Indenture, dated as of June 29, 2020, among WMG Acquisition Corp., the guarantors listed on the signature pages thereto, Credit Suisse AG, as Notes Authorized Representative and as Collateral Agent, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee, providing for the issuance of secured notes in series

Contract Categories: Business Finance - Credit Agreements
EX-4.1 2 d53784dex41.htm EX-4.1 EX-4.1

Exhibit 4.1

WMG ACQUISITION CORP., as Issuer

and

the Guarantors, if any, from time to time parties hereto,

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as Trustee

and

CREDIT SUISSE AG

as Notes Authorized Representative and as Collateral Agent

 

 

INDENTURE

DATED AS OF JUNE 29, 2020

 

 

PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF NOTES IN SERIES


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ARTICLE ONE DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

     1  

SECTION 1.01. Definitions

     1  

SECTION 1.02. Other Definitions

     37  

SECTION 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of TIA

     38  

SECTION 1.04. Rules of Construction

     39  

SECTION 1.05. Limited Condition Transaction

     40  

ARTICLE TWO THE NOTES

     43  

SECTION 2.01. Amount of Notes; Issuable in Series

     43  

SECTION 2.02. Form and Dating.

     44  

SECTION 2.03. Execution and Authentication

     45  

SECTION 2.04. Registrar and Paying Agent

     46  

SECTION 2.05. Paying Agent To Hold Assets in Trust

     47  

SECTION 2.06. Holder Lists

     47  

SECTION 2.07. Transfer and Exchange

     48  

SECTION 2.08. Replacement Notes

     48  

SECTION 2.09. Outstanding Notes

     49  

SECTION 2.10. Treasury Notes

     49  

SECTION 2.11. Temporary Notes

     49  

SECTION 2.12. Cancellation

     50  

SECTION 2.13. Defaulted Interest

     50  

SECTION 2.14. CUSIP Numbers, ISINs, Etc.

     50  

SECTION 2.15. Deposit of Moneys

     51  

SECTION 2.16. Book-Entry Provisions for Global Notes

     51  

 

i


SECTION 2.17. Special Transfer Provisions

     53  

SECTION 2.18. Computation of Interest

     55  

SECTION 2.19. Calculation of Principal Amount of Notes

     56  

ARTICLE THREE REDEMPTION

     56  

SECTION 3.01. Notices to Trustee

     56  

SECTION 3.02. Selection of Notes To Be Redeemed

     57  

SECTION 3.03. Notice of Redemption

     57  

SECTION 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption

     59  

SECTION 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price

     59  

SECTION 3.06. Notes Redeemed in Part

     59  

SECTION 3.07. Applicability of Article

     60  

SECTION 3.08. Mandatory Redemption

     60  

ARTICLE FOUR COVENANTS

     60  

SECTION 4.01. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest

     60  

SECTION 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency

     60  

SECTION 4.03. [RESERVED]

     61  

SECTION 4.04. [RESERVED]

     61  

SECTION 4.05. [RESERVED]

     61  

SECTION 4.06. Compliance Certificate; Notice of Default

     61  

SECTION 4.07. [RESERVED]

     62  

SECTION 4.08. Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws

     62  

SECTION 4.09. Change of Control

     62  

SECTION 4.10. [RESERVED]

     64  

SECTION 4.11. [RESERVED]

     64  

SECTION 4.12. Liens

     64  

 

ii


SECTION 4.13. [RESERVED]

     65  

SECTION 4.14. [RESERVED]

     65  

SECTION 4.15. [RESERVED]

     65  

SECTION 4.16. Additional Subsidiary Guarantees

     65  

SECTION 4.17. Reports to Holders

     65  

SECTION 4.18. [RESERVED]

     68  

SECTION 4.19. [RESERVED]

     68  

SECTION 4.20. [RESERVED]

     68  

SECTION 4.21. Changes in Covenants When Notes Rated Investment Grade

     68  

ARTICLE FIVE SUCCESSOR CORPORATION

     69  

SECTION 5.01. Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets

     69  

ARTICLE SIX DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

     70  

SECTION 6.01. Events of Default

     70  

SECTION 6.02. Acceleration

     73  

SECTION 6.03. Other Remedies

     73  

SECTION 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults

     74  

SECTION 6.05. Control by Majority

     75  

SECTION 6.06. Limitation on Suits

     75  

SECTION 6.07. Rights of Holders to Receive Payment

     76  

SECTION 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee

     76  

SECTION 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

     76  

SECTION 6.10. Priorities

     76  

SECTION 6.11. Undertaking for Costs

     77  

ARTICLE SEVEN THE TRUSTEE

     77  

SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee

     77  

 

iii


SECTION 7.02. Certain Rights of Trustee

     78  

SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee

     80  

SECTION 7.04. Trustee’s Disclaimer

     80  

SECTION 7.05. Notice of Default

     80  

SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders

     81  

SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity

     81  

SECTION 7.08. Replacement of Trustee

     82  

SECTION 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc.

     83  

SECTION 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification

     83  

SECTION 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuer

     84  

ARTICLE EIGHT DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE

     84  

SECTION 8.01. Satisfaction and Discharge

     84  

SECTION 8.02. Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

     86  

SECTION 8.03. Conditions to Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

     87  

SECTION 8.04. Application of Trust Money

     89  

SECTION 8.05. Repayment to the Issuer

     89  

SECTION 8.06. Reinstatement

     90  
ARTICLE NINE AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS      90  

SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of Holders

     90  

SECTION 9.02. With Consent of Holders

     92  

SECTION 9.03. Reserved

     94  

SECTION 9.04. Compliance with TIA

     94  

SECTION 9.05. Revocation and Effect of Consents

     94  

SECTION 9.06. Notation on or Exchange of Notes

     94  

SECTION 9.07. Trustee To Sign Amendments, Etc.

     95  

 

iv


ARTICLE TEN GUARANTEES

     95  

SECTION 10.01. Unconditional Guarantee

     95  

SECTION 10.02. Reserved

     96  

SECTION 10.03. Limitation on Guarantor Liability

     96  

SECTION 10.04. Reserved

     97  

SECTION 10.05. Release of a Guarantor

     97  

SECTION 10.06. Waiver of Subrogation

     98  

SECTION 10.07. Immediate Payment

     98  

SECTION 10.08. No Setoff

     98  

SECTION 10.09. Guarantee Obligations Absolute

     98  

SECTION 10.10. Guarantee Obligations Continuing

     99  

SECTION 10.11. Guarantee Obligations Not Reduced

     99  

SECTION 10.12. Guarantee Obligations Reinstated

     99  

SECTION 10.13. Guarantee Obligations Not Affected

     99  

SECTION 10.14. Waiver

     100  

SECTION 10.15. No Obligation To Take Action Against the Issuer

     101  

SECTION 10.16. Dealing with the Issuer and Others

     101  

SECTION 10.17. Default and Enforcement

     101  

SECTION 10.18. Amendment, Etc.

     102  

SECTION 10.19. Acknowledgment

     102  

SECTION 10.20. Costs and Expenses

     102  

SECTION 10.21. No Merger or Waiver; Cumulative Remedies

     102  

SECTION 10.22. Survival of Guarantee Obligations

     102  

SECTION 10.23. Guarantee in Addition to Other Guarantee Obligations

     102  

SECTION 10.24. Severability

     103  

SECTION 10.25. Successors and Assigns

     103  

 

v


ARTICLE ELEVEN MISCELLANEOUS

     103  

SECTION 11.01. TIA Controls

     103  

SECTION 11.02. Notices

     103  

SECTION 11.03. Communications by Holders with Other Holders

     105  

SECTION 11.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

     106  

SECTION 11.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

     106  

SECTION 11.06. Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent, Registrar

     106  

SECTION 11.07. Legal Holidays

     106  

SECTION 11.08. Governing Law

     107  

SECTION 11.09. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements

     107  

SECTION 11.10. No Recourse Against Others

     107  

SECTION 11.11. Successors

     107  

SECTION 11.12. Duplicate Originals

     107  

SECTION 11.13. Severability

     107  

SECTION 11.14. Force Majeure

     107  

SECTION 11.15. USA Patriot Act

     108  

SECTION 11.16. Electronic Execution of Documents

     108  

ARTICLE TWELVE SECURITY

     108  

SECTION 12.01. Security Documents

     108  

SECTION 12.02. Notes Authorized Representative; Collateral Agent

     110  

SECTION 12.03. After Acquired Property

     111  

SECTION 12.04. Release of Collateral

     112  

SECTION 12.05. Certificates of the Issuer

     113  

SECTION 12.06. Authorization of Actions to be Taken by the Trustee Under the Security Documents

     114  

 

vi


SECTION 12.07. Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Notes Authorized Representative Under the Security Documents

     115  

SECTION 12.08. Termination of Security Interest

     115  

SECTION 12.09. Purchaser Protected

     115  

SECTION 12.10. Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee

     115  

 

vii


Exhibit A-1    Form of Initial Dollar Note
Exhibit A-2    Form of Initial Euro Note
Exhibit B    Form of Legend for Restricted Notes
Exhibit C-1    Form of Exchange Dollar Note
Exhibit C-2    Form of Exchange Euro Note
Exhibit D    Form of Legend for Global Note
Exhibit E    Form of Transfers to Non-QIB Accredited Investors Certificate
Exhibit F    Form of Regulation S Certificate
Exhibit G    Form of OID Legend
Exhibit H    Form of Supplemental Indenture Establishing a Series of Notes
Exhibit I    Form of Supplemental Indenture to be Delivered by Subsequent Guarantors

CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

Trust Indenture Act Section

  

Indenture Section

§ 310   

(a)(1)

   7.10
  

(a)(2)

   7.10
  

(a)(3)

   Not Applicable
  

(a)(4)

   Not Applicable
  

(b)

   7.10
§ 311   

(a)

   7.11
  

(b)

   7.11
  

(b)(2)

   7.06
§ 312   

(a)

   2.06
  

(b)

   2.06, 11.03
  

(c)

   2.06, 11.03
§ 313   

(a)

   7.06
  

(b)

   7.06, 12.04
  

(c)

   7.06
  

(d)

   7.06
§ 314   

(a)

   4.17
  

(a)(4)

   11.04, 4.06
  

(b)

   12.05
  

(c)(1)

   11.04
  

(c)(2)

   11.04
  

(c)(3)

   Not Applicable
  

(d)

   12.04, 12.05
  

(e)

   11.05
§ 315   

(a)

   7.01
  

(b)

   7.05, 7.06
  

(c)

   7.01
  

(d)

   7.01
  

(d)(1)

   7.01
  

(d)(2)

   7.01
  

(d)(3)

   6.05
  

(e)

   6.11

 

viii


§ 316   

(a)

   6.05, 6.04
  

(a)(1)(A)

   6.02, 6.05
  

(a)(1)(B)

   6.04
  

(a)(2)

   Not Applicable
  

(b)

   6.07
  

(c)

   1.03
§ 317   

(a)(1)

   6.08
  

(a)(2)

   6.09
  

(b)

   2.05
§ 318   

(a)

   11.05

 

This cross-reference table shall not for any purpose be deemed to be part of this Indenture.

 

ix


INDENTURE, dated as of June 29, 2020 (as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Indenture”), among WMG ACQUISITION CORP., a Delaware corporation, as issuer, the Guarantors, if any, from time to time party hereto, WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) and CREDIT SUISSE AG, as Notes Authorized Representative and as Collateral Agent.

Each party hereto agrees as follows for the benefit of each other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of Notes of any series thereof.

ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

SECTION 1.01. Definitions.

Set forth below are certain defined terms used in this Indenture.

2011 Transactions” means the “Transactions” as defined under the 2011 Unsecured Indenture.

2011 Unsecured Indenture” means the indenture, dated as of July 20, 2011 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented, waived or modified from time to time), among WMG Acquisition Corp., the guarantors from time to time parties thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association.

2011 Unsecured Notes” means WMG Acquisition Corp.’s 11.5% Senior Notes due 2018, issued pursuant to the 2011 Unsecured Indenture, outstanding on the Issue Date or subsequently issued in exchange for or in respect of any such notes.

2012 Secured Indenture” means the Indenture dated as of November 1, 2012, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, among WMG Acquisition Corp., as issuer, the guarantors from time to time party thereto, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, and Credit Suisse AG, as notes authorized representative and collateral agent thereunder.

Access Investors” means, collectively: (i) Access Industries, LLC (“Access”); (ii) Mr. Len Blavatnik; (iii) the Blavatnik Family Foundation LLC, (iv) any direct or indirect equityholder of Access, (v) any family member of any direct or indirect equityholder of Access, (vi) entities controlled, directly or indirectly, or managed, directly or indirectly, by Access or an Affiliate of Access, (vii) any partnership, corporation or other entity controlled by any direct or indirect equityholder of Access or such equityholder’s family members for tax or estate planning purposes; (viii) any trusts created for the benefit of the Persons described in clauses (i) through (viii) and (x) or any trust for the benefit of any such trust; (ix) any foundation or charity affiliated with any Access Investor, so long as any Access Investor, or a fiduciary who is selected by an Access Investor and whom such Access Investor has the power to remove and replace, retains voting control over the

 

1


shares transferred to such foundation or charity, (x) in the event of the incompetence or death of any Person described in clauses (ii), (iv) and (v), such Person’s estate, executor, administrator, committee or other personal representative or beneficiaries, in each case who at any particular date shall beneficially own or have the right to acquire, directly or indirectly, Capital Stock of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer; (xi) any Affiliate of any of the foregoing described in clauses (i) through (x) (each of the Persons described in clauses (i) through (xi), an “Access Party”); and (xii) any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) of which any of the Access Parties is a member; provided that in the case of clause (xii) and without giving effect to the existence of such group or any other group, Access Parties, collectively, have beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, of a majority of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer held by such group.

Additional Notes” means any notes issued under this Indenture in addition to the Original Notes (other than any Notes issued pursuant to Section 2.07, 2.08, 2.11, 2.16(c), 2.16(d) or 3.06).

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

After Acquired Property” means any and all assets or property (other than Excluded Assets and Excluded Subsidiary Securities) acquired by the Issuer or any Guarantor after the Issue Date that constitutes Collateral.

Agent” means any Registrar or any Paying Agent.

amend” means amend, modify, supplement, restate or amend and restate, including successively; and “amending” and “amended” have correlative meanings.

Applicable Premium” when used with respect to any series of Notes, means the “Applicable Premium” as such term is defined in the Notes Supplemental Indenture establishing such series of Notes. Calculation of the Applicable Premium will be made by the Issuer or on behalf of the Issuer by such Person as the Issuer shall designate; provided that such calculation or the correctness thereof shall not be a duty or obligation of the Trustee.

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

Below Investment Grade Rating Event” means the occurrence of both of the following: (i) at any time during the period beginning on the date of the first public notice of an arrangement

 

2


that would result in a Change of Control and ending at the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of the Change of Control, the rating on the Notes by each Rating Agency is reduced below the applicable rating on the Notes by each such Rating Agency in effect immediately preceding the first public notice of the arrangement that would result in the Change of Control and (ii) the Notes are rated below an Investment Grade Rating by each of the Rating Agencies at any time during the period beginning on the date of the first public notice of an arrangement that would result in a Change of Control and ending at the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of the Change of Control (which 60-day period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Notes is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies); provided that a Below Investment Grade Rating Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus shall not be deemed a Below Investment Grade Rating Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Triggering Event hereunder) if the Rating Agencies making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply do not announce or publicly confirm or inform the Holders of Notes in writing at their request that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprising or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control shall have occurred at the time of the Below Investment Grade Rating Event).

Board of Directors” means:

(1) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation;

(2) with respect to a partnership, the board of directors of the general partner of the partnership; and

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

Business Day” means any day other than (i) a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which banking institutions in the City of New York (or any other city in which a Paying Agent maintains its office) are required or authorized by law or other governmental action to be closed, and (ii) in relation to the Euro-denominated Notes or any date for payment, redemption, purchase or any action relating to euros, other than any day on which Trans-European Automated Real-Time Gross settlement Express Transfer payment system is closed for settlement of payments in euros.

Capital Stock” means:

(1) in the case of a corporation, capital stock;

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

 

3


(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 (including, without limitation, options, warrants or other equivalents) that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.

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

Cash Equivalents” means:

(1) U.S. dollars, pounds sterling, euros, or, in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, such local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

(2) securities issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed or insured by the government or any agency or instrumentality of the United States or any member nation of the European Union having maturities of not more than 12 months from the date of acquisition;

(3) certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding 12 months and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any lender party to any Credit Agreement or with any commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000;

(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 maturing within 12 months after the date of acquisition and having a rating of at least P-1 from Moody’s or A-1 from S&P;

(6) marketable short-term money market and similar securities having a rating of at least P-2 or A-2 from either Moody’s or S&P, respectively (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency) and in each case maturing within 12 months after the date of creation thereof;

(7) investment funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (1) through (6) of this definition; and

(8) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States or any political subdivision thereof having one of the two highest rating categories obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P with maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition.

 

4


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

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

(2) (x) the Permitted Holders shall in the aggregate be the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act as in effect on the Closing Date) of (A) so long as the Issuer is a Subsidiary of any Parent, shares or units of Voting Stock having less than 35.0% of the total voting power of all outstanding shares of such Parent (other than a Parent that is a Subsidiary of another Parent) and (B) if the Issuer is not a Subsidiary of any Parent, shares or units of Voting Stock having less than 35.0% of the total voting power of all outstanding shares of the Issuer and (y) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act as in effect on the Closing Date), other than one or more Permitted Holders, shall be the “beneficial owner” of (A) so long as the Issuer is a Subsidiary of any Parent, shares or units of Voting Stock having more than 35.0% of the total voting power of all outstanding shares of such Parent (other than a Parent that is a Subsidiary of another Parent) and (B) if the Issuer is not a Subsidiary of any Parent, shares or units of Voting Stock having more than 35.0% of the total voting power of all outstanding shares of the Issuer; or

(3) the Issuer ceasing to be a directly or indirectly Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Holdings.

For the purpose of this definition, with respect to any sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of properties or assets in connection with any acquisition (including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary), the determination of whether such sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or disposition constitutes a sale of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole shall be made on a pro forma basis giving effect to such acquisition.

Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Below Investment Grade Rating Event occurring in respect of that Change of Control.

Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, société anonyme or any successor securities clearing agency.

Closing Date” means June 29, 2020.

 

5


Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

Collateral” means all the assets and properties subject to the Liens created by the Security Documents.

Collateral Agent” means Credit Suisse AG, or its successors or assigns, as collateral agent for the Holders, the Trustee and other secured parties under this Indenture and the Security Documents.

Commission” or “SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Common Depositary” means, with respect to the Euro-denominated Notes, Société Générale Luxembourg, as common depositary for Euroclear and Clearstream or another Person designated as common depositary by the Issuer, which Person must be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act.

Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the total amount of depreciation and amortization expense, including the amortization of deferred financing fees and other non-cash charges (excluding any non-cash item that represents an accrual or reserve for a cash expenditure for a future period) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of: (a) consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent such expense was deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income for such period (including (x) amortization of original issue discount, non-cash interest payments (other than imputed interest as a result of purchase accounting and any non-cash interest expense attributable to the movement in the mark-to-market valuation of Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments pursuant to GAAP), the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations, and net payments (if any) pursuant to interest rate Hedging Obligations, but excluding (y) amortization of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses, expensing of any bridge, commitment or other financing fees, penalties and interest relating to taxes and any “special interest” or “additional interest” with respect to other securities, and any accretion of accrued interest on discounted liabilities) and (b) consolidated capitalized interest of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued, less (c) interest income of such Person for such period; provided, however, that neither Securitization Fees nor Securitization Expenses shall be deemed to constitute Consolidated Interest Expense.

Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that

 

6


(1) any net after-tax extraordinary, unusual, nonrecurring, exceptional, special or infrequent gains, losses or charges (including, without limitation, severance, relocation, transition and other restructuring costs, charges or expenses (whether or not classified as restructuring costs, charges or expenses on the consolidated financial statements of the Issuer), Public Company Costs, and any fees, expenses or charges associated with the Transactions or the 2011 Transactions, a Qualifying IPO and any follow-on offering and any acquisition, merger or consolidation after the Issue Date) shall be excluded;

(2) the Net Income for such period shall not include the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle(s) during such period;

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

(4) any net after-tax gains or losses attributable to asset dispositions other than in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of such Person) shall be excluded;

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

(6) [reserved];

(7) [reserved];

(8) any non-cash impairment charges resulting from the application of ASC 350 and ASC 360 (formerly Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement Nos. 142 and 144, respectively) and the amortization of intangibles arising from the application of ASC 805 (formerly Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 141), shall be excluded;

(9) non-cash compensation charges, including any such charges arising from stock options, restricted stock grants or other equity-incentive programs shall be excluded;

(10) any net after-tax gains or losses attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness, Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments shall be excluded;

(11) any fees, expenses or charges incurred during such period, or any amortization thereof for such period, in connection with any acquisition, investment, asset sale, incurrence

 

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or repayment of Indebtedness, issuance of Equity Interests, refinancing transaction or amendment or modification of any debt instrument and including, in each case, any such transaction consummated prior to the Issue Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed, and any charges or non-recurring merger costs incurred during such period as a result of any such transaction, in each case whether or not successful, shall be excluded;

(12) accruals and reserves that are established within twelve months after the Issue Date that are so required to be established as a result of the Transactions or the 2011 Transactions (or within twelve months after the closing of any acquisition that are so required to be established as a result of such acquisition) in accordance with GAAP shall be excluded;

(13) 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 the insurable event (with a deduction for any amount so added back to the extent not so reimbursed within such 365-day period), expenses with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption shall be excluded;

(14) any non-cash gain or loss resulting from mark-to-market accounting relating to Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments shall be excluded;

(15) any unrealized currency translation gains or losses including those related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness (including any loss or gain resulting from Hedging Obligations for currency exchange risk) shall be excluded;

(16) without duplication, the amount of any restructuring charges or reserves (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include retention, severance, systems establishment cost, excess pension charges, contract termination costs, including future lease commitments, and costs to consolidate facilities and relocate employees) shall be excluded;

(17) without duplication, any net loss resulting from Hedging Obligations shall be excluded;

(18) without duplication, pension curtailment expenses, transaction costs and executive contract expenses incurred by affiliated entities of such Person (other than such Person and its Subsidiaries) on behalf of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries and reflected in the combined financial statements of such Person as capital contributions shall be excluded; and

(19) business optimization expenses (including consolidation initiatives, severance costs and other costs relating to initiatives aimed at profitability improvement) shall be excluded.

