuer shall be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors of the Issuer giving effect to such designation and an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing conditions.

Record Date” has the meaning specified in Exhibit A hereto.

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

Restricted Cash” means cash and Cash Equivalents held by Restricted Subsidiaries that are contractually restricted from being distributed to the Issuer, except for such cash and Cash Equivalents subject only to such restrictions that are contained in agreements governing Indebtedness permitted under this Indenture and that are secured by such cash or Cash Equivalents.

 

33


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

Restricted Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any Subsidiary of such Person other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of such Person. Unless otherwise indicated in this Indenture, all references to Restricted Subsidiaries shall mean Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer.

Reversion Date” means the date on which one or both of the Rating Agencies withdraw their Investment Grade Rating or downgrade the rating assigned to the Notes below an Investment Grade Rating.

Sale/Leaseback Transaction” means an arrangement relating to property now owned or hereafter acquired by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary whereby the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary transfers such property to a Person and the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary leases it from such Person, other than leases between the Issuer and a Restricted Subsidiary or between Restricted Subsidiaries.

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Second Priority Liens” means the Liens securing the Obligations of the Issuer in respect of the Notes and this Indenture and all present and future Liens securing Other Second-Lien Obligations as set forth in the Collateral Agreements.

Secured Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness secured by a Lien.

Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Person, at any date the ratio of (i) Secured Indebtedness constituting First-Priority Lien Obligations (to the extent such Secured Indebtedness is Indebtedness of the type described in clauses (1)(a), 1(b) (other than Indebtedness in respect of performance bid and surety bonds and completion guarantees), (1)(d) and (1)(e) (to the extent such Hedging Obligations relate to currency or indebtedness for borrowed money) of the definition of Indebtedness, and guarantee obligations with respect to any of the foregoing) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date of calculation (determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with IFRS) less the amount of cash and Cash Equivalents in excess of any Restricted Cash that would be stated on the balance sheet of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries and held by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date of determination to (ii) EBITDA of such Person for the four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding such date on which such additional Indebtedness is Incurred. In the event that the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary Incurs, repays, repurchases or redeems any Indebtedness subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to the event for which the calculation of the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio is made (the “Secured Leverage Calculation Date”), then the

 

34


Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence, repayment, repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period; provided that the Issuer may elect pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee to treat all or any portion of the commitment under any Indebtedness as being Incurred at such time, in which case any subsequent Incurrence of Indebtedness under such commitment shall not be deemed, for purposes of this calculation, to be an Incurrence at such subsequent time.

For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and discontinued operations (as determined in accordance with IFRS), in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, and any operational changes that the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary has determined to make and/or made during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Secured Leverage Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations, discontinued operations and other operational changes (and the change of any associated Indebtedness and the change in EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation, amalgamation, discontinued operation or operational change, in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, discontinued operation, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or operational change had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period. If since the beginning of such period any Restricted Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated a Restricted Subsidiary, then the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period. Additionally, for purposes of making the computation referred to above, the net asset or liability attributable to Hedging Obligations will be included in First Priority Lien Obligations in the proportion of (i) the amount of U.S. dollar denominated indebtedness for borrowed money constituting First Priority Lien Obligations to (ii) U.S. dollar denominated indebtedness for borrowed money, in each case, of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any event, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer. Any such pro forma calculation may include adjustments appropriate, in the reasonable good faith determination of the Issuer as set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, to reflect (1) operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies reasonably expected to result from the applicable event and (2) all adjustments of the nature used in connection with the calculation of “Consolidated EBITDA” as set forth in footnote (4) to the “Summary Historical and Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information” in the Offering Memorandum to the extent such adjustments, without duplication, continue to be applicable to such four-quarter period.

 

35


For purposes of this definition, any amount in a currency other than U.S. dollars will be converted to U.S. dollars based on the average exchange rate for such currency for the most recent twelve-month period immediately prior to the date of determination in a manner consistent with that used in calculating EBITDA for the applicable period.

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

Security Documents” means the Collateral Agreements and the security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages and related agreements, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, refunded, replaced, restructured, repaid, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time, creating the security interests in the Collateral for the benefit of the Trustee and the holders of the Notes as contemplated by this Indenture.

Significant Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a “Significant Subsidiary” of the Issuer within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC (or any successor provision).

Similar Business” means any business, engaged in by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries on the Acquisition Date and any business or other activities that are reasonably similar, ancillary, complementary or related to, or a reasonable extension, development or expansion of, the business in which the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries are engaged on the Acquisition Date.

Special Mandatory Redemption Price” means an amount equal to initial issue price of the Notes plus Accrued Yield, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Special Mandatory Redemption Date.

Sponsor” means (i) Apollo Management, L.P. and any of its respective Affiliates other than any operating portfolio companies (collectively, the “Apollo Sponsor”) and (ii) any Person that forms a group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) with any Apollo Sponsor; provided that the Apollo Sponsor (x) owns a majority of the voting power and (y) controls a majority of the Board of Directors of the Issuer.

Standard Securitization Undertakings” means representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and guarantees of performance entered into by the Issuer or any Subsidiary thereof which the Issuer has determined in good faith to be customary in a Receivables Financing including, without limitation, those relating to the servicing of the assets of a Receivables Subsidiary, it being understood that any Receivables Repurchase Obligation shall be deemed to be a Standard Securitization Undertaking.

Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the final payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision (but excluding any provision

 

36


providing for the repurchase of such security at the option of the holder thereof upon the happening of any contingency beyond the control of the issuer unless such contingency has occurred).

Subordinated Indebtedness” means (a) with respect to the Issuer, any Indebtedness of the Issuer which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, and (b) with respect to any Guarantor, any Indebtedness of such Guarantor which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to its Guarantee.

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (1) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture or limited liability company) 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 of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, and (2) any partnership, joint venture or limited liability company of which (x) more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general and limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership interests or otherwise, and (y) such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity.

Subsidiary Guarantor” means any Guarantor that is a Subsidiary of the Issuer; provided that upon the release or discharge of such Person from its Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture, such Subsidiary ceases to be a Subsidiary Guarantor.

Suspension Period” means the period of time between a Covenant Suspension Event and the related Reversion Date.

Tax Distributions” means any distributions described in Section 4.04(b)(xii)(i).

Taxes” means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

Total Assets” means the total consolidated assets of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries, as shown on the most recent balance sheet of the Issuer. Total Assets shall be determined as of the time of the occurrence of any event giving rise to the requirement to determine Total Assets and after giving pro forma effect to the occurrence of such event and all other consummated acquisitions or dispositions of a Person, business or assets (whether completed or subject to a definitive agreement with respect thereto) from the date of such balance sheet to the date of such event giving rise to the requirement to determine Total Assets and as set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee.

Transactions” means (i) the offering of the Notes on the Issue Date and the application of the proceeds therefrom as described in “Use of Proceeds” in the Offering Memorandum and (ii) the payment of fees and expenses in relation to the foregoing.

 

37


Treasury Rate” means, as of the applicable redemption date, the yield to maturity as of such redemption date of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to such redemption date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from such redemption date to March 31, 2015; provided, however, that if the period from such redemption date to March 31, 2015, is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used.

Trustee” means the party named as such in this Indenture until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.

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

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means:

(1) any Subsidiary of the Issuer that at the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors of the Issuer in the manner provided below; and

(2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Issuer may designate any Subsidiary of the Issuer (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on any property of, the Issuer or any other Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated; provided, however, that the Subsidiary to be so designated and its Subsidiaries do not at the time of designation have and do not thereafter Incur any Indebtedness pursuant to which the lender has recourse to any of the assets of the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, further, however, that either:

(a) the Subsidiary to be so designated has total consolidated assets of $1,000 or less; or

(b) if such Subsidiary has consolidated assets greater than $1,000, then such designation would be permitted under Section 4.04.

The Issuer may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that immediately after giving effect to such designation:

(x) (1) the Issuer could Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.03(a), or (2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio would be greater than such ratio immediately prior to such designation, in each case on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation, and

(y) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

38


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

U.S. Collateral Agreement” means the Second Lien Collateral Agreement among the Issuer, each Guarantor and the Collateral Agent, to be dated as of the Acquisition Date and substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F, as may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms and in accordance with this Indenture.

U.S. Government Obligations” means securities that are:

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

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

which, in each case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligations or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. Government Obligations held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligations or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligations evidenced by such depository receipt.

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 or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, at any date, the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the products of the number of years from the date of determination to the date of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment, by (2) the sum of all such payments.

Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary” is any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary.

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

 

39


SECTION 1.02. Other Definitions

 

Term

  

Defined in
Section

“Additional Amounts”    12.03
“Affiliate Transaction”    4.07(a)
“Agent Members”    Appendix A
“Asset Sale Offer”    4.06(b)
“Bankruptcy Law”    6.01
“Change of Control Offer”    4.08(b)
“covenant defeasance option”    8.01(b)
“Covenant Suspension Event”    4.16
“Custodian”    6.01
“Definitive Note”    Appendix A
“Depository”    Appendix A
“Escrow Date of Determination”   

Paragraph 5

of Form of

Initial Note

“Escrow Period”    4.19
“Escrow Property”    13.01
“Event of Default”    6.01
“Excess Proceeds”    4.06(b)
“Global Notes”    Appendix A
“Global Notes Legend”    Appendix A
“Guaranteed Obligations”    12.01(a)
“IAI”    Appendix A
“Increased Amount”    4.12(d)
“Initial Lien”    4.12(a)
“Initial Notes”    Preamble
“Initial Purchasers”    Appendix A
“Issuer”    Preamble
“legal defeasance option”    8.01(b)
“Notes”    Preamble
“Notes Custodian”    Appendix A
“Notice of Default”    6.01
“Offer Period”    4.06(d)
“Paying Agent”    2.04(a)
“protected purchaser”    2.08
“QIB”    Appendix A
“Refinancing Indebtedness”    4.03(b)
“Refunding Capital Stock”    4.04(b)
“Registrar”    2.04(a)
“Regulation S”    Appendix A
“Regulation S Global Notes”    Appendix A
“Regulation S Notes”    Appendix A
“Reporting Entity”    4.02(f)

 

40


Term

  

Defined in
Section

“Restricted Notes Legend”    Appendix A
“Restricted Payment”    4.04(a)
“Restricted Period”    Appendix A
“Retired Capital Stock”    4.04(b)
“Reversion Date”    4.16
“Rule 501”    Appendix A
“Rule 144A”    Appendix A
“Rule 144A Global Notes”    Appendix A
“Rule 144A Notes”    Appendix A
“Second Commitment”    4.06(b)
“Security Default Provisions”    6.01(j)
“Special Mandatory Redemption Date”   

Paragraph 5

of Form of

Initial Note

“Successor”    5.01(a)
“Successor Parent Guarantor”    5.01(c)
“Successor Subsidiary Guarantor”    5.01(b)
“Suspended Covenants”    4.16
“Tax Jurisdiction”    12.03
“Transfer”    5.01(b)
“Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes”    Appendix A
“Transfer Restricted Global Notes”    Appendix A
“Unrestricted Definitive Notes”    Appendix A
“Unrestricted Global Notes”    Appendix A

SECTION 1.03. Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires:

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

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

(c) “or” is not exclusive;

(d) “including” means including without limitation;

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

(f) unsecured Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be subordinate or junior to Secured Indebtedness merely by virtue of its nature as unsecured Indebtedness;

 

41


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

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

(i) unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared in accordance with IFRS;

(j) “$” and “U.S. dollars” each refer to United States dollars, or such other money of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts;

(k) whenever in this Indenture or the Notes there is mentioned, in any context, principal, interest or any other amount payable under or with respect to any Notes, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts, to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amount is, were or would be payable in respect thereof; and

(l) for purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the Incurrence of Indebtedness or entering into other transactions (including any Restricted Payment, Investment, Asset Sale, Affiliate Transaction or granting any Lien), the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness or other transaction value that is denominated or otherwise calculated in a foreign currency shall be calculated in U.S. dollars based on the relevant currency to U.S. dollar exchange rate in effect on the date such transaction was consummated or Indebtedness was Incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed or first Incurred (whichever yields the lower U.S. dollar equivalent), in the case of revolving credit debt; provided that if such Indebtedness is Incurred (and, if applicable, associated Lien granted) to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness (and, if applicable, associated Lien granted) does not exceed an amount sufficient to repay the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced. Notwithstanding any other provision of this clause (l), the maximum value of any transaction or amount of Indebtedness that the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries may Incur shall not be deemed to be exceeded, with respect to any transaction or outstanding Indebtedness (or associated Lien), solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies.

 

42


ARTICLE II

THE NOTES

SECTION 2.01. Amount of Notes. The aggregate principal amount of Notes which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture on the Issue Date is $400,000,000.

The Issuer may from time to time after the Issue Date issue Additional Notes under this Indenture in an unlimited principal amount, so long as (i) the Incurrence of the Indebtedness represented by such Additional Notes is at such time permitted by Section 4.03 and (ii) such Additional Notes are issued in compliance with the other applicable provisions of this Indenture. With respect to any Additional Notes issued after the Issue Date (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Section 2.07, 2.08, 2.09, 3.06, 4.06(e), 4.08(c) or Appendix A), there shall be (a) established in or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors and (b) (i) set forth or determined in the manner provided in an Officer’s Certificate or (ii) established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of such Additional Notes:

(1) the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Notes which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture;

(2) the issue price and issuance date of such Additional Notes, including the date from which interest on such Additional Notes shall accrue; and

(3) if applicable, that such Additional Notes shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Notes and, in such case, the respective depositaries for such Global Notes, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by such Global Notes in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Exhibit A hereto and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Section 2.2 of Appendix A in which any such Global Note may be exchanged in whole or in part for Additional Notes registered, or any transfer of such Global Note in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the depositary for such Global Note or a nominee thereof.

If any of the terms of any Additional Notes are established by action taken pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officer’s Certificate or an indenture supplemental hereto setting forth the terms of the Additional Notes.

The Initial Notes, including any Additional Notes, may, at the Issuer’s option, be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase; provided that if the Additional Notes are not fungible with the Initial Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Additional Notes will have a separate CUSIP number, if a CUSIP number is required.

SECTION 2.02. Form and Dating. Provisions relating to the Initial Notes are set forth in Appendix A, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The (i) Initial Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication and (ii) any Additional Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall each be substantially in the

 

43


form of Exhibit A hereto, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Issuer or any Guarantor is subject, if any, or usage (provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Issuer). Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be issuable only in registered form without interest coupons and in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

SECTION 2.03. Execution and Authentication. The Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery upon a written order of the Issuer signed by one Officer (a) Initial Notes for original issue on the date hereof in an aggregate principal amount of $400,000,000 and (b) subject to the terms of this Indenture, Additional Notes in an aggregate principal amount to be determined at the time of issuance and specified therein. Such order shall specify the amount of separate Note certificates to be authenticated, the principal amount of each of the Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated, the registered holder of each of the Notes and delivery instructions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or Appendix A, any issuance of Additional Notes after the Issue Date shall be in a principal amount of at least $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

One Officer shall sign the Notes for the Issuer by manual or facsimile signature.

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

A Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Note. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.

The Trustee may appoint one or more authenticating agents reasonably acceptable to the Issuer to authenticate the Notes. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument signed by a Responsible Officer, a copy of which shall be furnished to the Issuer. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and demands.

SECTION 2.04. Registrar and Paying Agent.

(a) The Issuer shall maintain (i) an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “Registrar”) and (ii) an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (the “Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Issuer may have one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrars. The term “Paying Agent” includes the Paying Agent and any additional paying agents. The Issuer initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar, Paying Agent and the Notes Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.

 

44


(b) The Issuer may enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar or Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Issuer shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any such agent. If the Issuer fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 7.07. The Issuer or any of its domestically organized Wholly Owned Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

(c) The Issuer may remove any Registrar or Paying Agent upon written notice to such Registrar or Paying Agent and to the Trustee; provided, however, that no such removal shall become effective until (i) if applicable, acceptance of an appointment by a successor as evidenced by an appropriate agreement entered into by the Issuer and such successor Registrar or Paying Agent, as the case may be, and delivered to the Trustee or (ii) notification to the Trustee that the Trustee shall serve as Registrar or Paying Agent until the appointment of a successor in accordance with clause (i) above. The Registrar or Paying Agent may resign at any time upon written notice to the Issuer and the Trustee; provided, however, that the Trustee may resign as Paying Agent or Registrar only if the Trustee also resigns as Trustee in accordance with Section 7.07.

SECTION 2.05. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. Prior to each due date of the principal of and interest on any Note, the Issuer shall deposit with each Paying Agent (or if the Issuer or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary is acting as Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto) a sum sufficient to pay such principal and interest when so becoming due. The Issuer shall require each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that a Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of holders or the Trustee all money held by a Paying Agent for the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes, and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuer in making any such payment. If the Issuer or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Issuer acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto. The Issuer at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by such Paying Agent. Upon complying with this Section, a Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee.

SECTION 2.06. Holder Lists. The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of holders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuer shall furnish, or cause the Registrar to furnish, to the Trustee, in writing at least five Business Days before each Interest Payment Date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of holders.

SECTION 2.07. Transfer and Exchange. The Notes shall be issued in registered form and shall be transferable only upon the surrender of a Note for registration of transfer and in compliance with Appendix A. When a Note is presented to the Registrar with a request to register a transfer, the Registrar shall register the transfer as requested if its requirements therefor are met. When Notes are presented to the Registrar with a request to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Notes of other denominations, the Registrar shall make the exchange as requested if the same requirements are met. To permit registration of transfers and exchanges,

 

45


the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Notes at the Registrar’s request. The Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to pay all taxes, assessments or other governmental charges in connection with any transfer or exchange pursuant to this Section. The Issuer shall not be required to make, and the Registrar need not register, transfers or exchanges of Notes selected for redemption (except, in the case of Notes to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be redeemed) or of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed.

Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Note, the Issuer, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name a Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest, if any, on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note is overdue, and none of the Issuer, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

Any holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note shall, by acceptance of such beneficial interest, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such Global Note may be effected only through a book-entry system maintained by (a) the holder of such Global Note (or its agent) or (b) any holder of a beneficial interest in such Global Note, and that ownership of a beneficial interest in such Global Note shall be required to be reflected in a book entry.

All Notes issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depository participants or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

None of the Trustee, Registrar or Paying Agent shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by the Depository.

SECTION 2.08. Replacement Notes. If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Registrar or if the holder of a Note claims that the Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Issuer shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Note if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met, such that the holder (a) satisfies the Issuer and the Trustee within a reasonable time after such holder has notice of such loss, destruction or wrongful taking and the Registrar does not register a transfer prior to receiving such notification, (b) makes such request to the Issuer and the Trustee prior to the Note being acquired by a protected purchaser as defined in Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code (a “protected purchaser”) and (c) satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Issuer and the Trustee. If required by the Trustee or the Issuer, such holder shall furnish an indemnity

 

46


bond sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Issuer to protect the Issuer, the Trustee, a Paying Agent and the Registrar from any loss or liability that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced and subsequently presented or claimed for payment. The Issuer and the Trustee may charge the holder for their expenses in replacing a Note (including without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements in replacing such Note). In the event any such mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Note has become or is about to become due and payable, the Issuer in its discretion may pay such Note instead of issuing a new Note in replacement thereof.

Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Issuer.

The provisions of this Section 2.08 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Notes.

SECTION 2.09. Outstanding Notes. Notes outstanding at any time are all Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section as not outstanding. Subject to Section 14.04, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer holds the Note.

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.08 (other than a mutilated Note surrendered for replacement), it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee and the Issuer receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser. A mutilated Note ceases to be outstanding upon surrender of such Note and replacement thereof pursuant to Section 2.08.

If a Paying Agent segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with this Indenture, on a redemption date or maturity date money sufficient to pay all principal and interest payable on that date with respect to the Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as the case may be, and no Paying Agent is prohibited from paying such money to the holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, then on and after that date such Notes (or portions thereof) cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

SECTION 2.10. Cancellation. The Issuer at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and each 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 or cancellation and shall dispose of canceled Notes in accordance with its customary procedures. The Issuer may not issue new Notes to replace Notes they have redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation. The Trustee shall not authenticate Notes in place of canceled Notes other than pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

SECTION 2.11. Defaulted Interest. If the Issuer defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, the Issuer shall pay the defaulted interest then borne by the Notes (plus interest on such defaulted interest to the extent lawful) in any lawful manner. The Issuer may pay the defaulted interest to the Persons who are holders on a subsequent special record date. The Issuer shall fix or cause to be fixed any such special record date and payment date to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee and shall promptly mail or cause to be mailed to each affected holder a notice that states the special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid.

 

47


SECTION 2.12. CUSIP Numbers, ISINs, Etc. The Issuer in issuing the Notes may use CUSIP numbers, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to holders; provided, however, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers, either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of a redemption that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes and that any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuer shall advise the Trustee of any change in the CUSIP numbers, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers.

SECTION 2.13. Calculation of Principal Amount of Notes. The aggregate principal amount of the Notes, at any date of determination, shall be the principal amount of the Notes at such date of determination. With respect to any matter requiring consent, waiver, approval or other action of the holders of a specified percentage of the principal amount of all the Notes, such percentage shall be calculated, on the relevant date of determination, by dividing (a) the principal amount, as of such date of determination, of Notes, the holders of which have so consented, by (b) the aggregate principal amount, as of such date of determination, of the Notes then outstanding, in each case, as determined in accordance with the preceding sentence, Section 2.09 and Section 14.04 of this Indenture. Any calculation of the Applicable Premium or made pursuant to this Section 2.13 shall be made by the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate.

ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION

SECTION 3.01. Redemption. The Notes may be redeemed, in whole, or from time to time in part, subject to the conditions and at the redemption prices set forth in Paragraph 5 of the form of Note set forth in Exhibit A hereto, which are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this Indenture, together with accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date.

SECTION 3.02. Applicability of Article. Redemption of Notes at the election of the Issuer or otherwise, as permitted or required by any provision of this Indenture, shall be made in accordance with such provision and this Article.

SECTION 3.03. Notices to Trustee. If the Issuer elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Paragraph 5 of the Note, it shall notify the Trustee in an Officer’s Certificate of (i) the Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price. The Issuer shall give notice to the Trustee provided for in this paragraph at least 45 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date if the redemption is an optional redemption pursuant to Paragraph 5 of the Note, unless a shorter period is acceptable to the Trustee, and shall give notice of a Special Mandatory Redemption pursuant to Paragraph 5 of the

 

48


Note three Business Days in advance. The Issuer may also include a request in such Officer’s Certificate that the Trustee give the notice of redemption in the Issuer’s name and at its expense and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in Section 3.05. Any such notice may be canceled at any time prior to notice of such redemption being mailed to any holder and shall thereby be void and of no effect. The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee such documentation and records as shall enable the Trustee to select the Notes to be redeemed pursuant to Section 3.04.

SECTION 3.04. Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed. In the case of any partial redemption, selection of the Notes for redemption will be made by the Trustee on a pro rata basis, by lot or such other method deemed fair and appropriate; provided that no Notes of $2,000 (and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) or less shall be redeemed in part. The Trustee shall make the selection from outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption. The Trustee may select for redemption portions of the principal of Notes that have denominations larger than $2,000. Notes and portions of them the Trustee selects shall be in amounts of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption. The Trustee shall notify the Issuer promptly of the Notes or portions of Notes to be redeemed.

SECTION 3.05. Notice of Optional Redemption.

(a) At least 30 but not more than 60 days before a redemption date pursuant to Paragraph 5 of the Note (or 3 Business Days in the case of a Special Mandatory Redemption pursuant to Paragraph 5 of the Note), the Issuer shall mail or cause to be mailed by first-class mail a notice of redemption to each holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address (with a copy to the Trustee) or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of the Depository Trust Company, except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to the redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes, a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Article VIII of this Indenture or a Special Mandatory Redemption pursuant to Article XIII of this Indenture.