 

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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, (i) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor, (ii) 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 (iii) 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 corporate trust office of the Trustee located at 150 East 42nd Street, 40th Floor, New York, NY 10017, Attention: Corporate Trust Services, and for Agent services such office shall also mean the office or agency of the Trustee located at Corporate Trust Operations, MAC N9300-070, 600 South Fourth Street, Seventh Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55415, or such other office, designated by the Trustee by written notice to the Issuer, at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered.

Credit Agreement” means (a) the Senior Term Loan Facility, (b) the Senior Revolving Credit Facility and (c) if so designated by the Issuer, and so long as Indebtedness incurred thereunder does not constitute Subordinated Indebtedness, one or more debt facilities, commercial paper facilities or series of notes documented in one or more agreements or indentures, including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, as each may be amended, restated, supplemented, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced (in whole or in part) from time to time in one or more agreements or indentures (in each case with the same or new lenders or institutional investors or otherwise, and except for any such agreement or indenture that expressly provides that it is not a Credit Agreement), including any agreement or indenture extending the maturity thereof or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the Indebtedness thereunder or increasing the amount loaned or issued thereunder or altering the maturity thereof.

Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

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

Depositary” shall mean The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, or a successor thereto registered under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute or regulation.

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

 

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(other than as a result of a change of control or asset sale), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than as a result of a change of control or asset sale), in whole or in part, in each case prior to the date 91 days after the earlier of the final maturity date of the Notes or the date the Notes are no longer outstanding; provided, however, that if such Capital Stock is issued to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations; provided, further, that any Capital Stock held by any future, current or former employee, director, officer, manager or consultant of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies, or their respective estates, spouses and former spouses, in each case pursuant to any stock subscription or shareholders’ agreement, management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement, shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies or employee investment vehicles.

Dollar Equivalent” means, with respect to any monetary amount in a currency other than Dollars, at any time of determination thereof, the amount of Dollars obtained by converting such foreign currency involved in such computation into Dollars at the spot rate for the purchase of Dollars with the applicable foreign currency as quoted by Reuters at approximately 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on such date of determination (or if no such quote is available on such date, on the immediately preceding Business Day for which such a quote is available, or if no such quote is available, such other source as may be selected in good faith by the Issuer).

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Foreign Subsidiary.

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

(w) increased (without duplication) by the following, in each case to the extent deducted (and not added back) in calculating Consolidated Net Income for such period:

(1) provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital, plus franchise or similar taxes of such Person,

(2) Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person, plus amounts excluded from the calculation of Consolidated Interest Expense as set forth in subclause (y) of clause (a) in the definition thereof,

(3) Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense of such Person for such period,

(4) [reserved],

 

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(5) without duplication, any other non-cash charges (including any impairment charges and the impact of purchase accounting, including, but not limited to, the amortization of inventory step-up) (provided that, in the case of any such charge that represents an accrual or reserve for a cash expenditure for a future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from EBITDA),

(6) the amount of any minority interest expense consisting of Subsidiary income attributable to minority equity interests of third parties in any non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary,

(7) [reserved],

(8) the amount of management, monitoring, consulting and advisory fees and related expenses paid to the Sponsor and its Affiliates (or any accruals relating to such fees and related expenses), and any dividend or distribution made to any direct or indirect parent company of such Person intended to enable any such parent company to pay or cause to be paid such amount, during such period,

(9) Securitization Fees and Securitization Expenses,

(10) [reserved],

(11) [reserved], and

(12) any costs or expenses incurred by such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan, 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 such Person or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interest of such Person (other than Disqualified Stock);

(x) increased by the amount of net cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies (including revenue synergies, those related to new business and customer wins, the modifications or renegotiation of contracts and other arrangements and pricing adjustments and increases (in each case, net of any costs or expenses to implement or achieve the foregoing)) projected by such Person in good faith to result from actions taken or expected to be taken no later than twenty-four (24) months after the end of such period (calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings, reductions and synergies had been realized on the first day of the period for which EBITDA is being determined), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions; provided that such cost savings, reductions and synergies are reasonably identifiable;

(y) increased by, without duplication of any item in the preceding clauses (w) or (x), additions identified in any quality of earnings analysis prepared by independent certified public accountants of nationally recognized standing in connection with any acquisition of assets (including Capital Stock), business or Person, or any merger or consolidation of any Person with or into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any other similar investment, in each case that is permitted under this Indenture; and

 

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(z) decreased (without duplication) by the following, in each case to the extent included in calculating Consolidated Net Income for such period:

(1) non-cash gains increasing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period (excluding any non-cash gains which represent the reversal of any accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated cash charges or asset valuation adjustments made in any prior period), and

(2) any net gain resulting from Hedging Obligations.

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 of common stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies (excluding Disqualified Stock of the Issuer), other than (i) public offerings with respect to common stock of the Issuer or of any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer registered on Form S-8 or (ii) an issuance to any Subsidiary.

Euro MTF Market” means the Euro MTF, the alternative market of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.

Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System as currently in effect or any successor securities clearing agency.

European Government Securities” means any security that is (a) a direct obligation of Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Ireland or any other country that is a member of the European Monetary Union, for the payment of which the full faith and credit of such country is pledged or (b) an obligation of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of any such country the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by such country, which, in either case under the preceding clause (a) or (b), is not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.

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

Exchange Dollar Notes” means Notes, containing terms substantially identical to any Initial Additional Dollar Notes of a particular series (and any Notes issued in respect of any of the foregoing Notes pursuant to Section 2.07, 2.08, 2.11, 2.16(c), 2.16(d) or 3.06)) (except that (i) such Exchange Dollar Notes may omit terms with respect to transfer restrictions and may be registered under the Securities Act, and (ii) certain provisions relating to an increase in the stated rate of

 

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interest thereon may be eliminated), that are issued and exchanged for such Initial Additional Dollar Notes as may be provided in any registration rights agreement relating to such Dollar-denominated Additional Notes and this Indenture (including any amendment or supplement hereto).

Exchange Euro Notes” means Notes, containing terms substantially identical to any Initial Additional Euro Notes of a particular series (and any Notes issued in respect of any of the foregoing Notes pursuant to Section 2.07, 2.08, 2.11, 2.16(c), 2.16(d) or 3.06)) (except that (i) such Exchange Euro Notes may omit terms with respect to transfer restrictions and may be registered under the Securities Act, and (ii) certain provisions relating to an increase in the stated rate of interest thereon may be eliminated), that are issued and exchanged for such Initial Additional Euro Notes as may be provided in any registration rights agreement relating to such Euro-denominated Additional Notes and this Indenture (including any amendment or supplement hereto).

Exchange Notes” means the Exchange Dollar Notes and the Exchange Euro Notes.

Excluded Assets” has the meaning given to such term in the Security Documents.

Excluded Subsidiary Securities” means any Capital Stock and other securities of a Subsidiary to the extent that the pledge of or grant of any other Lien on such Capital Stock and other securities results in the Issuer being required to file separate financial statements of such Subsidiary with the Commission (or any other governmental authority) pursuant to either Rule 3-10 or 3-16 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act, or any other law, rule or regulation as in effect from time to time, but only to the extent necessary to not be subject to such requirement.

Existing Secured Notes” means the Issuer’s 5.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2023 (the “5.000% Notes”), 4.875% Senior Secured Notes Due 2024 (the “4.875% Notes”), 4.125% Senior Secured Notes Due 2024 (the “4.125% Notes” and, together with the 4.875% Notes, the “October 2016 Notes”), 3.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2026 (the “October 2018 3.625% Notes”) and 3.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2026 (the “April 2019 3.625% Notes” and, together with the October 2018 3.625% Notes, the “3.625% Notes”), in each case issued pursuant to the 2012 Secured Indenture.

First Lien Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, the aggregate amount, without duplication, of Total Indebtedness (excluding Capitalized Lease Obligations and purchase money indebtedness) of such Person as of the end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available plus the amount of any Total Indebtedness (excluding Capitalized Lease Obligations and purchase money indebtedness) of such Person incurred subsequent to the end of such fiscal quarter and minus the amount of any Total Indebtedness (excluding Capitalized Lease Obligations and purchase money indebtedness) of such Person redeemed, repaid, retired or extinguished subsequent to the end of such fiscal quarter, as determined in accordance with GAAP, secured by Liens other than Permitted Liens (excluding Liens incurred pursuant to clause (26) of the definition thereof, provided that, Revolving Credit Agreement Indebtedness so secured shall be excluded from the calculation of First Lien Indebtedness) and other than Liens that have Junior Lien Priority on the Collateral in relation to the Notes and the Guarantees.

 

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In addition, to the extent that any Indebtedness is secured by any Lien pursuant to clause (26)(i)(B) or (26)(iv) of the definition of “Permitted Liens,” such Indebtedness may be refinanced from time to time with other Indebtedness (including by Indebtedness refinancing any such refinancing Indebtedness) in an aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) not exceeding the principal amount of, and premium (if any) and accrued interest on, the Indebtedness being refinanced plus any fees, premiums, underwriting discounts, costs and expenses relating to such refinancing, and such refinancing Indebtedness may be secured by any Lien, without further compliance with the First Lien Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio thereunder.

First Lien Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio” means, with respect to the Issuer, the ratio of (x) the Issuer’s First Lien Indebtedness, minus an amount of cash and Cash Equivalents held by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the date of determination not exceeding $250.0 million, to (y) the Issuer’s EBITDA for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available (or, if earlier, were required to be delivered pursuant to Section 4.17.) immediately preceding the date on which such event for which such calculation is being made shall occur (the “Measurement Period”).

For purposes of making the computation referred to above, if any Specified Transaction has been made by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during the Measurement Period or subsequent to the Measurement Period and on or prior to the date of determination of the First Lien Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio, the First Lien Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Specified Transactions (and the change in EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the Measurement Period. If, since the beginning of such Measurement Period, any Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and, since the beginning of such Measurement Period, such Person shall have made any Specified Transaction that would have required adjustment pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence if made by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such Measurement Period, then the First Lien Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Specified Transaction had occurred at the beginning of such Measurement Period.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any Specified Transaction (including the Transactions and the 2011 Transactions), the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer and may include, for the avoidance of doubt, cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies (including revenue synergies, those related to new business and customer wins, the modifications or renegotiation of contracts and other arrangements and pricing adjustments and increases (in each case, net of any costs or expenses to implement or achieve the foregoing)) resulting from or related to any such Specified Transaction (including the Transactions and the 2011 Transactions) which is being given pro forma effect that have been or are expected to be realized and for which the actions necessary to realize such cost savings, reductions and synergies are taken or expected to be taken no later than 24 months after the date of any such Specified Transaction (in each case as though such cost savings, reductions and synergies had been realized on the first day of the applicable Measurement Period).

 

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In the event that any calculation of the First Lien Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio shall be made as of the date of the initial borrowing of any applicable Indebtedness after giving pro forma effect to the entire committed amount of such Indebtedness (as contemplated by clause (26) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”), such committed amount may thereafter be borrowed and reborrowed, in whole or in part, from time to time, and secured by Liens without further compliance with such ratio, provided that such committed amount shall be included as outstanding Indebtedness in any subsequent calculation of the First Lien Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio, to the extent the commitment therefor then remains outstanding.

Fixed GAAP Date” means (x) for all Fixed GAAP Terms, April 3, 2020 and (y) for all Frozen GAAP Terms, the Issue Date, provided that at any time after April 3, 2020, the Issuer may, by prior written notice to the Trustee, elect to change the Fixed GAAP Date to be the date specified in such notice, and upon the date of such notice, the Fixed GAAP Date shall be such date for all periods beginning on and after the date specified in such notice.

Fixed GAAP Terms” means (a) the definitions of the terms “Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense,” “Consolidated Interest Expense,” “Consolidated Net Income,” “EBITDA,” “First Lien Indebtedness,” “First Lien Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio,” “Indebtedness,” “Net Income,” “Senior Secured Indebtedness,” “Senior Secured Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio” and “Total Indebtedness,” (b) all defined terms in this Indenture to the extent used in or relating to any of the foregoing definitions, and all ratios and computations based on any of the foregoing definitions, and (c) any other term or provision of this Indenture or the Notes that, at the Issuer’s election, may be specified by the Issuer by written notice to the Trustee from time to time.

Foreign Subsidiary” means (i) any Subsidiary of the Issuer not organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; (ii) any Subsidiary of the Issuer organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia if all or substantially all of the assets of such Subsidiary consist of equity or debt of one or more Subsidiaries described in clause (i) or this clause (ii); or (iii) any Subsidiary of a Subsidiary described in clause (i) or (ii).

Frozen GAAP Terms” means (a) the definition of the term “Capitalized Lease Obligation,” (b) all defined terms in this Agreement to the extent used in or relating to the foregoing definition, and all ratios and computations based on the foregoing definition, and (c) any other term or provision of this Indenture that, at the Issuer’s election, may be specified by the Issuer by written notice to the Trustee from time to time.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect on the Fixed GAAP Date (for purposes of the Fixed GAAP Terms and the Frozen GAAP Terms) and as in effect from time to time (for all other purposes of this Indenture), including those

 

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set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, and subject to the following sentence. If at any time the Commission permits or requires U.S.-domiciled companies subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act to use IFRS in lieu of GAAP for financial reporting purposes, the Issuer may elect, by written notice to the Trustee, to use IFRS in lieu of GAAP and, upon any such notice, references herein to GAAP shall thereafter be construed to mean (a) for all periods beginning on and after the date specified in such notice, IFRS as in effect on the date specified in such notice (for purposes of the Fixed GAAP Terms and the Frozen GAAP Terms) and as in effect from time to time (for all other purposes of this Indenture) and (b) for prior periods, GAAP as defined in the first sentence of this definition. All ratios and computations based on GAAP contained in this Indenture shall be computed in conformity with GAAP.

Government Securities” means securities that are

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

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

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

guarantee” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner including, without limitation, through letters of credit or 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 a Guarantor in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture. When used as a verb, “Guarantee” shall have a corresponding meaning.

 

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Guarantor” means any Subsidiary of the Issuer that incurs a Guarantee of the Notes; provided that upon the release and discharge of such Subsidiary from its Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture, such Subsidiary shall cease to be a Guarantor.

Hedging Agreement” means, in respect of a Person:

(1) any 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.

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

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

Holdings” means WMG Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation and the direct parent of the Issuer, and any successor in interest thereto.

Holdings Notes” means Holdings’ 13.75% Senior Notes due 2019 issued on July 20, 2011, or subsequently issued in exchange for or in respect of any such notes (the “Initial Holdings Notes”), and any Indebtedness that serves to extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew or defease any Initial Holdings Notes, provided that such Indebtedness extending, replacing, refunding, refinancing, renewing or defeasing such Initial Holdings Notes shall not be in a principal amount (or, if issued with original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) in excess of the principal amount of, and premium, if any, and accrued interest on, the Initial Holdings Notes plus any fees, premiums, underwriting discounts, costs and expenses relating to such extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance.

IFRS” means International Financial Reporting Standards and applicable accounting requirements set by the International Accounting Standards Board or any successor thereto (or the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, or any successor to either such Board, or the Commission, as the case may be), as in effect from time to time.

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person,

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

(i) in respect of borrowed money,

 

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

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

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

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

(b) Disqualified Stock of such Person,

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

(d) 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 that the amount of Indebtedness of such Person shall be the lesser of (A) the fair market value of such asset at such date of determination (as determined in good faith by such Person) and (B) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Persons;

provided, however, that Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business and not in respect of borrowed money shall be deemed not to constitute Indebtedness.

Initial Additional Dollar Notes” means Dollar-denominated Additional Notes issued in an offering not registered under the Securities Act (and any Notes issued in respect of any of the foregoing Notes pursuant to Section 2.07, 2.08, 2.11, 2.16(c), 2.16(d) or 3.06).

Initial Additional Euro Notes” means euro-denominated Additional Notes issued in an offering not registered under the Securities Act (and any Notes issued in respect of any of the foregoing Notes pursuant to Section 2.07, 2.08, 2.11, 2.16(c), 2.16(d) or 3.06).

Initial Additional Notes” means the Initial Additional Dollar Notes and the Initial Additional Euro Notes.

Initial Dollar Notes” means the Issuer’s 3.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 issued on the Closing Date pursuant to the first Notes Supplemental Indenture in an aggregate principal amount of $535,000,000 (and any Notes issued in respect thereof pursuant to Section 2.07, 2.08, 2.11, 2.16(c), 2.16(d) or 3.06).

 

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Initial Euro Notes” means the Issuer’s 2.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2028 issued on the Closing Date pursuant to the second Notes Supplemental Indenture in an aggregate principal amount of €325,000,000 (and any Notes issued in respect thereof pursuant to Section 2.07, 2.08, 2.11, 2.16(c), 2.16(d) or 3.06).

Initial Notes” means the Initial Dollar Notes and the Initial Euro Notes.

Initial Purchasers” means with respect to the Initial Notes, the Initial Dollar Purchasers and the Initial Euro Purchasers.

Initial Dollar Purchasers” means with respect to the Initial Dollar Notes, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, BofA Securities Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC.

Initial Euro Purchasers” means with respect to the Initial Euro Notes, Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Limited, Merrill Lynch International, Citigroup Global Markets Limited, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities plc and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC.

Intercreditor Agreement” means an intercreditor agreement to be entered into with the representative of Indebtedness secured by a Lien having Junior Lien Priority substantially in the form attached to the Security Agreement or in such other form reasonably satisfactory to the Applicable Authorized Representative (as such term is defined in the Security Agreement).

Interest” with respect to the Notes, means interest on the Notes and, except for purposes of Article 9, special interest pursuant to the terms of any Note.

Interest Payment Date” means, when used with respect to any Note and any installment of interest thereon, the stated maturity of such installment of interest as set forth in such Note.

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.

Issue Date” means November 1, 2012.

Issuer” means WMG Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation, and any successor in interest thereto.

Junior Lien Priority” means with respect to specified Indebtedness, secured by a Lien on specified Collateral ranking junior to the Lien on such Collateral securing the Notes or any Guarantee, as applicable, either pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement or one or more other intercreditor agreements having terms no less favorable to the Holders in relation to the holders of such specified Indebtedness with respect to such Collateral than the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, as determined in good faith by the Issuer.

 

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

Limited Condition Transaction” means (x) any acquisition, including by way of merger, amalgamation, consolidation or other business combination or the acquisition of Capital Stock or otherwise, by one or more of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries of any assets, business or Person or any other investment permitted by this Indenture whose consummation is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing or (y) any redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock requiring irrevocable notice in advance of such redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or prepayment.

Maturity Date” when used with respect to any series of Notes, means the “Maturity Date” as such term is defined in the Notes Supplemental Indenture establishing such series of Notes.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and its successors.

Music Publishing Business” means the subsidiaries and assets constituting the music publishing segment, as defined in the financial statements of the Issuer. At any point in time in which music publishing is not a reported segment of the Issuer, “Music Publishing Business” shall refer to the business that was previously included in this segment.

Music Publishing Sale” means the sale of all or substantially all of the Music Publishing Business, which, for the avoidance of doubt, may include assets constituting a portion of the Recorded Music Business not to exceed 10.0% of the total assets constituting the Recorded Music Business.

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

Non-Recourse Acquisition Financing Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to finance the acquisition, exploitation or development of assets (including directly or through the acquisition of entities holding such assets) not owned by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries prior to such acquisition, exploitation or development, which assets are used for the creation or development of Product for the benefit of the Issuer, and in

 

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respect of which the Person to whom such Indebtedness is owed has no recourse whatsoever to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for the repayment of or payment of such Indebtedness other than recourse to the acquired assets or assets that are the subject of such exploitation or development for the purpose of enforcing any Lien given by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary over such assets, including the receivables, inventory, intangibles and other rights associated with such assets and the proceeds thereof.

Non-Recourse Product Financing Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary solely for the purpose of financing (whether directly or through a partially-owned joint venture) the production, acquisition, exploitation, creation or development of items of Product produced, acquired, exploited, created or developed after the Issue Date (including any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the production, acquisition, creation or development of any such items of Product or secured by a Lien on any such items of Product prior to the production, acquisition, creation or development thereof) where the recourse of the creditor in respect of that Indebtedness is limited to Product revenues generated by such items of Product or any rights pertaining thereto and where the Indebtedness is unsecured save for Liens over such items of Product or revenues and such rights and any extension, renewal, replacement or refinancing of such Indebtedness. “Non-Recourse Product Financing Indebtedness” excludes, for the avoidance of doubt, any Indebtedness raised or secured against Product where the proceeds are used for any other purposes.

Non-U.S. Person” means a Person that is not a U.S. person, as defined in Regulation S.

Notes” means the Initial Notes, the Exchange Notes, any Additional Notes and any notes issued in respect thereof pursuant to Section 2.07, 2.08, 2.11, 2.16(c), 2.16(d) or 3.06.

Notes Authorized Representative” means the representative for the Notes Obligations.

Notes Obligations” means Obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors under the Notes, this Indenture and the Guarantees.

Notes Supplemental Indenture” means a Supplemental Indenture pursuant to which the Issuer issues Notes in accordance with Section 2.01, which may be substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit H, or in such other form as the Issuer may determine in accordance with Section 2.01.

Obligations” means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements (including, without limitation, reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit), damages and other liabilities, and guarantees of payment of such principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities, payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

Offering Circular” means the offering circular of the Issuer dated June 17, 2020 relating to the offering of the Initial Notes.

 

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

Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Issuer by an Officer of the Issuer or on behalf of a Guarantor by an Officer of such Guarantor, who is the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Issuer or such Guarantor, as applicable, that meets the requirements set forth in this Indenture.

OID Legend” means the legend set forth in Exhibit G to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture that have more than a de minimis amount of original issue discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

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

Original Notes” means the Initial Notes and any Exchange Notes issued in exchange therefor.

Parent” means any of Holdings, Warner Music Group Corp. (and any successor in interest thereto), Airplanes Music LLC (and any successor in interest thereto), any Other Parent, and any other Person that is a Subsidiary of Holdings, Warner Music Group Corp. (and any successor in interest thereto), Airplanes Music LLC (and any successor in interest thereto) or any Other Parent and of which the Issuer is a Subsidiary. As used herein, “Other Parent” means a Person of which the Issuer becomes a Subsidiary after the Closing Date, provided that either (x) immediately after the Issuer first becomes a Subsidiary of such Person, more than 50.0% of the Voting Stock of such Person shall be held by one or more Persons that held more than 50.0% of the Voting Stock of a Parent of the Issuer immediately prior to the Issuer first becoming such Subsidiary or (y) such Person shall be deemed not to be an Other Parent for the purpose of determining whether a Change of Control shall have occurred by reason of the Issuer first becoming a Subsidiary of such Person.