Any such notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:

(i) the redemption date;

(ii) the redemption price and the amount of accrued interest to the redemption date;

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

(iv) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price, plus accrued interest;

(v) if fewer than all the outstanding Notes are to be redeemed, the certificate numbers and principal amounts of the particular Notes to be redeemed, the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be outstanding after such partial redemption;

 

49


(vi) that, unless the Issuer defaults in making such redemption payment or the Paying Agent is prohibited from making such payment pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, interest on Notes (or portion thereof) called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

(vii) the CUSIP number, ISIN and/or “Common Code” number, if any, printed on the Notes being redeemed; and

(viii) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number or ISIN and/or “Common Code” number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes.

(b) At the Issuer’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Issuer’s name and at the Issuer’s expense. In such event, the Issuer shall provide the Trustee with the information required by this Section at least three Business Days prior to the date such notice is to be provided to holders in the final form such notice is to be delivered to holders and such notice may not be canceled once delivered to holders of Notes.

SECTION 3.06. Effect of Notice of Redemption. Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.05, Notes called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price stated in the notice, except as provided in the final sentence of paragraph 5 of the Notes. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Notes shall be paid at the redemption price stated in the notice, plus accrued interest, to, but not including, the redemption date; provided, however, that if the redemption date is after a regular Record Date and on or prior to the Interest Payment Date, the accrued interest shall be payable to the holder of the redeemed Notes registered on the relevant Record Date. Failure to give notice or any defect in the notice to any holder shall not affect the validity of the notice to any other holder.

SECTION 3.07. Deposit of Redemption Price. With respect to any Notes, prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the redemption date, the Issuer shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the Issuer or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary is the Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Notes or portions thereof to be redeemed on that date other than Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption that have been delivered by the Issuer to the Trustee for cancellation. On and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption so long as the Issuer has deposited with the Paying Agent funds sufficient to pay the principal of, plus accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes to be redeemed, unless the Paying Agent is prohibited from making such payment pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

SECTION 3.08. Notes Redeemed in Part. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption relating to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate for the holder (at the Issuer’s expense) a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered.

 

50


ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS

SECTION 4.01. Payment of Notes. The Issuer shall promptly pay the principal of and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes and in this Indenture. An installment of principal of or interest shall be considered paid on the date due if on such date the Trustee or the Paying Agent holds as of 10:00 a.m. New York City time money sufficient to pay all principal and interest then due and the Trustee or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, is not prohibited from paying such money to the holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

The Issuer shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate specified therefor in the Notes, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate borne by the Notes to the extent lawful.

SECTION 4.02. Reports and Other Information.

(a) So long as any Notes are outstanding, the Issuer will provide to the Trustee and, upon request, to beneficial owners of the Notes, a copy of all of the information and reports referred to below:

(i) within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year (or 120 days with respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 or in all cases such longer period as may be permitted by the SEC if the Issuer were then subject to such SEC reporting requirements as a non-accelerated filer), annual audited financial statements of the Reporting Entity for such fiscal year including a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” with respect to the periods presented and a report on the annual financial statements by the Reporting Entity’s independent registered public accounting firm (all of the foregoing financial information to be prepared on a basis substantially consistent with the corresponding financial information included in the Offering Memorandum);

(ii) within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year (or 90 days with respect to the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2012 or in all cases such longer period as may be permitted by the SEC if the Issuer were then subject to such SEC reporting requirements as a non-accelerated filer), unaudited financial statements of the Reporting Entity for the interim period as of, and for the period ending on, the end of such fiscal quarter including a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” (all of the foregoing financial information to be prepared on a basis substantially consistent with the corresponding financial information included in the Offering Memorandum); and

(iii) within 15 days after the time period specified for filing current reports on Form 8-K by the SEC, current reports containing substantially all of the information that would be required to be filed in a Current Report on Form 8-K under the Exchange Act on the Issue Date pursuant to Sections 1, 2 and 4, Items 5.01, 5.02 (other than

 

51


compensation information), 5.03(b) and Item 9.01 (only to the extent relating to any of the foregoing) of Form 8-K if the Issuer had been a reporting companies under the Exchange Act: provided, however, that no such current report will be required to be furnished if the Issuer determines in its good faith judgment that such event is not material to holders or the business, assets, operations, financial position or prospects of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

provided, however, that the time period during which information is required to be provided pursuant to clauses (i) or (ii) of this paragraph shall be extended by 30 days with respect to any period during which the Reporting Entity elects to change from IFRS to GAAP for its or its Subsidiaries’ financial reporting (and the Issuer shall provide notice to the Trustee of such 30-day extension upon such change). In addition to providing such information to the Trustee, the Issuer shall make available to the holders, prospective investors, market makers affiliated with any initial purchaser of the Notes and securities analysts the information required to be provided pursuant to clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph, by posting to such information to its website or on IntraLinks or any comparable password-protected online data system or website.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) the Issuer will not be required to furnish any information, certificates or reports that would otherwise be required by (i) Section 302 or Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or related Items 307 or 308 of Regulation S-K, or (ii) Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC with respect to any non-generally accepted accounting principles financial measures contained therein, (b) such reports will not be required to contain the separate financial information for Guarantors or Subsidiaries whose securities are pledged to secure the Notes contemplated by Rule 3-10 or Rule 3-16 of Regulation S-X, and (c) such reports shall not be required to present compensation or beneficial ownership information.

(c) The Issuer will be deemed to have furnished such reports referred to in clause (a) above to the Trustee and the holders if the Issuer or any other Reporting Entity has filed such information with the SEC via the EDGAR (or successor) filing system and such information is publicly available.

(d) For so long as the Issuer has designated certain of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then the quarterly and annual financial information required to be provided by this Section 4.02 will include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, and in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” or other comparable section, of the financial condition and results of operations of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer.

(e) To the extent not satisfied by the foregoing, the Issuer will agree that, for so long as any Notes are outstanding, it will furnish to holders and to securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act (or any successor provision).

 

52


(f) The financial statements, information and other documents required to be provided as described above, may be those of (i) the Issuer, (ii) Holdings or (iii) any direct or indirect parent of Holdings (any such entity, a “Reporting Entity”), so long as in the case of (ii) and (iii), Holdings or such direct or indirect parent of Holdings shall not conduct, transact or otherwise engage, or commit to conduct, transact or otherwise engage, in any business or operations other than its direct or indirect ownership of all of the Equity Interests in, and its management of the Issuer; provided that, if the financial information so furnished relates to Holdings or to such direct or indirect parent of Holdings, the same is accompanied by a reasonably detailed description of the quantitative differences between the information relating to Holdings or to such parent, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand.

(g) Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee pursuant to this Section 4.02 is for informational purposes only, and the Trustee’s receipt thereof shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuer’s compliance with any of its covenants under this Indenture (as to which the Trustee is entitled to certificates).

(h) So long as Notes are outstanding, the Issuer will also:

(i) as promptly as reasonably practicable after furnishing to the Trustee the annual and quarterly reports required by clauses (a)(i) and (a)(ii) of this Section 4.02, hold a conference call to discuss such reports and the results of operations for the relevant reporting period; and

(ii) post to its website or on IntraLinks or any comparable password- protected online data system, which will require a confidentiality acknowledgment (but not restrict the recipients of such information in trading of securities of the Issuer or its affiliates), prior to the date of the conference call required to be held in accordance with subclause (i) of this Section 4.02(h), announcing the time and date of such conference call and either including all information necessary to access the call or informing holders of Notes, prospective investors, market makers affiliated with any initial purchaser of the Notes and securities analysts how they can obtain such information, including, without limitation, the applicable password or other login information.

(i) Any person who seeks to participate in any conference calls or requests or accesses the financial statements, information and other documents, in each case, required by this Section 4.02, will be required to represent to the Issuer (to the Issuer’s reasonable good faith satisfaction) that:

(i) it is a holder of the Notes, a beneficial owner of the Notes, a prospective investor in the Notes, a market maker or an analyst covering the Issuer or the Notes; and

(ii) it is not a Person (which includes such Person’s parents, sister companies or subsidiaries) that (i) is a customer of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries principally engaged in a Similar Business or (ii) derives a significant portion of its revenues from operation of a Similar Business.

 

53


SECTION 4.03. Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock.

(a) (i) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, Incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue any shares of Disqualified Stock; and (ii) the Issuer shall not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Guarantor) to issue any shares of Preferred Stock; provided, however, that the Issuer and any Guarantor may Incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock, and any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor may Incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), issue shares of Disqualified Stock or issue shares of Preferred Stock, in each case if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Issuer for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is Incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued would have been at least 2.00 to 1.00 determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been Incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of proceeds therefrom had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period; provided, further, that any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor may not incur Indebtedness or issue shares of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock if, after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence or issuance (including pro forma effect to the application of the net proceeds therefrom), more than an aggregate of $200 million of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of such Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors would be outstanding pursuant to this paragraph (or any Refinancing thereof pursuant to clause Section 4.03(b)(xv)) at such time.

(b) The limitations set forth in Section 4.03(a) shall not apply to:

(i) the Incurrence by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time that does not exceed the greater of (1) $815 million and (2) an amount of First Priority Lien Obligations that would not cause the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available, determined on a pro forma basis, to exceed 2.75 to 1.00;

(ii) the Incurrence by the Issuer and the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by the Notes (not including any Additional Notes) and the Guarantees (including any indebtedness under the Parallel Debt Agreements by a Foreign Subsidiary);

(iii) Indebtedness existing on the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness described in clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 4.03(b));

(iv) Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) Incurred by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiaries, Disqualified Stock issued by the Issuer or any

 

54


Restricted Subsidiary and Preferred Stock issued by any Restricted Subsidiary to finance all or any part of (whether prior to or within 270 days after) the acquisition, lease, construction, installation, repair, replacement or improvement of property (real or personal), plant or equipment (whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets) in an aggregate amount which, when aggregated with the principal amount or liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and Incurred pursuant to this clause (iv) together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof pursuant to clause (xv) below, does not exceed the greater of $75 million and 4% of Total Assets at the time of Incurrence;

(v) Indebtedness Incurred by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bank guarantees issued in the ordinary course of business, including without limitation letters of credit in respect of workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other benefits to employees or former employees or their families or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance, and letters of credit in connection with the maintenance of, or pursuant to the requirements of, environmental or other permits or licenses from governmental authorities, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement type obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims;

(vi) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, Incurred in connection with the Transactions, any acquisition or disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, other than guarantees of Indebtedness Incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition;

(vii) Indebtedness of the Issuer to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (except in respect of intercompany current liabilities Incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the cash management, tax and accounting operations of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries) any such Indebtedness owed to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor is subordinated in right of payment to the obligations of the Issuer under the Notes; provided, further, that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event that results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien but not the transfer thereof upon foreclosure) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an Incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (vii);

(viii) shares of Preferred Stock of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event that results in any Restricted Subsidiary that holds such shares of Preferred Stock of another Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an issuance of shares of Preferred Stock not permitted by this clause (viii);

 

55


(ix) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if a Guarantor Incurs such Indebtedness to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor (except in respect of intercompany current liabilities Incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the cash management, tax and accounting operations of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries), such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee of such Guarantor; provided, further, that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event that results in any Restricted Subsidiary holding such Indebtedness ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien but not the transfer thereof upon foreclosure) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an Incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (ix);

(x) Hedging Obligations that are not Incurred for speculative purposes but (1) for the purpose of fixing or hedging interest rate risk with respect to any Indebtedness that is permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be outstanding; (2) for the purpose of fixing or hedging currency exchange rate risk with respect to any currency exchanges; or (3) for the purpose of fixing or hedging commodity price risk with respect to any commodity purchases or sales;

(xi) obligations (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bank guarantees) in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and completion guarantees provided by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or industry practice;

(xii) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary not otherwise permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference which, when aggregated with the principal amount or liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and Incurred pursuant to this clause (xii), together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof incurred pursuant to clause (xv) below, does not exceed the greater of $100 million and 5.5% of Total Assets at the time of Incurrence (it being understood that any Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (xii) shall cease to be deemed Incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (xii) but shall be deemed Incurred for purposes of Section 4.03(a) from and after the first date on which the Issuer, or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, could have Incurred such Indebtedness under Section 4.03(a) without reliance upon this clause (xii));

(xiii) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary and Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary not otherwise permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference at any time outstanding not greater than 200% of the net cash proceeds received by the Issuer since immediately after the Acquisition Date from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the

 

56


Issuer or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Issuer (which proceeds are contributed to the Issuer) or cash contributed to the capital of the Issuer (in each case other than proceeds of Disqualified Stock or sales of Equity Interests to, or contributions received from, the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) to the extent such net cash proceeds or cash have not been applied pursuant to such clauses to make Restricted Payments or to make other Investments, payments or exchanges pursuant to Section 4.04(b) or to make Permitted Investments (other than Permitted Investments specified in clauses (1) and (3) of the definition thereof); provided that any Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock in excess of 100% of such net cash proceeds or cash shall have a Stated Maturity that is later than the maturity date of the Notes;

(xiv) any guarantee by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary so long as the Incurrence of such Indebtedness Incurred by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the terms of this Indenture; provided that (i) if such Indebtedness is by its express terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Guarantee of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, any such guarantee with respect to such Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Guarantee, as applicable, substantially to the same extent as such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes or the Guarantee, as applicable, and (ii) if such guarantee is of Indebtedness of the Issuer, such guarantee is Incurred in accordance with Section 4.11 to the extent Section 4.11 is applicable.

(xv) the Incurrence by the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary that serves to refund, refinance or defease any Indebtedness Incurred or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued as permitted under Section 4.03(a) and clauses (ii), (iii), (iv), (xii), (xv) and (xvi) of this Section 4.03(b) up to the outstanding principal amount (or, if applicable, the liquidation preference face amount, or the like) or, if greater, committed amount (only to the extent the committed amount could have been Incurred on the date of initial Incurrence) of such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, or any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock Incurred to so refund or refinance such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, including any additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock Incurred to pay premiums (including tender premiums), expenses, defeasance costs and fees in connection therewith (subject to the following proviso, “Refinancing Indebtedness”) prior to its respective maturity; provided, however, that such Refinancing Indebtedness:

(1) has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred which is not less than the shorter of (x) the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock being refunded, refinanced or defeased and (y) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity that would result if all payments of principal on the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock being refunded or refinanced that were due on or after the date that is one year following the last maturity date of any Notes then outstanding were instead due on such date (provided that this subclause (1) will not apply to any refunding or refinancing of any Secured Indebtedness constituting First Priority Lien Obligations);

 

57


(2) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness refinances (a) Indebtedness junior to the Notes or a Guarantee, as applicable, such Refinancing Indebtedness is junior to the Notes or the Guarantee, as applicable, or (b) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness is Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock; and

(3) shall not include (x) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor, or (y) Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary:

(xvi) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of (x) the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary Incurred to finance an acquisition or (y) Persons that are acquired by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; provided that after giving effect to such acquisition or merger, consolidation or amalgamation, either:

(1) the Issuer would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.03(a); or

(2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Issuer would be greater than immediately prior to such acquisition or merger, consolidation or amalgamation;

(xvii) Indebtedness Incurred by a Receivables Subsidiary in a Qualified Receivables Financing that is not recourse to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary other than a Receivables Subsidiary (except for Standard Securitization Undertakings);

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

(xix) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary supported by a letter of credit or bank guarantee issued pursuant to Bank Indebtedness, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit;

(xx) Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors; provided, however, that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness Incurred under this clause (xx), when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness then outstanding and Incurred pursuant to this clause (xx), and pursuant to clause (xxiv) below, does not exceed the greater of $60 million and 3.5% of Total Assets at the time of Incurrence (it being understood that any Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause

 

58


(xx) shall cease to be deemed Incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (xx) but shall be deemed Incurred for the purposes of Section 4.03(a) from and after the first date on which such Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor could have Incurred such Indebtedness under Section 4.03(a) without reliance upon this clause (xx));

(xxi) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary consisting of (1) the financing of insurance premiums or (2) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;(xxii) Indebtedness consisting of Indebtedness issued by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary to current or former officers, directors and employees thereof or any direct or indirect parent thereof, their respective estates, spouses or former spouses, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Issuer, Holdings or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer to the extent described in Section 4.04(b)(iv);

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

(xxiv) Indebtedness incurred on behalf of, or representing Guarantees of Indebtedness of, joint ventures of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness Incurred under this clause (xxiv), when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness then outstanding and Incurred pursuant to this clause (xxiv) and pursuant to clause (xx) above, does not exceed the greater of $50 million and 3.0% of Total Assets at the time of Incurrence;

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

(xxvi) Indebtedness incurred by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent that the net proceeds thereof are promptly deposited with the Trustee to satisfy and discharge the Notes in accordance with this Indenture;

(xxvii) (1) guarantees incurred in the ordinary course of business in respect of obligations to suppliers, customers, franchisees, lessors and licensees that, in each case, are not Affiliates and (2) Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of leases entered into by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business on behalf of customers for equipment to be used by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, such customers or a subcontractor in providing services to a customer and for which the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary will be reimbursed by such customer; and

(xxviii) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary incurred to finance or assumed in connection with an acquisition in a principal amount not to exceed $25 million in the aggregate at any one time outstanding, together with all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and/or Preferred Stock issued under this clause (xxviii).

 

59


For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.03:

(i) in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of permitted Indebtedness described in clauses (i) through (xxviii) above or is entitled to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(a), the Issuer shall, in its sole discretion, classify or reclassify, or later divide, classify or reclassify, such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 4.03; and

(ii) at the time of Incurrence, the Issuer will be entitled to divide and classify an item of Indebtedness in more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in Section 4.03(a) and (b) without giving pro forma effect to the Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(b) when calculating the amount of Indebtedness that may be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(a).

Accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, the payment of interest or dividends in the form of additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, amortization of original issue discount, the accretion of liquidation preference and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies will not be deemed to be an Incurrence of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock for purposes of this Section 4.03. Guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit relating to, Indebtedness which is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness shall not be included in the determination of such amount of Indebtedness; provided that the Incurrence of the Indebtedness represented by such guarantee or letter of credit, as the case may be, was in compliance with this Section 4.03.

SECTION 4.04. Limitation on Restricted Payments.

(a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

(i) declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution on account of any of the Issuer’s or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests, including any payment made in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving the Issuer (other than (A) dividends or distributions payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer; or (B) dividends or distributions by a Restricted Subsidiary so long as, in the case of any dividend or distribution payable on or in respect of any class or series of securities issued by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend or distribution in accordance with its Equity Interests in such class or series of securities);

(ii) purchase or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer;

 

60


(iii) make any principal payment on, or redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, in each case prior to any scheduled repayment or scheduled maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor (other than the payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement of (A) Subordinated Indebtedness in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of such payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement and (B) Indebtedness permitted under clauses (vii) and (ix) of Section 4.03(b)); 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 such Restricted Payment:

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

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, the Issuer could Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under Section 4.03(a); and

(3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date (including Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (i) and (viii) of Section 4.04(b), but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.04(b)), is less than the amount equal to the Cumulative Credit (with the amount of any Restricted Payment made under this covenant in any property other than cash being equal to the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of such property at the time made).

(b) The provisions of Section 4.04(a) shall not prohibit:

(i) the payment of any dividend or distribution within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;

(ii) (A) the redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests (“Retired Capital Stock”) or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer, any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer or any Guarantor in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of, the substantially concurrent sale of, Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer (contributed to the capital of the Issuer) or contributions to the equity capital of the Issuer (other than any Disqualified Stock or any Equity Interests sold to a Subsidiary of the Issuer) (collectively, including any such contributions, “Refunding Capital Stock”),

 

61


(B) the declaration and payment of dividends on the Retired Capital Stock out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Issuer) of Refunding Capital Stock, and

(C) if immediately prior to the retirement of Retired Capital Stock, the declaration and payment of dividends thereon was permitted under clause (vi) of this Section 4.04(b) and not made pursuant to clause (ii)(B), the declaration and payment of dividends on the Refunding Capital Stock (other than Refunding Capital Stock the proceeds of which were used to redeem, repurchase, retire or otherwise acquire any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer) in an aggregate amount per year no greater than the aggregate amount of dividends per annum that were declarable and payable on such Retired Capital Stock immediately prior to such retirement;

(iii) the redemption, repurchase, defeasance, or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, new Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor which is Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03 so long as:

(A) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such new Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable), plus any accrued and unpaid interest, of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired for value (plus the amount of any premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument governing the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired, any tender premiums, plus any defeasance costs, fees and expenses Incurred in connection therewith),

(B) such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes or the related Guarantee, as the case may be, at least to the same extent as such Subordinated Indebtedness so purchased, exchanged, redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired for value except as otherwise permitted under clause (xv) of Section 4.03(b),

(C) such Indebtedness has a final scheduled maturity date equal to or later than the earlier of (x) the final scheduled maturity date of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired and (y) 91 days following the last maturity date of any Notes then outstanding, and

(D) such Indebtedness has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time Incurred which is not less than the shorter of (x) the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired and (y) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity that would result if all payments of principal on the Subordinated Indebtedness being redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired that were due on or after the date that is one year following the last maturity date of any Notes then outstanding were instead due on such date;

 

62


(iv) a Restricted Payment to pay for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition for value of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer held by any future, present or former employee, director or consultant of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or other agreement or arrangement; provided, however, that the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause (iv) do not exceed $20 million in any fiscal year, with unused amounts in any fiscal year being permitted to be carried over to succeeding fiscal years subject to a maximum (without giving effect to the following proviso) of $30 million in any fiscal year; provided, further, however, that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

(A) the cash proceeds received by the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer (to the extent contributed to the Issuer) to members of management, directors or consultants of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer that occurs after the Acquisition Date (provided that the amount of such cash proceeds utilized for any such repurchase, retirement, other acquisition or dividend will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.04(a)(iii)),

(B) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer (to the extent contributed to the Issuer) or the Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date, plus

(C) the amount of any cash bonuses otherwise payable to members of management, directors or consultants of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries or Holdings or any other direct or indirect parent of the Issuer that are foregone in return for the receipt of Equity Interests;

provided that the Issuer may elect to apply all or any portion of the aggregate increase contemplated by clauses (A), (B) and (C) above in any calendar year; and provided, further, that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary from any present or former employees, directors, officers or consultants of the Issuer, any Restricted Subsidiary or the direct or indirect parents of the Issuer in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parents will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 4.04 or any other provision of this Indenture;

(v) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary issued or Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03;

(vi) (A) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after the Acquisition Date;

 

63


(B) a Restricted Payment to any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, the proceeds of which will be used to fund the payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer issued after the Acquisition Date; provided that the aggregate amount of dividends declared and paid pursuant to this clause (B) does not exceed the net cash proceeds actually received by the Issuer from any such sale of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after the Acquisition Date; and

(C) the declaration and payment of dividends on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock in excess of the dividends declarable and payable thereon pursuant to Section 4.04(b)(ii);

provided, however, in the case of each of (A) and (C) above of this clause (vi), that for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of issuance of such Designated Preferred Stock, after giving effect to such issuance (and the payment of dividends or distributions) on a pro forma basis, the Issuer would have had a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of at least 2.00 to 1.00;

(vii) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer), taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (vii) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $35 million and 2.0% of Total Assets (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);

(viii) the payment of dividends on the Issuer’s Capital Stock (or a Restricted Payment to any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer to fund the payment by such direct or indirect parent of the Issuer of dividends on such entity’s common stock) of up to 6% per annum of the net proceeds received by the Issuer from any public offering of such Capital Stock of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, other than public offerings with respect to the Issuer’s (or such direct or indirect parent’s) Capital Stock registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8 and other than any public sale constituting an Excluded Contribution;

(ix) Restricted Payments that are made with Excluded Contributions;

(x) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount, taken together with all other Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (x) that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $50 million and 3.0% of Total Assets;

(xi) the distribution, as a dividend or otherwise, of shares of Capital Stock of, or Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary by, Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(xii) Restricted Payments to Holdings (i) with respect to any taxable period during which the Issuer is a member of a consolidated, unitary, combined or similar tax group of which Holdings or Holdings’ direct or indirect parent is the common parent, the

 

64


proceeds of which shall be used by Holdings or the common parent to pay the portion of the consolidated, unitary, combined or similar U.S. federal, state and local and non-U.S. income or franchise taxes attributable to the income of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries in an amount not to exceed income or franchise tax liabilities that would have been payable by the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on a stand-alone basis or as a stand-alone tax group, reduced by any such income or franchise taxes paid or to be paid directly by the Issuer and/or any of its Subsidiaries; provided that Restricted Payments under this clause (i) in respect of any Taxes attributable to the income of any Unrestricted Subsidiaries the Issuer may be made only to the extent that such Unrestricted Subsidiaries have made cash payments for such purpose to the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, in order to permit Holdings to make payments permitted by clauses (iii), (vii), (xx), (xxi) or (xxii) under Section 4.07(b) and (iii) the proceeds of which are applied to the purchase or other acquisition by Holdings of all or substantially all of the property and assets or business of any Similar Business, or of assets constituting a business unit, a line of business or division of any Similar Business, or of all of the Equity Interests in any Similar Business; provided that (A) such Restricted Payment shall be made substantially concurrently with the closing of (1) such purchase or other acquisition and Holdings shall, immediately following the closing thereof, cause all property acquired (whether assets or Equity Interests) and any liabilities assumed to be contributed to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, or (2) the merger (to the extent permitted hereunder) into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Person formed or acquired in order to consummate such purchaser or other acquisition, (B) the Issuer would have been permitted at the time of such Restricted Payment to consummate such purchase or acquisition directly under the terms of this Indenture and (C) such contribution by Holdings to the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries shall not increase the Cumulative Credit or count as an Excluded Contribution or be used to incur Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to clause (xiii) of Section 4.03(b).