Pari Passu Lien Priority” means, with respect to specified Indebtedness, secured by a Lien on specified Collateral ranking equal with the Lien on such Collateral securing the Notes or any Guarantee, as applicable, either pursuant to the Security Agreement or one or more other intercreditor agreements having terms no less favorable to the Holders in relation to the holders of such specified Indebtedness with respect to such Collateral than the terms of the Security Agreement, as determined in good faith by the Issuer.

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

 

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Permitted Holders” means (i) the Access Investors; (ii) [reserved]; (iii) any officer, director, employee or other member of the management of any Parent, the Issuer or any of their respective Subsidiaries; (iv) immediate family members (including spouses and direct descendants) of a Person described in clause (iii); (v) any trusts created for the benefit of a Person or Persons described in clause (iii) or (iv) or any trust for the benefit of any such trust; (vi) in the event of the incompetence or death of any Person described in clause (iii) or (iv), such Person’s estate, executor, administrator, committee or other personal representative or beneficiaries, in each case, who, at any particular date, shall beneficially own or have the right to acquire, directly or indirectly, Capital Stock of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer; or (vii) any Person acting in the capacity of an underwriter in connection with a public or private offering of Capital Stock of any of the Issuer, Holdings or any of their respective direct or indirect parents. In addition, any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) whose status as a “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) constitutes or results in a Change of Control in respect of which a Change of Control Offer is made in accordance with the requirements of this Indenture, together with its Affiliates, shall thereafter constitute Permitted Holders.

Permitted Liens” means the following types of Liens:

(1) deposits of cash or government bonds made in the ordinary course of business to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party;

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

(3) Liens on 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;

(4) Liens existing on property of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Issuer (or at the time the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary acquires such property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary); provided, however, that such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition; provided, further, however, that such Liens are limited to all or part of the same property or assets (plus improvements, accessions, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof) that secured (or, under the written arrangements under which such Liens arose, could secure) the obligations to which such Liens relate; provided, further, that for purposes of this clause (4), if a Person other than the Issuer is the Successor Company with respect thereto, any

 

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Subsidiary thereof shall be deemed to become a Subsidiary of the Issuer, and any property or assets of such Person or any such Subsidiary shall be deemed acquired by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, when such Person becomes such Successor Company;

(5) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary;

(6) Liens on cash deposits or property constituting Cash Equivalents securing Hedging Obligations not prohibited by this Indenture;

(7) 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;

(8) Liens in favor of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(9) Liens existing on the Closing Date (other than Liens securing Indebtedness under the Senior Term Loan Agreement, the Senior Revolving Credit Agreement, the Existing Secured Notes and the Notes) and Liens to secure any Indebtedness that is incurred to refinance any Indebtedness that has been secured by a Lien (A) existing on the Closing Date (other than the Senior Term Loan Agreement, the then existing senior revolving credit agreement or the Notes) or (B) referred to in clauses (3), (4) and (19)(B) of this definition; provided, however, that in each case, such Liens (x) are no less favorable to the Holders and are not more favorable to the lienholders with respect to such Liens than the Liens in respect of the Indebtedness being refinanced; and (y) do not extend to or cover any property or assets of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries not securing the Indebtedness so refinanced;

(10) Liens on Securitization Assets and related assets of the type specified in the definition of “Securitization Financing” incurred in connection with any Qualified Securitization Financing;

(11) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or levies not yet delinquent for a period of more than 30 days, or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted, or for property taxes on property that the Issuer or one of its Subsidiaries has determined to abandon if the sole recourse for such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim is to such property;

(12) judgment Liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default so long as such Liens are adequately bonded and any appropriate legal proceedings that may have been duly initiated for the review of such judgment have not been finally terminated or the period within which such proceedings may be initiated has not expired;

 

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(13) pledges, deposits or other Liens under workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations, or deposits to secure the performance of tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases, or deposits or other Liens to secure public or statutory obligations, or deposits or other Liens as security for contested taxes or import or customs duties or for the payment of rent, or deposits or other Liens securing liabilities to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(14) Liens imposed by law, including carriers’, warehousemen’s, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case for sums not overdue by more than 30 days or, if more than 30 days overdue, are unfiled and no other action has been taken to enforce such Lien, or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted;

(15) survey exceptions, encumbrances, ground leases, 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, building codes or other restrictions (including, without limitation, minor defects or irregularities in title and similar encumbrances) as to the use of real properties or Liens incidental to the conduct of business or to the ownership of properties that do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business;

(16) any lease, license, sublease or sublicense granted to or from any Person in the ordinary course of business that is not granted for the purpose of securing any Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary owing to such lessee, licensee, sublessee or sublicensee;

(17) banker’s Liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a depositary institution, provided that (a) such deposit account is not a dedicated cash collateral account and is not subject to restrictions against access by the Issuer in excess of those set forth by regulations promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board or other applicable law and (b) such deposit account is not intended by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to provide collateral to the depositary institution;

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

(19) (A) other Liens securing Indebtedness for borrowed money with respect to property or assets with an aggregate fair market value (valued at the time of creation thereof) of not more than the greater of $37.5 million and 5.0% of EBITDA for the then applicable Measurement Period at any time and (B) Liens securing Indebtedness incurred to finance the construction, purchase or lease of, or repairs, improvements or additions to, property of such

 

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Person; provided, however, that (x) the Lien may not extend to any other property (except for accessions to such property) owned by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries at the time the Lien is incurred, (y) such Liens attach concurrently with or within 270 days after the acquisition, repair, replacement, construction or improvement (as applicable) of the property subject to such Liens and (z) with respect to Capitalized Lease Obligations, such Liens do not at any time extend to or cover any assets (except for accessions to such assets) other than the assets subject to such Capitalized Lease Obligations; provided that individual financings of equipment provided by one lender may be cross-collateralized to other financings of equipment provided by such lender;

(20) Liens to secure Non-Recourse Product Financing Indebtedness, which Liens may not secure Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Product Financing Indebtedness and which Liens may not attach to assets other than the items of Product acquired, exploited, created or developed with the proceeds of such Indebtedness and Liens to secure Non-Recourse Acquisition Financing Indebtedness, which Liens may not secure Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Acquisition Financing Indebtedness and which Liens may not attach to assets other than the assets acquired, exploited, created or developed with the proceeds of such Indebtedness;

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

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

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

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

(25) Liens securing (A) Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) incurred by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary and Preferred Stock issued by a Restricted Subsidiary to finance the purchase, lease or improvement of property (real or personal) or

 

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equipment (whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets); provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness secured pursuant to this clause and incurred to finance the acquisition of Capital Stock of any Person at any time outstanding shall not exceed the greater of $75.0 million and 10.0% of EBITDA for the then applicable Measurement Period and (B) Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries of the Issuer;

(26) Liens securing (i) First Lien Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount (as of the date of incurrence of any such Indebtedness and after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence thereof and the application of the net proceeds therefrom (or as of the date of the initial borrowing of such Indebtedness after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of the entire committed amount of such Indebtedness)), not exceeding the greater of (A) $2,800 million and (B) the maximum aggregate principal amount of First Lien Indebtedness that could be incurred without exceeding a First Lien Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio for the Issuer of 4.50 to 1.00, (ii) Senior Secured Indebtedness that is not First Lien Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount (as of the date of incurrence of any such Indebtedness and after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence thereof and the application of the net proceeds therefrom (or as of the date of the initial borrowing of such Indebtedness after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of the entire committed amount of such Indebtedness)) not exceeding the maximum aggregate principal amount of Senior Secured Indebtedness that could be incurred without exceeding a Senior Secured Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio for the Issuer of 5.00 to 1.00, (iii) Revolving Credit Agreement Indebtedness not to exceed at any time outstanding the greater of $400 million and 50% of EBITDA (for the Measurement Period applicable at the time such Revolving Credit Agreement Indebtedness is committed) and (iv) Indebtedness in an amount not to exceed the greater of $450 million and 60.0% of EBITDA (for the Measurement Period applicable at the time of the incurrence of such Indebtedness) pursuant to Section 2.6 of the Senior Term Loan Agreement as in effect on January 31, 2018;

(27) Liens securing (A) interest rate or currency swaps, caps or collars or other Hedging Obligations entered into to hedge the Issuer’s or any Guarantor’s exposure with respect to activities not prohibited under this Indenture and (B) obligations in respect of any overdraft and related liabilities arising from treasury, depositary and cash management services or any automated clearing house transfers of funds;

(28) 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;

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

 

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

(31) Liens on the assets of a non-Guarantor Subsidiary securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a non-Guarantor Subsidiary;

(32) Liens on cash advances in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an investment to be applied against the purchase price for such investment; and

(33) other Liens securing obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business which obligations (at the time of incurrence thereof) do not exceed the greater of $75.0 million and 10.0% of EBITDA for the then applicable Measurement Period at any one time outstanding.

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

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

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

Private Placement Legend” means the legends initially set forth on the Notes in the form set forth in Exhibit B.

Product” means any music (including musical and audio visual recordings, musical performance, songs and compositions and also includes mail order music and activities relating or incidental to music such as touring, merchandising and artist management), music copyright, motion picture, television programming, film, videotape, digital file, video clubs, DVD manufactured or distributed or any other product produced for theatrical, non-theatrical or television release or for

 

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release in any other medium, in each case whether recorded on film, videotape, cassette, cartridge, disc or on or by any other means, method, process or device, whether known on or developed after the Closing Date, with respect to which the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary:

(1) is an initial copyright owner; or

(2) acquires (or will acquire upon delivery) an equity interest, license, sublicense or administration or distribution right.

Public Company Costs” means costs relating to compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and other expenses arising out of or incidental to being a public reporting company, including costs, fees and expenses (including legal, accounting and other professional fees) relating to compliance with provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, the rules of national securities exchange companies with listed equity securities, directors’ compensation, fees and expense reimbursement shareholder meetings and reports to shareholders, directors’ and officers’ insurance and other executive costs, legal and other professional fees, and listing fees.

Qualified Institutional Buyer” or “QIB” shall have the meaning specified in Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

Qualified Securitization Financing” means any Securitization Financing of a Securitization Subsidiary that meets the following conditions: (i) the Board of Directors of the Issuer shall have determined in good faith that such Qualified Securitization Financing (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Issuer and the Securitization Subsidiary, (ii) all sales of Securitization Assets and related assets to the Securitization Subsidiary are made at fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) and (iii) 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 Securitization Assets of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Securitization Subsidiary) to secure Indebtedness under a Credit Agreement or any permitted additional Indebtedness with Pari Passu Lien Priority and any refinancing Indebtedness with respect thereto shall not be deemed a Qualified Securitization Financing.

Qualifying IPO” means the issuance by the Issuer or any parent company of the Issuer of its common Equity Interests in an underwritten public offering pursuant to the effective registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-236298) filed with the Commission in accordance with the Securities Act (whether alone or in connection with a secondary public offering).

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

 

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Record Date” means with respect to any series of Notes, the applicable Record Date specified in the Notes Supplemental Indenture establishing such series of Notes; provided that if any such date is not a Business Day, the Record Date shall be the first day immediately preceding such specified day that is a Business Day.

Recorded Music Business” means the subsidiaries and assets constituting the recorded music segment, as defined in the financial statements of the Issuer. At any point in time in which recorded music is not a reported segment of the Issuer, Recorded Music Business shall refer to the business that was previously included in this segment.

Recorded Music Sale” means the sale of all or substantially all of the Recorded Music Business, which, for the avoidance of doubt, may include assets constituting a portion of the Music Publishing Business not to exceed 10.0% of the total assets constituting the Music Publishing Business.

Redemption Date,” when used with respect to any series of Notes to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption pursuant to this Indenture or the Notes Supplemental Indenture establishing such series of Notes.

Redemption Price,” when used with respect to any series of Notes to be redeemed, means the price fixed for such redemption, payable in immediately available funds, pursuant to the Notes Supplemental Indenture establishing such series of Notes.

Regulation S” means Regulation S under the Securities Act.

Regulation S Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F.

Responsible Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer in the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and shall also mean any officer who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

Restricted Note” means a Note that constitutes a “Restricted Note” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act; provided, however, that the Trustee shall be entitled to request and conclusively rely on an Opinion of Counsel with respect to whether any Note constitutes a Restricted Note.

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

 

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Revolving Credit Agreement Indebtedness” means Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the greater of $400 million and 50% of EBITDA (for the Measurement Period applicable at the time such Revolving Credit Agreement Indebtedness is committed) outstanding under the Senior Revolving Credit Agreement, including any guarantees, collateral documents and other instruments, agreements and documents executed or delivered pursuant to or in connection therewith, as the same may be refunded, refinanced, restructured, replaced, renewed, repaid or extended from time to time (whether in whole or in part, whether with the original agent and lenders or other agents and lenders or otherwise, and whether provided under the original Senior Revolving Credit Agreement, any other revolving credit agreement, or one or more other credit or financing agreements with a revolving financing component (to the extent of such component)), and in each case as the same may be amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time, and including any agreement changing maturity or increasing the Indebtedness incurred or available to be borrowed (provided that any such increase shall not be deemed to increase the maximum principal amount of Revolving Credit Agreement Indebtedness provided for in this definition), or otherwise altering the terms and conditions thereof.

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

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services and its successors.

Secured Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness secured by a Lien.

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

Securitization Assets” means any accounts receivable or catalog, royalty or other revenue streams from Product subject to a Qualified Securitization Financing.

Securitization Expenses” means, for any period, the aggregate interest expense for such period on any Indebtedness of any Securitization Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary, which Indebtedness is not recourse to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Securitization Subsidiary (except for Standard Securitization Undertakings).

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

Securitization Financing” means any transaction or series of transactions that may be entered into by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to which Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries may sell, convey or otherwise transfer to (a) a Securitization Subsidiary (in the case of a transfer by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries) or (b) any other Person (in the case of a transfer by a Securitization Subsidiary), or may grant a security interest in, any Securitization Assets (whether existing on the Closing Date or arising in the future) of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, and any

 

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assets related thereto including, without limitation, all collateral securing such Securitization Assets, all contracts and all guarantees or other obligations in respect of such Securitization Assets, proceeds of such Securitization Assets and other assets which are customarily transferred or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted in connection with asset securitization transactions involving Securitization Assets and any Hedging Obligations entered into by Holdings or any such Subsidiary in connection with such Securitization Assets.

Securitization Repurchase Obligation” means any obligation of a seller of Securitization Assets in a Qualified Securitization Financing to repurchase Securitization Assets 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, offset 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.

Securitization Subsidiary” means a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Holdings (or another Person formed for the purposes of engaging in a Qualified Securitization Financing in which Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings makes an investment and to which Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings transfers Securitization Assets and related assets) which engages in no activities other than in connection with the financing of Securitization Assets of Holdings or its Subsidiaries, all proceeds thereof and all rights (contractual and 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 Holdings or such other Person (as provided below) as a Securitization Subsidiary and (a) no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise) of which (i) is guaranteed by Holdings or any other Subsidiary of Holdings (excluding guarantees of obligations (other than the principal of, and interest on, Indebtedness) pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings), (ii) is recourse to or obligates Holdings or any other Subsidiary of Holdings in any way other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings or (iii) subjects any property or asset of Holdings or any other Subsidiary of Holdings, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings, (b) with which neither Holdings nor any other Subsidiary of Holdings has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding other than on terms which Holdings reasonably believes to be no less favorable to Holdings or such Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of Holdings and (c) to which neither Holdings nor any other Subsidiary of Holdings 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 Holdings or such other Person shall be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors of Holdings or such other Person giving effect to such designation and an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing conditions.

Security Agreement” means the security agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Collateral Agent, the representatives of each Series of Secured First Lien Obligations (as defined in the Security Agreement) outstanding on the Issue Date, the Issuer, Holdings and the Guarantors party thereto from time to the time, as amended, amended and restated, supplemented, waived, modified, renewed or replaced from time to time.

 

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Security Documents” means the Security Agreement and any mortgages, security agreements, pledge agreements or other instruments evidencing or creating Liens on the assets of the Issuer and the Guarantors to secure the obligations under the Notes and this Indenture, as amended, restated, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time.

Senior Credit Facilities” means the Senior Revolving Credit Facility and the Senior Term Loan Facility.

Senior Revolving Credit Agreement” means that certain credit agreement, dated as of January 31, 2018, as amended by that certain First Amendment, dated as of October 9, 2019, and that certain Second Amendment, dated as of April 3, 2020, by and among the Issuer, Credit Suisse AG, as the administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto, as the same may be amended, supplemented, refinanced, replaced, waived or otherwise modified from time to time.

Senior Revolving Credit Facility” means the revolving credit facility under the Senior Revolving Credit Agreement, including any guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith.

Senior Secured Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, the aggregate amount, without duplication, of Total Indebtedness of such Person as of the end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available plus the amount of any Total Indebtedness of such Person incurred subsequent to the end of such fiscal quarter and minus the amount of any Total Indebtedness of such Person redeemed, repaid, retired or extinguished subsequent to the end of such fiscal quarter, as determined in accordance with GAAP, secured by Liens other than Permitted Liens (excluding Permitted Liens incurred pursuant to clause (26) of the definition thereof, provided that Revolving Credit Agreement Indebtedness so secured shall be excluded from the calculation of Senior Secured Indebtedness).

In addition, to the extent that any Indebtedness is secured by any Lien pursuant to clause (26)(ii) or (26)(iv) of the definition of “Permitted Liens,” such Indebtedness may be refinanced from time to time with other Indebtedness (including by Indebtedness refinancing any such refinancing Indebtedness) in an aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) not exceeding the principal amount of, and premium (if any) and accrued interest on, the Indebtedness being refinanced plus any fees, premiums, underwriting discounts, costs and expenses relating to such refinancing, and such refinancing Indebtedness may be secured by any Lien, without further compliance with the Senior Secured Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio thereunder.

Senior Secured Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio” means, with respect to the Issuer, the ratio of (x) the Issuer’s Senior Secured Indebtedness, minus an amount of cash and Cash Equivalents held by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the date of determination not exceeding

 

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$250.0 million, to (y) the Issuer’s EBITDA for the applicable Measurement Period. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, if any Specified Transaction has been made by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during the Measurement Period or subsequent to the Measurement Period and on or prior to the date of determination of the Senior Secured Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio, the Senior Secured Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Specified Transactions (and the change in EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the Measurement Period. If, since the beginning of such Measurement Period, any Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and, since the beginning of such Measurement Period, such Person shall have made any Specified Transaction that would have required adjustment pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence if made by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such Measurement Period, then the Senior Secured Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Specified Transaction had occurred at the beginning of such Measurement Period.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any Specified Transaction (including the Transactions and the 2011 Transactions), the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer and may include, for the avoidance of doubt, cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies (including revenue synergies, those related to new business and customer wins, the modifications or renegotiation of contracts and other arrangements and pricing adjustments and increases (in each case, net of any costs or expenses to implement or achieve the foregoing)) resulting from or related to any such Specified Transaction (including the Transactions and the 2011 Transactions) which is being given pro forma effect that have been or are expected to be realized and for which the actions necessary to realize such cost savings, reductions and synergies are taken or expected to be taken no later than 24 months after the date of any such Specified Transaction (in each case as though such cost savings, reductions and synergies had been realized on the first day of the applicable Measurement Period).

In the event that any calculation of the Senior Secured Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio shall be made as of the date of the initial borrowing of any applicable Indebtedness after giving pro forma effect to the entire committed amount of such Indebtedness (as contemplated by clause (26) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”), such committed amount may thereafter be borrowed and reborrowed, in whole or in part, from time to time, and secured by Liens without further compliance with such ratio, provided that such committed amount shall be included as outstanding Indebtedness in any subsequent calculation of the Senior Secured Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio, to the extent the commitment therefor then remains outstanding.

Senior Term Loan Agreement” means that certain credit agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, by and among the Issuer, Credit Suisse AG, as the administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto, as the same may be amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

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Senior Term Loan Facility” means the term loan facility under the Senior Term Loan Agreement, including any guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith.

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

Specified Transaction” means (v) any designation of operations or assets of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary as discontinued operations (as defined under GAAP), (w) any investment that results in a Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary, (x) any designation of a Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary in compliance with this Indenture, (y) any purchase or other acquisition of a business of any Person, of assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of any Person or (z) any asset sale or other disposition (i) that results in a Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Subsidiary of the Issuer or (ii) of a business, business unit, line of business or division of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise.

Sponsor” means Access Industries, Inc. and any successor in interest thereto.

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

Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which the payment of interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the original documentation governing such Indebtedness, and will not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.

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

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any specified Person:

(1) any corporation, association or other business entity, of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and

 

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

TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb), as amended, as in effect on the date of the execution of this Indenture until such time as this Indenture is qualified under the TIA, and thereafter as in effect on the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA, except as otherwise provided in Section 9.04.

Total Indebtedness” means with respect to any Person, the aggregate amount, without duplication, of Indebtedness consisting of Indebtedness for borrowed money, Capitalized Lease Obligations, purchase money indebtedness and debt obligations evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments, Disqualified Stock and (in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor) Preferred Stock of such Person as of the end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available plus the amount of any such Indebtedness of such Person incurred subsequent to the end of such fiscal quarter and minus the amount of any such Indebtedness of such Person redeemed, repaid, retired or extinguished subsequent to the end of such fiscal quarter, as determined in accordance with GAAP (provided that Revolving Credit Agreement Indebtedness shall be excluded from the calculation of Total Indebtedness).

Transactions” means, collectively, any or all of the following: (i) the entry into the 2012 Secured Indenture and the offer and issuance of the notes thereunder, (ii) the entry into the Senior Term Loan Agreement and the incurrence of Indebtedness thereunder, (iii) the entry into the senior revolving credit agreement dated January 31, 2018 and the incurrence of Indebtedness thereunder, (iv) the repayment of certain existing Indebtedness of the Issuer, (v) the solicitation of certain consents and related amendments with respect to the 2011 Unsecured Notes and Holdings Notes and (vi) all other transactions relating to any of the foregoing (including payment of fees and expenses related to any of the foregoing).

Trustee” means the party named as such in this Indenture until a successor replaces it in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means such successor.

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means (i) WMG Kensington, Ltd. and its Subsidiaries, (ii) any Subsidiary of the Issuer that at the time of determination is an Unrestricted Subsidiary (as designated by the Board of Directors of the Issuer, as provided below) and (iii) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The Board of Directors of the Issuer may designate any Subsidiary of the Issuer (including any existing Subsidiary and any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on, any property of, the Issuer or any

 

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Subsidiary of the Issuer (other than any Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated); provided that (a) any Unrestricted Subsidiary must be an entity of which shares of the Capital Stock or other equity interests (including partnership interests) entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes that may be cast by all shares or equity interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Issuer and (b) each of (I) the Subsidiary to be so designated and (II) its Subsidiaries does not at the time of designation, and does not thereafter,

(1) create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable with respect to any Indebtedness pursuant to which the lender has recourse to any of the assets of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary; or

(2) own assets constituting part of the Music Publishing Business in excess of 10.0% of the total assets constituting the Music Publishing Business.