(xiii) the payment of Restricted Payment, if applicable:

(A) in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer to pay fees and expenses (including franchise or similar taxes) required to maintain its corporate existence, customary salary, bonus and other benefits payable to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, officers and employees of any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer and general corporate operating and overhead expenses of any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer in each case to the extent such fees and expenses are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Issuer, if applicable, and its Subsidiaries;

(B) in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, if applicable, to pay interest and/or principal on Indebtedness the proceeds of which have been contributed to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary and that has been guaranteed by, or is otherwise considered Indebtedness of, the Issuer Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03; and

 

65


(C) in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer to pay fees and expenses, other than to Affiliates of the Issuer, related to any unsuccessful equity or debt offering of such parent;

(xiv) any Restricted Payment made in connection with the Acquisition or Transactions and the payment of fees and expenses Incurred in connection with the Transactions or owed by the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer or Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer to Affiliates, and any other payments made, including any such payments made to any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer to enable it to make payments in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, whether payable on the Acquisition Date or thereafter;

(xv) repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants;

(xvi) purchases of receivables pursuant to a Receivables Repurchase Obligation in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing and the payment or distribution of Receivables Fees;

(xvii) Restricted Payments by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to allow the payment of cash in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares upon the exercise of options or warrants or upon the conversion or exchange of Capital Stock of any such Person;

(xviii) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Subordinated Indebtedness pursuant to the provisions similar to those described under Sections 4.06 and 4.08; provided that all Notes tendered by holders of the Notes in connection with a Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as applicable, have been repurchased, redeemed or acquired for value; and

(xix) payments or distributions to dissenting stockholders pursuant to applicable law, pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that complies with Section 5.01; provided that as a result of such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer of assets, the Issuer shall have made a Change of Control Offer (if required by this Indenture) and that all Notes tendered by holders in connection with such Change of Control Offer have been repurchased, redeemed or acquired for value;

provided, however, that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clauses (vi)(B), (vii), (x), (xi) and (xiii)(B) of this Section 4.04(b), no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof; provided, further, that any Restricted Payments made with property other than cash shall be calculated using the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of such property.

(c) As of the Acquisition Date, all of the Subsidiaries of the Issuer shall be Restricted Subsidiaries. The Issuer will not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a

 

66


Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.” For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments in an amount determined as set forth in the last sentence of the definition of “Investments.” Such designation will only be permitted if a Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment in such amount would be permitted at such time and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

SECTION 4.05. Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries. The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any Issuer or Restricted Subsidiary to:

(a) (i) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (1) on its Capital Stock; or (2) with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits; or (ii) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or any of Restricted Subsidiary;

(b) make loans or advances to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary; or

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

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

(1) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Acquisition Date, including pursuant to the Credit Agreement and the other Credit Agreement Documents and the Factoring Facility;

(2) this Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees;

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

(4) any agreement or other instrument of a Person acquired by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary which was in existence at the time of such acquisition (but not created in contemplation thereof or to provide all or any portion of the funds or credit support utilized to consummate such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person and its Subsidiaries, or the property or assets of the Person and its Subsidiaries, so acquired;

(5) contracts or agreements for the sale of assets, including any restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of the Capital Stock or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary;

 

67


(6) Secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Sections 4.03 and 4.12 that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness;

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

(8) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(9) purchase money obligations for property acquired and Capitalized Lease Obligations in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions of the nature discussed in clause (c) above on the property so acquired;

(10) customary provisions contained in leases, licenses and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(11) any encumbrance or restriction of a Receivables Subsidiary effected in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing; provided, however, that such restrictions apply only to such Receivables Subsidiary;

(12) other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (i) of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor or (ii) of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor so long as such encumbrances and restrictions contained in any agreement or instrument will not materially affect the Issuer’s ability to make anticipated principal or interest payments on the Notes (as determined in good faith by the Issuer), provided that in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is permitted to be Incurred subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to Section 4.03;(13) any Restricted Investment not prohibited by Section 4.04 and any Permitted Investment; or

(14) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (1) through (13) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of the Issuer, no more restrictive with respect to such dividend and other payment restrictions than those contained in the dividend or other payment restrictions prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.05, (i) the priority of any Preferred Stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on common stock shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make distributions on Capital Stock and (ii) the subordination of loans or advances

 

68


made to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary to other Indebtedness Incurred by the Issuer or any such Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make loans or advances.

SECTION 4.06. Asset Sales.

(a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, cause or make an Asset Sale, unless (x) the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of, and (y) at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of:

(i) any liabilities (as shown on the Issuer’s or a Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or in the notes thereto) of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary (other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or any Guarantee) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets or that are otherwise cancelled or terminated in connection with the transaction with such transferee,

(ii) any notes or other obligations or other securities or assets received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash within 180 days of the receipt thereof (to the extent of the cash received), and

(iii) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Sale having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer), taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this Section 4.06(a)(iii) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $75 million and 4.0% of Total Assets at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration (with the Fair Market Value of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value),

shall be deemed to be Cash Equivalents for the purposes of this Section 4.06(a).

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

(i) to repay (A) Indebtedness constituting First Priority Lien Obligations and other Pari Passu Indebtedness (and, if the Indebtedness repaid is revolving credit Indebtedness, to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto), (B) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, or (C) Pari Passu Indebtedness (provided that if the Issuer or any Guarantor shall so reduce Obligations under Pari Passu Indebtedness (other than Obligations under the Notes), the Issuer will equally and ratably reduce Obligations under the Notes pursuant to Section 3.01 through open-market purchases (provided that such purchases are at or above 100% of the principal amount thereof or by making an offer (in accordance with the procedures set

 

69


forth below for an Asset Sale Offer) to all holders to purchase at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the pro rata principal amount of Notes), in each case other than Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer; or

(ii) to make an Investment in any one or more businesses (provided that if such Investment is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock of a Person, such acquisition results in such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer), assets, or property or capital expenditures, in each case (a) used or useful in a Similar Business or (b) that replace the properties and assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale.

In the case of Section 4.06(b)(ii), a binding commitment shall be treated as a permitted application of the Net Proceeds from the date of such commitment until the 18 month anniversary of the date of the receipt of such Net Proceeds; provided that in the event such binding commitment is later canceled or terminated for any reason before such Net Proceeds are so applied, such Net Proceeds shall constitute Excess Proceeds unless the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary enters into another binding commitment (a “Second Commitment”) within six months of such cancellation or termination of the prior binding commitment; provided, further, that the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary may only enter into a Second Commitment under the foregoing provision one time with respect to each Asset Sale and to the extent such Second Commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before such Net Proceeds are applied, or is not applied prior to such 18 month anniversary, then such Net Proceeds shall constitute Excess Proceeds.

Pending the final application of any such Net Proceeds, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary may temporarily reduce Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility, if any, or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture. Any Net Proceeds from any Asset Sale that are not applied as provided and within the time period set forth in the first sentence of this Section 4.06(b) (it being understood that any portion of such Net Proceeds used to make an offer to purchase Notes, as described in clause (i) of this Section 4.06(b), shall be deemed to have been invested whether or not such offer is accepted) will be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds.” When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $20 million, the Issuer shall make an offer to all holders of Notes (and, at the option of the Issuer, to holders of any Pari Passu Indebtedness) (an “Asset Sale Offer”) to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes (and such Pari Passu Indebtedness), that is at least $2,000 and an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof 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 (or, in the event such Pari Passu Indebtedness was issued with significant original issue discount, 100% of the accreted value thereof), plus accrued and unpaid interest (or, in respect of such Pari Passu Indebtedness, such lesser price, if any, as may be provided for by the terms of such Pari Passu Indebtedness), to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 4.06. The Issuer will commence an Asset Sale Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds within ten Business Days after the date that Excess Proceeds exceed $20 million by mailing the notice required pursuant to the terms of Section 4.06(f), with a copy to the Trustee. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes (and such Pari Passu Indebtedness) tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Issuer may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for any purpose that is not prohibited by this

 

70


Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes (and such Pari Passu Indebtedness) surrendered by holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased in the manner described in Section 4.06(e). Upon completion of any such Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

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

(d) Not later than the date upon which written notice of an Asset Sale Offer is delivered to the Trustee as provided above, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate as to (i) the amount of the Excess Proceeds, (ii) the allocation of the Net Proceeds from the Asset Sales pursuant to which such Asset Sale Offer is being made and (iii) the compliance of such allocation with the provisions of Section 4.06(b). On such date, the Issuer shall also irrevocably deposit with the Trustee or with a paying agent (or, if an Issuer or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary is acting as the Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust) an amount equal to the Excess Proceeds to be invested in Cash Equivalents, as directed in writing by the Issuer and to be held for payment in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4.06. Upon the expiration of the period for which the Asset Sale Offer remains open (the “Offer Period”), the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation the Notes or portions thereof that have been properly tendered to and are to be accepted by the Issuer. The Trustee (or the Paying Agent, if not the Trustee) shall, on the date of purchase, mail or deliver payment to each tendering holder in the amount of the purchase price. In the event that the Excess Proceeds delivered by the Issuer to the Trustee are greater than the purchase price of the Notes tendered, the Trustee shall deliver the excess to Issuer immediately after the expiration of the Offer Period for application in accordance with Section 4.06.

(e) Holders electing to have a Note purchased shall be required to surrender the Note, with an appropriate form duly completed, to the Issuer at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days prior to the purchase date. Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Trustee an Issuer receives not later than one Business Day prior to the purchase date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the holder, the principal amount of the Note which was delivered by the holder for purchase and a statement that such holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased. If at the end of the Offer Period more Notes (and such Pari Passu Indebtedness) are tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer than the Issuer is required to purchase, selection of such Notes for purchase shall be made by the Trustee on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate (and in such manner as complies with applicable legal requirements); provided that no Notes of $2,000 or less shall be purchased in part. Selection of such Pari Passu Indebtedness shall be made pursuant to the terms of such Pari Passu Indebtedness.

(f) Notices of an Asset Sale Offer shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the purchase date to each holder of Notes at

 

71


such holder’s registered address (with a copy to the Trustee). If any Note is to be purchased in part only, any notice of purchase that relates to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof that has been or is to be purchased.

SECTION 4.07. Transactions with Affiliates.

(a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, 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 or series of transactions, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Issuer (each of the foregoing, an “Affiliate Transaction”) involving aggregate consideration in excess of $20 million, unless:

(i) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are not materially less favorable to the Issuer or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that could have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person; and

(ii) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $40 million, the Issuer delivers to the Trustee a resolution adopted in good faith by the majority of the Board of Directors of the Issuer, approving such Affiliate Transaction and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (i) above.

(b) The provisions of Section 4.07(a) shall not apply to the following:

(i) transactions between or among the Issuer and/or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (or an entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction) and any merger, consolidation or amalgamation of the Issuer and any direct parent of the Issuer; provided that such parent shall have no material liabilities and no material assets other than cash, Cash Equivalents and the Capital Stock of the Issuer and such merger, consolidation or amalgamation is otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture and effected for a bona fide business purpose;

(ii) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.04 and Permitted Investments;

(iii) the payment of reasonable and customary fees and reimbursement of expenses paid to, and indemnity provided on behalf of, officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Issuer, any Restricted Subsidiary or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer;

(iv) transactions in which the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or meets the requirements of clause (i) of Section 4.07(a);

 

72


(v) payments or loans (or cancellation of loans) to officers, directors, employees or consultants which are approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Issuer in good faith;

(vi) any agreement as in effect as of the Issue Date or any amendment thereto (so long as any such agreement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, is not more disadvantageous to the holders of the Notes in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on the Issue Date) or any transaction contemplated thereby as determined in good faith by the Issuer;

(vii) the existence of, or the performance by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of its obligations under the terms of any stockholders agreement (including any registration rights agreement or purchase agreement related thereto) to which it is a party as of the Issue Date, and any transaction, agreement or arrangement described in the Offering Memorandum and, in each case, any amendment thereto or similar transactions, agreements or arrangements which it may enter into thereafter; provided, however, that the existence of, or the performance by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of its obligations under, any future amendment to any such existing transaction, agreement or arrangement or under any similar transaction, agreement or arrangement entered into after the Issue Date shall only be permitted by this clause (vii) to the extent that the terms of any such existing transaction, agreement or arrangement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, or new transaction, agreement or arrangement are not otherwise more disadvantageous to the holders of the Notes in any material respect than the original transaction, agreement or arrangement as in effect on the Issue Date;

(viii) the execution of the Acquisition or the Transactions, and the payment of all fees and expenses related to the Transactions, including fees paid to the Sponsor;

(ix) (A) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, or transactions otherwise relating to the purchase or sale of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture, which are fair to the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors or the senior management of the Issuer, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party, or (B) transactions with joint ventures or Unrestricted Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry norm;

(x) any transaction effected as part of a Qualified Receivables Financing;

(xi) the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer to any Person;

(xii) the issuances of securities or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, stock option and stock ownership plans or similar employee benefit plans approved by the Board of Directors of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer or of a Restricted Subsidiary, as appropriate, in good faith;

 

73


(xiii) the entering into of any tax sharing agreement or arrangement that complies with Section 4.04(b)(xii);(xiv) any contribution to the capital of the Issuer;

(xv) transactions permitted by, and complying with, Section 5.01;

(xvi) transactions between the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Person, a director of which is also a director of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer; provided, however, that such director abstains from voting as a director of the Issuer or such direct or indirect parent, as the case may be, on any matter involving such other Person;

(xvii) pledges of Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(xviii) the formation and maintenance of any consolidated group or subgroup for tax, accounting or cash pooling or management purposes in the ordinary course of business;

(xix) any employment agreements entered into by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(xx) (1) the entering into of any agreement (and any amendment or modification of any such agreement so long as, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Issuer, any such amendment is not disadvantageous to the holders when taken as a whole, as compared to such agreement as in effect on the Acquisition Date) to pay, and the payment of, management, consulting, monitoring and advisory fees to the Sponsor in an aggregate amount in any fiscal year not to exceed the greater of $6 million and 3.0% of EBITDA of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the immediately preceding fiscal year, plus out-of-pocket expense reimbursement; provided, however, that any payment not made in any fiscal year may be carried forward and paid in the following two fiscal years and (2) the payment of the present value of all amounts payable pursuant to any agreement described in this subclause (1) of this clause (xx) in connection with the termination of such agreement;

(xxi) payments by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to the Sponsor made for any financial advisory, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities, including, without limitation, in connection with acquisitions or divestitures, not to exceed 1.0% of the value of the transactions with respect to which the Sponsor provides any such services, which payments are (1) made pursuant to the agreements with the Sponsor described in the Offering Memorandum (as in effect on the Acquisition Date, or any amendment thereto that is not materially adverse as a whole to the Issuer) or (2) approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Issuer in good faith; and

 

74


(xxii) transactions undertaken in good faith (as certified by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer in an Officer’s Certificate) for the purpose of improving the consolidated tax efficiency of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries and not for the purpose of circumventing any provision set forth in this Indenture.

SECTION 4.08. Change of Control.

(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each holder shall have the right to require the Issuer to repurchase all or any part of such holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of the holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), except to the extent the Issuer has previously or concurrently elected to redeem the Notes pursuant to and in accordance with Article III of this Indenture. In the event that at the time of such Change of Control, the terms of the Bank Indebtedness restrict or prohibit the repurchase of Notes pursuant to this Section 4.08, then prior to the mailing of the notice to the holders provided for in Section 4.08(b) but in any event within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Issuer shall (i) repay in full all Bank Indebtedness or, if doing so will allow the purchase of Notes, offer to repay in full all Bank Indebtedness and repay the Bank Indebtedness of each lender and/or noteholder who has accepted such offer, or (ii) obtain the requisite consent under the agreements governing the Bank Indebtedness to permit the repurchase of the Notes as provided for in Section 4.08(b).

(b) Within 30 days following any Change of Control, except to the extent that the Issuer has exercised its right to redeem the Notes in accordance with Article III of this Indenture, the Issuer shall mail a notice (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each holder with a copy to the Trustee stating:

(i) that a Change of Control has occurred and that such holder has the right to require the Issuer to repurchase such holder’s Notes at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of the holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest on the relevant Interest Payment Date);

(ii) the circumstances and relevant facts and financial information regarding such Change of Control;

(iii) the repurchase date (which shall be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed); and

(iv) the instructions determined by the Issuer, consistent with this Section 4.08, that a holder must follow in order to have its Notes purchased.

(c) Holders electing to have a Note purchased shall be required to surrender the Note, with an appropriate form duly completed, to the Issuer at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days prior to the purchase date. The holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Trustee or the Issuer receive not later than one Business Day prior to the purchase date a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the holder, the principal amount of the Note which was delivered for purchase by the holder and

 

75


a statement that such holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased. Holders whose Notes are purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered.

(d) On the purchase date, all Notes purchased by the Issuer under this Section 4.08 shall be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Issuer shall pay the purchase price plus accrued and unpaid interest to the holders entitled thereto.

(e) A Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, and conditioned upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making of the Change of Control Offer.

(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.08, the Issuer 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 4.08 applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Issuer and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.

(g) Notes repurchased by the Issuer pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will have the status of Notes issued but not outstanding or will be retired and canceled at the option of the Issuer. Notes purchased by a third party pursuant to the preceding clause (f) will have the status of Notes issued and outstanding.

(h) At the time the Issuer delivers Notes to the Trustee which are to be accepted for purchase, the Issuer shall also deliver an Officer’s Certificate stating that such Notes are to be accepted by the Issuer pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Section 4.08. A Note shall be deemed to have been accepted for purchase at the time the Trustee, directly or through an agent, mails or delivers payment therefor to the surrendering holder.

(i) Prior to any Change of Control Offer, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent contained herein to the right of the Issuer to make such offer have been complied with.

(j) The Issuer shall comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to this Section. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of this Section 4.08, the Issuer shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section by virtue thereof.

SECTION 4.09. Compliance Certificate. The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Issuer, beginning with the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2012, an Officer’s Certificate stating that in the course of the performance by the signer of his or her duties as an Officer of the Issuer he or she would normally have knowledge of any Default and whether or not the signer knows of any Default that occurred during such period. If he or she does, the certificate shall describe the Default, its status and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. Except with respect

 

76


to receipt of payments of principal and interest on the Notes and any Default or Event of Default information contained in the Officer’s Certificate delivered to it pursuant to this Section 4.09, the Trustee shall have no duty to review, ascertain or confirm the Issuer’s compliance with or the breach of any representation, warranty or covenant made in this Indenture.

SECTION 4.10. Further Instruments and Acts. Upon request of the Trustee, the Issuer shall execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purpose of this Indenture.

SECTION 4.11. Future Subsidiary Guarantors. The Issuer shall cause each Restricted Subsidiary that guarantees any Bank Indebtedness to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit C-1 hereto pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary shall guarantee the Issuer’s Obligations under the Notes and this Indenture on the same second-priority secured basis, as well as to execute and deliver a joinder to the Intercreditor Agreement and to execute and deliver to the Trustee such Security Documents as are necessary to perfect Liens created on all assets of such Restricted Subsidiary to the extent required pursuant to Section 4.12 and Section 4.13; it being understood and agreed that for any such Restricted Subsidiary that executes such supplemental indenture dated the Acquisition Date, such supplemental indenture shall be substantially in the form attached as Exhibit C-2 hereto; and it being further understood and agreed that for any such Restricted Subsidiary organized under the laws of Belgium, Germany or Luxembourg that otherwise executes such supplemental indenture and provides a Guarantee, such supplemental indenture shall contain the applicable limitations as to such Guarantee substantially in the form included in the supplemental indenture attached as Exhibit C-2 hereto.

If following the date of this Indenture and notwithstanding anything in Section 9.02 to the contrary, any Restricted Subsidiary incorporated, organized or formed, as the case may be, under the laws of any jurisdiction outside the United States shall be required to execute a Guarantee and the Issuer shall reasonably determine that Section 12.02 or any applicable provision set forth in Exhibit C-2 hereto shall not adequately address the limitations on such Guarantee imposed by applicable law of the jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation, as the case may be, of any such future Guarantor; then the Issuer shall be entitled to amend such clauses or add such additional provisions (including any related modifications to a supplement to this Indenture or a Guarantee, substantially in the form of Exhibit C-1 hereto), as the case may be, in order for the Guarantee of a Guarantor not to so violate applicable law.

SECTION 4.12. Liens.

(a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, Incur or suffer to exist any Lien (the “Initial Lien”) on any asset or property of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer, or any income or profits therefrom, or assign or convey any right to receive income therefrom, whether owned at the Issue Date or thereafter acquired, (i) that secures any Indebtedness of any Person (other than Permitted Liens) unless the Notes are equally and ratably secured with (or on a senior basis to, in the case of Subordinated Indebtedness or Junior Lien Obligations) such Indebtedness so long as such Indebtedness is so secured and (ii) that secures any First Priority Lien Obligation of the Issuer or any Guarantor (but subject to limitations as described in Article XI and the Security

 

77


Documents) without effectively providing that the Notes or the applicable Guarantee, as the case may be, shall be granted a second-priority security interest (subject to Permitted Liens) upon the assets or property constituting the collateral for such First Priority Lien Obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Guarantors are Foreign Subsidiaries organized in jurisdictions that do not recognize second priority liens, the Notes and the Guarantees by such applicable Guarantors will be secured by the first priority liens granted to the holders of the First Priority Lien Obligations; provided that the Intercreditor Agreement shall effectively subordinate the Liens securing the Notes and the Guarantees by such applicable Guarantors on the terms set forth therein.

(b) Any Lien created for the benefit of the holders of the Notes pursuant to clause (i) of Section 4.12(a) shall provide by its terms that such Lien shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon the release and discharge of the Initial Lien.

(c) For purposes of determining compliance with this covenant, (A) a Lien securing an item of Indebtedness need not be permitted solely by reference to one category of permitted Liens described in the definition of “Permitted Liens” or pursuant to Section 4.12(a) but may be permitted in part under any combination thereof and (B) in the event that a Lien securing an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of one or more of the categories of permitted Liens described in the definition of “Permitted Liens” or pursuant to Section 4.12(a), the Issuer shall, in its sole discretion, classify or reclassify, or later divide, classify or reclassify, such Lien securing such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this covenant and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Lien or such item of Indebtedness secured by such Lien in one of the clauses of the definition of “Permitted Liens” and such Lien securing such item of Indebtedness will be treated as being Incurred or existing pursuant to only one of such clauses or pursuant to Section 4.12(a).