The Board of Directors of the Issuer may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that, immediately after giving effect to such designation, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. Any such designation by such Board of Directors shall be notified by the Issuer to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of the board resolution giving effect to such designation and an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

U.S. Legal Tender” means such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

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.

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 of which securities (except for (a) directors’ qualifying shares, (b) shares held by nominees and (c) shares held by foreign nationals as required by applicable Law) or other ownership interests representing 100% of the Capital Stock are, at the time any determination is being made, owned, controlled or held by such Person or one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

SECTION 1.02. Other Definitions.

 

Term    Defined in Section
“Agent Members”    2.16
“Alternate Offer”    4.09
“Applicable Premium Deficit”    8.03

 

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“Change of Control Offer”    4.09
“Change of Control Payment Date”    4.09
“Change of Control Payment”    4.09
“Covenant Defeasance”    8.02
“Covenant Suspension Event”    4.21
“Division”    1.04
“Dollar Global Notes”    2.16
“Dollar Paying Agent”    2.04
“DTC”    2.04
“Euro Global Notes”    2.16
“Euro Paying Agent”    2.04
“Event of Default”    6.01
“Global Notes”    2.16
“Guarantee Obligations”    10.01
“Initial Lien”    4.12
“LCT Election”    1.05
“LCT Test Date”    1.05
“Legal Defeasance”    8.02
“Measurement Period”    1.01 (“First Lien Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio”)
“Other Notes”    2.02
“Physical Notes”    2.02
“Registrar”    2.04
“Regulation S Global Notes”    2.16
“Regulation S Notes”    2.02
“Restricted Period”    2.16
“Reversion Date”    4.21
“Rule 144A Global Notes”    2.16
“Rule 144A Notes”    2.02
“Successor Company”    5.01
“Suspended Covenants”    4.21
“Suspension Date”    4.21
“Suspension Period”    4.21

SECTION 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of TIA.

Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, such provision of the TIA shall be incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture if, but only if, (a) this Indenture is qualified by the Issuer under the TIA (in which case each such provision shall be incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture, effective immediately upon such qualification) or (b) this Indenture expressly states that such provision of the TIA shall apply whether or not this Indenture is qualified under the TIA. The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

 

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indenture securities” means the Notes.

indenture security holder” means a Holder or a Noteholder.

indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.

indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.

obligor” on the indenture securities means the Issuer, any Guarantor, and any successor or any other obligor on the Notes.

All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by the TIA by reference to another statute or defined by Commission rule and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them therein.

SECTION 1.04. Rules of Construction.

Unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) a term has the meaning assigned to it herein, whether defined expressly or by reference;

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

(3) [Reserved];

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

(5) words used herein implying any gender shall apply to both genders;

(6) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

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

(8) the words “including,” “includes” and similar words shall be deemed to be followed by “without limitation”;

(9) 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 GAAP;

 

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(10) 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;

(11) 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 GAAP;

(12) “$” 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;

(13) “€” and “euros” each refer to the single currency of the participating Member States in the Third Stage of European Economic and Monetary Union of the Treaty Establishing the European Community, as amended from time to time;

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

(15) any reference to a Section, Article or clause refers to such Section, Article or clause of this Indenture; and

(16) any reference herein to (i) a transfer, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, shall be deemed to apply to a division of or by a limited liability company, or an allocation of assets to a series of a limited liability company (collectively, a “Division”), as if it were a transfer, assignment, sale or transfer, or similar term, as applicable, to a separate Person, and (ii) a merger, consolidation, amalgamation or consolidation, or similar term, shall be deemed to apply to the division of or by a limited liability company, or an allocation of assets to a series of a limited liability company, or the unwinding of such a division or allocation, as if it were a merger, consolidation, amalgamation or consolidation or similar term, as applicable, with a separate Person.

SECTION 1.05. Limited Condition Transaction.

In connection with any action being taken in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction, at the Issuer’s election, (a) for purposes of determining compliance with any provision of this Indenture which requires that no Default, Event of Default, specified Default or specified Event of Default, as applicable, has occurred, is continuing or would result from any such action, as applicable, such condition shall, at the option of the Issuer, be deemed satisfied, so long as no Default, Event of Default, specified Default or specified Event of Default, as applicable, exists on the date (x) a definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Transaction is entered into, (y) in connection with an acquisition to which the United Kingdom City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (or any equivalent thereof under the laws, rules or regulations in any other applicable jurisdiction)

 

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applies, on which a “Rule 2.7 announcement” of a firm intention to make an offer in respect of a target of a Limited Condition Transaction is made (or the equivalent notice under such equivalent laws, rules or regulations in such other applicable jurisdiction) or (z) notice of redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is given. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Issuer has exercised its option under the first sentence of this clause (a), and any Default, Event of Default, specified Default or specified Event of Default, as applicable, occurs following the date (x) a definitive agreement for the applicable Limited Condition Transaction was entered into, (y) in connection with an acquisition to which the United Kingdom City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (or any equivalent thereof under the laws, rules or regulations in any other applicable jurisdiction) applies, on which a “Rule 2.7 announcement” of a firm intention to make an offer in respect of a target of a Limited Condition Transaction is made (or the equivalent notice under such equivalent laws, rules or regulations in such other applicable jurisdiction) or (z) notice of redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is given and prior to the consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, any such Default, Event of Default, specified Default or specified Event of Default, as applicable, shall be deemed to not have occurred or be continuing for purposes of determining whether any action being taken in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction is permitted hereunder.

(b) In connection with any action being taken in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction, for purposes of:

(i) determining compliance with any provision of this Indenture which requires the calculation of the First Lien Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio or the Senior Secured Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio or any other financial measure;

(ii) testing baskets set forth in this Indenture (including baskets measured as a percentage of EBITDA); or

(iii) any other determination as to whether any such Limited Condition Transaction and any related transactions (including any financing thereof) complies with the covenants or agreements contained herein;

in each case, at the option of the Issuer (the Issuer’s election to exercise such option in connection with any Limited Condition Transaction, an “LCT Election”), the date of determination of whether any such action is permitted hereunder, shall be deemed to be the date (x) a definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Transaction is entered into, (y) in connection with an acquisition to which the United Kingdom City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (or any equivalent thereof under the laws, rules or regulations in any other applicable jurisdiction) applies, the date on which a “Rule 2.7 announcement” of a firm intention to make an offer in respect of a target of a Limited Condition Transaction is made (or the equivalent notice under such equivalent laws, rules or regulations in such other applicable jurisdiction) or (z) notice of redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is given, as applicable (the “LCT Test Date”), and if, after giving pro forma effect to the Limited Condition

 

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Transaction and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith (including any Incurrence or discharge of Indebtedness and Liens and the use of proceeds thereof) as if they had occurred at the beginning of the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Issuer ending prior to the LCT Test Date for which consolidated financial statements of the Issuer are available, the Issuer could have taken such action on the relevant LCT Test Date in compliance with such ratio, basket or amount, such ratio, basket or amount shall be deemed to have been complied with; provided that (a) if financial statements for one or more subsequent fiscal years or quarters shall have been delivered pursuant to Section 4.17. hereof prior to the date on which such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated, the Issuer may elect, in its sole discretion, to re-determine all such ratios, baskets or amounts on the basis of such financial statements, in which case, such date of redetermination shall thereafter be deemed to be the applicable LCT Test Date for purposes of such ratios, baskets or amounts and (b) except as contemplated in the foregoing clause (a), compliance with such ratios, baskets or amounts (and any related requirements and conditions) shall not be determined or tested at any time after the applicable LCT Test Date for such Limited Condition Transaction and any actions or transactions related thereto (including any Incurrence or discharge of Indebtedness and Liens and the use of proceeds thereof) .

For the avoidance of doubt, if the Issuer has made an LCT Election and any of the ratios, baskets or amounts for which compliance was determined or tested as of the LCT Test Date are exceeded as a result of fluctuations in any such ratio, basket or amount, including due to fluctuations in exchange rates or in EBITDA of the Issuer or the Person subject to such Limited Condition Transaction or any applicable currency exchange rate, at or prior to the consummation of the relevant transaction or action, such ratios, baskets or amounts will not be deemed to have been exceeded as a result of such fluctuations. If the Issuer has made an LCT Election for any Limited Condition Transaction, then in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratio, basket or amount with respect to the Incurrence or discharge of Indebtedness or Liens, or the making of dividends, distributions, investments, asset sales, mergers, the conveyance, lease or other transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer or the designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary on or following the relevant LCT Test Date and prior to the earlier of the date on which (1) such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated, (2) the definitive agreement for, or firm offer in respect of, such Limited Condition Transaction (if an acquisition or investment) is terminated or expires without consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction or (3) such notice of redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is revoked or expires without consummation, any such ratio, basket or amount shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming such Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including any Incurrence or discharge of Indebtedness and Liens and the use of proceeds thereof) have been consummated.

 

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ARTICLE TWO

THE NOTES

SECTION 2.01. Amount of Notes; Issuable in Series.

The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered and outstanding under this Indenture is not limited. The Notes may be issued from time to time in one or more series. Except as provided in Section 9.02, all Notes (including any Exchange Notes issued in exchange therefor) will vote (or consent) as a single class with other Notes and otherwise be treated as Notes for all purposes of this Indenture.

The following matters shall be established with respect to each series of Notes issued hereunder in a Notes Supplemental Indenture:

(i) the title of the Notes of the series (which title shall distinguish the Notes of the series from all other series of Notes) and whether such Notes are Euro-denominated Notes or Dollar-denominated Notes;

(ii) any limit (if any) upon the aggregate principal amount of the Notes of the series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (which limit shall not pertain to Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of, transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes of the series pursuant to Section 2.07, 2.08, 2.11, 2.16(c), 2.16(d) or 3.06);

(iii) the date or dates on which the principal of and premium, if any, on the Notes of the series is payable or the method of determination and/or extension of such date or dates, and the amount or amounts of such principal and premium, if any, payments and methods of determination thereof;

(iv) the rate or rates at which the Notes of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method of calculating and/or resetting such rate or rates of interest, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, and the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable;

(v) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, and other terms and conditions upon which Notes of the series (i) may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Issuer, if the Issuer is to have the option or (ii) shall be redeemed, in whole or in part, upon the occurrence of specified events, if the Notes shall be subject to a mandatory redemption provision;

(vi) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Notes of the series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02 or the method by which such portion shall be determined;

 

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(vii) in the case of any Notes, other than Initial Notes and any Exchange Notes issued in exchange for Initial Notes, any addition to or change in the Events of Default which apply to any Notes of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Notes to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 6.02; and

(viii) in the case of any Notes, other than Initial Notes and any Exchange Notes issued in exchange for Initial Notes, any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Article Four.

The form of the Notes of such series, as set forth in Exhibit A-1 or Exhibit A-2 or Exhibit C-1 or Exhibit C-2 as the case may be, may be modified to reflect such matters as so established in such Notes Supplemental Indenture.

Such matters may also be established in a Notes Supplemental Indenture for any Additional Notes issued hereunder that are to be of the same series as any Notes previously issued hereunder. Notes that have the same terms described in the foregoing clauses (i) though (viii) will be treated as the same series, unless otherwise designated by the Issuer.

SECTION 2.02. Form and Dating.

The Initial Notes and Initial Additional Notes that are not Exchange Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication relating thereto shall be substantially in the form set forth, or referenced, in this Article Two and Exhibit A-1 hereto (in the case of Dollar-denominated Notes) or Exhibit A-2 (in the case of Euro-denominated Notes), which is incorporated in and form a part of this Indenture (as such forms may be modified in accordance with Section 2.01). The Exchange Notes and any Additional Notes that are not Initial Additional Notes, or that are issued in a registered offering pursuant to the Securities Act, and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication relating thereto shall be in substantially in the form set forth, or referenced, in this Article Two and Exhibit C-1 hereto (in the case of Dollar-denominated Notes) or Exhibit C-2 (in the case of Euro-denominated Notes), which is incorporated in and form a part of this Indenture (as such forms may be modified in accordance with Section 2.01). The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, rule or usage to which the Issuer is subject. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Notes offered and sold to Qualified Institutional Buyers in reliance on Rule 144A (“Rule 144A Notes”) shall bear the legend and include the form of assignment set forth in Exhibit B, Notes offered and sold in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S (“Regulation S Notes”) shall bear the legend and include the form of assignment set forth in Exhibit B, and Notes offered and sold to Institutional Accredited Investors in transactions exempt from registration under the Securities Act not made in reliance on Rule 144A or Regulation S (“Other Notes”) may be represented by a Rule 144A Global Note or, if such an investor may not hold an interest in the Rule 144A Global Notes, a Physical Note, in each case, bearing the Private Placement Legend. The Issuer shall approve the form of the Notes and any notation, legend or endorsement on them. Each Note shall be dated the date of its issuance and show the date of its authentication.

 

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The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and, to the extent applicable, the Issuer, the Trustee, the Notes Authorized Representative and the Collateral Agent, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and agree to be bound thereby.

The Notes may be presented for registration of transfer and exchange at the offices of the applicable Registrar.

Notes issued in exchange for interests in a Global Note pursuant to Section 2.16 may be issued in the form of permanent certificated Notes in registered form in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A-1, Exhibit A-2, Exhibit C-1 or Exhibit C-2, as applicable (the “Physical Notes”).

SECTION 2.03. Execution and Authentication.

One Officer, who shall have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate actions, shall sign the Notes for the Issuer by manual, facsimile or electronic image scan signature.

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

(i) The Trustee shall initially authenticate Initial Dollar Notes for original issue on the Closing Date in an aggregate principal amount of $535,000,000 of Dollar Notes, (ii) the Euro Paying Agent shall initially authenticate Initial Euro Notes for original issue on the Closing Date in an aggregate principal amount of €325,000,000 of Euro Notes and (iii) the Trustee shall thereafter authenticate (x) Additional Notes in one or more series (which may be of the same series as any Notes previously issued hereunder, or of a different series) from time to time for original issue in aggregate principal amounts specified by the Issuer and (y) Exchange Notes from time to time for issue in exchange for a like principal amount of Initial Notes or Initial Additional Notes, in each case specified in clauses (i) through (iii) above, upon a written order of the Issuer in the form of an Officer’s Certificate of the Issuer; provided, however, that if the Additional Notes are not fungible with the Initial Notes for United States federal income tax purposes, the Additional Notes will have a separate CUSIP, ISIN, Common Code or other similar identification number than the Initial Notes. Each such written order shall specify the principal amount of such Notes to be authenticated and the date on which such Notes are to be authenticated.

No Note shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Note a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature, and such certificate upon any Note shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Note has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Note shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Issuer, and the Issuer shall deliver such Note to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 2.12, for all purposes of this Indenture such Note shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

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The Trustee may appoint one or more authenticating agents with the consent of the Issuer to authenticate the Notes, and the Trustee may enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any such authentication agent not a party to this Indenture. Unless otherwise provided in the appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate the Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Issuer and Affiliates of the Issuer. Each Paying Agent is designated as an authenticating agent for purposes of this Indenture.

The Dollar-denominated Notes shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. The Euro-denominated Notes shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of €100,000 and any integral multiples of €1,000 in excess of €100,000.

SECTION 2.04. Registrar and Paying Agent.

The Issuer will maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“Registrar”). The Issuer will also maintain (i) an office or agency within the United States where Notes may be presented for payment (“Dollar Paying Agent”) and (ii) if and for so long as any Euro-denominated Notes are outstanding, an office or agency in (if and for so long as the Euro-denominated Notes are listed on the Official List of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and are admitted for trading on the Euro MTF Market and the rules and regulations of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange so require) initially in Luxembourg, or an office or agency in any other city selected by the Issuer within the European Union, where Euro-denominated Notes may be presented for payment (the “Euro Paying Agent”) provided, that at the option of the Issuer payment of interest on a Note may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the note register or otherwise. The Registrar will keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange and will make payments on and facilitate transfer of Euro-denominated Notes on behalf of the Issuer. The Issuer may appoint one or more additional registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The Issuer shall, so long as any Euro-denominated Notes are outstanding and if and for so long as the Euro-denominated Notes are listed on the Official List of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and are admitted for trading on the Euro MTF Market, maintain a registrar located in the European Union or such other location as the rules and regulations of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange require. The Issuer will also maintain a register of Euro-denominated Notes at its registered office which, in case of any discrepancy with the information contained in the Registrar’s books, shall prevail over the Registrar’s books. The term “Registrar” includes any Registrar and any additional registrar and the term “Paying Agent” includes the Dollar Paying Agent, the Euro Paying Agent and any additional paying agent.

The Issuer may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Issuer will notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this

 

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Indenture. The Issuer may enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar or Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture. Any such agency agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. If the Issuer fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent with respect to any Dollar-denominated Notes, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation in accordance with Section 7.07. The Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

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

The Issuer initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar and Dollar Paying Agent with respect to the Dollar-denominated Notes and to act as Custodian with respect to the Dollar Global Notes and Société Générale Luxembourg to act as the Registrar, Transfer Agent and Euro Paying Agent with respect to the Euro-denominated Notes, in each case until such time as either such entity has resigned or a successor has been appointed.

SECTION 2.05. Paying Agent To Hold Assets in Trust.

Each Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders or the Trustee all money held by the applicable Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or premium or interest on the Notes (whether such money has been paid to it by the Issuer, one or more of the Guarantors or any other obligor on the Notes), and the Issuer and each Paying Agent shall notify the Trustee of any Default by the Issuer (or any other obligor on the Notes) in making any such payment of principal of or premium or interest on the Notes. Money held in trust by a Paying Agent need not be segregated except as required by law and in no event shall a Paying Agent be liable for any interest on any money received by it hereunder. The Issuer at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and account for any funds disbursed and the Trustee may at any time during the continuance of any Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(1) or (2), upon written request to a Paying Agent, require such Paying Agent to pay forthwith all money so held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed. Upon making such payment, such 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 the Holders. If the Trustee is not a Registrar, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee at least two (2) Business Days prior to each Interest Payment Date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders, which list may be conclusively relied upon by the Trustee.

 

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SECTION 2.07. Transfer and Exchange.

Subject to Sections 2.16 and 2.17, when Notes are presented to the applicable Registrar with a request to register the transfer of such Notes or to exchange such Notes for an equal principal amount of Notes of other authorized denominations, the applicable Registrar shall promptly register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its requirements for such transaction are met; provided, however, that the Notes surrendered for transfer or exchange shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Issuer and the applicable Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Notes at the applicable Registrar’s request. 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 or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith. The transferring Holder shall also provide or cause to be provided to the Trustee all information necessary to allow the Trustee to comply with any applicable tax reporting obligations, including without limitation, any cost basis reporting obligations under Section 6045 of the Code. The Trustee may rely on any such information provided to it and shall have no responsibility to verify or ensure the accuracy of such information.

The Registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of or exchange of any Notes (i) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the mailing of a notice of redemption of Notes and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, selected for redemption in whole or in part pursuant to Article Three, except the unredeemed portion of any Notes being redeemed in part, and (ii) during a Change of Control Offer or an Alternate Offer if such Note is tendered pursuant to such Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer and not withdrawn.

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 the holder of such Global Note (or its agent) or by Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, and that ownership of a beneficial interest in the Notes shall be required to be reflected in a book-entry system.

SECTION 2.08. Replacement Notes.

If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Registrar or the Trustee, 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 (and the Guarantors, if any, shall execute the guarantee thereon) if the Holder of such Note furnishes to the Issuer and the Trustee evidence reasonably acceptable to them of the ownership and the destruction, loss or theft of such Note and if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the New York Uniform Commercial Code as in effect on the date of this Indenture are met. If required by the Trustee or the Issuer, an indemnity bond shall be posted, sufficient in the judgment of all to protect the Issuer, the Guarantors, if any, the Trustee or any Paying Agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if such Note is replaced. The Issuer may charge such Holder for the Issuer’s reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in replacing such Note

 

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and the Trustee may charge the Issuer for the Trustee’s expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements) in replacing such Note. Every replacement Note shall constitute a contractual obligation of the Issuer.

SECTION 2.09. Outstanding Notes.

The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes that have been authenticated by the Trustee except (a) those canceled by it, (b) those delivered to it for cancellation, (c) to the extent set forth in Sections 8.01 and 8.02, on or after the date on the conditions set forth in Section 8.01 or 8.02 have been satisfied and (d) those Notes theretofore authenticated by the Trustee hereunder and those described in this Section as not outstanding, including Notes in exchange for or in lieu of which other Notes have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture. A Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Issuer or any of its Affiliates holds the Note (subject to the provisions of Section 2.10).

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 receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Note is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuer. A mutilated Note ceases to be outstanding upon surrender of such Note and replacement thereof pursuant to Section 2.08.

If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.01, it ceases to be outstanding and interest ceases to accrue. If on a Redemption Date or the Maturity Date the Trustee or the applicable Paying Agent (other than the Issuer or an Affiliate thereof) holds U.S. Legal Tender or Government Securities, or euros or European Government Securities, as applicable, sufficient to pay all of the principal and interest due on the Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

SECTION 2.10. Treasury Notes.

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Issuer or any of its Affiliates shall be disregarded, except that, for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be disregarded.

SECTION 2.11. Temporary Notes.

Until definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuer may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of definitive Notes but may have variations that the Issuer considers appropriate for temporary Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuer shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes. Until such exchange, temporary Notes shall be entitled to the same rights, benefits and privileges as definitive Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the Notes are represented by a Global Note, such Global Note may be in typewritten form.

 

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SECTION 2.12. Cancellation.

The Issuer at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The applicable Registrar and the applicable Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee or, at the direction of the Trustee, the applicable Registrar or the applicable Paying Agent (other than the Issuer or a Subsidiary), and no one else, shall cancel and, at the written direction of the Issuer, shall dispose of all Notes surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation in accordance with its customary procedures. Subject to Section 2.08, the Issuer may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation. If the Issuer or any Guarantor shall acquire any of the Notes, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the Indebtedness represented by such Notes unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation pursuant to this Section 2.12.

SECTION 2.13. Defaulted Interest.

Unless otherwise specified for Notes of any series in the applicable Notes Supplemental Indenture, as contemplated by Section 2.01, if the Issuer defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it shall, unless the Trustee fixes another Record Date pursuant to Section 6.10, pay the defaulted interest then borne by the Notes, plus (to the extent lawful) any interest payable on the defaulted interest, in accordance with the terms hereof. The Issuer may pay the defaulted interest to the persons who are Holders on a subsequent special Record Date, which special Record Date shall, unless otherwise specified for Notes of any series in the applicable Notes Supplemental Indenture, as contemplated by Section 2.01, be the fifteenth day next preceding the date fixed by the Issuer for the payment of defaulted interest or the next succeeding Business Day if such date is not a Business Day. Unless otherwise specified for Notes of any series in the applicable Notes Supplemental Indenture, as contemplated by Section 2.01, at least 15 days before any such subsequent special Record Date, the Issuer shall mail to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee and the Paying Agent, a notice that states the subsequent special Record Date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest, and interest payable on such defaulted interest, if any, to be paid. The Issuer may make payment of any defaulted interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements (if applicable) of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed and, upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after written notice given by the Issuer to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this sentence, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

SECTION 2.14. 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, as applicable, CUSIP numbers, ISINs and Common Code numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided, however,

 

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that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy 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 number(s) printed on the Notes. The Issuer shall advise the Trustee of any change in the CUSIP numbers, ISINs and Common Code numbers.

SECTION 2.15. Deposit of Moneys.

Unless otherwise specified for Notes of any series in the applicable Notes Supplemental Indenture, as contemplated by Section 2.01, prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time, on each Interest Payment Date, Maturity Date, Redemption Date and Change of Control Payment Date, the Issuer shall have deposited with the applicable Paying Agent in immediately available funds U.S. Legal Tender or euros, as applicable, sufficient to make cash payments, if any, due on such Interest Payment Date, Maturity Date, Redemption Date and Change of Control Payment Date, as the case may be, in a timely manner which permits the applicable Paying Agent to remit payment to the Holders on such Interest Payment Date, Maturity Date, Redemption Date and Change of Control Payment Date, as the case may be. The principal and interest on Global Notes shall be payable to the Depositary or its nominee or the Common Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the sole registered owner and the sole Holder of the Global Notes represented thereby. The principal and interest on Physical Notes shall be payable, either in person or by mail, at the office of the applicable Paying Agent.

SECTION 2.16. Book-Entry Provisions for Global Notes.

(a) Rule 144A Notes initially shall be represented by one or more Notes in registered, global form without interest coupons (collectively, the “Rule 144A Global Notes”). Regulation S Notes initially shall be represented by one or more Notes in registered, global form without interest coupons (the “Regulation S Global Notes”). The term “Global Notes” means, collectively, the Rule 144A Global Notes and the Regulation S Global Notes. The Global Notes shall bear legends as set forth in Exhibit D. Dollar-denominated Notes issued in the form of a Global Note are collectively referred to as “Dollar Global Notes,” and Euro-denominated Notes issued in the form of a Global Note are collectively referred to as “Euro Global Notes.” The Dollar Global Notes initially shall (i) be registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of such Depositary, in each case for credit to an account of an Agent Member, (ii) be delivered to the Trustee as custodian for such Depositary and (iii) bear legends as set forth in Exhibit B with respect to Rule 144A Global Notes and Regulation S Global Notes. The Euro Global Notes initially shall (i) be registered in the name of the Common Depositary or the nominee of such Common Depositary, in each case for credit to an account of an Agent Member, (ii) be delivered to the custodian for such Common Depositary and (iii) bear legends as set forth in Exhibit B with respect to Rule 144A Global Notes and Regulation S Global Notes.

Members of, or direct or indirect participants in, the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Notes held on their behalf by the Depositary or the Common Depositary or their respective custodians, or under the Global Notes, and the Depositary may be treated by the Issuer, the Trustee and any agent of the

 

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Issuer or the Trustee as the absolute owner of the Dollar Global Notes for all purposes whatsoever, and the Common Depositary may be treated by the Issuer, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee as the absolute owner of the Euro 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 Depositary or the Common Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, and its respective Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a Holder.

(b) Transfers of a Dollar Global Note shall be limited to transfer in whole, but not in part, to the Depositary, its successors or their respective nominees. Transfers of a Euro Global Note shall be limited to transfer in whole, but not in part, to the Common Depositary, its successors or their respective nominees. Interests of beneficial owners in the Global Notes may be transferred or exchanged for Physical Notes in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, and the provisions of Section 2.17. In addition, a Global Note shall be exchangeable for Physical Note if (i) (A) in the case of a Dollar Global Note, the Depositary (x) notifies the Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for such Dollar Global Note and the Issuer thereupon fail to appoint a successor depositary or (y) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and (B) in the case of a Euro Global Note, the Common Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream notifies the Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as a common depositary or clearing agency, as applicable, for such Euro Global Note and the Issuer thereupon fails to appoint a successor depositary or clearing agency, as applicable, within 120 days, (ii) pursuant to the procedures of the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, the Issuer, at its option, notifies the Trustee in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of such Physical Notes or (iii) in the case of any Global Note, there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to such Global Note. In all cases, Physical 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 Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, in accordance with its customary procedures.

(c) In connection with any transfer or exchange of a portion of the beneficial interest in any Global Note to beneficial owners pursuant to paragraph (b), the applicable Registrar shall (if one or more Physical Notes are to be issued) reflect on its books and records the date and a decrease in the principal amount of the Global Note in an amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interest in the Global Note to be transferred, and the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall upon receipt of a written order from the Issuer authenticate and make available for delivery, one or more Physical Notes of like tenor and amount.

(d) In connection with the transfer of an entire Global Note to beneficial owners pursuant to paragraph (b), the applicable Global Note shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, to each beneficial owner identified by the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, in writing in exchange for its beneficial interest in the applicable Global Note, an equal aggregate principal amount at maturity of Physical Notes of authorized denominations.

 

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(e) Any Physical Note constituting a Restricted Note delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Note pursuant to paragraph (b) shall, except as otherwise provided by paragraphs (a)(i)(x) and (c) of Section 2.17, bear the Private Placement Legend unless the Issuer determines otherwise in compliance with applicable law.

(f) On or prior to the 40th day after the later of the commencement of the offering of the Notes represented by the Regulation S Global Note and the issue date of such Notes (such period through and including such 40th day, the “Restricted Period”), a beneficial interest in a Regulation S Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in the corresponding Rule 144A Global Note only upon receipt by the Trustee of a written certification from the transferor to the effect that such transfer is being made (i) (a) to a Person that the transferor reasonably believes is a Qualified Institutional Buyer in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A or (b) pursuant to another exemption from the registration requirements under the Securities Act which is accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel regarding the availability of such exemption and (ii) in accordance with all applicable securities laws of any state of the United States or any other applicable jurisdiction. During the Restricted Period, beneficial ownership in a Regulation S Global Note may only be sold, pledged or transferred through Euroclear or Clearstream.

(g) Beneficial interests in the Rule 144A Global Notes may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in the Regulation S Global Notes, whether before or after the expiration of the Restricted Period, only if the transferor first delivers to the Trustee a written certificate to the effect that such transfer is being made in accordance with Regulation S or Rule 144 (if available).

(h) Any beneficial interest in one of the Global Notes that is transferred to a Person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in another Global Note shall, upon transfer, cease to be an interest in such Global Note and become an interest in such other Global Note and, accordingly, shall thereafter be subject to all transfer restrictions and other procedures applicable to beneficial interests in such other Global Note for as long as it remains such an interest.

(i) 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.

SECTION 2.17. Special Transfer Provisions.

(a) Transfers to Non-QIB Institutional Accredited Investors and Non-U.S. Persons. The following provisions shall apply with respect to the registration of any proposed transfer of a Note constituting a Restricted Note to any Institutional Accredited Investor which is not a QIB or to any Non-U.S. Person: The applicable Registrar shall register such transfer if it complies with all other applicable requirements of this Indenture (including Section 2.07) and,

 

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(i) in the case of a Restricted Note, whether or not such Note bears the Private Placement Legend, if (x) the requested transfer is after the first anniversary of the date of original issuance thereof or such other date as such Note shall be freely transferable under Rule 144 as certified in an Officer’s Certificate or (y) (1) in the case of a transfer to an Institutional Accredited Investor which is not a QIB (excluding Non-U.S. Persons), the proposed transferee has delivered to the applicable Registrar a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto or (2) in the case of a transfer to a Non-U.S. Person (including a QIB), the proposed transferor has delivered to the applicable Registrar a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto; provided that in the case of any transfer of a Note bearing the Private Placement Legend for a Note not bearing the Private Placement Legend, the applicable Registrar has received an Officer’s Certificate authorizing such transfer; and

(ii) if the proposed transferor is an Agent Member holding a beneficial interest in a Global Note, upon receipt by the applicable Registrar of (x) the certificate, if any, required by paragraph (i) above and (y) instructions given in accordance with the Depositary’s (in the case of a Dollar Global Note) or Euroclear’s or Clearstream’s, as applicable (in the case of a Euro Global Note), and the applicable Registrar’s procedures, whereupon (a) the applicable Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and (if the transfer does not involve a transfer of outstanding Physical Notes) a decrease in the principal amount of a Global Note in an amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interest in a Global Note to be transferred, and (b) the applicable Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of a Global Note in an amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interest in the Global Note transferred or the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery one or more Physical Notes of like tenor and amount.

(b) Transfers to QIBs. The following provisions shall apply with respect to the registration or any proposed registration of transfer of a Note constituting a Restricted Note to a QIB (excluding transfers to Non-U.S. Persons): The applicable Registrar shall register such transfer if it complies with all other applicable requirements of this Indenture (including Section 2.07) and,

(i) if such transfer is being made by a proposed transferor who has checked the box provided for on such Holder’s Note stating, or to a transferee who has advised the Issuer and the applicable Registrar in writing, that it is purchasing the 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 QIB within the meaning of Rule 144A, 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 it 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 its foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A; and

 

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(ii) if the proposed transferee is an Agent Member, and the Notes to be transferred consist of Physical Notes which after transfer are to be evidenced by an interest in the Global Note, upon receipt by the applicable Registrar of instructions given in accordance with the Depositary’s (in the case of a Dollar Global Note) or Euroclear’s or Clearstream’s, as applicable (in the case of a Euro Global Note), and the applicable Registrar’s procedures, the applicable Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of the Global Note in an amount equal to the principal amount of the Physical Notes to be transferred, and the Trustee shall cancel the Physical Notes so transferred.

(c) Private Placement Legend. Upon the registration of transfer, exchange or replacement of Notes not bearing the Private Placement Legend, the applicable Registrar shall deliver Notes that do not bear the Private Placement Legend. Upon the registration of transfer, exchange or replacement of Notes bearing the Private Placement Legend, the applicable Registrar shall deliver only Notes that bear the Private Placement Legend unless (i) it has received the Officer’s Certificate required by paragraph (a)(i)(y) of this Section 2.17, (ii) there is delivered to the applicable Registrar an Opinion of Counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer and the Trustee to the effect that neither such legend nor the related restrictions on transfer are required in order to maintain compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act or (iii) such Note has been sold pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and the applicable Registrar has received an Officer’s Certificate from the Issuer to such effect.

(d) OID Legend. Each Note issued hereunder that has more than a de minimis amount of original issue discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes shall bear a legend substantially in the form of Exhibit G hereto.

(e) General. By its acceptance of any Note bearing the Private Placement Legend, each Holder of such Note acknowledges the restrictions on transfer of such Note set forth in this Indenture and in the Private Placement Legend and agrees that it will transfer such Note only as provided in this Indenture.

The applicable Registrar shall retain for a period of two years copies of all letters, notices and other written communications received pursuant to Section 2.16 or this Section 2.17. The Issuer shall have the right to inspect and make copies of all such letters, notices or other written communications at any reasonable time upon the giving of reasonable notice to the applicable Registrar.

SECTION 2.18. Computation of Interest.

Unless otherwise specified for Notes of any series in the applicable Notes Supplemental Indenture, as contemplated by Section 2.01, interest on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

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SECTION 2.19. 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 outstanding at such date of determination.

For purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Notes or outstanding Notes of any series have voted in favor of or consented to a particular matter, or undertaken any other act under this Indenture, the principal amount of Euro-denominated Notes of any series shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of such principal amount of Euro-denominated Notes of such series as of (i) if a record date has been set in accordance with the provisions Section 9.05(b), such date or (ii) if no such record date has been set, the date the taking of such action by the Holders of such requisite principal amount is certified to the Trustee by the Issuer as provided in such Indenture. Any such calculation made pursuant to this Section 2.19 shall be made by the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate.

Unless otherwise specified for Notes of any series in the applicable Notes Supplemental Indenture, as contemplated by Section 2.01, 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 or the Notes of any series, as applicable, 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 or Notes of such series, as applicable, the Holders of which have so consented, by (b) the aggregate principal amount, as of such date of determination, of the Notes then outstanding or the Notes of such series then outstanding, as applicable, in each case, as determined in accordance with the preceding sentence, and Section 2.09 of this Indenture. Any such calculation made pursuant to this Section 2.19 shall be made by the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate.

ARTICLE THREE

REDEMPTION

SECTION 3.01. Notices to Trustee.

Unless otherwise specified for Notes of any series in the applicable Notes Supplemental Indenture, as contemplated by Section 2.01, if the Issuer elects to redeem the Notes of any series pursuant to Section 3.07, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price and the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed. Unless otherwise specified for Notes of any series in the applicable Notes Supplemental Indenture, as contemplated by Section 2.01, for a redemption pursuant to Section 3.07, the Issuer shall give notice of redemption to the applicable Paying Agent and Trustee at least 11 days but not more than 65 days before the Redemption Date (unless a shorter notice shall be agreed to by the Trustee in writing), together with an Officer’s Certificate stating that such redemption will comply with the conditions contained herein.

 

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SECTION 3.02. Selection of Notes To Be Redeemed.

Unless otherwise specified for Notes of any series in the applicable Notes Supplemental Indenture, as contemplated by Section 2.01, if less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed pursuant to Section 3.07 at any time, the Trustee will select the Notes for redemption as follows:

(1) if the Notes are listed on a national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the Notes are listed; or

(2) if the Notes are not listed on any national securities exchange, on a pro rata basis, by lot, by such method as the Trustee deems fair and appropriate or by a method in accordance with the procedures of DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable.

Unless otherwise specified for Notes of any series in the applicable Notes Supplemental Indenture, as contemplated by Section 2.01, no Dollar-denominated Notes of $2,000 or less shall be redeemed in part and no Euro-denominated Notes of €100,000 or less shall be redeemed in part.

Unless otherwise specified for Notes of any series in the applicable Notes Supplemental Indenture, as contemplated by Section 2.01, if a partial redemption is made with the proceeds of an Equity Offering in accordance with Section 6 of the applicable Notes Supplemental Indenture, the Trustee will select the applicable Notes on a pro rata basis or on as nearly a pro rata basis as is practicable (subject to Euroclear, Clearstream or DTC procedures, as applicable, unless otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange or depositary requirements).

SECTION 3.03. Notice of Redemption.

Unless otherwise specified for Notes of any series in the applicable Notes Supplemental Indenture, as contemplated by Section 2.01, at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before a Redemption Date for a redemption pursuant to Section 6 of the applicable Notes Supplemental Indenture, the Issuer shall mail or electronically transmit a notice of redemption by first class mail, postage prepaid, to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be mailed or electronically transmitted more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes, a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or a satisfaction and discharge of any Notes of a series. At the Issuer’s request, the Trustee shall forward the notice of redemption in the Issuer’s name and at the Issuer’s expense; provided that in such case, the Trustee has, unless otherwise specified for Notes of any series in the applicable Notes Supplemental Indenture, as contemplated by Section 2.01, received notice from the Issuer at least 11 days, but not more than 65 days, before a Redemption Date (unless a shorter notice shall be agreed to in writing by the Trustee). Unless the redemption is conditioned on the happening of an event in accordance with Section 6 of the applicable Notes Supplemental Indenture, Notes called for redemption become due on the date fixed for redemption. On and after the Redemption Date, interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions of them called for redemption. Each notice of redemption shall identify the Notes (including the CUSIP number) to be redeemed and shall state:

 

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(1) the Redemption Date;

(2) the Redemption Price and the amount of accrued interest, if any, to be paid;

(3) the name and address of the applicable Paying Agent;

(4) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the applicable Paying Agent to collect the Redemption Price, plus accrued interest, if any;

(5) that, unless the Issuer defaults in making the redemption payment, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the Redemption Date, unless the redemption is conditioned on the happening of an event in accordance with Section 6 of the applicable Notes Supplemental Indenture, and the only remaining right of the Holders of such Notes is to receive payment of the Redemption Price upon surrender to the applicable Paying Agent of the Notes redeemed;

(6) if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the Redemption Date, and upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in aggregate principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued;

(7) if fewer than all the Notes are to be redeemed, the identification of the particular Notes (or portion thereof) to be redeemed, as well as the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be outstanding after such partial redemption;

(8) the CUSIP Number and/or ISIN number, if any, printed on the Notes being redeemed;

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

(10) the Section of the Notes or the applicable Notes Supplemental Indenture pursuant to which the Notes are to be redeemed.

In addition, the Issuer may provide in any notice of redemption that payment of the Redemption Price and performance of the Issuer’s obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person.

 

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The notice, if mailed in a manner herein provided or transmitted electronically, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice by mail or electronically or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Note designated for redemption in whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Note. Notices of redemption may not be conditional, unless the redemption is conditioned on the happening of an event in accordance with Section 6 of the applicable Notes Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption.

Unless the redemption is conditioned on the happening of an event in accordance with Section 6 of the applicable Notes Supplemental Indenture, once notice of redemption is mailed or transmitted electronically in accordance with Section 3.03 or as provided in the applicable Notes Supplemental Indenture, Notes called for redemption become due and payable on the Redemption Date and at the Redemption Price plus accrued interest, if any. Upon surrender to the Trustee or the applicable Paying Agent, such Notes called for redemption shall be paid at the Redemption Price (which shall include accrued interest thereon to the Redemption Date), but installments of interest, the maturity of which is on or prior to the Redemption Date, shall be payable to Holders of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates. On and after the Redemption Date interest shall cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

SECTION 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price.

Unless otherwise specified for Notes of any series in the applicable Notes Supplemental Indenture, as contemplated by Section 2.01, with respect to the Notes, prior to 10:00 a.m., New York time, on the Redemption Date, the Issuer shall deposit with the applicable Paying Agent (or, if the Issuer or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary is a Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) U.S. Legal Tender and/or Government Securities or euros and/or European Government Securities, as applicable, 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 applicable Paying Agent funds sufficient to pay the principal of, plus accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes.

SECTION 3.06. Notes Redeemed in Part.

If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. A new Physical Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Physical Note shall be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Physical Note.

 

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SECTION 3.07. Applicability of Article.

Notes of or within any series that are redeemable in whole or in part before their Maturity Date shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms (except as otherwise specified for Notes of any series in the applicable Notes Supplemental Indenture, as contemplated by Section 2.01).

SECTION 3.08. Mandatory Redemption.

Unless otherwise specified for Notes of any series in the applicable Notes Supplemental Indenture, as contemplated by Section 2.01, the Issuer shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

ARTICLE FOUR

COVENANTS

The provisions set forth in this Article Four will apply after the Closing Date.

SECTION 4.01. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

The Issuer shall duly and punctually pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Notes in accordance with the terms of the Notes and this Indenture. Principal amount (and premium, if any) and interest on the Notes shall be considered paid on the date due if the Issuer shall have deposited with the applicable Paying Agent (if other than the Issuer or a wholly-owned Domestic Subsidiary of the Issuer) as of 12:00 p.m. New York City time on the due date (in the case of the Dollar-denominated Notes) and on the Business Day before the due date (in the case of the Euro-denominated Notes) money in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal amount (and premium, if any) and interest then due. At the option of the Issuer, payment of interest on a Note may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the note register or otherwise.

SECTION 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency.

(a) The Issuer shall maintain in the United States and, if and for so long as any Euro-denominated Notes are outstanding, in a European Union Member State as and to the extent contemplated by the final paragraph of Section 2.04, an office or agency where Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Notes may be surrendered for transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and of any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Issuer shall fail to maintain such office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

 

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(b) The Issuer may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Note may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations.

The Issuer hereby designates (i) the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as such office or agency of the Issuer where Dollar-denominated Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment or for transfer or exchange for so long as such Corporate Trust Office remains a place of payment, (ii) the office(s) of the Euro Paying Agent as such office or agency of the Issuer where Euro-denominated Notes may be presented for payment so long as each such office remains a place of payment and (iii) the office of any Registrar located in the European Union as such office or agency of the Issuer where Euro-denominated Notes may be presented or surrendered for transfer or exchange so long as each such office remains the office of a Registrar, in each case in accordance with Section 2.04.

SECTION 4.03. [RESERVED].

SECTION 4.04. [RESERVED].

SECTION 4.05. [RESERVED].

SECTION 4.06. Compliance Certificate; Notice of Default.

(a) The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the close of each fiscal year commencing with the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, an Officer’s Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries has been made under the supervision of the signing Officer with a view to determining whether the Issuer has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture and further stating that to the best of such Officer’s knowledge, the Issuer during such preceding fiscal year has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every such covenant and no Default occurred during such year and at the date of such certificate there is no Default that has occurred and is continuing or, if such signers do know of such Default, the certificate shall describe its status with particularity. The Officer’s Certificate shall also notify the Trustee should the Issuer elect to change the manner in which it fixes its fiscal year end or of any changes in its fiscal year.

(b) The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee as soon as possible, and in any event within 30 days after an Officer becomes aware of the occurrence of any Default, an Officer’s Certificate specifying the Default and describing its status with particularity and the action proposed to be taken thereto.

 

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SECTION 4.07. [RESERVED].

SECTION 4.08. Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws.

The Issuer covenants (to the extent permitted by applicable law) that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law or any usury law or other law that would prohibit or forgive the Issuer from paying all or any portion of the principal of and/or interest on the Notes as contemplated herein, wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture, and (to the extent permitted by applicable law) the Issuer hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

SECTION 4.09. Change of Control.

(a) If a Change of Control Triggering Event occurs with respect to the Notes after the Closing Date, unless the Issuer has exercised its right to redeem all the Notes pursuant to Section 3.07 (and has not rescinded such exercise), each Holder will have the right to require the Issuer to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof in the case of Dollar-denominated Notes and €100,000 and integral multiples of €1,000 in excess thereof in the case of Euro-denominated Notes) of that Holder’s Notes pursuant to an offer (a “Change of Control Offer”) on the terms set forth in this Indenture. In the Change of Control Offer, the Issuer will offer a payment (a “Change of Control Payment”) in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes repurchased, to the date of purchase.