(d) With respect to any Lien securing Indebtedness that was permitted to secure such Indebtedness at the time of the Incurrence of such Indebtedness, such Lien shall also be permitted to secure any Increased Amount of such Indebtedness. The “Increased Amount” of any Indebtedness shall mean any increase in the amount of such Indebtedness in connection with any accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, the amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms or in the form of common stock of the Issuer, the payment of dividends on Preferred Stock in the form of additional shares of Preferred Stock of the same class, accretion of original issue discount or liquidation preference and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies or increases in the value of property securing Indebtedness described in clause (3) of the definition of “Indebtedness.”

SECTION 4.13. After-Acquired Property. Upon the acquisition by the Issuer or any Guarantor of any First-Priority After-Acquired Property, or upon any additional Restricted Subsidiary becoming a Guarantor required to pledge its existing First-Priority After-Acquired Property as Collateral pursuant to this Article IV, the Issuer or such Guarantor shall execute and deliver such mortgages, deeds of trust, security instruments, financing statements and other Security Documents as shall be reasonably necessary to vest in the Collateral Agent a perfected second-priority security interest, subject only to Permitted Liens, in such First Priority After-

 

78


Acquired Property and to have such First-Priority After-Acquired Property (but subject to the limitations as described in Article XI and the Intercreditor Agreement) added to the Collateral, and thereupon all provisions of this Indenture relating to the Collateral shall be deemed to relate to such First-Priority After-Acquired Property to the same extent and with the same force and effect.

SECTION 4.14. Maintenance of Office or Agency.

(a) The Issuer shall maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee or Registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange. The Issuer 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 Issuer shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations and surrenders may be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as set forth in Section 14.01.

(b) The Issuer may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Issuer of its obligation to maintain an office or agency for such purposes. The Issuer 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.

(c) The Issuer hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or its agent as such office or agency of the Issuer in accordance with Section 2.04.

SECTION 4.15. Amendment of Security Documents. The Issuer will not amend, modify or supplement, or permit or consent to any amendment, modification or supplement of, the Security Documents in any way that would be adverse to the holders of the Notes in any material respect, except as set forth in Article XI or as permitted under Article IX.

SECTION 4.16. Covenant Suspension. If on any date following the Issue Date, (i) the Notes have Investment Grade Ratings from both Rating Agencies, and (ii) no Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture, then, beginning on that day and continuing at all times thereafter regardless of any subsequent changes in the rating of the Notes (the occurrence of the events described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) being collectively referred to as a “Covenant Suspension Event”), and subject to the provisions of the following paragraph, the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be subject to Sections 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07 and 5.01(a)(iv) (collectively the “Suspended Covenants”).

In the event that and while the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenants under this Indenture for any period of time as a result of the foregoing, and on any subsequent date (the “Reversion Date”) one or both of the Rating Agencies withdraw their Investment Grade Rating or downgrade the rating assigned to the Notes below an Investment Grade Rating, then the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries will thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants under this Indenture with respect to future events. The Issuer shall provide notice to the Trustee of any Covenant Suspension Event or any Reversion Date, but neither the Issuer nor the Trustee shall be required to notify the holders of Notes of any Covenant Suspension Event.

 

79


On each Reversion Date, all Indebtedness Incurred, or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued, during the Suspension Period will be classified as having been Incurred or issued pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(iii). Calculations made after the Reversion Date of the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under Section 4.04 will be made as though Section 4.04 had been in effect since the Issue Date and prior to, but not during, the Suspension Period. Accordingly, Restricted Payments made during the Suspension Period will not reduce the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under Section 4.04(a). No Default or Event of Default will be deemed to have occurred on the Reversion Date as a result of any actions taken by the Issuer or the Restricted Subsidiaries during the Suspension Period.

For purposes of Section 4.06, on the Reversion Date, the unutilized Excess Proceeds amount will be reset to zero.

SECTION 4.17. Maintenance of Insurance. The Issuer shall maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance (subject to customary deductibles and retentions) in such amounts and against such risks as are customarily maintained by similarly situated companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations and cause Issuer and the Guarantors to be listed as insured and the Trustee to be listed as co-loss payee on property and property casualty policies and as an additional insured on liability policies. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer and the Guarantors may self-insure with respect to such risks with respect to which companies of established reputation in the same general line of business in the same general area usually self-insure.

SECTION 4.18. Activities Prior to Release. Prior to the Acquisition Date, the Issuer shall not (i) own, hold or otherwise have any interest in any assets other than the Escrow Account, cash and Cash Equivalents and its rights under the Purchase Agreement or (ii) engage in any activity or enter into any transaction or agreement (including, without limitation, making any Restricted Payment, Incurring any Indebtedness, incurring any Liens except in favor of the holders of the Notes, entering into any merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of its assets or engaging in any transaction with its Affiliates) except as necessary, advisable or appropriate to effectuate the Acquisition and the Transactions substantially as described in the Offering Memorandum under “Summary — The Transactions” (including tax planning activities).

SECTION 4.19. Transactions During Escrow Period. Sections 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.11, 4.12 and 4.13 of this Indenture shall be deemed to apply to Taminco Group Holdings S.à r.l. and its Subsidiaries (which shall for this purpose be deemed to be “Restricted Subsidiaries”) for the period from and including the Issue Date and ending on the Acquisition Date (the “Escrow Period”), and any activity engaged in or transaction or agreement entered into by Taminco Group Holdings S.à r.l. or any such Subsidiary during the Escrow Period (which transaction or agreement will remain in effect following the Acquisition Date), other than in connection with the Acquisition or Transactions, shall be classified as having been made or incurred or entered into pursuant to the relevant provisions of such Sections.

 

80


ARTICLE V

SUCCESSOR COMPANY

SECTION 5.01. When Issuer May Merge or Transfer Assets.

(a) The Issuer shall not, directly or indirectly, consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up or convert into (whether or not the Issuer is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(i) the Issuer is the surviving person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, winding up or conversion (if other than the Issuer) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (the Issuer or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor”); provided that if the Successor is not a corporation, a corporate Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Issuer becomes a co-obligor of the Notes and this Indenture at such time;

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

(iii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor or any Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor, or such Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(iv) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction, as if such transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor or any Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), either

(A) the Successor would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.03(a); or

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

(v) if the Issuer is not the Successor, each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to the transactions described above, shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its obligations in respect of its Guarantee shall apply to such Person’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes; and

 

81


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

The Successor (if other than the Issuer) will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes, and in such event the Issuer will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and the Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing clauses (iii) and (iv) of this Section 5.01, (a) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge, consolidate or amalgamate with or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Issuer or to a Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor, and (b) the Issuer may merge, consolidate or amalgamate with an Affiliate incorporated solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Issuer in another state of the United States, the District of Columbia or any territory of the United States or may convert into a corporation, partnership or limited liability company, so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries is not increased thereby. This Article V will not apply to a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of assets between or among the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries that are Guarantors.

(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 11.04, no Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor will, and the Issuer will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor to, consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not such Issuer or Restricted Subsidiary is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions to, any Person unless:

(i) either (A) (1) such Restricted Subsidiary is the surviving Person or (2) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than such Restricted Subsidiary) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made expressly assumes all the obligations of such Restricted Subsidiary under this Indenture and the Notes or the Guarantee, as applicable, pursuant to a supplemental indenture or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (such Restricted Subsidiary or such Person, as the case may be, referred to in this clause (A) being herein called the “Successor Subsidiary Guarantor”), or (B) such sale or disposition or consolidation, amalgamation or merger is not in violation of Section 4.06 and does not constitute a sale, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer; and

(ii) the Successor Subsidiary Guarantor (if other than such Issuer or Restricted Subsidiary) shall have delivered or caused to be delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture.

 

82


Except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, the Successor Subsidiary Guarantor (if other than such Restricted Subsidiary) will succeed to, and be substituted for, such Restricted Subsidiary under the Indenture and the Notes or the Guarantee, as applicable, and such Restricted Subsidiary will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under the Indenture and the Notes or its Guarantee, as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) a Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with an Affiliate incorporated solely for the purpose of reincorporating such Subsidiary Guarantor in another jurisdiction so long as the amount of Indebtedness of such Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary is not increased thereby and (2) a Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor.

In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, a Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor may consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up into, liquidate, dissolve, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets (collectively, a “Transfer”) to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor.

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

(1) either Holdings or the Issuer (provided that if the Issuer is to be the surviving Person, then such transaction shall comply with Section 5.01(a) or 5.01(b)) is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than Holdings) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (Holdings or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Parent Guarantor”) and the Successor Parent Guarantor (if other than Holdings) expressly assumes all the obligations of Holdings under the Indenture and Holdings’ Guarantee pursuant to a supplemental indenture or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee; and

(2) the Successor Parent Guarantor (if other than Holdings) shall have delivered or caused to be delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture.

Except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, the Successor Parent Guarantor (if other than Holdings) will succeed to, and be substituted for, Holdings under this Indenture and Holdings’ Guarantee, and Holdings will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and such Guarantee.

 

83


ARTICLE VI

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

SECTION 6.01. Events of Default. An “Event of Default” occurs with respect to Notes if:

(a) there is a default in any payment of interest on any Note when the same becomes due and payable, and such default continues for a period of 30 days,

(b) there is a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any, of any Note when due at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise,

(c) the failure by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to comply for 60 days after notice with its other agreements contained in the Notes or this Indenture,

(d) the failure by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) to pay any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness owing to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) within any applicable grace period after final maturity or the acceleration of any such Indebtedness by the holders thereof because of a default, in each case, if the total amount of such Indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $30 million or its foreign currency equivalent,

(e) the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(i) commences a voluntary case;

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

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

(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors or takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency,

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

(i) is for relief against either the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case;

(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary or for any substantial part of its property; or

 

84


(iii) orders the winding up or liquidation of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary;

or any similar relief is granted under any foreign laws and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days,

(g) the failure by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $30 million or its foreign currency equivalent (net of any amounts which are covered by enforceable insurance policies issued by solvent carriers), which judgments are not discharged, waived or stayed for a period of 60 days,

(h) the Guarantee of a Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) with respect to the Notes ceases to be in full force and effect (except as contemplated by the terms thereof) or the Issuer or any Guarantor that qualifies as a Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) denies or disaffirms its obligations under this Indenture or any Guarantee with respect to the Notes and such Default continues for 10 days,

(i) unless such Liens have been released in accordance with the provisions of the Security Documents, Liens in favor of the holders of the Notes with respect to all or substantially all of the Collateral cease to be valid or enforceable, or any Issuer shall assert or any Guarantor shall assert, in any pleading in any court of competent jurisdiction, that any such security interest is invalid or unenforceable and, in the case of any Subsidiary Guarantor, the Issuer fails to cause such Subsidiary Guarantor to rescind such assertions within 30 days after the Issuer has actual knowledge of such assertions, or

(j) the failure by the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor to comply for 60 days after notice with its other agreements contained in the Security Documents except for a failure that would not be material to the holders of the Notes and would not materially affect the value of the Collateral taken as a whole (together with the defaults described in clause (i) the “security default provisions”).

The foregoing shall constitute Events of Default whatever the reason for any such Event of Default and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body.

The term “Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, United States Code, or any similar Federal or state law for the relief of debtors. The term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, custodian or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

However, a default under clause (c) or (j) above shall not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the holders of 25% in principal amount of outstanding Notes notify the Issuer of the default and the Issuer does not cure such default within the time specified in clauses (c) or (j) hereof after receipt of such notice. Such notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that such notice is a “Notice of Default.” The Issuer shall

 

85


deliver to the Trustee, within five Business Days after the occurrence thereof, written notice in the form of an Officer’s Certificate of any event which is, or with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default, its status and what action the Issuer is taking or propose to take with respect thereto.

SECTION 6.02. Acceleration. If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(e) or 6.01(f) hereof with respect to the Issuer) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by notice to the Issuer or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of outstanding Notes by notice to the Issuer and the Trustee may declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued but unpaid interest on all the Notes to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal and interest shall be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(e) or (f) with respect to the Issuer occurs, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all the Notes will become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any holders. The holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding Notes may rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences.

In the event of any Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(d) above, such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding, however, any resulting payment default) shall be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the holders of the Notes, if within 20 days after such Event of Default arose the Issuer delivers an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee stating that (x) the Indebtedness or guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged, (y) the holders thereof have rescinded or waived the acceleration, notice or action (as the case may be) giving rise to such Event of Default or (z) the default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured, it being understood that in no event shall an acceleration of the principal amount of the Notes as described above be annulled, waived or rescinded upon the happening of any such events.

SECTION 6.03. Other Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy at law or in equity to collect the payment of principal of or interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes, this Indenture or the Security Documents.

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. To the extent required by law, all available remedies are cumulative.

SECTION 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults. Provided the Notes are not then due and payable by reason of a declaration of acceleration, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes by written notice to the Trustee may waive an existing Default and its consequences except (a) a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on a Note, (b) a Default arising from the failure to redeem or purchase any Note when required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or (c) a Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.02 cannot be amended without the consent of each holder affected. When a Default is waived, it is deemed

 

86


cured and the Issuer, the Trustee and the holders will be restored to their former positions and rights under this Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any consequent right.

SECTION 6.05. Control by Majority. The holders of a majority in principal amount of Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or, if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or if the Trustee in good faith shall determine that the action or proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability or expense for which it is not adequately indemnified, or subject to Section 7.01, that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to taking any action under this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification satisfactory to it against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

SECTION 6.06. Limitation on Suits.

(a) Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest when due, no holder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:

(i) such holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing,

(ii) holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy,

(iii) such holders have offered the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense,

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

(v) the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

(b) A holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another holder.

SECTION 6.07. Rights of the Holders to Receive Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on the Notes held by such holder, on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in the Notes, 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.

 

87


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 may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuer or any other obligor on the Notes for the whole amount then due and owing (together with interest on overdue principal and (to the extent lawful) on any unpaid interest at the rate provided for in the Notes) and the amounts provided for in Section 7.06.

SECTION 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. The Trustee may file such proofs of claim, statements of interest and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for reasonable compensation, expenses disbursements and advances of the Trustee (including counsel, accountants, experts or such other professionals as the Trustee deems necessary, advisable or appropriate)) and the holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer, the Guarantors, their creditors or their property, shall be entitled to participate as a member, voting or otherwise, of any official committee of creditors appointed in such matters and, unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations, may vote on behalf of the holders in any election of a trustee in bankruptcy or other Person performing similar functions, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each holder to make 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 it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and its counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.06. 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. Subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents, any money or property collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article VI and any other money or property distributable in respect of the Issuer’s or any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture after an Event of Default shall be applied in the following order:

FIRST: to the Trustee and Collateral Agent for amounts due hereunder and under the Security Documents;

SECOND: to the holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal and interest, respectively; and

THIRD: to the Issuer or, to the extent the Trustee collects any amount for any Guarantor, to such Guarantor.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to the holders pursuant to this Section 6.10. At least 15 days before such record date, the Trustee shall mail to each holder and the Issuer a notice that states the record date, the payment date and the amount to be paid.

 

88


SECTION 6.11. Undertaking for Costs. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a holder pursuant to Section 6.07 or a suit by holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the Notes.

SECTION 6.12. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws. Neither the Issuer nor any Guarantor (to the extent it may lawfully do so) shall at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Issuer and the Guarantors (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waive all benefit or advantage of any such law, and shall not 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 had been enacted.

ARTICLE VII

TRUSTEE

SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee.

(a) The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Notes and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture. If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

(i) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee (it being agreed that the permissive right of the Trustee to do things enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty); 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. The Trustee shall be under no duty to make any investigation as to any statement contained in any such instance, but may accept the same as conclusive

 

89


evidence of the truth and accuracy of such statement or the correctness of such opinions. However, in the case of certificates or opinions required by any provision hereof to be provided to it, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions 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 liability 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;

(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;

(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; and

(iv) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise Incur financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers.

(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 7.01.

(e) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuer.

(f) Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

(g) 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 7.01.

SECTION 7.02. Rights of Trustee.

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely on any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on the Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.

(c) The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.

 

90


(d) The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers; provided, however, that the Trustee’s conduct does not constitute willful misconduct or negligence.

(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its own selection and the advice or opinion of counsel with respect to legal matters relating to this Indenture and the Notes shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.

(f) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, note or other paper or document unless requested in writing to do so by the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, 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 Issuer, personally or by agent or attorney, at the expense of the Issuer and shall Incur no liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

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

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

(i) The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith at the direction of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Notes as to the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the Trustee or the exercising of any power conferred by this Indenture.

(j) Any action taken, or omitted to be taken, by the Trustee in good faith pursuant to this Indenture upon the request or authority or consent of any person who, at the time of making such request or giving such authority or consent, is the holder of any Note shall be conclusive and binding upon future holders of Notes and upon Notes executed and delivered in exchange therefor or in place thereof.

(k) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a Default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.

 

91


(l) The Trustee may request that the Issuer deliver an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officer’s Certificate may be signed by any Person authorized to sign an Officer’s Certificate, including any Person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.

(m) The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for punitive, special, indirect, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of actions.

(n) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the execution of the trusts and powers under this Indenture.

(o) The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fire; flood; terrorism; wars and other military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions; loss or malfunction of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communication services; accidents; labor disputes; and acts of civil or military authorities and governmental action.

SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent or Registrar may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Sections 7.09 and 7.10.

SECTION 7.04. Trustee’s Disclaimer. The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture, the Guarantees or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Issuer’s use of the proceeds from the Notes, and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Issuer or any Guarantor in this Indenture or in any document issued in connection with the sale of the Notes or in the Notes other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication. The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default under Sections 6.01(c), (d), (e), (f), (g) (h), (i) or (j) or of the identity of any Significant Subsidiary unless either (a) a Responsible Officer shall have actual knowledge thereof or (b) the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof in accordance with Section 14.02 hereof from the Issuer, any Guarantor or any holder. In accepting the trust hereby created, the Trustee acts solely as Trustee under this Indenture and not in its individual capacity and all persons, including without limitation the holders of Notes and the Issuer having any claim against the Trustee arising from this Indenture shall look only to the funds and accounts held by the Trustee hereunder for payment except as otherwise provided herein.

SECTION 7.05. Notice of Defaults. If a Default occurs and is continuing and if it is actually known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each holder notice of the Default within the later of 90 days after it occurs or 30 days after it is actually known to a Responsible Officer or written notice of it is received by the Trustee. Except in the case of a Default in the

 

92


payment of principal of, premium (if any) 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. The Issuer is required to deliver to the Trustee, annually, a certificate indicating whether the signers thereof know of any Default that occurred during the previous year.

SECTION 7.06. Compensation and Indemnity. The Issuer shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation, as the Issuer and the Trustee shall from time to time agree in writing, for the Trustee’s acceptance of this Indenture and its services hereunder. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuer shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses Incurred or made by it, including costs of collection, in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee’s agents, counsel, accountants and experts. The Issuer and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall indemnify the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee and their directors, officers, employees and agents against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses and including taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the Trustee) Incurred by or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture or Guarantee against any Issuer or any Guarantor (including this Section 7.06) and defending itself against or investigating any claim (whether asserted by any Issuer, any Guarantor, any holder or any other Person). The obligation to pay such amounts shall survive the payment in full or defeasance of the Notes or the removal or resignation of the Trustee. The Trustee shall notify the Issuer of any claim for which it may seek indemnity promptly upon obtaining actual knowledge thereof; provided, however, that any failure so to notify the Issuer shall not relieve any Issuer or any Guarantor of its indemnity obligations hereunder. The Issuer shall defend the claim and the indemnified party shall provide reasonable cooperation at the Issuer’s expense in the defense. Such indemnified parties may have separate counsel and the Issuer and such Guarantor, as applicable shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel; provided, however, that the Issuer shall not be required to pay such fees and expenses if it assumes such indemnified parties’ defense and, in such indemnified parties’ reasonable judgment, there is no actual or potential conflict of interest between the Issuer and the Guarantor, as applicable, and such parties in connection with such defense. The Issuer need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense Incurred by an indemnified party through such party’s own willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith.

To secure the Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee other than money or property held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Notes.

The Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ payment obligations pursuant to this Section 7.06 shall survive the satisfaction or discharge of this Indenture, any rejection or termination of this Indenture under any bankruptcy law or the resignation or removal of the Trustee. Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee Incurs expenses after the occurrence of a Default specified in Section 6.01(f) or (g) with respect to the Issuer, the expenses are intended to constitute expenses of administration under the Bankruptcy Law.

 

93


No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise Incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not assured to its satisfaction.

SECTION 7.07. Replacement of Trustee.

(a) The Trustee may resign at any time by so notifying the Issuer. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and may appoint a successor Trustee. The Issuer shall remove the Trustee if:

(i) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.09;

(ii) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

(iii) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(iv) the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.

(b) If the Trustee resigns, is removed by the Issuer or by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes and such holders do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee.

(c) A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuer. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to the holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.06.

(d) If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee or the holders of 10% in principal amount of the Notes may petition at the expense of the Issuer any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(e) If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.09, any holder who has been a bona fide holder of a Note for at least six months may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(f) Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section, the Issuer’s obligations under Section 7.06 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

 

94


SECTION 7.08. Successor Trustee by Merger. If the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation or banking association without any further act shall be the successor Trustee and/or Collateral Agent.

In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Notes shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver such Notes so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Notes shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Notes either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Notes or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.

SECTION 7.09. Eligibility; Disqualification. The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “TIA”). The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $100 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with Section 310(b) of the TIA, subject to its right to apply for a stay of its duty to resign under the penultimate paragraph of Section 310(b) of the TIA; provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA any series of securities issued under this Indenture and any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Issuers are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA are met.

SECTION 7.10. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuer. The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the TIA, excluding any creditor relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the TIA. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the TIA to the extent indicated.

SECTION 7.11. Limitation on Duty of Trustee in Respect of Collateral; Indemnification.

(a) Beyond the exercise of reasonable care in the custody thereof, the Trustee shall have no duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any agent or bailee or any income thereon or as to preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto and the Trustee shall not be responsible for filing any financing or continuation statements or recording any documents or instruments in any public office at any time or times or otherwise perfecting or maintaining the perfection of any security interest in the Collateral. The Trustee shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody of the Collateral in its possession if the Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which it accords its own property and shall not be liable or responsible for any loss or diminution in the value of any of the Collateral, by reason of the act or omission of any carrier, forwarding agency or other agent or bailee selected by the Trustee in good faith.

 

95


(b) The Trustee shall not be responsible for the existence, genuineness or value of any of the Collateral or for the validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of the Liens in any of the Collateral, whether impaired by operation of law or by reason of any action or omission to act on its part hereunder, for the validity or sufficiency of the Collateral or any agreement or assignment contained therein, for the validity of the title of the Company to the Collateral, for insuring the Collateral or for the payment of taxes, charges, assessments or Liens upon the Collateral or otherwise as to the maintenance of the Collateral. Subject to Section 7.01 of this Indenture, the Trustee shall have no duty to ascertain or inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Escrow and Security Agreement, the Collateral Agreements or any other Security Document by the Issuer, the Guarantors, the First Lien Agent or the Senior Lenders.

ARTICLE VIII

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE

SECTION 8.01. Discharge of Liability on Notes; Defeasance.

(a) This Indenture shall be discharged and shall cease to be of further effect (except as to surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Notes, as expressly provided for in this Indenture) as to all outstanding Notes and the security interest in the Collateral securing the Note Obligations will be automatically released when:

(i) either (a) all the Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes which have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Issuer and thereafter repaid to the Issuer or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or (b) all of the Notes (1) have become due and payable, (2) will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year or (3) are to be called for redemption at the option of the Issuer within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuer, and the Issuer has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee funds in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes to the date of deposit together with irrevocable instructions from the Issuer directing the Trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof at maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(ii) the Issuer and/or the Guarantors have paid all other sums payable under this Indenture; and

(iii) the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent under this Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with (other than Section 8.01(a)(iii) to the extent that compliance will occur solely upon the passage of time).