(b) On or prior to the date that is 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event, the Issuer will mail or deliver by electronic transmission a notice to each Holder stating that a Change of Control Triggering Event has occurred or may occur and offering to repurchase the Notes on the date (the “Change of Control Payment Date”) specified in such notice, which date shall be a Business Day no earlier than 10 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed or delivered, pursuant to the procedures required by this Indenture and described in such notice. Such notice shall state:

(1) that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.09 and that Notes tendered and not withdrawn will be accepted for payment;

(2) the purchase price (including the amount of accrued interest) and the Change of Control Payment Date;

(3) that any Note not tendered will continue to accrue interest;

 

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(4) that, unless the Issuer defaults in making payment therefor, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer shall cease to accrue interest after the Change of Control Payment Date;

(5) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Note completed, to the applicable Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day prior to the Change of Control Payment Date;

(6) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the applicable Paying Agent receives, not later than the second Business Day prior to the Change of Control Payment Date, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Notes the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased; and

(7) that Holders whose Notes are purchased only in part will be issued new Notes in a principal amount equal to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered.

(c) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Issuer will, to the extent lawful:

(1) accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

(2) deposit with the Paying Agents an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered; and

(3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officer’s Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased by the Issuer.

(d) The Paying Agents will promptly mail to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee (or applicable authenticating agent) will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each new Dollar-denominated Note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof and each new Euro-denominated Note will be in a principal amount of €100,000 or an integral multiple of €1,000 in excess thereof.

The Issuer will publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date. However, if the Change of Control Payment Date is on or after an interest Record Date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such Record Date, and no additional interest shall be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Change of Control Offer.

 

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(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, a Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control Triggering Event, conditioned upon the consummation of such Change of Control Triggering Event, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time the Change of Control Offer is made.

(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control Triggering Event 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 4.09 (an “Alternate Offer”) and purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under the Change of Control Offer.

(g) The Issuer will comply, and will cause any third party making a Change of Control Offer or an Alternate Offer to comply, with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with a Change of Control Offer or an Alternate Offer. To the extent the provisions of any applicable securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Indenture relating to a Change of Control Offer, the Issuer will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Indenture by virtue of complying with such laws or regulations.

(h) If Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of a series of outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in a Change of Control Offer and the Issuer, or any third party making a Change of Control Offer in lieu of the Issuer as described in this Section 4.09, purchases all Notes of such series validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Issuer or such third party will have the right, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following such purchase pursuant to such Change of Control Offer, to redeem all Notes of such series that remain outstanding following such purchase at a price in cash equal to 101.0% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest to but excluding the date of such redemption (subject to the rights of Holders of such Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date).

SECTION 4.10. [RESERVED].

SECTION 4.11. [RESERVED].

SECTION 4.12. Liens.

(a) The Issuer will not, and will not permit any Guarantor to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien (except Permitted Liens) that secures obligations under any Indebtedness of the Issuer or of a Guarantor, on any asset or property of the Issuer or any Guarantor, or any income or profits therefrom, or on any right to receive income therefrom (the “Initial Lien”), unless (a) in the case of an Initial Lien on any Collateral, such Initial Lien has Junior

 

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Lien Priority on such Collateral in relation to the Notes and the Guarantees, as applicable or (b) in the case of an Initial Lien on any other asset or property, the Notes (or a Guarantee in the case of Liens of a Guarantor) are equally and ratably secured with (or, in the event the Lien relates to Subordinated Indebtedness, are secured on a senior basis to) the obligations so secured until such time as such obligations are no longer secured by a Lien.

(b) Any Lien created for the benefit of the Holders pursuant to Section 4.12(a) shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon the release and discharge of the Initial Lien that gave rise to the obligation to secure the Notes.

SECTION 4.13. [RESERVED].

SECTION 4.14. [RESERVED].

SECTION 4.15. [RESERVED].

SECTION 4.16. Additional Subsidiary Guarantees.

(a) The Issuer will cause each Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary (unless such Subsidiary is a Securitization Subsidiary) that guarantees any Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor under the Senior Term Loan Agreement or Senior Revolving Credit Agreement to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which such Subsidiary will guarantee payment of the Notes, substantially in the form of Exhibit I hereto. Each Guarantee will be limited to an amount not to exceed the maximum amount that can be guaranteed by that Restricted Subsidiary without rendering the Guarantee, as it relates to such Restricted Subsidiary, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

(b) Each Guarantee shall be released in accordance with Article Ten.

SECTION 4.17. Reports to Holders.

(a) The Issuer will furnish to the Trustee and the Holders of Notes, as their names and addresses appear in the note register, or make available on the Issuer’s website or another relevant internet or intranet website to which the Trustee and each Holder of Notes has access (including any website maintained by the SEC):

(1) within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year (or such longer period as would be permitted by the Commission if the Issuer were then subject to Commission reporting requirements as a non-accelerated filer; provided, that such longer period shall not apply if the Commission provided such longer period exclusively to the Issuer), annual audited consolidated financial statements for such fiscal year prepared in accordance with GAAP, together with a report on the annual financial statements by the Issuer’s certified independent accountants and a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of

 

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Financial Condition and Results of Operations” substantially similar to that which would be included in an Annual Report on Form 10-K (as in effect on the Closing Date) filed with the Commission by the Issuer (if the Issuer were required to prepare and file such form);

(2) within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year (or such longer period as would be permitted by the Commission if the Issuer were then subject to Commission reporting requirements as a non-accelerated filer; provided, that such longer period shall not apply if the Commission provided such longer period exclusively to the Issuer), unaudited consolidated financial statements for such fiscal quarter prepared in accordance with GAAP, together with a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” substantially similar to that which would be included in a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (as in effect on the Closing Date) filed with the Commission by the Issuer (if the Issuer were required to prepare and file such form); and

(3) information substantially similar to the information that would be required to be included in a Current Report on Form 8-K (as in effect on the Closing Date) filed with the Commission by the Issuer (if the Issuer were required to prepare and file such form) pursuant to Item 1.01 (Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement) (with respect to acquisitions and dispositions only), 1.03 (Bankruptcy or Receivership), 2.01 (Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets), 4.01 (Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountants) or 5.01 (Changes in Control of Registrant) of such form (and in any event excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the financial statements, pro forma financial information and exhibits, if any, that would be required by Item 9.01 (Financial Statements and Exhibits) of such form), within 15 days after the date of filing that would have been required for a current report on Form 8-K; provided that no such information shall be required to be furnished if the Issuer determines in its good faith judgment that such information is not material to the Holders of the Notes or the business, assets, operations or financial position of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(b) In addition, the Issuer will make such information available to securities analysts and prospective investors upon request. In addition, the Issuer has agreed that, for so long as any Notes remain outstanding, it will furnish to the 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.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) in the event that the Issuer furnishes to the Trustee and the Holders an Annual Report for any parent company of the Issuer on Form 10-K for any fiscal year, as filed with the Commission, within 90 days after the end of such fiscal year (or such longer period as would be permitted by the Commission if such parent company of the Issuer were then subject to Commission reporting requirements as a non-accelerated filer; provided, that such longer period shall not apply if the Commission provided such longer period exclusively to the Issuer (or such parent company of the Issuer)), such Form 10-K shall satisfy all requirements of clause (1) above with respect to such fiscal year, (ii) in the event that the Issuer furnishes to the

 

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Trustee and the Holders a Quarterly Report for any parent company of the Issuer on Form 10-Q for any fiscal quarter, as filed with the Commission, within 45 days after the end of such fiscal quarter (or such longer period as would be permitted by the Commission if such parent company of the Issuer were then subject to Commission reporting requirements as a non-accelerated filer; provided, that such longer period shall not apply if the Commission provided such longer period exclusively to the Issuer (or such parent company of the Issuer)), such Form 10-Q shall satisfy all requirements of clause (2) above with respect to such fiscal quarter and (iii) in the event that the Issuer furnishes to the Trustee and the Holders a Current Report for any parent company of the Issuer on Form 8-K that includes information pursuant to Item 1.01 (Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement) (with respect to acquisitions and dispositions only), 1.03 (Bankruptcy or Receivership), 2.01 (Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets), 4.01 (Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountants) or 5.01 (Changes in Control of Registrant) of such form (and in any event excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the financial statements, pro forma financial information and exhibits, if any, that would be required by Item 9.01 (Financial Statements and Exhibits) of such form), as filed with the Commission, within 15 days after the date of filing that would have been required for a current report on Form 8-K, such Form 8-K shall satisfy all requirements of clause (3) above with respect to such information.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.17, the Issuer will be deemed to have furnished the information and reports referred to above to the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes if the Issuer (or any parent company of the Issuer) has filed such information or reports with the Commission via the EDGAR filing system and such information and reports are publicly available (it being understood that the Trustee shall not be responsible for determining whether such filings have been made, that delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable therefrom).

(e) Notwithstanding anything in this covenant to the contrary, in no event shall any information or reports delivered pursuant to this covenant be required to (x) include any separate consolidating financial information with respect to the Issuer, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Affiliate of the Issuer, (y) comply with Section 302, Section 404 and Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, or related items 307 and 308 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act and (z) comply with Rule 3-05, Rule 3-09, Rule 3-10 and Rule 3-16 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act, as the same may be amended or any successor law, rule or regulation.

(f) With respect to all of the foregoing, the Trustee shall have no obligation to determine whether such information, documents or reports have been so posted or filed. Delivery of such information, documents and reports to the Trustee under this Indenture is for informational purposes only and the information and Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute actual or constructive notice of any information contained therein, or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuer’s compliance with any of its covenants thereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on an Officer’s Certificate). The Trustee shall have no duty to review or analyze reports delivered to it. Additionally, the Trustee shall not be obligated

 

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to monitor or confirm, on a continuing basis or otherwise, the Issuer’s compliance with the covenants or with respect to any reports or other documents filed with the SEC or any internet or intranet website or datasite under this Indenture.

SECTION 4.18. [RESERVED].

SECTION 4.19. [RESERVED].

SECTION 4.20. [RESERVED].

SECTION 4.21. Changes in Covenants When Notes Rated Investment Grade.

(a) If on any date following the Closing Date, (i) the Notes have Investment Grade Ratings from both Rating Agencies and (ii) no Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture (the occurrence of the events described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) being collectively referred to as a “Covenant Suspension Event” and the date thereof being referred to as the “Suspension Date”) then the covenants listed under Sections 4.16 and 5.01(a)(5) will not be applicable to the Notes (collectively, the “Suspended Covenants”).

(b) In the event that the Issuer and its 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 its Restricted Subsidiaries will thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants under this Indenture with respect to future events. The period of time between the Suspension Date and the Reversion Date is the “Suspension Period.”

(c) Notwithstanding that the Suspended Covenants may be reinstated, (1) no Default, Event of Default or breach of any kind will be deemed to exist or have occurred as a result of any failure by the Issuer or any Subsidiary to comply with the Suspended Covenants during any Suspension Period (or upon termination of the Suspension Period or after that time arising out of actions taken or events that occurred during the Suspension Period), and (2) following a Reversion Date the Issuer and any Subsidiary will be permitted, without causing a Default, Event of Default or breach of any kind, to honor, comply with or otherwise perform any contractual commitments or obligations arising prior to such Reversion Date and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby, and shall have no liability for any actions taken or events that occurred during the Suspension Period, or for any actions taken or events occurring at any time pursuant to any such commitment or obligation.

 

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ARTICLE FIVE

SUCCESSOR CORPORATION

SECTION 5.01. Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets.

(a) The Issuer may not (1) consolidate or merge with or into another Person (whether or not the Issuer is the surviving Person); or (2) sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, in one or more related transactions to another Person (including pursuant to a Division); unless:

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

(2) the Successor Company (if other than the Issuer) assumes all the obligations of the Issuer under the Notes and this Indenture pursuant to agreements in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

(3) immediately after such transaction no Default or Event of Default exists;

(4) [reserved]; and

(5) each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to the transactions described above, shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Guarantee shall apply to such Person’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes;

provided that, for the purposes of this Section 5.01 only, neither a Music Publishing Sale nor a Recorded Music Sale will be deemed to be a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. For the avoidance of doubt, (1) the Issuer may therefore consummate a Music Publishing Sale without complying with this Section 5.01 notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.01, (2) the Issuer may therefore consummate a Recorded Music Sale without complying with this Section 5.01 notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.01 and (3) the determination in the preceding proviso shall not affect the determination of what constitutes all or substantially all the assets of the Issuer under any other contract to which the Issuer is a party.

For the purpose of this Section 5.01, with respect to any sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of properties or assets in connection with any acquisition (including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary), the determination of whether such sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or disposition constitutes a sale of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole shall be made on a pro forma basis giving effect to such acquisition.

 

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This Section 5.01 will not apply to a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of assets between or among the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing clause (3), (i) any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Issuer or to another Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) the Issuer may merge with an Affiliate incorporated solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Issuer in another state of the United States.

In the event of any transaction described in and complying with the conditions listed in the preceding paragraph in which the Issuer is not the continuing corporation, the successor Person formed or remaining shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Issuer and the Issuer will be discharged from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Notes.

(b) The Issuer will deliver to the Trustee prior to the consummation of each proposed transaction an Officer’s Certificate certifying that the conditions set forth above are satisfied and an Opinion of Counsel, which opinion may contain customary exceptions and qualifications, that the proposed transaction and the supplemental indenture, if any, comply with this Indenture.

ARTICLE SIX

DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

SECTION 6.01. Events of Default.

Each of the following is an “Event of Default”:

(1) the Issuer defaults in payment when due and payable, upon redemption, acceleration or otherwise, of principal of, or premium, if any, on the Notes;

(2) the Issuer defaults in the payment when due of interest on or with respect to the Notes and such default continues for a period of 30 days;

(3) the Issuer defaults in the performance of, or breaches any covenant, warranty or other agreement contained in, this Indenture (other than a default in the performance or breach of a covenant, warranty or agreement which is specifically dealt with in clauses (1) or (2) above) and such default or breach continues for a period of (i) 180 days with regard to Section 4.17 or (ii) 60 days with regard to other covenants, warranties or agreements contained in this Indenture, in each case after receipt of written notice given by the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of outstanding Notes; provided that a notice of Default with respect to any action taken, and reported publicly or to Holders more than two years prior to such notice of Default, may not be given and any such notice shall be invalid and have no effect; provided, further, that such notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that such notice is a “Notice of Default”; provided, further, that when a Default or an Event of Default is cured, it ceases;

 

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(4) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there is issued or by which there is secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary), whether such Indebtedness or guarantee exists on, or is created after, the Closing Date, if (A) such default either (1) results from the failure to pay any principal of such Indebtedness at its stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods) or (2) relates to an obligation other than the obligation to pay principal of any such Indebtedness at its stated final maturity and results in the holder or holders of such Indebtedness causing such Indebtedness to become due prior to its Stated Maturity and (B) the principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness in default for failure to pay principal at stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods), or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregate $75.0 million (or its foreign currency equivalent) or more at any one time outstanding;

(5) the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law;

(A) commences a voluntary case,

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

(C) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,

(D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors,

(E) takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency,

(F) generally is not able to pay its debts as they become due, or

(G) takes any corporate action to authorize or effect any of the foregoing;

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

 

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(A) is for relief against the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case,

(B) appoints a Custodian of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary, or

(C) orders the liquidation of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days;

(7) the failure by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary to pay final judgments (net of amounts covered by insurance policies issued by reputable and creditworthy insurance companies) aggregating in excess of $75.0 million, which final judgments remain unpaid, undischarged and unstayed for a period of more than 60 days after such judgment becomes final, and, with respect to any judgments covered by insurance, an enforcement proceeding has been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or decree which is not promptly stayed;

(8) the Guarantee of a Significant Subsidiary ceases to be in full force and effect (except as contemplated by the terms thereof) or any Guarantor denies or disaffirms its obligations under this Indenture or any Guarantee, other than by reason of the discharge of this Indenture or the release of any such Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture, and such Default continues for 10 days; or

(9) with respect to any Collateral, individually, having a fair market value in excess of $75.0 million, any of the Security Documents ceases to be in full force and effect, or any of the Security Documents ceases to give the Holders the Liens purported to be created thereby, or any of the Security Documents is declared null and void or the Issuer or any Guarantor denies in writing that it has any further liability under any Security Document (in each case other than in accordance with the terms of this Indenture or any of the Security Documents), except to the extent that any loss of perfection or priority results from the failure of the Collateral Agent (or any other collateral agent for any Secured Indebtedness) to maintain possession of certificates actually delivered to it representing securities, promissory notes or other instruments pledged under the Security Documents, or otherwise results from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent (or any other collateral agent for any Secured Indebtedness) and except, as to Collateral consisting of real property, to the extent that such failure is covered by a lender’s title insurance policy and the Collateral Agent is reasonably satisfied with the credit of such insurer; provided, that if a failure of the sort described in this clause (9) is susceptible of cure (including with respect to any loss of Lien priority on material portions of the Collateral), no Event of Default shall arise under this clause (9) with respect thereto until 30 days after an Officer becomes aware of such failure.

 

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SECTION 6.02. Acceleration.

If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(5) or (6) occurs with respect to the Issuer and is continuing, unless otherwise specified for Notes of any series in the applicable Notes Supplemental Indenture as contemplated by Section 2.01, then all unpaid principal of, and premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all of the outstanding Notes shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of each Trustee or any Holder.

If any other Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, unless otherwise specified for Notes of any series in the applicable Notes Supplemental Indenture as contemplated by Section 2.01, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of outstanding Notes under this Indenture may declare the principal of and accrued interest on such Notes to be due and payable by notice in writing to the Issuer and the Trustee specifying the respective Event of Default and that it is a “notice of acceleration”, and the same shall become immediately due and payable.

Unless otherwise specified for Notes of any series in the applicable Notes Supplemental Indenture as contemplated by Section 2.01, at any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Notes as described in the two preceding paragraphs, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes may rescind and cancel such declaration and its consequences:

(1) if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree;

(2) if all existing Events of Default have been cured or waived except nonpayment of principal or interest that has become due solely because of the acceleration; and

(3) to the extent the payment of such interest is lawful, interest on overdue installments of interest and overdue principal, which has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration, has been paid.

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

SECTION 6.03. Other Remedies.

(a) If a Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy by proceeding at law or in equity to collect the payment of principal of or interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.

(b) 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 Noteholder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon a Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

 

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(c) In the event of any Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(4), such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding, however, any resulting payment default) will be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the Holders, if within 20 days after such Event of Default arose 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 or (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.

(d) Holders may not enforce this Indenture or the Notes except as provided in this Indenture and under the TIA, if provisions from the TIA are incorporated into this Indenture. Subject to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the duties of the Trustee, the Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders, unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity. Subject to all provisions of this Indenture and applicable law, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes issued under this Indenture have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee.

(e) Any time period in this Indenture to cure any actual or alleged Default or Event of Default may be extended or stayed by a court of competent jurisdiction to the extent such actual or alleged Default or Event of Default is the subject of litigation.

SECTION 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults.

The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes may on behalf of the Holders of all the Notes waive any past Default hereunder and its consequences, except a Default;

(a) in the payment of interest on or the principal of any Note (which may only be waived with the consent of each Holder affected), or

(b) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof that pursuant to Section 9.02(b) cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Note affected.

In the case of any such waiver, the Issuer, the Trustee and the Holders will be restored to their former positions and rights under this Indenture, respectively; provided that no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereto; provided, however, that if any amendment, waiver or other modification will only affect one series of Notes (or less than all series of Notes) then outstanding, only the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes of such series then outstanding (and not the consent of at least a

 

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majority of all Notes), as the case may be, shall be required. This paragraph of this Section 6.04 shall be in lieu of § 316(a)(1)(B) of the TIA and such § 316(a)(1)(B) of the TIA is hereby expressly excluded from this Indenture and the Notes, as permitted by the TIA.

SECTION 6.05. Control by Majority.

The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it. Subject to Section 7.01, however, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with any law or this Indenture, that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of another Noteholder, or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability; provided that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.

In the event the Trustee takes any action or follows any direction pursuant to this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification against any loss or expense caused by taking such action or following such direction.

SECTION 6.06. Limitation on Suits.

Subject to Section 6.07, no Holder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:

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

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

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

(4) the Trustee has not complied with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it; and

(5) during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction which, in the opinion of the Trustee, is inconsistent with the request.

A Holder may not use this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of another Holder, to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder or to enforce any right under this Indenture except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all Holders (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are unduly prejudicial to such Holders).

 

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SECTION 6.07. Rights of Holders to Receive Payment.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Note shall have the absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of and all interest on such Note on or after the respective Maturity Date or Interest Payment Dates expressed in such Note and to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective Maturity Date or Interest Payment Dates, and such right shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

SECTION 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee.

If an Event of Default in payment of principal or interest specified in Section 6.01(1) or (2) 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 of principal and accrued interest and fees remaining unpaid, together with interest on overdue principal and, to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest on overdue installments of interest, in each case at the rate per annum borne by the Notes and such further amounts provided for in Section 7.07.

SECTION 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relating to the Issuer, its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceedings is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agent and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07.

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding. The Trustee shall be entitled to participate as a member of any officer committee of creditors in the matters as it deems necessary or advisable.

SECTION 6.10. Priorities.

Subject to the provisions of Article Ten, if the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article Six, it shall pay out the money or property in the following order:

FIRST: to the Trustee for amounts due under Section 7.07;

 

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

THIRD: to the Issuer.

SECTION 6.11. Undertaking for Costs.

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or the Notes, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered 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 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07, or a suit by a Holder or Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes.

ARTICLE SEVEN

THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee.

(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.

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

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

(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates (including Officer’s Certificates) or opinions (including Opinions of Counsel) furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

 

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(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(1) This paragraph does not limit the effect of Section 7.01(b).

(2) 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.

(3) The Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05.

(d) 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 to take or omit to take any action under this Indenture or take any action at the request or direction of Holders if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds is not assured to it.

(e) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to this Section 7.01.

(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuer. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

(g) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 7.01 and Section 7.02. In the absence of bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee shall not be responsible for the application of any money by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee.

SECTION 7.02. Certain Rights of Trustee.

Subject to Section 7.01:

(a) the Trustee may rely conclusively 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 and an Opinion of Counsel, which shall conform to the provisions of Section 12.06. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such certificate or opinion;

 

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(c) the Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent (other than an agent who is an employee of the Trustee) appointed with due care;

(d) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it reasonably believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers;

(e) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice or opinion of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel 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 reliance thereon;

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

(g) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, (including any Officer’s Certificate), statement, instrument, opinion (including any Opinion of Counsel), notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled, upon reasonable notice to the Issuer, to examine the books, records, and premises of the Issuer, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Issuer;

(h) the Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder;

(i) the permissive rights of the Trustee to do things enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as duties;

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

(k) the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder;

 

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(l) in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage regardless of the form of action;

(m) the Trustee may request that the Issuer and any Guarantor deliver an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers (with specimen signatures) authorized at such times to take specific actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officer’s Certificate may be signed by any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded; and

(n) For certain payments made pursuant to this Indenture, the Trustee may be required to make a “reportable payment” or “withholdable payment” and in such cases (i) the Trustee shall have the duty to act as a payor or withholding agent, respectively, that is responsible for any tax withholding and reporting required under Chapters 3, 4, and 61 of the Code and (ii) the Trustee shall have the sole right to make the determination as to which payments are “reportable payments” or “withholdable payments.” The Trustee shall be entitled to withhold on any such payments hereunder to the extent withholding is required under Chapters 3, 4, or 61 of the Code, and shall have no obligation to pay any additional amounts with respect to any such withholding on or in respect of the Notes.

SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee.

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuer, its Subsidiaries or their respective Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

SECTION 7.04. Trustees Disclaimer.

The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Issuer’s use of the proceeds from the Notes, and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Issuer in this Indenture or any document issued in connection with the sale of the Notes or any statement in the Notes other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication. The Trustee makes no representations with respect to the effectiveness or adequacy of this Indenture.

SECTION 7.05. Notice of Default.

If a Default occurs and is continuing and the Trustee receives actual notice of such Default, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder notice of the uncured Default within 60 days after such Default occurs. Except in the case of a Default in payment of principal of, or interest on, any Note, including an accelerated payment and the failure to make payment on the Change of Control Payment Date pursuant to a Change of Control Offer, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as the

 

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Board of Directors, the executive committee, or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers, of the Trustee in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interest of the Holders.

SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders.

Within 60 days after each April 1, beginning with April 1, 2021, (but only after this Indenture is qualified under the TIA) the Trustee shall, to the extent that any of the events described in TIA § 313(a) occurred within the previous twelve months, but not otherwise, mail to each Holder a brief report dated as of such date that complies with TIA § 313(a). From the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA, to the extent applicable, the Trustee also shall comply with TIA §§ 313(b), 313(c) and 313(d).

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Holders shall be mailed to the Issuer and filed with the Commission and each securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed.

The Issuer shall notify the Trustee if the Notes become listed on any securities exchange or of any delisting thereof and the Trustee shall comply with TIA § 313(d).

SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity.

(1) 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 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 disbursements, expenses and advances (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) incurred or made by it in accordance with any provision of this Indenture, except any such disbursements, expenses and advances as may be attributable to the Trustee’s negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct. Such expenses shall include the reasonable fees and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

(2) The Issuer shall indemnify the Trustee for, and hold it harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability or expense incurred by them except for such actions to the extent caused by any negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the Trustee’s part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust (including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture or a Guarantee against the Issuer or a Guarantor (including this Section 7.07) and the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against or investigating any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its rights, powers or duties hereunder (whether asserted by the Issuer, any Guarantor or any other Person)). The Trustee shall notify the Issuer promptly of any claim asserted against the Trustee for which it may seek indemnity. The Issuer may, subject to the approval of the Trustee (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel with respect to such claim and the Issuer shall pay the reasonable fees and

 

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expenses of such counsel; provided, however, that the Issuer will not be required to pay such fees and expenses if, subject to the approval of the Trustee (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), it assumes the Trustee’s defense and there is no conflict of interest between the Issuer and the Trustee subject to the claim in connection with such defense as reasonably determined by the Trustee. The Issuer need not pay for any settlement made without its written consent. The Issuer need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability to the extent incurred by the Trustee through its negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.

Notwithstanding Section 4.12, to secure the Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes against all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, in its capacity as Trustee, except with respect to funds held in trust for the benefit of the holders of particular Notes.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01 (5) or (6), such expenses and the compensation for such services shall be paid to the extent allowed under any Bankruptcy Law and are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or the appointment of a successor Trustee.

SECTION 7.08. Replacement of Trustee.

The Trustee may resign at any time by so notifying the Issuer in writing. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Issuer and the Trustee and may appoint a successor Trustee. The Issuer may remove the Trustee if:

(1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;

(2) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent;

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

(4) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Issuer shall notify each Holder of such event and shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Issuer.

 

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A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuer. Immediately after that, the retiring Trustee shall transfer, after payment of all sums then owing to the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.07, all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the Lien provided in Section 7.07, 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. A successor Trustee shall mail notice of its succession to each Holder.

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

If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, any Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Issuer’s obligations under Section 7.07 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

SECTION 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc.

If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation without any further act shall, if such resulting, surviving or transferee corporation is otherwise eligible hereunder, be the successor Trustee; provided that such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article Seven.

SECTION 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification.

This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirement of TIA §§ 310(a)(1), 310(a)(2) and 310(a)(5). The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $150,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. In addition, if the Trustee is a corporation included in a bank holding company system, the Trustee, independently of the bank holding company, shall meet the capital requirements of TIA § 310(a)(2). The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 310(b); provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of TIA § 310(b)(1) any indenture or indentures under which other securities, or certificates of interest or participation in other securities, of the Issuer are outstanding, if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in TIA § 310(b)(1) are met. The provisions of TIA § 310 shall apply to the Issuer and any other obligor of the Notes.

 

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SECTION 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuer.

The Trustee, in its capacity as Trustee hereunder, shall comply with TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated.

ARTICLE EIGHT

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE

SECTION 8.01. Satisfaction and Discharge.

This Indenture shall be discharged and shall cease to be of further effect as to all Notes, when:

(a) either:

(i) all Notes that have been authenticated, except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has been deposited in trust, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(ii) all Notes that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the mailing or delivery of a notice of redemption or otherwise or will become due and payable by reason of the mailing or delivery of a notice of redemption or otherwise within one year and the Issuer has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, (x) in the case of the Dollar-denominated Notes, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable Government Securities and (y) in the case of the Euro-denominated Notes, cash in euros, non-callable European Government Securities, or a combination of cash in euros and non-callable European Government Securities, in amounts for purposes of clauses (x) and (y) above as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation of principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption; provided that upon any redemption that requires the payment of the Applicable Premium (as defined in the applicable supplemental indenture with respect to each series of Notes), the amount deposited shall be sufficient for purposes of this Indenture to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee equal to the Applicable Premium (as defined in the applicable supplemental indenture with respect to each series of Notes) calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption, with any Applicable Premium Deficit only required to be deposited with the Trustee on or prior to the date of redemption. Any Applicable Premium Deficit shall be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the deposit of such Applicable Premium Deficit that confirms that such Applicable Premium Deficit shall be applied toward such redemption;

 

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(b) the Issuer has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under this Indenture;

(c) the Issuer has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee under this Indenture to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be.

The Notes of any series will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect, when:

(a) either:

(i) all Notes of such series that have been authenticated, except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes of such series for whose payment money has been deposited in trust, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(ii) all Notes of such series that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the mailing or delivery of a notice of redemption or otherwise or will become due and payable by reason of the mailing or delivery of a notice of redemption or otherwise within one year and the Issuer has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, (i) in the case of Notes denominated in U.S. Dollars, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable Government Securities and (ii) in the case of Notes denominated in Euro, cash in euros, non-callable European Government Securities, or a combination of cash in euros and non-callable European Government Securities), in amounts for purposes of clauses (i) and (ii) above as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes of such series not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation of principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption; provided that upon any redemption that requires the payment of the Applicable Premium (as defined in the applicable supplemental indenture with respect to such series of Notes), the amount deposited shall be sufficient for purposes of the Notes of such series to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee equal to the Applicable Premium (as defined in the applicable supplemental indenture with respect to such series of Notes) calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption, with any Applicable Premium Deficit only required to be deposited with the Trustee on or prior to the date of redemption. Any Applicable Premium Deficit shall be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the deposit of such Applicable Premium Deficit that confirms that such Applicable Premium Deficit shall be applied toward such redemption;

(b) the Issuer has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under the Notes of such series; and

 

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(c) the Issuer has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee under the Notes of such series to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be.

In addition, the Issuer must deliver an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions) to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.

Subject to the next sentence and notwithstanding the foregoing paragraph, the Issuer’s obligations in Sections 2.06, 2.07, 2.08, 2.09, 7.07, 8.05 and 8.06 shall survive until the Notes are no longer outstanding pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 2.09. After the Notes are no longer outstanding, the Issuer’s obligations in Sections 7.07, 8.05 and 8.06 shall survive.

After such delivery or irrevocable deposit, the Trustee upon request shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of the Issuer’s obligations under the Notes and this Indenture except for those surviving obligations specified above.

SECTION 8.02. Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance.

(a) The Issuer may, at its option and at any time, elect to have either paragraph (b) or (c) below applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth in Section 8.03.

(b) Upon the Issuer’s exercise under paragraph (a) above of the option applicable to this paragraph (b), the Issuer and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.03, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Issuer shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.04 and the other Sections of this Indenture (with respect to such Notes) referred to in (i) and (ii) below, and to have cured all then existing Events of Default and satisfied all its other obligations under such Notes and this Indenture (with respect to such Notes) and the Guarantors shall be deemed to have satisfied all of their obligations under the Subsidiary Guarantees and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Issuer, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

(1) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive payments in respect of the principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on such Notes when such payments are due from the trust referred to below;

(2) the Issuer’s obligations with respect to the Notes concerning issuing temporary Notes, registration of Notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for security payments held in trust;

 

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(3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee, and the Issuer’s obligations in connection therewith; and

(4) this Article Eight.

Subject to compliance with this Article Eight, the Issuer may exercise its option under this Section 8.02(b) notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.02(c).

(c) Upon the Issuer’s exercise under paragraph (a) above of the option applicable to this paragraph (c), the Issuer and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.03, be released from their obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.06 and 4.09 through 4.17 and clause (3) of Section 5.01(a) with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.03 are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes, the Issuer may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute an Event of Default under Section 6.01, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Issuer’s exercise under paragraph (a) above of the option applicable to this paragraph (c), subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.03, clauses (3), (4), (5), (6) and (7) of Section 6.01 shall not constitute Events of Default.

SECTION 8.03. Conditions to Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance described in Section 8.02 to the outstanding Notes:

(1) the Issuer must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, (i) in the case of Dollar-denominated Notes, cash in U.S. Legal Tender, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. Legal Tender and non-callable Government Securities and (ii) in the case of Euro-denominated Notes, cash in euros, non-callable European Government Securities, or a combination of cash in euros and non-callable European Government Securities, in amounts for purposes of clauses (i) and (ii) above as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, or interest and premium, if any, on the

 

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outstanding Notes on the stated maturity or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Issuer must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular redemption date; provided that upon any redemption that requires the payment of the Applicable Premium, the amount deposited shall be sufficient for purposes of this Indenture to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee equal to the Applicable Premium calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption, with any deficit as of the date of redemption (any such amount, the “Applicable Premium Deficit”) only required to be deposited with the Trustee on or prior to the date of redemption. Any Applicable Premium Deficit shall be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the deposit of such Applicable Premium Deficit that confirms that such Applicable Premium Deficit shall be applied toward such redemption;

(2) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, (a) the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (b) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel will confirm that, the holders of the respective outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

(3) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the holders of the respective outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

(4) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit and any simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith);

(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is bound (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit and any simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith);

 

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(6) the Issuer must deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuer with the intent of preferring the Holders over the other creditors of the Issuer with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of the Issuer or others; and

(7) the Issuer must deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions), each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

If the Issuer exercises its Legal Defeasance option or its Covenant Defeasance option, all Liens on the Collateral securing the Indebtedness evidenced by the Notes will be released and the Security Documents to the extent they secure Notes Obligations shall cease to be of further effect.

SECTION 8.04. Application of Trust Money.

All U.S. Legal Tender, Government Securities, euros and European Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to this Article Eight shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest on the Notes; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Issuer shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Legal Tender, Government Securities euros and European Government Securities, deposited pursuant to Section 8.03 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the holders of the outstanding Notes.

Anything in this Article Eight to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Issuer from time to time upon the Issuer’s request any U.S. Legal Tender, Government Securities, euros and European Government Securities, held by it as provided in Section 8.03 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

SECTION 8.05. Repayment to the Issuer.

The Trustee shall pay to the Issuer upon an Issuer request any excess U.S. Legal Tender, Government Securities, euros and European Government Securities held by it for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years after the Maturity Date or the Redemption Date, as the case may be. After payment to the Issuer, Holders entitled to money must look to the Issuer for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another Person and all liability of the Trustee or any Paying Agent with respect to such money shall thereupon cease.

 

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SECTION 8.06. Reinstatement.

If the Trustee or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any U.S. Legal Tender, Government Securities, euros and/or European Government Securities in accordance with this Article Eight, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the obligations of the Issuer and each of the Guarantors, if any, under this Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article Eight, until such time as the Trustee or such Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such U.S. Legal Tender, Government Securities, euros and European Government Securities in accordance with this Article Eight; provided, however, that if the Issuer or any Guarantor make any payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer or Guarantors, if any, as the case may be, shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the U.S. Legal Tender, Government Securities, euros and European Government Securities held by the Trustee or the applicable Paying Agent.

ARTICLE NINE

AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS

SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of Holders.

Notwithstanding Section 9.02, the Issuer, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Notes Authorized Representative, and the Collateral Agent (if applicable) may amend or supplement this Indenture, any Note, any Guarantee, any Security Document, the Intercreditor Agreement or any other applicable intercreditor agreement without notice to or consent of any Holder:

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

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

(3) to provide for the assumption of the Issuer’s obligations to Holders in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the Issuer’s assets;

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

(5) to comply with requirements of the Commission in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA;

 

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(6) to conform the text of this Indenture (including any supplemental indenture or other instrument pursuant to which Notes are issued), the Guarantees, the Notes (including any Additional Notes), any Security Document, the Intercreditor Agreement or any other applicable intercreditor agreement to any provision of the “Description of Senior Secured Notes” section of the Offering Circular or, with respect to any Additional Notes and any supplemental indenture or other instrument pursuant to which such Additional Notes are issued, to the “Description of Senior Secured Notes” section of the offering circular relating to the issuance of such Additional Notes solely to the extent that such “Description of Senior Secured Notes” provides for terms of such Additional Notes that differ from the terms of the Initial Notes, as contemplated by Section 2.01;

(7) to add a Guarantee of the Notes, including, without limitation, by any parent company of the Issuer;

(8) to provide for the issuance of Initial Notes or Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in this Indenture as of the Closing Date, or to provide for the issuance of Exchange Notes;

(9) to make any amendment to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Notes as permitted by this Indenture, including, without limitation, to facilitate the issuance, administration and book-entry transfer of the Notes; provided, however, that (i) compliance with this Indenture as so amended would not result in the Notes being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable securities law and (ii) such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer the Notes;

(10) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment of a successor trustee or collateral agent so long as the successor trustee or collateral agent is otherwise qualified and eligible to act as such under the terms of this Indenture;

(11) to secure the Notes or to add to the Collateral (including to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant any other Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Trustee and the Holders, as additional security for the payment and performance of all or any portion of the Obligations with respect to the Notes, in any property or assets, including any that are required to be mortgaged, pledged or hypothecated, or in which a Lien is required to be granted, to or for the benefit of the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Indenture, any of the Security Documents or otherwise);

(12) to provide for Additional Obligations pursuant to the Security Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement or any other intercreditor agreement; or

(13) to confirm and evidence the release, termination or discharge of any Guarantee or Lien with respect to or securing the Notes when such release, termination or discharge is provided for under this Indenture or any of the Security Documents;

 

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provided that the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel and an Officer’s Certificate, each stating that such amendment or supplement complies with the provisions of this Section 9.01.

The intercreditor provisions of the Security Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement and any other applicable intercreditor agreement may be amended from time to time with the consent of the parties thereto. In addition, the Issuer may, without the consent of any other party thereto, amend the Security Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement and any other applicable intercreditor agreement to designate indebtedness as “Additional Pari Passu Obligations” (as defined in such agreement), or as any other indebtedness subject to terms and provisions of such agreement.

SECTION 9.02. With Consent of Holders.

(a) Except as provided for in Section 9.01, 9.02(b) and 9.02(c), this Indenture, the Notes, any Guarantee, any Security Document or the Intercreditor Agreement or any other applicable intercreditor agreement may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes (and Additional Notes, if any) then outstanding voting as a single class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes), and any existing default or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Notes or any Guarantee may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes (including Additional Notes, if any) then outstanding voting as a single class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes) voting as a single class; provided, that (x) if any such amendment or waiver will only affect one series of Notes (or less than all series of Notes) then outstanding under this Indenture, then only the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Notes of such series then outstanding (including, in each case, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for Notes and Additional Notes, if any) shall be required and (y) if any such amendment or waiver by its terms will affect a series of Notes in a manner different and materially adverse relative to the manner such amendment or waiver affects other series of Notes, then the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Notes of such series then Outstanding (including, in each case, consent obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for Notes) shall be required.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 9.02(a), without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver of this Indenture, including a waiver pursuant to Section 6.04, may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

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

(2) reduce the principal of or change the fixed final maturity of any Note or alter the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Notes (other than provisions of Section 4.09);

 

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

(4) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, or interest, premium, if any, on the Notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

(5) amend or waive the legal right of any Holder of any Note to receive payment of principal of and interest on such Note on or after the respective Stated Maturity for such principal or interest payment date for such interest expressed in such Note, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective Stated Maturity or interest payment date;

(6) modify the Guarantees of Significant Subsidiaries in any manner adverse to the Holders; or

(7) make any change in the preceding amendment and waiver provisions;

(c) In addition, without the consent of the Holders of at least 66-2/3% in principal amount of Notes then outstanding, no amendment, supplement or waiver may make any change to any Security Document or the Intercreditor Agreement or any other applicable intercreditor agreement or the specified provisions in this Indenture dealing with the Collateral or the Security Documents, that would release all or substantially all of the Collateral from the Liens of the Security Documents (except as permitted by the terms of this Indenture, the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement).

(d) 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, supplement or waiver but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

(e) After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Issuer shall mail to the Holders affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Issuer to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

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SECTION 9.03. Reserved.

SECTION 9.04. Compliance with TIA.

From the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA, if it is so qualified, every amendment, waiver or supplement of this Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees shall comply with the TIA as then in effect. This Indenture has not been qualified under the TIA at inception.

SECTION 9.05. Revocation and Effect of Consents.

(a) Until an amendment, waiver or supplement becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder or subsequent holder of a Note may revoke the consent as to his Note or portion of his Note by notice to the Trustee or the Issuer received before the date on which the Trustee receives an Officer’s Certificate certifying that the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Notes have consented (and not theretofore revoked such consent) to the amendment, supplement or waiver.

(b) The Issuer may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the last sentence of the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Noteholders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 90 days after such record date. The Issuer shall inform the Trustee in writing of the fixed record date if applicable.

(c) After an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder, unless it makes a change described in any of Section 9.02(b)(1) through (7), in which case, the amendment, supplement or waiver shall bind only each Holder who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note; provided that any such waiver shall not impair or affect the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on a Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Note, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates without the consent of such Holder.

SECTION 9.06. Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Note, the Trustee shall (if required by the Issuer and in accordance with the specific direction of the Issuer) request the holder of the Note to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee shall (if required by the Issuer and in accordance with the specific direction of the Issuer) place an appropriate notation on the Note about the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Issuer or the Trustee so determines, the Issuer

 

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in exchange for the Note shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Note that reflects the changed terms. Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

SECTION 9.07. Trustee To Sign Amendments, Etc.

The Trustee shall execute any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article Nine; provided that the Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, execute any such amendment, supplement or waiver which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture. The Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel and an Officer’s Certificate each stating that the execution of any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article Nine is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Issuer enforceable in accordance with its terms. Such Opinion of Counsel shall be at the expense of the Issuer.

ARTICLE TEN

GUARANTEES

SECTION 10.01. Unconditional Guarantee.

Subject to the provisions of this Article Ten, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees, on a senior basis to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Issuer or any other Guarantors to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder: (a) (x) the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at maturity, upon redemption or repurchase, by acceleration or otherwise, (y) the due and punctual payment of interest on the overdue principal and (to the extent permitted by law) interest, if any, on the Notes and (z) the due and punctual payment and performance of all other obligations of the Issuer and all other obligations of the other Guarantors (including under the Guarantees), in each case, to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder (including amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07), all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof (collectively, the “Guarantee Obligations”); and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, the due and punctual payment and performance of Guarantee Obligations in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at maturity, upon redemption or repurchase, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed, or failing performance of any other obligation of the Issuer to the Holders under this Indenture or under the Notes, for whatever reason, each Guarantor shall be obligated to pay, or to perform or cause the performance of, the same immediately. An Event of Default under this Indenture or the Notes shall constitute an event of default under the Guarantees, and shall entitle the Holders to accelerate the obligations of the Guarantors thereunder in the same manner and to the same extent as the obligations of the Issuer.

 

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Each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, any release of any other Guarantor, the recovery of any judgment against the Issuer, any action to enforce the same, whether or not a Guarantee is affixed to any particular Note, or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a Guarantor. Each of the Guarantors hereby waives the benefit of diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuer, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that its Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes, this Indenture and the Guarantee. The Guarantee is a guarantee of payment and not of collection. If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Issuer or to any Guarantor, or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to the Issuer or such Guarantor, any amount paid by the Issuer or such Guarantor to the Trustee or such Holder, the Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between it, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (a) subject to this Article Ten, the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article Six for the purposes of the Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (b) in the event of any acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article Six, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of the Guarantee.

SECTION 10.02. Reserved.

SECTION 10.03. Limitation on Guarantor Liability.

Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee and this Article Ten shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws, and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article Ten, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

 

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SECTION 10.04. Reserved.

SECTION 10.05. Release of a Guarantor.

The Guarantee of a Guarantor will be released in the event that:

(a) the sale, disposition or other transfer (including through merger or consolidation) of all of the Capital Stock (or any sale, disposition or other transfer of Capital Stock or other transaction following which the applicable Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary), or all or substantially all the assets, of the applicable Guarantor if such sale, disposition or other transfer is made in compliance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture;

(b) the Issuer designates any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”;

(c) the release or discharge of the guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness under the Senior Term Loan Agreement or Senior Revolving Credit Agreement, or the guarantee that resulted in the obligation of such Restricted Subsidiary to guarantee the Notes;

(d) the exercise of the Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance by the Issuer pursuant to Section 8.02 or the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture being discharged in accordance with Section 8.01; or

(e) during the Suspension Period, upon the merger or consolidation of any Guarantor with and into another Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor with such other Subsidiary being the surviving Person in such merger or consolidation, or upon liquidation of such Guarantor following the transfer of all of its assets to the Issuer or a Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor.

The Trustee shall execute an appropriate instrument prepared by the Issuer evidencing the release of a Guarantor from its obligations under its Guarantee upon receipt of a request by the Issuer or such Guarantor accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel certifying as to the compliance with this Section 10.05; provided, however, that the legal counsel delivering such Opinion of Counsel may rely as to matters of fact on one or more Officer’s Certificates of the Issuer.