 

96


(b) Subject to Sections 8.01(c) and 8.02, the Issuer at any time may terminate (i) all of its obligations under the Notes and this Indenture with respect to the holders of the Notes (“legal defeasance option”), and (ii) its obligations under Sections 4.02, 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13 and 4.15 and the operation of Section 5.01 for the benefit of the holders of the Notes, and Sections 6.01(c), 6.01(d) and Sections 6.01(e) and 6.01(f) (in the case of Sections 6.01(e) and 6.01(f) with respect to Significant Subsidiaries of the Issuer only), 6.01(g), 6.01(h), 6.01(i) and 6.01(j) (“covenant defeasance option”). The Issuer may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option. In the event that the Issuer terminates all of its obligations under the Notes and this Indenture (with respect to such Notes) by exercising its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option, the obligations of each Guarantor with respect to its Guarantee and the Security Documents shall be terminated simultaneously with the termination of such obligations.

If the Issuer exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of the Notes so defeased may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If the Issuer exercises its covenant defeasance option, payment of the Notes so defeased may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(c), 6.01(d), 6.01(e) and 6.01(f) (with respect to Significant Subsidiaries of the Issuer only), 6.01(g), 6.01(h), 6.01(i) or 6.01(j) or because of the failure of the Issuer to comply with Section 5.01.

Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein and upon request of the Issuer, the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of those obligations that the Issuer terminates.

(c) Notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, the Issuer’s obligations in Sections 2.04, 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 2.08, 2.09, Article VII, including, without limitation, Sections 7.06, 7.07 and 7.08 and in this Article VIII shall survive until the Notes have been paid in full. Thereafter, the Issuer’s obligations in Sections 7.06, 7.07, 8.05 and 8.06 shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

SECTION 8.02. Conditions to Defeasance.

(a) The Issuer may exercise its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option only if:

(i) the Issuer irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee cash in U.S. Dollars, U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof sufficient, or a combination thereof sufficient, to pay the principal of and premium (if any) and interest on the Notes when due at maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(ii) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee a certificate from a nationally recognized firm of independent accountants expressing their opinion that the payments of principal and interest when due and without reinvestment on the deposited U.S. Government Obligations plus any deposited money without investment will provide cash at such times and in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest when due on all the Notes to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

 

97


(iii) no Default specified in Section 6.01(e) or (f) with respect to the Issuer shall have occurred or is continuing on the date of such deposit;

(iv) the deposit does not constitute a default under any other material agreement or instrument binding on the Issuer and is not prohibited by Article X;

(v) in the case of the legal defeasance option, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (1) the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (2) 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 will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Opinion of Counsel required by the immediately preceding sentence with respect to a legal defeasance need not be delivered if all of the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (x) have become due and payable or (y) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuer;

(vi) such exercise does not impair the right of any holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefore or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such holder’s Notes;

(vii) in the case of the covenant defeasance option, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred; and

(viii) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance and discharge of the Notes to be so defeased and discharged as contemplated by this Article VIII have been complied with.

(b) Before or after a deposit, the Issuer may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of such Notes at a future date in accordance with Article III.

SECTION 8.03. Application of Trust Money. The Trustee shall hold in trust money or U.S. Government Obligations (including proceeds thereof) deposited with it pursuant to this Article VIII. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from U.S. Government Obligations through each Paying Agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes so discharged or defeased.

 

98


SECTION 8.04. Repayment to Issuer. Each of the Trustee and each Paying Agent shall promptly turn over to the Issuer upon request any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in this Article which, in the written opinion of nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants delivered to the Trustee (which delivery shall only be required if U.S. Government Obligations have been so deposited), are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent discharge or defeasance in accordance with this Article.

Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and each Paying Agent shall pay to the Issuer upon written request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, and, thereafter, holders entitled to the money must look to the Issuer for payment as general creditors, and the Trustee and each Paying Agent shall have no further liability with respect to such monies.

SECTION 8.05. Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations. The Issuer shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against deposited U.S. Government Obligations or the principal and interest received on such U.S. Government Obligations.

SECTION 8.06. Reinstatement. If the Trustee or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article VIII by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes so discharged or defeased shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article VIII until such time as the Trustee or any Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article VIII; provided, however, that, if the Issuer has made any payment of principal of, or interest on, any such Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or any Paying Agent.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of the Holders.

(a) The Issuer and the Trustee may amend this Indenture, the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement without notice to or consent of any holder:

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

(ii) to provide for the assumption by a Successor (with respect to the Issuer) of the obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes;

 

99


(iii) to provide for the assumption by a Successor, Successor Subsidiary Guarantor or Successor Parent Guarantor, as the case may be, of the obligations of a Guarantor under this Indenture, its Guarantee and the Security Documents;

(iv) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, provided, however, that the uncertificated Notes are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code, or in a manner such that the uncertificated notes, if issued on or before March 18, 2012, are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code;

(v) to conform the text of this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement to any provision of the “Description of Notes” in the Offering Memorandum to the extent that such provision in this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision in the “Description of Notes” under the Offering Memorandum, as certified by the Issuer;

(vi) to add a Guarantee with respect to the Notes,

(vii) to add Collateral to secure the Notes;

(viii) to release Collateral as permitted by this Indenture or the Intercreditor Agreement;

(ix) to add additional secured creditors holding Other Second-Lien Obligations, First Priority Lien Obligations or Junior Lien Obligation, so long as such obligations are not prohibited by this Indenture or the Security Documents;

(x) to add to the covenants of the Issuer for the benefit of the holders or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Issuer;

(xi) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder; or

(xii) to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes, which shall have terms substantially identical in all material respects to the Initial Notes, and which shall be treated, together with any outstanding Initial Notes, as a single issue of securities.

(b) The Intercreditor Agreement may be amended without the consent of any holder or the Trustee in connection with the permitted entry into the Intercreditor Agreement of any class of additional secured creditors holding Other Second-Lien Obligations, First Priority Lien Obligations or other Junior Lien Obligations to effectuate such entry into the Intercreditor Agreement and to make the lien of such class equal and ratable with, as applicable, the lien of the First Priority Lien Obligations or the lien of the Junior Obligations.

(c) After an amendment under this Section 9.01 becomes effective, the Issuer shall mail to the holders a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.01.

 

100


SECTION 9.02. With Consent of the Holders.

(a) The Issuer and the Trustee may amend this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents with the consent of the Issuer and the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange for the Notes). However, without the consent of each holder of an outstanding Note affected, an amendment may not:

(1) reduce the amount of Notes whose holders must consent to an amendment,

(2) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any Note,

(3) reduce the principal of or change the Stated Maturity of any Note,

(4) reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of any Note or change the time at which any Note may be redeemed in accordance with Article III,

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

(6) expressly subordinate the Notes or any Guarantee to any other Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor, except as contemplated in the Intercreditor Agreement,

(7) impair the right of any holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such holder’s Notes,

(8) make any change in the amendment provisions which require each holder’s consent or in the waiver provisions,

(9) make any change in the provisions in the Intercreditor Agreement or this Indenture dealing with the application of proceeds of Collateral to the Notes Obligations that would adversely affect the holders of the Notes, or

(10) except as expressly permitted by this Indenture, the Guarantees or the Security Documents, modify or release the Guarantee of Holdings or any Significant Subsidiary in any manner adverse to the holders of the Notes.

In addition, without the consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% in aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding, except as provided in the Intercreditor Agreement, no amendment or waiver may release all or substantially all of the Collateral from the Lien of this Indenture and the Security Documents with respect to the Notes.

 

101


It shall not be necessary for the consent of the holders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

After an amendment under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Issuer shall mail to the holders a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.02.

SECTION 9.03. Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers.

(a) A consent to an amendment or a waiver by a holder of a Note shall bind the holder and every subsequent holder of that Note or portion of the Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent or waiver is not made on the Note. However, any such holder or subsequent holder may revoke the consent or waiver as to such holder’s Note or portion of the Note if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date on which the Trustee receives an Officer’s Certificate from the Issuer certifying that the requisite principal amount of Notes have consented. After an amendment or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every holder. An amendment or waiver becomes effective upon the (i) receipt by the Issuer or the Trustee of consents by the holders of the requisite principal amount of securities, (ii) satisfaction of conditions to effectiveness as set forth in this Indenture and any indenture supplemental hereto containing such amendment or waiver and (iii) execution of such amendment or waiver (or supplemental indenture) by the Issuer and the Trustee.

(b) The Issuer may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the holders entitled to give their consent or take any other action described above or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date.

SECTION 9.04. Notation on or Exchange of Notes. If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Note, the Issuer may require the holder of the Note to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Note regarding the changed terms and return it to the holder. Alternatively, if the Issuer or the Trustee so determine, the Issuer in exchange for the Note shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Note that reflects the changed terms. Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Note shall not affect the validity of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

SECTION 9.05. Trustee to Sign Amendments. The Trustee shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article IX if the amendment does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may but need not sign it. In signing such amendment, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive indemnity satisfactory to it and shall be provided with, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that

 

102


such amendment, supplement or waiver is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amendment, supplement or waiver is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuer and the Guarantors, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with the provisions hereof.

SECTION 9.06. Additional Voting Terms; Calculation of Principal Amount. All Notes issued under this Indenture shall vote and consent together on all matters (as to which any of such Notes may vote) as one class and no Notes will have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter. Determinations as to whether holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent shall be made in accordance with this Article IX and Section 2.13.

ARTICLE X

RANKING OF NOTE LIENS

SECTION 10.01. Relative Rights. The Intercreditor Agreement defines the relative rights, as lienholders, of holders of Second Priority Liens and holders of Liens securing First Priority Lien Obligations. Nothing in this Indenture or the Intercreditor Agreement will:

(a) impair, as between the Issuer and holders of Notes, the obligation of the Issuer, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay principal of, premium and interest on Notes in accordance with their terms or to perform any other obligation of the Issuer or any other obligor under this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees and the Security Documents;

(b) restrict the right of any holder to sue for payments that are then due and owing, in a manner not inconsistent with the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement;

(c) prevent the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any holder from exercising against the Issuer or any other obligor any of its other available remedies upon a Default or Event of Default (other than its rights as a secured party, which are subject to the Intercreditor Agreement); or

(d) restrict the right of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any holder:

(1) to file and prosecute a petition seeking an order for relief in an involuntary bankruptcy case as to any obligor or otherwise to commence, or seek relief commencing, any insolvency or liquidation proceeding involuntarily against any obligor;

(2) to make, support or oppose any request for an order for dismissal, abstention or conversion in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding;

(3) to make, support or oppose, in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding, any request for an order extending or terminating any period during which the debtor (or any other Person) has the exclusive right to propose a plan of reorganization or other dispositive restructuring or liquidation plan therein;

 

103


(4) to seek the creation of, or appointment to, any official committee representing creditors (or certain of the creditors) in any insolvency or liquidation proceedings and, if appointed, to serve and act as a member of such committee without being in any respect restricted or bound by, or liable for, any of the obligations under this Article X;

(5) to seek or object to the appointment of any professional person to serve in any capacity in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding or to support or object to any request for compensation made by any professional person or others therein;

(6) to make, support or oppose any request for order appointing a trustee or examiner in any insolvency or liquidation proceedings; or

(7) otherwise to make, support or oppose any request for relief in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding that it is permitted by law to make, support or oppose:

if it were a holder of unsecured claims; or

(x) as to any matter relating to any plan of reorganization or other

(y) restructuring or liquidation plan or as to any matter relating to the administration of the estate or the disposition of the case or proceeding (in each case except as set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement).

ARTICLE XI

COLLATERAL

SECTION 11.01. Security Documents. (a) On the Issue Date, the Issuer and the Trustee shall execute and deliver the Escrow and Security Agreement and the payment of the principal of and interest and premium, if any, on the Notes when due, whether on an Interest Payment Date, at maturity, by acceleration, repurchase, redemption or otherwise and whether by the Issuer pursuant to the Notes, the payment of all other Obligations and the performance of all other obligations of the Issuer, the Notes shall be secured as provided in the Escrow and Security Agreement.

(b) From and after the Acquisition Date, the payment of the principal of and interest and premium, if any, on the Notes when due, whether on an Interest Payment Date, at maturity, by acceleration, repurchase, redemption or otherwise and whether by the Issuer pursuant to the Notes or by the Guarantors pursuant to the Guarantees, the payment of all other Obligations and the performance of all other obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors under this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees and the Security Documents shall be secured as provided in the Security Documents which the Issuer and the Guarantors shall enter into on the Acquisition Date and will be secured by Security Documents hereafter delivered as required or permitted by this Indenture. The Issuer shall, and shall cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, and each Restricted Subsidiary shall, make all filings (including filings of continuation statements

 

104


and amendments to UCC financing statements that may be necessary to continue the effectiveness of such UCC financing statements) and all other actions as are necessary or required by the Security Documents to maintain (at the sole cost and expense of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries) the security interest created by the Security Documents in the Collateral (other than with respect to any Collateral the security interest in which is not required to be perfected under the Security Documents) as a perfected second priority security interest subject only to Permitted Liens.

(c) If the Issuer or any Guarantor acquires any property that is required to be Collateral pursuant to Article IV, or any Restricted Subsidiary becomes a Guarantor that is required to pledge its assets as Collateral pursuant to Article IV, the Issuer or such Guarantor shall execute a joinder to an existing Security Document or enter into a new Security Document (in each case, to the extent necessary to cause such asset be so pledged), and take all steps necessary to validly perfect such Lien, subject to no prior Liens other than Permitted Liens. To the extent that the Issuer or such Guarantor is entering into a joinder, entering into a new Security Document or taking steps to perfect such Lien in order to secure First Priority Lien Obligations, the Issuer or such Guarantor may take the same steps in connection with this Indenture (with such changes as are appropriate to reflect a second lien obligation consistent with the terms of the Security Documents and the Liens being created on the Acquisition Date), and the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, as applicable, are authorized and directed to execute any documentation consistent therewith.

SECTION 11.02. Collateral Agent. (a) The Collateral Agent is authorized and empowered to appoint one or more co-Collateral Agents as it deems necessary or appropriate.

(b) Beyond the exercise of reasonable care in the custody thereof, the Collateral Agent shall have no duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any agent or bailee or any income thereon or as to preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto and the Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for filing any financing or continuation statements or recording any documents or instruments in any public office at any time or times or otherwise perfecting or maintaining the perfection of any security interest in the Collateral. The Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody of the Collateral in its possession if the Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which it accords its own property and shall not be liable or responsible for any loss or diminution in the value of any of the Collateral, by reason of the act or omission of any carrier, forwarding agency or other agent or bailee selected by the Collateral Agent in good faith.

(c) The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for the existence, genuineness or value of any of the Collateral or for the validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of the Liens in any of the Collateral, whether impaired by operation of law or by reason of any action or omission to act on its part hereunder, for the validity or sufficiency of the Collateral or any agreement or assignment contained therein, for the validity of the title of the Company to the Collateral, for insuring the Collateral or for the payment of taxes, charges, assessments or Liens upon the Collateral or otherwise as to the maintenance of the Collateral. Subject to Section 11.02(b) of this Indenture, the

 

105


Collateral Agent shall have no duty to ascertain or inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Agreements or any other Security Document by the Issuer, the Guarantors, the First Lien Agent or the Senior Lenders.

(d) The Collateral Agent will be subject to such directions as may be given it by the Trustee from time to time (as required or permitted by this Indenture); provided that in the event of conflict between directions received pursuant to the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement and directions received hereunder, the Collateral Agent will be subject to directions received pursuant to the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement. Except as directed by the Trustee as required or permitted by this Indenture and any other representatives or pursuant to the Security Documents, the Collateral Agent will not be obligated:

(1) to act upon directions purported to be delivered to it by any other Person;

(2) to foreclose upon or otherwise enforce any Second Priority Lien; or

(3) to take any other action whatsoever with regard to any or all of the Second Priority Liens, Security Documents or Collateral.

(e) The Collateral Agent will be accountable only for amounts that it actually receives as a result of the enforcement of the Second Priority Liens or Security Documents.

(f) In acting as Collateral Agent or Co-Collateral Agent, the Collateral Agent and each Co-Collateral Agent may rely upon and enforce and otherwise enjoys each and all of the rights, powers, immunities, indemnities and benefits of the Trustee under Article VII hereof.

(g) The Issuer, Guarantors and the holders of Notes agree that the Collateral Agent, whenever acting hereunder, under the Intercreditor Agreement or under any Security Document, shall be entitled to all the rights, privileges, protections, immunities, indemnities and benefits provided to the Collateral Agent hereunder and under the U.S. Collateral Agreement and any other Security Document. Furthermore, each holder of a Note, by accepting such Note, consents to the terms of and authorizes and directs the Trustee (in each of its capacities) and the Collateral Agent to enter into and perform the Intercreditor Agreement and Security Documents in each of its capacities thereunder.

(h) If the Issuer (i) Incurs First Priority Lien Obligations at any time when no intercreditor agreement is in effect or at any time when Indebtedness constituting First Priority Lien Obligations entitled to the benefit of an existing Intercreditor Agreement is concurrently retired, and (ii) delivers to the Collateral Agent an Officer’s Certificate so stating and requesting the Collateral Agent, as applicable, to enter into an intercreditor agreement (on substantially the same terms as the Intercreditor Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit E) in favor of a designated agent or representative for the holders of the

 

106


First Priority Lien Obligations so Incurred, the Collateral Agent shall (and is hereby authorized and directed to) enter into such intercreditor agreement, bind the holders on the terms set forth therein and perform and observe its obligations thereunder.

SECTION 11.03. Authorization of Actions to Be Taken. (a) Each holder of Notes, by its acceptance thereof, consents and agrees to the terms of each Security Document, the Escrow and Security Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement as originally in effect and as amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time in accordance with its terms or the terms of this Indenture, authorizes and directs the Trustee and the Collateral Agent to enter into the Escrow and Security Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, and the Security Documents to which it is a party, authorizes and empowers the Trustee to direct the Collateral Agent to enter into, and the Collateral Agent to execute and deliver, the Intercreditor Agreement and authorizes and empowers the Trustee and the Collateral Agent to bind the holders of Notes and other holders of Obligations as set forth in the Security Documents to which it is a party and the Intercreditor Agreement and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights and powers thereunder.

(b) The Collateral Agent and the Trustee are authorized and empowered to receive for the benefit of the holders of Notes any funds collected or distributed under the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party and to make further distributions of such funds to the holders of Notes according to the provisions of this Indenture.

(c) Subject to the provisions of Article VI, Section 7.01 and Section 7.02 hereof, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents, upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, the Trustee may, in its sole discretion and without the consent of the holders, direct, on behalf of the holders, the Collateral Agent to take all actions it deems necessary or appropriate in order to:

(1) foreclose upon or otherwise enforce any or all of the Second Priority Liens;

(2) enforce any of the terms of the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party; or

(3) collect and receive payment of any and all Obligations.

Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, the Trustee is authorized and empowered to institute and maintain, or direct the Collateral Agent to institute and maintain, such suits and proceedings as it may deem expedient to protect or enforce the Second Priority Liens or the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party or to prevent any impairment of Collateral by any acts that may be unlawful or in violation of the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party or this Indenture, and such suits and proceedings as the Trustee or the Collateral Agent may deem expedient to preserve or protect its interests and the interests of the holders of Notes in the Collateral, including power to institute and maintain suits or proceedings to restrain the enforcement of or compliance with any legislative or other governmental enactment, rule or order that may be unconstitutional or

 

107


otherwise invalid if the enforcement of, or compliance with, such enactment, rule or order would impair the security interest hereunder or be prejudicial to the interests of holders, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent.

SECTION 11.04. Release of Liens. (a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Security Documents and subject to subsections (b) and (c) of this Section 11.04, Collateral may be released from the Lien and security interest created by the Security Documents to secure the Notes and obligations under this Indenture at any time or from time to time in accordance with the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement or as provided hereby. The applicable assets included in the Collateral shall be automatically released from the Liens securing the Notes, and the applicable Guarantor shall be automatically released from its obligations under this Indenture and the Security Documents, under any one or more of the following circumstances or any applicable circumstance as provided in the Intercreditor Agreement or the Security Documents:

(1) subject to the paragraph set forth below, upon the Discharge of Senior Lender Claims and concurrent release of all other Liens on such property or assets securing First Priority Lien Obligations (including all commitments and letters of credit thereunder); provided, however, that if the Issuer or the Guarantors subsequently incur First Priority Lien Obligations, then the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries will be required to reinstitute the security arrangements with respect to the Collateral in favor of the Notes, which will be second-priority Liens on the Collateral securing such First Priority Lien Obligations to the same extent provided by the Security Documents and on the terms and conditions of the security documents relating to such First Priority Lien Obligations, with the Second Priority Lien held either by the administrative agent, collateral agent or other representative for such First Priority Lien Obligations or by a collateral agent or other representative designated by the Issuer to hold the second-priority Liens for the benefit of the holders of the Notes and subject to an intercreditor agreement that provides such administrative agent, collateral agent or other representative substantially the same rights and powers as afforded under the Intercreditor Agreement; provided, however, that the Issuer will provide the Trustee and Collateral Agent under the Collateral Agreements with prompt written notification of such reinstitution;

(2) to enable the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor to consummate the disposition (other than any disposition to the Issuer or another Subsidiary Guarantor) of such property or assets to the extent not prohibited under Section 4.06 or in connection with the exercise of rights and remedies with respect to the Collateral by the First Lien Agent and the holders of the First Priority Lien Obligations;

(3) in respect of the property and assets of a Subsidiary Guarantor, upon the designation of such Subsidiary Guarantor to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 4.04 and the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary;”

(4) in respect of the property and assets of a Subsidiary Guarantor, upon the release or discharge of the pledge granted by such Subsidiary Guarantor to secure the Obligations under the Credit Agreement or other applicable First Priority Lien Obligations; and

(5) as described under Article IX.

 

108


Notwithstanding the foregoing, second-priority Liens on the Collateral securing the Notes shall not be released upon the Discharge of Senior Lender Claims, except to the extent the Collateral or any portion thereof was disposed of in order to repay the First Priority Lien Obligations secured by the Collateral, and thereafter the Trustee (or another designated representative acting at the direction of the holders of a majority of outstanding principal amount of the Notes and Other Second-Lien Obligations) will have the right to direct the Collateral Agent to foreclose upon the Collateral.

In connection with any termination or release pursuant to this Section 11.04(a), the Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver to any Pledgor (as defined in the Collateral Agreements), at such Pledgor’s expense, all documents that such Pledgor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release (including, without limitation, UCC termination statements), and will duly assign and transfer to such Pledgor, such of the Pledged Collateral (as defined in the Collateral Agreements) that may be in the possession of the Collateral Agent and has not theretofore been sold or otherwise applied or released pursuant to this Indenture or the Security Documents. Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to this Section 11.04(a) shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Collateral Agent. In connection with any release pursuant to this Section 11.04(a), the Pledgors shall be permitted to take any action in connection therewith consistent with such release including, without limitation, the filing of UCC termination statements.

Upon the receipt of an Officer’s Certificate from the Issuer, as described in Section 11.04(b) below, if applicable, and any necessary or proper instruments of termination, satisfaction or release prepared by the Issuer, the Collateral Agent shall execute, deliver or acknowledge such instruments or releases to evidence the release of any Collateral permitted to be released pursuant to this Indenture or the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement.

(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in connection with (x) any release of Collateral pursuant to Section 11.04(a)(1), (3), (4) or (5) above, such Collateral may not be released from the Lien and security interest created by the Security Documents and (y) any release of Collateral pursuant to Section 11.04(a)(2), the Collateral Agent shall not be required to execute, deliver or acknowledge any instruments of termination, satisfaction or release unless, in each case, an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel certifying that all conditions precedent, including, without limitation, this Section 11.04, have been met and stating under which of the circumstances set forth in Section 11.04(a) above the Collateral is being released have been delivered to the Collateral Agent on or prior to the date of such release or, in the case of clause (y) above, the date on which the Collateral Agent executes any such instrument.

(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, at any time when a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the maturity of the Notes has been accelerated (whether by declaration or otherwise) and the Trustee has delivered a notice of acceleration to the Collateral Agent, no release of Collateral pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture or the Security Documents will be effective as against the holders, except as otherwise provided in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

109


SECTION 11.05. Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee. In case the Collateral shall be in the possession of a receiver or trustee, lawfully appointed, the powers conferred in this Article XI upon the Issuer or the Guarantors with respect to the release, sale or other disposition of such property may be exercised by such receiver or trustee, and an instrument signed by such receiver or trustee shall be deemed the equivalent of any similar instrument of the Issuer or the Guarantors or of any officer or officers thereof required by the provisions of this Article XI; and if the Trustee, Collateral Agent or a nominee of the Trustee or Collateral Agent shall be in the possession of the Collateral under any provision of this Indenture, then such powers may be exercised by the Trustee, Collateral Agent or a nominee of the Trustee or Collateral Agent.

SECTION 11.06. Release Upon Termination of the Issuer’s Obligations. In the event (i) that the Issuer delivers to the Trustee, in form and substance acceptable to it, an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel certifying that all the obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the Security Documents have been satisfied and discharged by the payment in full of the Issuer’s obligations under the Notes, this Indenture and the Security Documents, and all such obligations have been so satisfied, or (ii) a discharge, legal defeasance or covenant defeasance of this Indenture occurs under Article VIII, the Trustee shall deliver to the Issuer and the Collateral Agent a notice stating that the Trustee, on behalf of the holders, disclaims and gives up any and all rights it has in or to the Collateral, and any rights it has under the Security Documents, and upon receipt by the Collateral Agent of such notice, the Collateral Agent shall be deemed not to hold a Lien in the Collateral on behalf of the Trustee and shall do or cause to be done all acts reasonably necessary at the request and expense of the Issuer to release such Lien as soon as is reasonably practicable.

SECTION 11.07. Designations. Except as provided in the next sentence, for purposes of the provisions hereof and the Intercreditor Agreement requiring the Issuer to designate Indebtedness for the purposes of the terms First Priority Lien Obligations and Other Second-Lien Obligations or any other such designations hereunder or under the Intercreditor Agreement, any such designation shall be sufficient if the relevant designation provides in writing that such First Priority Lien Obligations or Other Second-Lien Obligations are permitted under this Indenture and is signed on behalf of the Issuer by an Officer and delivered to the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the First Lien Agent. For all purposes hereof and the Intercreditor Agreement, the Issuer hereby designates the Obligations pursuant to the Credit Agreement as in effect on the Issue Date as First Priority Lien Obligations.

SECTION 11.08. [Intentionally Omitted].

SECTION 11.09. The Collateral Agent. (a) The Collateral Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities hereunder or under the Security Documents, except those obligations expressly set forth herein, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities on the part of the Collateral Agent shall be read into this Indenture or any other Security Document or shall otherwise exist against the Collateral Agent. In performing its functions and duties solely under hereunder and under the Security Documents, the Collateral Agent shall act solely as the agent of the Trustee and holders of the Notes and does not assume, nor shall be deemed to have assumed, any obligation or relationship of trust with or for the Trustee or holders of the Notes.

 

110


(b) Neither the Collateral Agent nor any of its affiliates, directors, officers, agents or employees shall be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in connection herewith or under any Security Document (i) with the consent or at the request or direction of the Trustee or the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the notes as provided herein or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct.

(c) The permissive right of the Collateral Agent to take or refrain from taking any actions enumerated in hereunder or under any Security Document shall not be construed as a duty. In connection with exercising any right or discretionary duty hereunder or under any Security Document, the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to rely upon the direction of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the notes, and the Collateral Agent shall not have any liability for taking any action at the direction of such holders, or for any failure or delay of any such holders to provide timely direction to the Collateral Agent. Notwithstanding any other provision hereunder or under any Security Document, (i) any such direction may not conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture and any applicable Security Document and (ii) the Collateral Agent shall not be required to take any action that it determines might involve it in liability (unless the Collateral Agent has received satisfactory indemnity against such liability).

(d) The Issuer shall pay to the Collateral Agent from time to time such compensation, as the Issuer and the Collateral Agent shall from time to time agree in writing, for the Collateral Agent’s acceptance of this Indenture and its services hereunder and under the Security Documents. The Issuer shall reimburse the Collateral Agent upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses Incurred or made by it, including costs of collection, in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Collateral Agent’s agents, counsel, accountants and experts. The Issuer and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall indemnify the Collateral Agent or any predecessor Collateral Agent and their directors, officers, employees and agents against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses and including taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the Collateral Agent) Incurred by it in connection with this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents and the performance of its duties hereunder and thereunder, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture, a Security Document or Guarantee against any Issuer or any Guarantor (including this Section 11.09) and defending itself against or investigating any claim (whether asserted by any Issuer, any Guarantor, any holder or any other Person). The obligation to pay such amounts shall survive the payment in full or defeasance of the Notes, the termination of any Security Document or the removal or resignation of the Collateral Agent. The Collateral Agent shall notify the Issuer of any claim for which it may seek indemnity promptly upon obtaining actual knowledge thereof; provided, however, that any failure so to notify the Issuer shall not relieve any Issuer or any Guarantor of its indemnity obligations hereunder. The Issuer shall defend the claim and the indemnified party shall provide reasonable cooperation at the Issuer’s expense in the defense. Such indemnified parties may have separate counsel and the Issuer and such Guarantor, as applicable shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel; provided, however, that the Issuer shall not be required to pay such fees and expenses if it assumes such indemnified parties’ defense and, in such indemnified parties’ reasonable judgment, there is no actual or potential conflict of interest between the Issuer and the Guarantor, as applicable, and such parties in connection with such defense. The Issuer need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense Incurred by an indemnified party through such party’s own willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith.

 

111


SECTION 11.10. Replacement of Collateral Agent. (a) The Collateral Agent may resign at any time by so notifying the Issuer and the Trustee. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes may remove the Collateral Agent by so notifying the Issuer and the Trustee and may appoint a successor Collateral Agent. The Issuer shall remove the Collateral Agent if:

(i) the Collateral Agent is the same entity as the Trustee and the Trustee is removed under the Indenture for failure by the Trustee to comply with Section 7.09;

(ii) the Collateral Agent is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

(iii) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Collateral Agent or its property; or

(iv) the Collateral Agent otherwise becomes incapable of acting.

(b) The Issuer may remove the Collateral Agent if the Collateral Agent is the same entity as the Trustee and the Trustee is removed under the Indenture.

(c) If the Collateral Agent resigns, is removed by the Issuer or by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes and such holders do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Collateral Agent, or if a vacancy exists in the office of the Collateral Agent for any reason (the Collateral Agent in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Collateral Agent), the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor Collateral Agent.(d) A successor Collateral Agent shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Collateral Agent and to the Issuer. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Collateral Agent shall become effective, and the successor Collateral Agent shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Collateral Agent under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents. The successor Collateral Agent shall mail a notice of its succession to the holders of Notes. The retiring Collateral Agent shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Collateral Agent to the successor Collateral Agent.

(e) If a successor Collateral Agent does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Collateral Agent resigns or is removed, the retiring Collateral Agent or the holders of 10% in principal amount of the Notes may petition at the expense of the Issuer any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Collateral Agent.

(e) If Wilmington Trust, National Association is removed or resigns as Trustee and as Collateral Agent, such resignation or removal shall only become effective upon both a successor Trustee and Collateral Agent being appointed hereunder.

 

112


ARTICLE XII

GUARANTEE

SECTION 12.01. Guarantee.

(a) Each Guarantor hereby jointly and severably, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee, on a second-priority secured basis from the Acquisition Date, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, to each holder and to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent and its successors and assigns (i) the performance and punctual payment when due, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of all obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes, whether for payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes and all other monetary obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes and (ii) the full and punctual performance within applicable grace periods of all other obligations of the Issuer whether for fees, expenses, indemnification or otherwise under this Indenture and the Notes (all the foregoing being hereinafter collectively called the “Guaranteed Obligations”). Each Guarantor further agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice or further assent from any Guarantor, and that each Guarantor shall remain bound under this Article XII notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Guaranteed Obligation.

(b) Each Guarantor waives presentation to, demand of payment from and protest to the Issuer of any of the Guaranteed Obligations and also waives notice of protest for nonpayment. Each Guarantor waives notice of any default under the Notes or the Guaranteed Obligations. The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be affected by (i) the failure of any holder or the Trustee to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against the Issuer or any other Person under this Indenture, the Notes or any other agreement or otherwise; (ii) any extension or renewal of this Indenture, the Notes or any other agreement; (iii) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture, the Notes or any other agreement; (iv) the release of any security held by any holder or the Trustee for the Guaranteed Obligations or each Guarantor; (v) the failure of any holder or Trustee to exercise any right or remedy against any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations; or (vi) any change in the ownership of each Guarantor, except as provided in Section 12.02(b) or Section 12.02(c). Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to have its obligations hereunder divided among the Guarantors, such that such Guarantor’s obligations would be less than the full amount claimed.

(c) Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to have the assets of the Issuer first be used and depleted as payment of the Issuer’s or such Guarantor’s obligations hereunder prior to any amounts being claimed from or paid by such Guarantor hereunder. Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to require that the Issuer be sued prior to an action being initiated against such Guarantor.

(d) Each Guarantor further agrees that its Guarantee herein constitutes a guarantee of payment, performance and compliance when due (and not a guarantee of collection) and waives any right to require that any resort be had by any holder or the Trustee to any security held for payment of the Guaranteed Obligations.

 

113


(e) The Guarantee of each Guarantor is, to the extent and in the manner set forth in Article XII, equal in right of payment to all existing and future Pari Passu Indebtedness, senior in right of payment to all existing and future Subordinated Indebtedness of the Guarantor and subordinated and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all Secured Indebtedness of the relevant Guarantor and is made subject to such provisions of this Indenture.

(f) Except as expressly set forth in Sections 8.01(b), 12.02 and 12.06, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise, and shall not be subject to any defense of setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever or by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of each Guarantor herein shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of any holder or the Trustee to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under this Indenture, the Notes or any other agreement, by any waiver or modification of any thereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the obligations, or by any other act or thing or omission or delay to do any other act or thing which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor or would otherwise operate as a discharge of any Guarantor as a matter of law or equity.

(g) Each Guarantor agrees that its Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect until payment in full of all the Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor further agrees that its Guarantee herein shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of principal of or interest on any Guaranteed Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by any holder or the Trustee upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Issuer or otherwise.

(h) In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which any holder or the Trustee has at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Issuer to pay the principal of or interest on any Guaranteed Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, or to perform or comply with any other Guaranteed Obligation, each Guarantor hereby promises to and shall, upon receipt of written demand by the Trustee, forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, in cash, to the holders or the Trustee an amount equal to the sum of (i) the unpaid principal amount of such Guaranteed Obligations, (ii) accrued and unpaid interest on such Guaranteed Obligations (but only to the extent not prohibited by applicable law) and (iii) all other monetary obligations of the Issuer to the holders and the Trustee.

(i) Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the holders in respect of any Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between it, on the one hand, and the holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (i) the maturity of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article VI for the purposes of the Guarantee herein, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby, and (ii) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such Guaranteed Obligations as provided in Article VI, such Guaranteed Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purposes of this Section 12.01.

 

114


(j) Each Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) Incurred by the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any holder in enforcing any rights under this Section 12.01.

(k) Upon request of the Trustee, each Guarantor shall execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purpose of this Indenture.

SECTION 12.02. Limitation on Liability.

(a) Any term or provision of this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the maximum aggregate amount of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereunder by each Guarantor shall not exceed the maximum amount that can be hereby guaranteed by the applicable Guarantor without rendering this Indenture, as it relates to such Guarantor, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally or capital maintenance or corporate benefit rules applicable to guarantees for obligations of affiliates.

(b) A Guarantee as to any Restricted Subsidiary that is a party hereto on the date hereof or that executes a supplemental indenture in accordance with Section 4.11 hereof and provides a guarantee shall terminate and be of no further force or effect and such Guarantee shall be deemed to be released from all obligations under this Article XII upon:

(i) the sale, disposition, exchange or other transfer (including through merger, consolidation, amalgamation or otherwise) of the Capital Stock (including any sale, disposition or other transfer following which the applicable Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary), of the applicable Guarantor if such sale, disposition, exchange or other transfer is made in a manner not in violation of this Indenture;

(ii) the Issuer designating such Guarantor to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.04 and the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”;

(iii) the release or discharge of the guarantee by such Guarantor of the Credit Agreement;

(iv) the Issuer’s exercise of its legal defeasance option or covenant defeasance option under Article VIII or if the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture are discharged in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; and

(v) such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Subsidiary, including as a result of any foreclosure of any pledge or security interest in favor of First Priority Lien Obligations, subject to, in each case, the application of the proceeds of such foreclosure in accordance with Section 11.04.

 

115


(c) Holdings’ Guarantee shall automatically terminate and be of no further force or effect and Holdings shall be deemed to be released from all obligations under this Article XII upon:

(i) Holdings’ transfer of all or substantially all of its assets to, or merger with, an entity that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Holdings in accordance with Section 5.01 and such transferee entity assumes the Holdings’ obligations under this Indenture;

(ii) the release or discharge of the guarantee by Holdings of the Credit Agreement; and

(iii) the Issuer’s exercise of its legal defeasance option or covenant defeasance option under Article VIII or if the Issuer’ obligations under this Indenture are discharged in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

SECTION 12.03. Taxes With Respect to Guarantees of Foreign Subsidiaries. If a Guarantor that is a Foreign Subsidiary makes any payment under its Guarantee and is required by applicable law or by the interpretation or administration thereof to withhold or deduct from such payment any amount for or on account of any Taxes imposed or levied by or on behalf of the government of the jurisdiction of organization or incorporation of such Guarantor or any political subdivision or any authority or agency therein or thereof having power to tax, or within any other jurisdiction in which such Guarantor is resident for tax purposes or any jurisdiction from or through which payment under its Guarantee is made (each, a “Tax Jurisdiction”), such Guarantor will be required to pay under its Guarantee such additional amounts (“Additional Amounts”) as may be necessary so that the net amount received by each holder of the Notes (including Additional Amounts) after such withholding or deduction will not be less than the amount that such holder of the Notes would have received if such Taxes had not been withheld or deducted; provided, however, that no Additional Amounts will be payable with respect to:

(i) any Taxes, to the extent such Taxes would not have been imposed but for the existence of any present or former connection between the holder or the beneficial owner of the Notes and the relevant Tax Jurisdiction (including being a resident of such jurisdiction for Tax purposes), other than the holding of such Note, the enforcement of rights under such Note or under a Guarantee or the receipt of any payments in respect of such Note or a Guarantee;

(ii) any Taxes, to the extent such Taxes were imposed as a result of the presentation of a Note for payment (where presentation is required) more than 30 days after the relevant payment is first made available for payment to the holder (except to the extent that the holder would have been entitled to Additional Amounts had the Note been presented on the last day of such 30 day period);

(iii) any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer or similar Taxes;

(iv) any Taxes withheld, deducted or imposed on a payment to an individual that are required to be withheld, deducted or imposed pursuant to European Council Directive 2003/48/EC or any other directive implementing the conclusions of the ECOFIN Council meeting of November 26 and 27, 2000 on the taxation of savings income, or any law implementing or complying with or introduced in order to conform to, such directive;

 

116


(v) any Taxes which would not have been imposed but for the presentation of a Note for payment (where presentation is required) in the relevant Tax Jurisdiction (unless by reason of the Issuer’s or any Guarantor’s actions, presentment could not have been made elsewhere);

(vi) any Taxes payable other than by deduction or withholding from payments under, or with respect to, the Notes or with respect to any Guarantee;

(vii) any Taxes to the extent such Taxes are imposed or withheld by reason of the failure of the holder or beneficial owner of Notes, following the Issuer’s written request addressed to the holder or beneficial owner (and made at a time that would enable the holder or beneficial owner acting reasonably to comply with that request, and in all events, at least 60 days before any such withholding or deduction would be payable to the holder or beneficial owner), to comply with any certification, identification, information or other reporting requirements, whether required by statute, treaty, regulation or administrative practice of a Tax Jurisdiction, as a precondition to exemption from, or reduction in the rate of deduction or withholding of, Taxes imposed by the Tax Jurisdiction (including, without limitation, a certification that the holder or beneficial owner is not resident in the Tax Jurisdiction), but in each case, only to the extent the holder or beneficial owner is legally entitled to provide such certification or documentation;

(viii) any Taxes imposed on any payments under or with respect to the Notes or any Guarantee to any holder who is a fiduciary or partnership or any person other than the sole beneficial owner of such payment, to the extent that a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary, a member of such partnership or the beneficial owner of such payments would not have been entitled to the Additional Amounts had such beneficiary, settlor, member or beneficial owner been the actual holder of such Note;

(ix) any Taxes payable by any person acting as custodian bank or collecting agent on behalf of a holder of the Notes, or otherwise in any manner which does not constitute a deduction or withholding by the Issuer or a Guarantor from payments of principal or interest made by it;

(x) any Taxes imposed by the United States or any jurisdiction therein; or

(xi) any combination of items (i) through (x) above.

SECTION 12.04. Successors and Assigns. This Article XII shall be binding upon each Guarantor and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Trustee and the holders and, in the event of any transfer or assignment of rights by any holder or the Trustee, the rights and privileges conferred upon that party in this Indenture and in the Notes shall automatically extend to and be vested in such transferee or assignee, all subject to the terms and conditions of this Indenture.

 

117


SECTION 12.05. No Waiver. Neither a failure nor a delay on the part of either the Trustee or the holders in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Article XII shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall a single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any right, power or privilege. The rights, remedies and benefits of the Trustee and the holders herein expressly specified are cumulative and not exclusive of any other rights, remedies or benefits which either may have under this Article XII at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.

SECTION 12.06. Modification. No modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Article XII, nor the consent to any departure by any Guarantor therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Trustee, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice to or demand on any Guarantor in any case shall entitle any Guarantor to any other or further notice or demand in the same, similar or other circumstances.

SECTION 12.07. Execution of Supplemental Indenture for Future Guarantors. Each which is required to become a Guarantor of the Notes pursuant to Section 4.11 shall promptly execute and deliver to the Trustee a joinder to the Intercreditor Agreement and a supplemental indenture in the form of Exhibit C-1 hereto pursuant to which such Person shall become a Guarantor under this Article XII and shall guarantee the Notes. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel and an Officer’s Certificate to the effect that such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Person and that, subject to the application of bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or transfer and other similar laws relating to creditors’ rights generally and to the principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity, the Guarantee of such Guarantor is a valid and binding obligation of such Guarantor, enforceable against such Guarantor in accordance with its terms and/or to such other matters as the Trustee may reasonably request.

SECTION 12.08. Non-Impairment. The failure to endorse a Guarantee on any Note shall not affect or impair the validity thereof.

ARTICLE XIII

ESCROW ARRANGEMENTS

SECTION 13.01. Escrow Account. Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture, on the Issue Date simultaneously with the issuance of the Notes, the Issuer shall, pursuant to the terms of the Escrow and Security Agreement, deposit into the Escrow Account the proceeds of the offering of the Notes, together with an additional amount in cash and/or U.S. Government Obligations (collectively with the Escrow Account any other property from time to time held in the Escrow Account, the “Escrow Property”), sufficient to redeem the Notes at the Special Mandatory Redemption Price on July 5, 2011. The Issuer shall grant the Trustee, for the benefit of holders of the Notes, a first priority security interest in the Escrow Property to secure the Notes Obligations pending disbursement in accordance with the terms of the Escrow and Security Agreement. Funds held in the Escrow Account shall, pending release to fund the Special Mandatory Redemption as set forth in Paragraph 5 of the Note or as a result of the satisfaction of the Escrow Release Conditions, be held in cash and/or U.S. Government Obligations.

 

118


SECTION 13.02. Special Mandatory Redemption. If the Escrow Conditions have not been satisfied on or prior to the Escrow Outside Date or the Issuer notifies the Escrow Agent in writing that it will pursue the consummation of the Acquisition, in each case pursuant to the terms of the Escrow and Security Agreement, the Escrow Agent shall, without the requirement of notice to or any action by the Issuer, the Trustee or any other Person, release the Escrow Property (including investment earnings thereon) to the Trustee for application as payment to the holders of the Notes of the Special Mandatory Redemption Price pursuant to Paragraph 5 of the Note.

SECTION 13.03. Release of Escrow Property. Upon the satisfaction of the Escrow Release Conditions on or prior to the Escrow Outside Date as provided in the Escrow and Security Agreement, the Escrow Property will be released in accordance with the terms of the Escrow and Security Agreement.

ARTICLE XIV

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 14.01. Notices.

(a) Any notice or communication required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and delivered in person, via facsimile or mailed by first-class mail addressed as follows:

if to the Issuer or a Guarantor:

9 West 57th Street, 43rd Floor

c/o Apollo Management, L.P.

New York, NY 10019

Attention: Samuel Feinstein

Fax: 646 ###-###-####

if to the Trustee or Collateral Agent:

Wilmington Trust, National Association

246 Goose Lane, Suite 105

Guilford, CT 06437

Attention: Taminco Administrator

Fax: 203 ###-###-####

The Issuer or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

(b) Any notice or communication mailed to a holder shall be mailed, first class mail, to the holder at the holder’s address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar and shall be sufficiently given if so mailed within the time prescribed.

 

119


(c) Failure to mail a notice or communication to a holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other holders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it, except that notices to the Trustee are effective only if received.

The Trustee may, in its sole discretion, agree to accept and act upon instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by e-mail, facsimile transmission or other similar electronic methods. If the party elects to give the Trustee e-mail or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method) and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such instructions shall be deemed controlling. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance with such instructions notwithstanding such instructions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The party providing electronic instructions agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk or interception and misuse by third parties.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, as long as the Notes are in the form of a Global Note, notice to the holders may be made electronically in accordance with procedures of the Depository.

SECTION 14.02. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by the Issuer to the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action under this Indenture, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee at the request of the Trustee:

(a) an Officer’s Certificate in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

(b) an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.

SECTION 14.03. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 4.09) shall include:

(a) a statement that the individual 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 individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

 

120


(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such individual, such covenant or condition has been complied with; provided, however, that with respect to matters of fact an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officer’s Certificate or certificates of public officials.

SECTION 14.04. When Notes Disregarded. In determining whether the holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Issuer, the Guarantors or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuer or the Guarantors shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, for the purpose of determining whether a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes which the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Subject to the foregoing, only Notes outstanding at the time shall be considered in any such determination.

SECTION 14.05. Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of the holders. The Registrar and a Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.

SECTION 14.06. Legal Holidays. If a payment date is not a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, and no interest shall accrue on any amount that would have been otherwise payable on such payment date if it were a Business Day for the intervening period. If a regular Record Date is not a Business Day, the Record Date shall not be affected.

SECTION 14.07. GOVERNING LAW. THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.

SECTION 14.08. No Recourse Against Others. No director, officer, employee, manager, incorporator or holder of any Equity Interests in the Issuer or of any Guarantor or any direct or indirect parent corporation, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer or any Guarantor under the Notes, the Guarantees or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

SECTION 14.09. Successors. All agreements of the Issuer and the Guarantors in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind such person’s successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.

SECTION 14.10. Multiple 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. One signed copy is enough to prove this Indenture.

SECTION 14.11. Table of Contents; Headings. The table of contents, cross-reference sheet and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

121


SECTION 14.12. Indenture Controls. If and to the extent that any provision of the Notes limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of this Indenture, such provision of this Indenture shall control.

SECTION 14.13. Severability. In case any provision in this Indenture 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 and such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability.

SECTION 14.14. Intercreditor Agreement. The terms of this Indenture are subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement.

SECTION 14.15. Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE ISSUER, THE GUARANTORS AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

122


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

TAMINCO GLOBAL CHEMICAL

CORPORATION, as the Issuer

By:      

/s/ Samuel Feinstein

  Name:   Samuel Feinstein
  Title:   Vice President

TAMINCO INTERMEDIATE

CORPORATION, as a Guarantor

By:      

/s/ Samuel Feinstein

  Name:   Samuel Feinstein
  Title:   Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]


WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION, not in its individual capacity, but

solely as Trustee

By:      

/s/ Joseph P. O’Donnell

  Name:   Joseph P. O’Donnell
  Title:   Vice President

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION, not in its individual capacity, but

solely as Collateral Agent

By:      

/s/ Joseph P. O’Donnell

  Name:   Joseph P. O’Donnell
  Title:   Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]


APPENDIX A

PROVISIONS RELATING TO INITIAL SECURITIES AND ADDITIONAL SECURITIES

1. Definitions.

1.1 Definitions.

For the purposes of this Appendix A the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:

Definitive Note” means a certificated Initial Note (bearing the Restricted Notes Legend if the transfer of such Note is restricted by applicable law) that does not include the Global Notes Legend.

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

Global Notes Legend” means the legend set forth under that caption in the applicable Exhibit to this Indenture.

IAI” means an institutional “accredited investor” as described in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act.

Initial Purchasers” means Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, UBS Securities LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Nomura Securities International, Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Goldman, Sachs & Co.

Purchase Agreement” means the Purchase Agreement dated January 20, 2012 among the Issuer, Holdings and the Representatives of the Initial Purchasers entered into in connection with the sale and issuance of the Notes.

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

Regulation S” means Regulation S under the Securities Act.

Regulation S Notes” means all Initial Notes offered and sold outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S.

Restricted Notes Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.2(f)(i) herein.

Restricted Period,” with respect to any Notes, means the period of 40 consecutive days beginning on and including the later of (a) the day on which such Notes are first offered to persons other than distributors (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) in reliance on Regulation S, notice of which day shall be promptly given by the Issuer to the Trustee, and (b) the Issue Date, and with respect to any Additional Notes that are Transfer Restricted Notes, it means the comparable period of 40 consecutive days.

 

Appendix A-1


Rule 501” means Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act.

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

Rule 144A Notes” means all Initial Notes offered and sold to QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A.

Notes Custodian” means the custodian with respect to a Global Note (as appointed by the Depository) or any successor person thereto, who shall initially be the Trustee.

Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes” means Definitive Notes that bear or are required to bear or are subject to the Restricted Notes Legend.

Transfer Restricted Global Notes” means Global Notes that bear or are required to bear or are subject to the Restricted Notes Legend.

Unrestricted Definitive Notes” means Definitive Notes that are not required to bear, or are not subject to, the Restricted Notes Legend.

Unrestricted Global Notes” means Global Notes that are not required to bear, or are not subject to, the Restricted Notes Legend.

1.2 Other Definitions.

 

Term:

   Defined in Section:

Agent Members

   2.1(b)

Global Notes

   2.1(b)

Regulation S Global Notes

   2.1(b)

Rule 144A Global Notes

   2.1(b)

2. The Notes.

2.1 Form and Dating; Global Notes.

(a) The Initial Notes issued on the date hereof will be (i) privately placed by the Issuer pursuant to the Offering Memorandum and (ii) sold, initially only to (1) QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A and (2) Persons other than U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S) in reliance on Regulation S. Such Initial Notes may thereafter be transferred to, among others, QIBs, purchasers in reliance on Regulation S and, except as set forth below, IAIs in accordance with Rule 501. Additional Notes offered after the date hereof may be offered and sold by the Issuer from time to time pursuant to one or more agreements in accordance with applicable law.

(b) Global Notes. (i) Except as provided in clause (d) below, Rule 144A Notes initially shall be represented by one or more Notes in definitive, fully registered, global form without interest coupons (collectively, the “Rule 144A Global Notes”).

 

Appendix A-2


Regulation S Notes initially shall be represented by one or more Notes in fully registered, global form without interest coupons (collectively, the “Regulation S Global Notes”), which shall be registered in the name of the Depository or the nominee of the Depository for the accounts of designated agents holding on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream.

The term “Global Notes” means the Rule 144A Global Notes and the Regulation S Global Notes. The Global Notes shall bear the Global Note Legend. The Global Notes initially shall (i) be registered in the name of the Depository or the nominee of such Depository, in each case for credit to an account of an Agent Member, (ii) be delivered to the Trustee as custodian for such Depository and (iii) bear the Restricted Notes Legend.

Members of, or direct or indirect participants in, the Depository (collectively, the “Agent Members”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depository, or the Trustee as its custodian, or under the Global Notes. The Depository may be treated by the Issuer, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee as the absolute owner of the Global Notes for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Issuer, the Trustee or any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depository, or impair, as between the Depository and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of any Note.

(ii) Transfers of Global Notes shall be limited to transfer in whole, but not in part, to the Depository, its successors or their respective nominees. Interests of beneficial owners in the Global Notes may be transferred or exchanged for Definitive Notes only in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository and the provisions of Section 2.2. In addition, a Global Note shall be exchangeable for Definitive Notes if (x) the Depository (1) notifies the Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depository for such Global Note and the Issuer thereupon fails to appoint a successor depository or (2) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act or (y) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to such Global Note and a request has been made for such exchange; provided that in no event shall the Regulation S Global Note be exchanged by the Issuer for Definitive Notes prior to (x) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (y) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B) under the Securities Act. In all cases, Definitive Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note or beneficial interests therein shall be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of the Depository in accordance with its customary procedures.

(iii) In connection with the transfer of a Global Note as an entirety to beneficial owners pursuant to subsection (i) of this Section 2.1(b), such Global Note shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, to each beneficial owner identified by the Depository in writing in exchange for its beneficial interest in such Global Note, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Notes of authorized denominations.

 

Appendix A-3


(iv) Any Transfer Restricted Note delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Note pursuant to Section 2.2 shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.2, bear the Restricted Notes Legend.

(v) Notwithstanding the foregoing, through the Restricted Period, a beneficial interest in a Regulation S Global Note may be held only through Euroclear or Clearstream unless delivery is made in accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 2.2.

(vi) The holder of any Global Note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Notes.

2.2 Transfer and Exchange.

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. A Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except as set forth in Section 2.1(b). Global Notes will not be exchanged by the Issuer for Definitive Notes except under the circumstances described in Section 2.1(b)(ii). Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Section 2.08 of this Indenture. Beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.2(b).

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

(i) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note. Beneficial interests in any Transfer Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Transfer Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Restricted Notes Legend; provided, however, that prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers of beneficial interests in a Regulation S Global Note may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person. A beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.2(b)(i).

(ii) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests in any

 

Appendix A-4


Global Note that is not subject to Section 2.2(b)(i), the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar (1) a written order from an Agent Member given to the Depository in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository directing the Depository to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository containing information regarding the Agent Member account to be credited with such increase. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note pursuant to Section 2.2(i).

(iii) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Transfer Restricted Global Note if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.2(b)(ii) above and the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Note; and

(B) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in a Regulation S Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Note.

(iv) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Transfer Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Note may be exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.2(b)(ii) above and the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note; or

(B) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note,

and, in each such case, if the Issuer or the Registrar so requests or if the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuer and the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in

 

Appendix A-5


compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Restricted Notes Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. If any such transfer or exchange is effected pursuant to this subparagraph (iv) at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of an written order of the Issuer in the form of an Officer’s Certificate in accordance with Section 2.01, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred or exchanged pursuant to this subparagraph (iv).

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

(c) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes for Definitive Notes. A beneficial interest in a Global Note may not be exchanged for a Definitive Note except under the circumstances described in Section 2.1(b)(ii). A beneficial interest in a Global Note may not be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note except under the circumstances described in Section 2.1(b)(ii). In any case, beneficial interests in Global Notes shall be transferred or exchanged only for Definitive Notes.

(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. Transfers and exchanges of Definitive Notes for beneficial interests in the Global Notes also shall require compliance with either subparagraph (i), (ii) or (iii) below, as applicable:

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

(A) if the holder of such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Transfer Restricted Note for a beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note;

(B) if such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note;

(C) if such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a Non U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note;

 

Appendix A-6


(D) if such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note;

(E) if such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to an IAI in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in subparagraphs (B) through (D) above, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel, if applicable; or

(F) if such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to the Issuer or a Subsidiary thereof, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note;

the Trustee shall cancel the Transfer Restricted Definitive Note, and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the appropriate Transfer Restricted Global Note.

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

(A) if the holder of such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note; or

(B) if the holder of such Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note,

and, in each such case, if the Issuer or the Registrar so requests or if the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuer and the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Restricted Notes Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon satisfaction of the conditions of this subparagraph (ii), the Trustee shall cancel the Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note. If any such transfer or exchange is effected pursuant to this subparagraph (ii) at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of an written order of the Issuer in the form of an Officer’s

 

Appendix A-7


Certificate, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Transfer Restricted Notes transferred or exchanged pursuant to this subparagraph (ii).

(iii) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may exchange such Unrestricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Unrestricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee shall cancel the applicable Unrestricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global Notes. If any such transfer or exchange is effected pursuant to this subparagraph (iii) at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of an written order of the Issuer in the form of an Officer’s Certificate, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Unrestricted Definitive Notes transferred or exchanged pursuant to this subparagraph (iii).

(iv) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Transfer Restricted Global Notes. An Unrestricted Definitive Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Note.

(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. Upon request by a holder of Definitive Notes and such holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.2(e), the Registrar shall register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting holder shall present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting holder shall provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.2(e).

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

(A) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Note;

(B) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Note;

 

Appendix A-8


(C) if the transfer will be made pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Note;

(D) if the transfer will be made to an IAI in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in subparagraphs (A) through (D) above, a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Note; and

(E) if such transfer will be made to the Issuer or a Subsidiary thereof, a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Note.

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

(A) if the holder of such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note; or

(B) if the holder of such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note,

and, in each such case, if the Issuer or the Registrar so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuer and the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Restricted Notes Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

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

(iv) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes. An Unrestricted Definitive Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of, a Transfer Restricted Definitive Note.

At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note shall be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will

 

Appendix A-9


take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depository at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depository at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

(f) Legend.

(i) Except as permitted by the following paragraph (iii), (iv) or (v), each Note certificate evidencing the Global Notes and any Definitive Notes (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (each defined term in the legend being defined as such for purposes of the legend only):

“THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”) AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE HOLDER: (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) (A “QIB”) OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON, IS NOT ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT, WITHIN THE TIME PERIOD REFERRED TO UNDER RULE 144(d)(1) (TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE PROVISIONS OF RULE 144(d) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IF APPLICABLE) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AS IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY, RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY EXCEPT (A) TO THE ISSUER, OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, (B) TO A PERSON WHOM THE HOLDER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QIB OR PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QIB IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) IN COMPLIANCE WITH AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

 

Appendix A-10


OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED THAT PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, THE TRUSTEE IS FURNISHED WITH AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE ISSUER AND THE REGISTRAR THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT), (D) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) PURSUANT TO THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE AND PROVIDED THAT PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, THE TRUSTEE IS FURNISHED WITH AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE ISSUER THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT), (F) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER REGULATION D OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AN “IAI”) THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY (THE FORM OF WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN RESPECT OF AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES LESS THAN $250,000, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE ISSUER AND THE REGISTRAR THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT OR (G) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY OR AN INTEREST HEREIN IS TRANSFERRED (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (2)(D) OR 2(E) ABOVE) A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN WITHIN THE TIME PERIOD REFERRED TO ABOVE, THE HOLDER MUST CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF RELATING TO THE MANNER OF SUCH TRANSFER AND SUBMIT THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE TRUSTEE. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION,” “UNITED STATES” AND “U.S. PERSON” HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY RULE 902 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.”

 

Appendix A-11


“FROM THE ACQUISITION DATE, THE TERMS OF THIS SECURITY ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS OF THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT, DATED THE ACQUISITION DATE, BY AND AMONG THE FIRST LIEN AGENT, WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE AND THE OTHER PARTIES THERETO FROM TIME TO TIME.”

Each Definitive Note shall bear the following additional legends:

“IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.”

(ii) Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Definitive Note, the Registrar shall permit the holder thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Note for a Definitive Note that does not bear the legends set forth above and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note if the holder certifies in writing to the Registrar that its request for such exchange was made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse of the Initial Note).

(iii) Upon a sale or transfer after the expiration of the Restricted Period of any Initial Note acquired pursuant to Regulation S, all requirements that such Initial Note bear the Restricted Notes Legend shall cease to apply and the requirements requiring any such Initial Note be issued in global form shall continue to apply.

(iv) Any Additional Notes sold in a registered offering shall not be required to bear the Restricted Notes Legend.

(g) Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Note. At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note shall be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.10 of this Indenture. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depository at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depository at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

(h) Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Notes.

 

Appendix A-12


(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate, Definitive Notes and Global Notes at the Registrar’s request.

(ii) No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax, assessments, or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Sections 3.06, 4.06, 4.08 and 9.05 of this Indenture).

(iii) Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Note, the Issuer, the Trustee, a Paying Agent or the Registrar may deem and treat the person in whose name a Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note is overdue, and none of the Issuer, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

(iv) All Notes issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

(i) No Obligation of the Trustee.

(i) The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Note, a member of, or a participant in the Depository or any other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depository or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Notes or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depository) of any notice (including any notice of redemption or repurchase) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Notes. All notices and communications to be given to the holders and all payments to be made to the holders under the Notes shall be given or made only to the registered holders (which shall be the Depository or its nominee in the case of a Global Note). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Note shall be exercised only through the Depository subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depository with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.

(ii) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depository participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

 

Appendix A-13


EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF FACE OF INITIAL NOTE]

[Global Notes Legend]

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO DTC, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

[For Regulation S Global Note Only]

UNTIL 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF COMMENCEMENT OR COMPLETION OF THE OFFERING, AN OFFER OR SALE OF NOTES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES BY A DEALER (AS DEFINED IN THE SECURITIES ACT) MAY VIOLATE THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT IF SUCH OFFER OR SALE IS MADE OTHERWISE THAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A THEREUNDER.]

[Restricted Notes Legend for Notes Offered in Reliance on Regulation S]

THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION ORIGINALLY EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. TERMS USED ABOVE HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

[Restricted Notes Legend for Notes Offered Otherwise than in Reliance on Regulation S]

“THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”) AND,

 

A-1


ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) (A “QIB”) OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON, IS NOT ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT, WITHIN THE TIME PERIOD REFERRED TO UNDER RULE 144(d)(1) (TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE PROVISIONS OF RULE 144(d) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IF APPLICABLE) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AS IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY, RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY EXCEPT (A) TO THE ISSUER OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, (B) TO A PERSON WHOM THE HOLDER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QIB OR PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QIB IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) IN COMPLIANCE WITH AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED THAT PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, THE TRUSTEE IS FURNISHED WITH AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE ISSUER THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT), (D) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) PURSUANT TO THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE AND PROVIDED THAT PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, THE TRUSTEE IS FURNISHED WITH AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE ISSUER THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT), (F) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER REGULATION D OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AN “IAI”) THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY (THE FORM OF WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN RESPECT OF AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES LESS THAN $250,000, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE ISSUER AND THE TRUSTEE THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT OR (G) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY OR AN INTEREST HEREIN IS TRANSFERRED (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (2)(D) OR 2(E) ABOVE) A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN WITHIN THE TIME PERIOD REFERRED TO ABOVE, THE HOLDER MUST CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF RELATING TO THE MANNER OF SUCH TRANSFER AND SUBMIT THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE TRUSTEE. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION,” “UNITED STATES” AND “U.S. PERSON” HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY RULE 902 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.”

 

A-2


[Restricted Notes Legend]

“FROM THE ACQUISITION DATE, THE TERMS OF THIS SECURITY ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS OF THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT, DATED THE ACQUISITION DATE, BY AND AMONG THE FIRST LIEN AGENT, WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE AND THE OTHER PARTIES THERETO FROM TIME TO TIME.”

Each Definitive Note shall bear the following additional legends:

“IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.”

 

A-3


[FORM OF INITIAL NOTE]

 

No. 1

   [144A] CUSIP No. 87509R AA1
   [144A] ISIN No. US87509RAA14
   [REG S] CUSIP No. U83038 AA4
   [REG S] ISIN No. USU83038AA45
   [ACCD INV] CUSIP No. 87509R AB9
   [ACCD INV] ISIN No. US87509RAB96

9.75% Second-Priority Senior Secured Note due 2020

TAMINCO GLOBAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum set forth on the Schedule of Increases or Decreases in Global Security attached hereto on March 31, 2020.

Interest Payment Dates: March 31 and September 30, commencing September 30, 2012

Record Dates: March 15 and September 15

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.

 

A-4


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

TAMINCO GLOBAL CHEMICAL

CORPORATION

By:      

 

 

Name:

Title:

Dated:

 

A-5


 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF
    AUTHENTICATION
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
    as Trustee, certifies that this is
    one of the Notes
    referred to in the Indenture.
By:        
  Authorized Signatory
Dated:

 

 

*/ If the Note is to be issued in global form, add the Global Notes Legend and the attachment from Exhibit A captioned “TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL SECURITIES — SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY.”

 

A-6


[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE INITIAL NOTE]

9.75% Second-Priority Senior Secured Note Due 2020

 

1. Interest

TAMINCO GLOBAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (such entity, and its successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the “Issuer”), promise to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at the rate per annum shown above. The Issuer shall pay interest semiannually on March 31 and September 30 of each year (each an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing September 30, 2012. Interest on the Notes shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for or, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for, from February 3, 2012, until the principal hereof is due. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The Issuer shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate borne by the Notes, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.

 

2. Method of Payment

The Issuer shall pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered holders at the close of business on March 15 or September 15 (each a “Record Date”) immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date even if Notes are canceled after the Record Date and on or before the Interest Payment Date (whether or not a Business Day). Holders must surrender Notes to the Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Issuer shall pay principal, premium, if any, and interest in money of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments in respect of the Notes represented by a Global Note (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by The Depository Trust Company or any successor depositary. The Issuer shall make all payments in respect of a certificated Note (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) at the office of the Paying Agent, except that, at the option of the Issuer, payment of interest may be made by mailing a check to the registered address of each holder thereof; provided, however, that payments on the Notes may also be made, in the case of a holder of at least $1,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes, by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no later than 30 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion).

 

3. Paying Agent and Registrar

Initially, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee under the Indenture (the “Trustee”), will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Issuer may appoint and change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice. The Issuer or any of its domestically incorporated Wholly Owned Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

A-7


4. Indenture

The Issuer issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of February 3, 2012 (the “Indenture”), among the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee. Capitalized terms used herein are used as defined in the Indenture, unless otherwise indicated. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture. The Notes are subject to all terms and provisions of the Indenture, and the holders (as defined in the Indenture) are referred to the Indenture for a statement of such terms and provisions. If and to the extent that any provision of the Notes limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Indenture, such provision of the Indenture shall control.

The Notes are senior secured obligations of the Issuer. This Note is one of the Initial Notes referred to in the Indenture. The Notes include the Initial Notes and any Additional Notes. The Initial Notes and any Additional Notes are treated as a single class of securities under the Indenture. The Indenture imposes certain limitations on the ability of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries to, among other things, make certain Investments and other Restricted Payments, pay dividends and other distributions, Incur Indebtedness, enter into consensual restrictions upon the payment of certain dividends and distributions by the Restricted Subsidiaries, issue or sell shares of capital stock of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries, enter into or permit certain transactions with Affiliates, create or Incur Liens and make Asset Sales. The Indenture also imposes limitations on the ability of each Issuer and each Guarantor to consolidate or merge with or into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its property.

To guarantee the due and punctual payment of the principal and interest on the Notes and all other amounts payable by the Issuer under the Indenture and the Notes when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, according to the terms of the Notes and the Indenture, the Guarantors have unconditionally guaranteed the Guaranteed Obligations pursuant to the terms of the Indenture and any Guarantor that executes a Guarantee will unconditionally guarantee the Guaranteed Obligations, which such Guarantees shall be on a second-priority senior secured basis from the Acquisition Date, pursuant to the terms of the Indenture.

 

5. Redemption

On or after March 31, 2015 the Issuer may redeem the Notes at its option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at the following redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), if redeemed during the 12-month period commencing on March 31 of the years set forth below:

 

Period

   Redemption Price  

2015

     107.313

2016

     104.875

2017

     102.438

2018 and thereafter

     100.000

 

A-8


In addition, prior to March 31, 2015, the Issuer may redeem the Notes at its option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any, to, the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time and from time to time on or prior to March 31, 2015 the Issuer may redeem in the aggregate up to 40% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings (1) by the Issuer or (2) by any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer to the extent the net cash proceeds thereof are contributed to the common equity capital of the Issuer or are used to purchase Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount thereof) of 109.750%, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date); provided, however, that at least 50% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) must remain outstanding after each such redemption; provided, further, that notice of such redemption may be given prior to the completion of any such Equity Offering and such redemption shall occur within 90 days after the date on which any such Equity Offering is consummated and otherwise in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture. Any redemption of Notes (including with the net cash proceeds of an Equity Offering), may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, consummation of any related Equity Offering or related financing transaction.

In the event that the Escrow Release Conditions have not been satisfied on or prior to the Escrow Outside Date or the Issuer notifies the Escrow Agent in writing that it will not pursue the consummation of the Acquisition (such earlier date, the “Escrow Date of Determination”), the Issuer shall promptly send a notice of redemption to holders of the Notes stating that an Escrow Date of Determination has occurred, the Special Mandatory Redemption Price and that the Notes will be redeemed at the Special Mandatory Redemption Price and such other items set forth in Section 3.05(a) of the Indenture on the third (3rd) Business Day following the Escrow Date of Determination or the date that the Escrow Property is released by the Escrow Agent to the Trustee, if later (such date, the “Special Mandatory Redemption Date”). On such Special Mandatory Redemption Date, the Issuer shall be required to redeem the Notes at the Special Mandatory Redemption Price.

 

6. Mandatory Redemption

Except as set forth in Paragraph 5 of this Note, the Issuer will not be required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

 

7. Notice of Redemption

Notices of redemption will be mailed by first class mail at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date (or three Business Days in advance in the case of a Special Mandatory Redemption pursuant to Paragraph 5 of this Note), to each holder of Notes to be redeemed at its registered address (with a copy to the Trustee) or otherwise in accordance

 

A-9


with the procedures of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to the redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture pursuant to Article VIII thereof. If money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed on the redemption date is deposited with a Paying Agent on or before the redemption date and certain other conditions are satisfied, on and after such date, interest ceases to accrue on such Notes (or such portions thereof) called for redemption.

 

8. Repurchase of Notes at the Option of the Holders upon Change of Control and Asset Sales

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each holder shall have the right, subject to certain conditions specified in the Indenture, to cause the Issuer to repurchase all or any part of such holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of the holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), as provided in, and subject to the terms of, the Indenture.

In accordance with Section 4.06 of the Indenture, the Issuer will be required to offer to purchase Notes upon the occurrence of certain events.

 

9. Ranking and Collateral

From the Issue Date to the Acquisition Date, these Notes and the Guarantee of Holdings will be secured by a first-priority security interest in the Escrow Account pursuant to the Escrow and Security Agreement. From the Acquisition Date, these Notes and the Guarantees will be secured by a second-priority security interest in the Collateral pursuant to certain Security Documents. The Second Priority Liens upon any and all Collateral are, to the extent and in the manner provided in the Intercreditor Agreement, subordinate in ranking to all present and future First Priority Liens and will be of equal ranking with all present and future Liens securing Other Second-Lien Obligations as set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

10. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange

The Notes are in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $2,000 principal amount and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A holder shall register the transfer of or exchange of the Notes in accordance with the Indenture. Upon any registration of transfer or exchange, the Registrar and the Trustee may require a holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements or transfer documents and to pay any taxes required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer of or exchange any Notes selected for redemption (except, in the case of a Note to be redeemed in part, the portion of the Note not to be redeemed) or to transfer or exchange any Notes for a period of 15 days prior to a selection of Notes to be redeemed.

 

11. Persons Deemed Owners

The registered holder of this Note shall be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.

 

A-10


12. Unclaimed Money

If money for the payment of principal or interest remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee and a Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Issuer at their written request unless an abandoned property law designates another Person. After any such payment, the holders entitled to the money must look to the Issuer for payment as general creditors and the Trustee and a Paying Agent shall have no further liability with respect to such monies.

 

13. Discharge and Defeasance

Subject to certain conditions, the Issuer at any time may terminate some of or all its obligations under the Notes and the Indenture if the Issuer deposits with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal and interest on the Notes to redemption or maturity, as the case may be.

 

14. Amendment; Waiver

Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, (i) the Indenture or the Notes may be amended with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes and (ii) any past default or compliance with any provisions may be waived with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes. Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, without the consent of any holder, the Issuer and the Trustee may amend the Indenture, the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement (i) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency; (ii) to provide for the assumption by a Successor (with respect to the Issuer) of the obligations of the Issuer under the Indenture and the Notes; (iii) to provide for the assumption by a Successor, Successor Subsidiary Guarantor or Successor Parent Guarantor, as the case may be, of the obligations of a Guarantor under this Indenture, its Guarantee and the Security Documents; (iv) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, provided, however, that the uncertificated Notes are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code, or in a manner such that the uncertificated notes, if issued on or before March 18, 2012, are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code; (v) to add a Guarantee with respect to the Notes; (vi)to secure the Notes; (vii) to release Collateral as permitted by the Indenture or the Intercreditor Agreement; (viii) to add additional secured creditors holding Other Second-Lien Obligations, First Priority Lien Obligations or Junior Lien Obligation, so long as such obligations are not prohibited by this Indenture or the Security Documents; (ix) to add to the covenants of the Issuer for the benefit of the holders or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Issuer; (x) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder; (xi) to add Collateral to secure the Notes; (xii) to conform the text of the Indenture, the Guarantees, the Notes, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement to any provision of the “Description of Notes” under the Offering Memorandum, to the extent such provision was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision in the “Description of Notes” under the Offering Memorandum, as certified by the Issuer; or (xiii) to make certain changes to this Indenture to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes.

In addition, the Intercreditor Agreement may be amended without the consent of any holder or the Trustee in connection with the permitted entry into the Intercreditor Agreement of any class of additional secured creditors holding Other Second-Lien Obligations, First Priority

 

A-11


Lien Obligations or other Junior Lien Obligations to effectuate such entry into the Intercreditor Agreement and to make the lien of such class equal and ratable with, as applicable, the lien of the First Priority Lien Obligations or the lien of the Junior Obligations.

 

15. Defaults and Remedies

If an Event of Default (other than a Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Issuer) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of outstanding Notes by notice to the Issuer may declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued but unpaid interest on all the Notes to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal and interest will be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Issuer occurs, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all the Notes will become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any holders. Under certain circumstances, the holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding Notes may rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences.

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders unless such holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense and certain other conditions are complied with. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest when due, no holder may pursue any remedy with respect to the Indenture or the Notes unless (i) such holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing, (ii) the holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee in writing to pursue the remedy, (iii) such holders have offered the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against any loss, liability or expense, (iv) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity and (v) the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period. Subject to certain restrictions, the holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding Notes are given the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to taking any action under the Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification reasonably satisfactory to it against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

 

16. Trustee Dealings with the Issuer

The Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Issuer or their Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or their Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.

 

A-12


17. No Recourse Against Others

No director, officer, employee, incorporator or holder of any equity interests in the Issuer or of any Guarantor or any direct or indirect parent corporation, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer or any Guarantor under the Notes, the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability.

 

18. Authentication

This Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or an authenticating agent) manually signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note.

 

19. Abbreviations

Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a holder or an assignee, such as TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT (=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to Minors Act).

 

20. Governing Law

THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.

 

21. CUSIP Numbers; ISINs

The Issuer has caused CUSIP numbers and ISINs to be printed on the Notes and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP numbers and ISINs in notices of redemption as a convenience to the holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

The Issuer will furnish to any holder of Notes upon written request and without charge to the holder a copy of the Indenture which has in it the text of this Note.

 

A-13


ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Note to:

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)

and irrevocably appoint              agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuer. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Date:   

                                      

     Your Signature:      

 

 

 

Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.

Signature Guarantee:

 

Date:         
Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized signature guaranty medallion program or other signature guarantor program reasonably acceptable to the Trustee    Signature of Signature Guarantee

 

A-14


CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED UPON EXCHANGE OR

REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES

This certificate relates to $         principal amount of Notes held in (check applicable space)              book-entry or              definitive form by the undersigned.

The undersigned (check one box below):

 

¨ has requested the Trustee by written order to deliver in exchange for its beneficial interest in the Global Note held by the Depository a Note or Notes in definitive, registered form of authorized denominations and an aggregate principal amount equal to its beneficial interest in such Global Note (or the portion thereof indicated above);

 

¨ has requested the Trustee by written order to exchange or register the transfer of a Note or Notes.

In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate occurring while this Note is still a Transfer Restricted Definitive Note or a Transfer Restricted Global Note, the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

 

(1)  

 

   ¨     

to the Issuer; or

 

(2)

 

   ¨   

to the Registrar for registration in the name of the holder, without transfer; or

 

(3)

 

   ¨   

pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933; or

 

(4)

 

   ¨   

inside the United States to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933; or

 

(5)

 

   ¨   

outside the United States in an offshore transaction within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act in compliance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act of 1933 and such Note shall be held immediately after the transfer through Euroclear or Clearstream until the expiration of the Restricted Period (as defined in the Indenture); or

 

(6)

   ¨   

to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933) that has furnished to the Trustee a signed letter containing certain representations and agreements; or

 

(7)

   ¨   

pursuant to another available exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any Person other than the registered holder

 

A-15


thereof; provided, however, that if box (5), (6) or (7) is checked, the Issuer or the Trustee may require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Issuer or the Trustee have reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933.

 

Date:   

                                      

        Your Signature:     

 

 

 

Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.

Signature Guarantee:

 

Date:         
Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized signature guaranty medallion program or other signature guarantor program reasonably acceptable to the Trustee    Signature of Signature Guarantee

 

A-16


TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (4) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Issuer as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

 

Date:   

                                                          

   

 

      NOTICE: To be executed by an executive officer

 

A-17


[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL SECURITIES]

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY

The initial principal amount of this Global Note is $        . The following increases or decreases in this Global Note have been made:

 

Date of Exchange                    

  

Amount of decrease in
Principal Amount of this
Global Note

  

Amount of increase in
Principal Amount of this
Global Note

  

Principal amount of this
Global Note following
such decrease or
increase

  

Signature of authorized
signatory of Trustee or
Notes Custodian

                     

 

A-18


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.06 (Asset Sale) or 4.08 (Change of Control) of the Indenture, check the box:

Asset Sale  ¨            Change of Control  ¨

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.06 (Asset Sale) or 4.08 (Change of Control) of the Indenture, state the amount ($2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof):

$        

 

Date:    

 

    Your Signature:    

 

       

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the

other side of this Note)

 

Signature Guarantee:    

 

 

Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a

recognized signature guaranty medallion program

or other signature guarantor program reasonably
acceptable to the Trustee

 

A-19


EXHIBIT B

[FORM OF TRANSFEREE LETTER OF REPRESENTATION]

TRANSFEREE LETTER OF REPRESENTATION

[TAMINCO GLOBAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION]

c/o Wilmington Trust, National Association

[            ]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This certificate is delivered to request a transfer of $[        ] principal amount of the 9.75% Second-Priority Senior Secured Notes due 2020 (the “Notes”) of TAMINCO GLOBAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION (the “Issuer”).

Upon transfer, the Notes would be registered in the name of the new beneficial owner as follows:

 

Name:   

 

  
Address:   

 

  
Taxpayer ID Number:   

 

The undersigned represents and warrants to you that:

1. We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)), purchasing for our own account or for the account of such an institutional “accredited investor” at least $100,000 principal amount of the Notes, and we are acquiring the Notes not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution in violation of the Securities Act. We have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and we invest in or purchase securities similar to the Notes in the normal course of our business. We, and any accounts for which we are acting, are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.

2. We understand that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and, unless so registered, may not be sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree on our own behalf and on behalf of any investor account for which we are purchasing Notes to offer, sell or otherwise transfer such Notes prior to the date that is two years after the later of the date of original issue and the last date on which either of the Issuer or any affiliate of such Issuer was the owner of such Notes (or any predecessor thereto) (the “Resale Restriction Termination Date”) only (a) in the United States to a person whom we reasonably believe is a qualified institutional buyer (as defined in rule 144A under the Securities Act) in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, (b) outside the United States in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (c) pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act provided by Rule 144 thereunder (if

 

B-1


applicable) or (d) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, in each of cases (a) through (d) in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States. In addition, we will, and each subsequent holder is required to, notify any purchaser of the Note evidenced hereby of the resale restrictions set forth above. The foregoing restrictions on resale will not apply subsequent to the Resale Restriction Termination Date. If any resale or other transfer of the Notes is proposed to be made to an institutional “accredited investor” prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date, the transferor shall deliver a letter from the transferee substantially in the form of this letter to the Issuer and the Trustee, which shall provide, among other things, that the transferee is an institutional “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act and that it is acquiring such Notes for investment purposes and not for distribution in violation of the Securities Act. Each purchaser acknowledges that the Issuer and the Trustee reserve the right prior to the offer, sale or other transfer prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date of the Notes pursuant to clause 1(b), 1(c) or 1(d) above to require the delivery of an opinion of counsel, certifications or other information satisfactory to the Issuer and the Trustee.

 

Dated:                                                             
      TRANSFEREE:                                                      ,                         
      By:                                                                                                           

 

B-2


EXHIBIT C-1

[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE]

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”) dated as of [DATE], among [GUARANTOR] (the “New Guarantor”), a subsidiary of TAMINCO GLOBAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION, TAMINCO GLOBAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION (or its successor), a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), and WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as trustee under the indenture referred to below (the “Trustee”).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS the Issuer and certain Guarantors named therein have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Indenture”) dated as of February 3, 2012, providing for the issuance of the Issuer’s 9.75% Second-Priority Senior Secured Notes due 2020 ( the “Notes”), initially in the aggregate principal amount of $400,000,000;

WHEREAS Section 4.11 of the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Issuer is required to cause the New Guarantor to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the New Guarantor shall unconditionally guarantee all the Issuer’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture pursuant to a Guarantee on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and

WHEREAS pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee and the Issuer are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture;

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the New Guarantor, the Issuer and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of the Notes as follows:

1. Defined Terms. As used in this Supplemental Indenture, terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recital hereto are used herein as therein defined, except that the term “holders” in this Supplemental Indenture shall refer to the term “holders” as defined in the Indenture and the Trustee acting on behalf of and for the benefit of such holders. The words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereby” and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.

2. Agreement to Guarantee. The New Guarantor hereby agrees, jointly and severally with all existing guarantors (if any), to unconditionally guarantee the Issuer’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article XII of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture and the Notes and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a guarantor under the Indenture.

 

C-1-1


3. Notices. All notices or other communications to the New Guarantor shall be given as provided in Section 14.02 of the Indenture.

4. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.

5. Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.

6. Trustee Makes No Representation. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture.

7. Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

8. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not effect the construction thereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

TAMINCO GLOBAL CHEMICAL

CORPORATION, as the Issuer

By:      

 

  Name:   [            ]
  Title:   [            ]

 

[NEW SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR], as a

Guarantor

By:      

 

  Name:   [            ]
  Title:   [            ]

 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION, not in its individual capacity, but

solely as Trustee

By:      

 

  Name:   [            ]
  Title:   [            ]

 

C-1-2


EXHIBIT C-2

[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AS OF ACQUISITION DATE AND FOR

CERTAIN FOREIGN RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARIES]

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”) dated as of [DATE], among [GUARANTOR] (the “New Guarantor”), a subsidiary of TAMINCO GLOBAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION, TAMINCO GLOBAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION (or its successor), a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), and WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as trustee under the indenture referred to below (the “Trustee”).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS the Issuer and certain Guarantors named therein have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Indenture”) dated as of February 3, 2012, providing for the issuance of the Issuer’s 9.75% Second-Priority Senior Secured Notes due 2020 ( the “Notes”), initially in the aggregate principal amount of $400,000,000;

WHEREAS Section 4.11 of the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Issuer is required to cause the New Guarantor to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the New Guarantor shall unconditionally guarantee all the Issuer’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture pursuant to a Guarantee on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and

WHEREAS pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee and the Issuer are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture;

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the New Guarantor, the Issuer and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of the Notes as follows:

1. Defined Terms. As used in this Supplemental Indenture, terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recital hereto are used herein as therein defined, except that the term “holders” in this Supplemental Indenture shall refer to the term “holders” as defined in the Indenture and the Trustee acting on behalf of and for the benefit of such holders. The words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereby” and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.

2. Agreement to Guarantee. The New Guarantor hereby agrees, jointly and severally with all existing guarantors (if any), to unconditionally guarantee the Issuer’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article XII of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture and the Notes and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a guarantor under the Indenture.

 

C-2-1


3. Limitations on Guarantee. (a) In the case of any New Guarantor that has executed this Supplemental Indenture and that is organized and existing under the laws of Belgium (a “Belgian Guarantor”):

(1) The maximum aggregate amount payable under by any such Belgian Guarantor with respect to such Belgian Guarantor’s Guarantee shall be limited to an amount equal to the greater of:

(i) the amount set forth opposite its name in Schedule 1 to the Master Guarantee Agreement; and

(ii) the sum of:

(a) 90% of its own funds (eigen vermogen/capitaux propres); and

(b) the aggregate amounts owing from it in respect of Indebtedness to Holdings or any of its direct or indirect Subsidiaries (the “Intercompany Group”).

(2) Any reference in this Section 3(a) to the “own funds” of a Belgian Guarantor shall be deemed a reference to the own funds as of the date of its most recent audited annual financial statements available on the applicable Guarantee Demand Date.

(3) Any reference in this Section 3(a) to amounts owing from a Belgian Guarantor to the Intercompany Group shall be deemed a reference to the outstanding amount thereof as of the date of its most recent audited annual financial statements available on the applicable Guarantee Demand Date (or, if higher, as of the Guarantee Demand Date). The burden of proof of the guarantee limitation set forth in this Section 3(a) in respect of a Belgian Guarantor shall be borne by the relevant Belgian Guarantor. In order to avail itself of any such limitation, such Belgian Guarantor shall provide a certificate of its auditor confirming the amounts owing from it to the Intercompany Group as of the applicable date.

(b) In the case of any New Guarantor that has executed this Supplemental Indenture and that is organized and existing under the laws of Germany (a “German Guarantor”):

(1) To the extent that the Guarantee is granted by a German Guarantor incorporated as a limited liability company (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung — GmbH”) or a limited partnership (Kommanditgesellschaft — KG) with a limited liability company as sole general partner (“GmbH & Co. KG), the maximum aggregate amount payable by any such German Guarantor with respect to such German Guarantor’s Guarantee shall be limited to an amount:

(i) as is required to ensure that the amount of the German Guarantor’s net assets (or the net assets of its general partner if the German Guarantor is a GmbH

 

C-2-2


& Co. KG), calculated as the sum of the balance sheet positions shown under section 266 subsection (2)(A), (B) and (C) of the German Commercial Code (Handelsgesetzbuch — “HGB) less the sum of the balance sheet positions shown under section 266 subsection (3)(B), (C) and (D) of the HGB and any amounts not available for distribution to its shareholders in accordance with section 268 subsection (8) of the HGB, does not fall below the amount of its registered share capital (Stammkapital); or

(ii) where the amount of the German Guarantor’s net assets (or the net assets of its general partner if the German Guarantor is a GmbH & Co. KG) is already below the amount of its registered share capital, as is required to ensure that such amount is not further reduced.

(2) The limitations set forth in Section 3(b)(1) above shall not apply:

(i) if following the Guarantee Demand Date, the relevant German Guarantor (or its general partner if the relevant German Guarantor is a limited partnership) does not provide financial statements in accordance with clauses (5) and (6) below;

(ii) if the relevant German Guarantor (or, if the German Guarantor is a GmbH & Co. KG, its general partner) is party to a domination and/or profit and loss transfer agreement (Beherrschungs- und/oder Gewinnabführungsvertrag) (a “DPTA”), unless the German Guarantor’s claim for absorption of losses pursuant to section 302 German Stock Corporation Act (Aktiengesetz — “AktG) is or cannot be expected to be fully recoverable (unless a higher or supreme court has found by way of a final judgment that the requirement of a fully recoverable counterclaim is not applicable if a DPTA is in place); or

(iii) if and to the extent the German Guarantor holds on the Guarantee Demand Date a fully recoverable indemnity claim or claim for refund (vollwertiger Gegenleistungs — oder Rückgewähranspruch) against its shareholder.

(3) If, following a legislative amendment of, or the rendering of a final judgment by the German Federal High Court of Justice with respect to, section 30 et seq. of the German Limited Liability Companies Act (Gesetz betreffend die Gesellschaften mit beschrankter Haftung — “GmbHG”) after the date of this Supplemental Indenture, the German Guarantor submits reasonable evidence that the exception referred to in Section 3(b)(2)(ii) above is no longer available to assist the relevant German Guarantor in not violating the capital maintenance requirements contained in section 30 et seq. GmbHG, the limitations set forth in this clause (3) shall apply in a way that Section 3(b)(2)(ii) above shall no longer apply.

(4) For the purpose of the calculation of the net assets of a German Guarantor, the following balance sheet items shall be adjusted as follows:

(i) the amount of any increase of the German Guarantor’s or its general partner’s registered share capital after the date of this Supplemental Indenture

 

C-2-3


(x) that has been effected without the prior written consent of the Trustee, or (y) to the extent that it is not fully paid up, in each case, shall be deducted from the German Guarantor’s or its general partner’s registered share capital;

(ii) loans provided to the German Guarantor or its general partner by Holdings, the Issuer, or any other Guarantor shall be disregarded if and to the extent those loans are subordinated or are considered subordinated pursuant to section 39 para. 1 no. 5 and/or para. 2 of the German Insolvency Code (Insolvenzordnung — InsO); and

(iii) loans or other liabilities incurred in negligent or willful violation of the provisions of the Indenture shall be disregarded.

(5) For the purpose of the calculation of the net assets, the relevant German Guarantor shall deliver, within 15 Business Days following the Guarantee Demand Date, to the Trustee a notice stating to what extent the amount payable in respect of such German Guarantor’s Guarantee shall be limited in accordance with Section 3(b)(1) above after taking into account the adjustments in clause (3) above, such notice to be supported by evidence reasonably requested by to the Trustee, i.e. interim financial statements (Stichtagsbilanz) showing the balance sheet positions referenced in Section 3(b)(1)(i) above as of the Guarantee Demand Date (the “Management Determination”).

(6) Following the Trustee’s receipt of the Management Determination, upon the Trustee’s reasonable request, the relevant German Guarantor (or its general partner if the relevant German Guarantor is a limited partnership) shall deliver, within 25 Business Days following receipt of such request, to the Trustee a balance sheet as of the last day of the calendar month ending before the Guarantee Demand Date prepared by a firm of auditors of internationally recognized standing and repute together with a determination of the net assets. Such balance sheet and determination of net assets shall be prepared in accordance with accounting principles pursuant to the German Commercial Code and be based on the same principles that were applied when establishing the previous year’s balance sheet. Such auditor’s determination (the “Auditors’ Determination”) pertaining to the relevant German Guarantor (or, in the case of a GmbH & Co. KG, its general partner) shall be prepared as of the Guarantee Demand Date.

(7) The Trustee shall be entitled to demand payment under the Guarantee of a German Guarantor in an amount which would not, in accordance with the Management Determination or, if applicable and taking into account any previous enforcement in accordance with the Management Determination and the Auditors’ Determination, cause the German Guarantor’s net assets (or if the German Guarantor is a limited partnership, its general partner’s net assets) to be reduced below zero or further reduced if already below zero. If and to the extent the net assets as determined by the Auditors’ Determination are less than the amount enforced in accordance with the Management Determination, the Trustee shall release to the relevant German Guarantor (or if the German Guarantor is a limited partnership, to its general partner) such excess enforcement proceeds. The Trustee shall withhold any amount received pursuant to an enforcement of the Guarantee until final determination of the amount of the net assets pursuant to the Auditors’ Determination.

 

C-2-4


(8) In the event that the relevant German Guarantor does not have sufficient net assets to maintain its registered share capital, the relevant German Guarantor shall, within three months after a written request by the Trustee, dispose of all assets which are not necessary for its business (nicht betriebsnotwendig) on market terms where the relevant assets are shown in the balance sheet of the relevant German Guarantor with a book value which is significantly lower than the market value of such assets. After the expiry of such three month period the German Guarantor shall, within three Business Days, notify the Trustee of the amount of the net proceeds from the sale and submit a statement with a new calculation of the amount of the net assets of the German Guarantor (or if the German Guarantor is a limited partnership, of its general partner) taking into account such proceeds. Such calculation shall, upon the Trustee’s reasonable request, be confirmed by the auditors of the German Guarantor within a period of 20 Business Days following such request.

(c) In the case of any New Guarantor that has executed this Supplemental Indenture and that is organized and existing under the laws of Luxembourg (a “Luxembourg Guarantor”):

(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Indenture, the Security Documents or the Credit Agreement Documents, the aggregate maximum amount payable by any such Luxembourg Guarantor in respect of the aggregate amount of such Luxembourg Guarantor’s Guarantee and any guarantee under the Credit Agreement Documents for the obligations of the Issuer and any Guarantor which is not its direct or indirect Subsidiary shall be limited at any time to an aggregate amount not exceeding the higher of (in each case without double-counting):

(i) 95% of such Luxembourg Guarantor’s net assets (“capitaux propres”) and its subordinated debt (“dettes subordonnées”) (the “Luxembourg Subordinated Debt”), as determined by article 34 of the Luxembourg Law of 19 December 2002 on the Register of Commerce and Companies, on accounting and on annual accounts of the companies; and

(ii) the debt (other than the Luxembourg Subordinated Debt) owed by such Luxembourg Guarantor to any member of the Intercompany Group as set forth in the most recently approved or existing financial statements, either at the date of this Supplemental Indenture or on the relevant Guarantee Demand Date.

(2) The limitations set forth in Section 3(c)(1) above with respect to any Luxembourg Guarantor shall not apply to amounts made available to the Issuer and any Guarantor under the Indenture, the Security Documents and the Credit Agreement Documents which have been directly or indirectly made available by the Issuer and a Guarantor to any Subsidiary of any Luxembourg Guarantor.

For purposes of each of this Section 3 of this Supplemental Indenture, “Guarantee Demand Date” means the first date upon which the Trustee or, to the extent permissible under the Indenture, any holders of the Notes, make written demand upon the relevant Guarantor pursuant to 12.01(h) of the Indenture to make payment with respect to such Guarantor’s Guarantee.

 

C-2-5


4. Notices. All notices or other communications to the New Guarantor shall be given as provided in Section 14.02 of the Indenture.

5. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.

6. Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.

7. Trustee Makes No Representation. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture.

8. Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

9. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not effect the construction thereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

TAMINCO GLOBAL CHEMICAL
CORPORATION,
as the Issuer
By:      

 

 

Name: [            ]

Title:   [            ]

[NEW SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR], as a
Guarantor
By:  

 

 

Name: [            ]

Title:   [            ]

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION
, not in its individual capacity, but
solely as Trustee
By:  

 

 

Name: [            ]

Title:   [            ]

 

C-2-6


EXHIBIT D

[FORM OF ESCROW AND SECURITY AGREEMENT]

 

 

D-1


EXHIBIT E

[FORM OF INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT]

 

 

E-1


EXHIBIT F

[FORM OF U.S. SECOND LIEN COLLATERAL AGREEMENT]

 

 

F-1


EXHIBIT G

[FORM OF PARALLEL DEBT AGREEMENT]

 

 

G-1


EXHIBIT H

[FORM OF FOREIGN COLLATERAL AGREEMENTS]

 

 

H-1