Except as set forth in Articles Four and Five and this Section 10.05, nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Notes shall prevent any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the Issuer or another Guarantor or shall prevent any Guarantor from consolidating with or merging into or selling its assets to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary without limitation, or with other Persons.

 

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SECTION 10.06. Waiver of Subrogation.

Until this Indenture is discharged and all of the Notes are discharged and paid in full, each Guarantor, if any, hereby irrevocably waives any claim or other rights that it may now or hereafter acquire against the Issuer that arise from the existence, payment, performance or enforcement of the Issuer’s obligations under the Notes and this Indenture or such Guarantor’s obligations under its Guarantee and this Indenture, including, without limitation, any right of subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution, indemnification, and any right to participate in any claim or remedy of any Holder against the Issuer, whether or not such claim, remedy or right arises in equity, or under contract, statute or common law, including, without limitation, the right to take or receive from the Issuer, directly or indirectly, in cash or other assets or by set off or in any other manner, payment or security on account of such claim or other rights. If any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence and the Notes shall not have been paid in full, such amount shall be deemed to have been paid to such Guarantor for the benefit of, and held in trust for the benefit of, the Holders, and shall forthwith be paid to the Trustee for the benefit of such Holders to be credited and applied to the obligations in favor of the Trustee or the Holders, as the case may be, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture. Each Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by this Indenture and that the waiver set forth in this

Section 10.06 is knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

SECTION 10.07. Immediate Payment.

Each Guarantor agrees to make immediate payment to the Trustee on behalf of the Holders of all Guarantee Obligations owing or payable to the respective Holders upon receipt of a demand for payment therefor by the Trustee to such Guarantor in writing.

SECTION 10.08. No Setoff.

Each payment to be made by a Guarantor hereunder in respect of the Guarantee Obligations shall be payable in the currency or currencies in which such Guarantee Obligations are denominated, and shall be made without set-off, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any kind or nature.

SECTION 10.09. Guarantee Obligations Absolute.

Subject to the provisions of Section 10.02, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder are and shall be absolute and unconditional and any monies or amounts expressed to be owing or payable by each Guarantor hereunder which may not be recoverable from such Guarantor on the basis of a Guarantee shall be recoverable from such Guarantor as a primary obligor and principal debtor in respect thereof.

 

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SECTION 10.10. Guarantee Obligations Continuing.

The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall be continuing and shall remain in full force and effect until all such obligations have been paid and satisfied in full. Each Guarantor agrees with the Trustee that it will from time to time deliver to the Trustee suitable acknowledgments of this continued liability hereunder and under any other instrument or instruments in such form as counsel to the Trustee may advise and as will prevent any action brought against it in respect of any default hereunder being barred by any statute of limitations now or hereafter in force and, in the event of the failure of a Guarantor so to do, it hereby irrevocably appoints the Trustee the attorney and agent of such Guarantor to make, execute and deliver such written acknowledgment or acknowledgments or other instruments as may from time to time become necessary or advisable, in the judgment of the Trustee on the advice of counsel, to fully maintain and keep in force the liability of such Guarantor hereunder.

SECTION 10.11. Guarantee Obligations Not Reduced.

The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be satisfied, reduced or discharged solely by the payment of such principal, premium, if any, interest, fees and other monies or amounts as may at any time prior to discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Article Eight be or become owing or payable under or by virtue of or otherwise in connection with the Notes or this Indenture.

SECTION 10.12. Guarantee Obligations Reinstated.

The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall continue to be effective or shall be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any payment which would otherwise have reduced the obligations of any Guarantor hereunder (whether such payment shall have been made by or on behalf of the Issuer or by or on behalf of a Guarantor) is rescinded or reclaimed from any of the Holders upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of the Issuer or any Guarantor or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made. If demand for, or acceleration of the time for, payment by the Issuer or any other Guarantor is stayed upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of the Issuer or such Guarantor, all such Indebtedness otherwise subject to demand for payment or acceleration shall nonetheless be payable by each Guarantor as provided herein.

SECTION 10.13. Guarantee Obligations Not Affected.

The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be affected, impaired or diminished in any way by any act, omission, matter or thing whatsoever, occurring before, upon or after any demand for payment hereunder (and whether or not known or consented to by any Guarantor or any of the Holders) which, but for this provision, might constitute a whole or partial defense to a claim against any Guarantor hereunder or might operate to release or otherwise exonerate any Guarantor from any of its obligations hereunder or otherwise affect such obligations, whether occasioned by default of any of the Holders or otherwise, including, without limitation:

 

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(a) any limitation of status or power, disability, incapacity or other circumstance relating to the Issuer or any other Person, including any insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization, readjustment, composition, dissolution, winding-up or other proceeding involving or affecting the Issuer or any other Person;

(b) any irregularity, defect, unenforceability or invalidity in respect of any indebtedness or other obligation of the Issuer or any other Person under this Indenture, the Notes or any other document or instrument;

(c) any failure of the Issuer or any other Guarantor, whether or not without fault on its part, to perform or comply with any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Notes or any Guarantee, or to give notice thereof to a Guarantor;

(d) the taking or enforcing or exercising or the refusal or neglect to take or enforce or exercise any right or remedy from or against the Issuer or any other Person or their respective assets or the release or discharge of any such right or remedy;

(e) the granting of time, renewals, extensions, compromises, concessions, waivers, releases, discharges and other indulgences to the Issuer or any other Person;

(f) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, any of the Notes, or any other amendment, variation, supplement, replacement or waiver of, or any consent to departure from, any of the Notes or this Indenture, including, without limitation, any increase or decrease in the principal amount of or premium, if any, or interest on any of the Notes;

(g) any change in the ownership, control, name, objects, businesses, assets, capital structure or constitution of the Issuer or a Guarantor;

(h) any merger or amalgamation of the Issuer or a Guarantor with any Person or Persons;

(i) the occurrence of any change in the laws, rules, regulations or ordinances of any jurisdiction by any present or future action of any governmental authority or court amending, varying, reducing or otherwise affecting, or purporting to amend, vary, reduce or otherwise affect, any of the Guarantee Obligations or the obligations of a Guarantor under its Guarantee; and

(j) any other circumstance, including release of the Guarantor pursuant to Section 10.05 (other than by complete, irrevocable payment) that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of the Issuer under this Indenture or the Notes or of a Guarantor in respect of its Guarantee hereunder.

SECTION 10.14. Waiver.

Without in any way limiting the provisions of Section 10.01, each Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance hereof, notice of any liability of any Guarantor hereunder, notice or proof of

 

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reliance by the Holders upon the obligations of any Guarantor hereunder, and diligence, presentment, demand for payment on the Issuer, protest, notice of dishonor or non-payment of any of the Guarantee Obligations, or other notice or formalities to the Issuer or any Guarantor of any kind whatsoever.

SECTION 10.15. No Obligation To Take Action Against the Issuer.

Neither the Trustee nor any other Person shall have any obligation to enforce or exhaust any rights or remedies against the Issuer or any other Person or any property of the Issuer or any other Person before the Trustee is entitled to demand payment and performance by any or all Guarantors of their liabilities and obligations under their Guarantees or under this Indenture.

SECTION 10.16. Dealing with the Issuer and Others.

The Holders, without releasing, discharging, limiting or otherwise affecting in whole or in part the obligations and liabilities of any Guarantor hereunder and without the consent of or notice to any Guarantor, may

(a) grant time, renewals, extensions, compromises, concessions, waivers, releases, discharges and other indulgences to the Issuer or any other Person;

(b) release, discharge, compromise, realize, enforce or otherwise deal with or do any act or thing in respect of (with or without consideration) any and all collateral, mortgages or other security given by the Issuer or any third party with respect to the obligations or matters contemplated by this Indenture or the Notes;

(c) accept compromises or arrangements from the Issuer;

(d) apply all monies at any time received from the Issuer or from any security upon such part of the Guarantee Obligations as the Holders may see fit or change any such application in whole or in part from time to time as the Holders may see fit; and

(e) otherwise deal with, or waive or modify their right to deal with, the Issuer and all other Persons and any security as the Holders or the Trustee may see fit.

SECTION 10.17. Default and Enforcement.

If any Guarantor fails to pay in accordance with Section 10.07, the Trustee may proceed in its name as trustee hereunder in the enforcement of the Guarantee of any such Guarantor and such Guarantor’s obligations thereunder and hereunder by any remedy provided by law, whether by legal proceedings or otherwise, and to recover from such Guarantor the obligations.

 

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SECTION 10.18. Amendment, Etc.

No amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Indenture relating to any Guarantor or consent to any departure by any Guarantor or any other Person from any such provision will in any event be effective unless it is signed by such Guarantor and the Trustee.

SECTION 10.19. Acknowledgment.

Each Guarantor, if any, hereby acknowledges communication of the terms of this Indenture and the Notes and consents to and approves of the same.

SECTION 10.20. Costs and Expenses.

Each Guarantor shall pay on demand by the Trustee any and all costs, fees and expenses (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) incurred by the Trustee, its agents, advisors and counsel or any of the Holders in enforcing any of their rights under any Guarantee.

SECTION 10.21. No Merger or Waiver; Cumulative Remedies.

No Guarantee shall operate by way of merger of any of the obligations of a Guarantor under any other agreement, including, without limitation, this Indenture. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of the Trustee or the Holders, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under this Indenture or the Notes, shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under this Indenture or the Notes preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges in the Guarantee and under this Indenture, the Notes and any other document or instrument between a Guarantor and/or the Issuer and the Trustee are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privilege provided by law.

SECTION 10.22. Survival of Guarantee Obligations.

Without prejudice to the survival of any of the other obligations of each Guarantor hereunder, the obligations of each Guarantor under Section 10.01 shall survive the payment in full of the Guarantee Obligations and shall be enforceable against such Guarantor without regard to and without giving effect to any defense, right of offset or counterclaim available to or which may be asserted by the Issuer or any Guarantor.

SECTION 10.23. Guarantee in Addition to Other Guarantee Obligations.

The obligations of each Guarantor under its Guarantee and this Indenture are in addition to and not in substitution for any other obligations to the Trustee or to any of the Holders in relation to this Indenture or the Notes and any guarantees or security at any time held by or for the benefit of any of them.

 

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SECTION 10.24. Severability.

Any provision of this Article Ten which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate the remaining provisions and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction unless its removal would substantially defeat the basic intent, spirit and purpose of this Indenture and this Article Ten.

SECTION 10.25. Successors and Assigns.

Each Guarantee shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of each Guarantor and the Trustee and the other Holders and their respective successors and permitted assigns, except that no Guarantor may assign any of its obligations hereunder or thereunder.

ARTICLE ELEVEN

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 11.01. TIA Controls.

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with another provision which is required or deemed to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, if this Indenture is qualified under the TIA, such required or deemed provision shall control.

SECTION 11.02. Notices.

Any notices or other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing, and shall be sufficiently given if made by hand delivery, by telex, by nationally recognized overnight courier service, by telecopier or registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, addressed as follows:

if to the Issuer:

WMG Acquisition Corp.

c/o Warner Music Group Corp.

1633 Broadway, 7th Floor,

New York, NY 10019

Attention: General Counsel

Telephone: (212) 275-2000

Facsimile: (212) 275-3601

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

919 Third Avenue

New York, NY 10022

 

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Attention: Pierre Maugue

Telephone: (212) 909-6139

Facsimile: (212) 909-6836

Email: ***@***

if to the Trustee:

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

150 East 42nd Street, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10017

MAC J0161-403

Attention: Corporate Trust Services

Telephone: (917) 260-1534

Facsimile: (917) 260-1593

Email: ***@***

if to the Notes Authorized Representative:

Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch

Eleven Madison Avenue, 23rd Floor

New York, NY 10010

Attention: Loan Operations – Boutique Management

Primary Contact: Nirmala Durgana

Fax.: (212) 538-3525

Email: ***@***

if to the Collateral Agent:

Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch

Eleven Madison Avenue, 23rd Floor

New York, NY 10010

Attention: Loan Operations – Boutique Management

Primary Contact: Nirmala Durgana

Fax.: (212) 538-3525

Email: ***@***

if to the Paying Agent and Registrar in respect of Euro-denominated Notes:

Société Générale Luxembourg

28-32 Place de la gare

l-1616 Luxembourg

Phone: 352 47 93 11 5522

Fax: 352 24 15 75

Attention: SGSS/SBO/CIS/ISS

Email: ***@***

 

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Each of the Issuer, the Trustee, the Notes Authorized Representative and the Collateral Agent by written notice to each other such Person may designate additional or different addresses for notices to such Person. Any notice or communication to the Issuer, the Trustee, the Notes Authorized Representative and the Collateral Agent, shall be deemed to have been given or made as of the date so delivered if personally delivered; when answered back; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; five calendar days after mailing if sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid (except that a notice of change of address shall not be deemed to have been given until actually received by the addressee); and next Business Day if by nationally recognized overnight courier service.

Any notice or communication mailed to a Noteholder shall be mailed to him by first class mail or other equivalent means at his address as it appears on the registration books of the applicable Registrar and shall be sufficiently given to him if so mailed within the time prescribed. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Noteholder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Noteholders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it. In addition, if and for so long as any of the Euro-denominated Notes are listed on the Official List of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and admitted for trading on the Euro MTF Market, and to the extent that the rules and regulations of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange so require, any such notice to the holders of the relevant Euro Notes shall also be published in a newspaper having a general circulation in Luxembourg (which is expected to be the Luxemburger Wort) or, to the extent and in the manner permitted by the rules and regulations of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, posted on the official website of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (www.bourse.lu) or otherwise made available. For Euro-denominated Notes which are represented by global certificates held on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream’s, notices may be given by delivery of the relevant notices to Euroclear or Clearstream’s for communication to entitled account holders in substitution for the aforesaid mailing. Each such notice shall be deemed to have been given on the date of such publication or, if published more than once on different dates, on the first date on which publication is made, provided that, if notices are mailed, such notice shall be deemed to have been given on the later of such publication and the seventh day after being so mailed.

SECTION 11.03. Communications by Holders with Other Holders.

If this Indenture is qualified under the TIA, Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees. The Issuer, the Trustee, the Registrar and any other Person shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c) if this Indenture is qualified under the TIA.

 

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SECTION 11.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

Upon any request or application by the Issuer to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee at the request of the Trustee:

(1) an Officer’s Certificate, in form and substance satisfactory to the Trustee, stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent to be performed or effected by the Issuer, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

(2) an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, any and all such conditions precedent have been complied with.

SECTION 11.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture, other than the Officer’s Certificate required by Section 4.06, shall include:

(1) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

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

(3) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, 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 or satisfied; and

(4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of each such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with; provided, however, that with respect to matters of fact an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officer’s Certificate or certificates of public officials.

SECTION 11.06. Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent, Registrar.

The Trustee, any Paying Agent or any Registrar may make reasonable rules for its functions.

SECTION 11.07. Legal Holidays.

If a payment date is not a Business Day, payment may be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day.

 

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SECTION 11.08. Governing Law.

This Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees, if any, will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

SECTION 11.09. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

SECTION 11.10. No Recourse Against Others.

No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent corporation or of any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer or the Guarantors under the Notes, this Indenture, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. Such waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

SECTION 11.11. Successors.

All agreements of the Issuer in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.

SECTION 11.12. Duplicate Originals.

All parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy or counterpart shall be an original, but all of them together shall represent the same agreement.

SECTION 11.13. Severability.

In case any one or more of the provisions in this Indenture or in the Notes shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, it being intended that all of the provisions hereof shall be enforceable to the full extent permitted by law.

SECTION 11.14. Force Majeure.

In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its reasonable control, including without limitation strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software or hardware) services.

 

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SECTION 11.15. USA Patriot Act.

In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Initial Purchasers are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Issuer, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Initial Purchasers to properly identify their respective clients.

SECTION 11.16. Electronic Execution of Documents.

The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any amendment, supplement or other modification hereof (including waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act. Without limitation to the foregoing, and anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, (a) any Officers’ Certificate, company order, Opinion of Counsel, Note, amendment, notice, direction, certificate of authentication appearing on or attached to any Note, supplemental indenture or other certificate, opinion of counsel, instrument, agreement or other document delivered pursuant to this Indenture may be executed, attested and transmitted by any of the foregoing electronic means and formats and (b) all references in Section 2.03 or elsewhere in this Indenture to the execution, attestation or authentication of any Note or any certificate of authentication appearing on or attached to any Note by means of a manual or facsimile signature shall be deemed to include signatures that are made or transmitted by any of the foregoing electronic means or formats. The Trustee shall have no duty to inquire into or investigate the authenticity or authorization of any such electronic signature and shall be entitled to conclusively rely on any such electronic signature without any liability with respect thereto.

ARTICLE TWELVE

SECURITY

SECTION 12.01. Security Documents.

(a) The due and punctual payment of the Notes Obligations, including payment of the principal of, premium on, if any, and interest on, the Notes when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether on an interest payment date, at maturity, by acceleration, repurchase, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of, premium on, if any, and interest on the Notes, according to the terms hereunder or thereunder, are secured as provided in the Security Documents which the Issuer, Holdings and the Guarantors have entered into simultaneously with the execution

 

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of this Indenture. The Trustee and the Issuer hereby acknowledge and agree that the Collateral Agent holds the Collateral in trust for the benefit of the secured parties, in each case pursuant and subject to the terms of the Security Documents.

(b) Each Holder, by its acceptance thereof, consents and agrees to the terms of the Security Documents (including, without limitation, the provisions providing for possession, use, release and foreclosure of Collateral) as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with its terms and agrees that it will not contest or support any other person in contesting, in any proceeding (including any insolvency or liquidation proceeding), the perfection, priority, validity or enforceability of a Lien held by or on behalf of any other holder of Secured First Lien Obligations (as defined in the Security Agreement) in all or any part of the Collateral, or any of the intercreditor arrangements in the Security Agreement. Each Holder, by its acceptance thereof, (1) authorizes the Trustee to appoint the Notes Authorized Representative to act on its behalf as the Notes Authorized Representative under this Indenture and the Security Agreement, (2) authorizes the Trustee and the Notes Authorized Representative to appoint the Collateral Agent to act on its behalf as the Collateral Agent under this Indenture, the Security Agreement and under each of the other Security Documents, (3) authorizes and directs the Collateral Agent to enter into the Security Documents and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance therewith and (4) authorizes the Trustee and the Notes Authorized Representative to authorize the Collateral Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Collateral Agent by the terms of the Security Agreement and the other Security Documents, including for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral granted by any grantor thereunder to secure any of the Secured First Lien Obligations, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto.

(c) Each Holder, by its acceptance thereof, authorizes the Collateral Agent, the Notes Authorized Representative and the Trustee, as applicable, to enter into any intercreditor agreement on behalf of, and binding with respect to, the Holders and their interest in designated assets, in connection with the incurrence of any indebtedness under the Senior Term Credit Agreement, the Senior Revolving Credit Agreement and, in addition, any Additional Obligations, including to clarify the respective rights of all parties in and to designated assets. The Collateral Agent or the Notes Authorized Representative, as applicable, will enter into any such intercreditor agreement at the request of the Issuer, provided that the Issuer will have delivered to the Collateral Agent or the Notes Authorized Representative, as the case may be, an Officer’s Certificate to the effect that such other intercreditor agreement complies with the provisions of this Indenture and the Security Documents. The Notes Authorized Representative and the Trustee, as applicable, each agrees at the Issuer’s expense to (or to instruct the Collateral Agent to) execute and deliver any amendment to, waiver of, or supplement to any Security Document authorized pursuant to Article Nine.

(d) The Issuer and the Guarantors will deliver to the Collateral Agent copies of all documents, and will do or cause to be done all such acts and things as may be necessary or proper, or as may be required by the provisions of the Security Documents, to assure and confirm to the Collateral Agent the security interest in the Collateral contemplated hereby, by the Security

 

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Documents or any part thereof, as from time to time constituted, so as to render the same available for the security and benefit of this Indenture and of the Notes secured hereby, according to the intent and purposes herein expressed. The Issuer will take, and will cause its Subsidiaries to take, upon request of the Trustee, any and all actions reasonably required to cause the Security Documents to create and maintain, as security for the Obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors hereunder, a valid and enforceable perfected Lien in and on all the Collateral, in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Holders, as and to the extent contemplated by the Security Documents and subject to no other Liens other than Liens permitted under this Indenture, including Permitted Liens. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Issuer and the Guarantors are unable to complete on or prior to the Closing Date all filings and other similar actions required in connection with the perfection of such security interests, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to complete such actions as soon as reasonably practicable (but no later than 180 days) after such date.

SECTION 12.02. Notes Authorized Representative; Collateral Agent.

(a) The Trustee hereby appoints Credit Suisse AG to act on its behalf as the Notes Authorized Representative under this Indenture and the Security Agreement, and Credit Suisse AG agrees to act as such; provided that, it is understood and agreed that all communications between the Notes Authorized Representative and the Holders and all instructions or directions by Holders to the Notes Authorized Representative shall be made or given through the Trustee.

(b) The Trustee and the Notes Authorized Representative hereby appoint Credit Suisse AG to act on its behalf as the Collateral Agent under this Indenture, the Security Agreement and under each of the other Security Documents, and Credit Suisse AG agrees to act as such.

(c) Except as set forth below, a resignation or removal of the Notes Authorized Representative and appointment of a successor Notes Authorized Representative shall become effective only upon the successor Notes Authorized Representative’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 12.02(c). The Notes Authorized Representative may resign in writing at any time, and the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may remove the Notes Authorized Representative, by so notifying the Issuer and the Trustee at least 30 days prior to the proposed date of resignation. The Issuer may remove the Notes Authorized Representative if: (i) the Notes Authorized Representative is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent; (ii) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Notes Authorized Representative or its property; or (iii) the Notes Authorized Representative shall become incapable of acting. If the Notes Authorized Representative resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Notes Authorized Representative for any reason, the Trustee shall promptly appoint a successor Notes Authorized Representative. If a successor Notes Authorized Representative does not take office within 10 days after the retiring Notes Authorized Representative resigns or is removed, the Issuer may appoint a successor Notes Authorized Representative and if no successor Notes Authorized Representative shall have been so appointed 55 days after the retiring Notes Authorized Representative resigns or is removed, the retiring Notes Authorized Representative or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding principal amount of the Notes may petition any court of competent

 

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jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Notes Authorized Representative. A successor Notes Authorized Representative shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Notes Authorized Representative and to the Issuer. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Notes Authorized Representative shall become effective, and the successor Notes Authorized Representative shall have all the rights, powers and the duties of the Notes Authorized Representative under this Indenture and the Security Documents. The successor Notes Authorized Representative shall mail a notice of its succession to the Trustee; provided that if the Notes Authorized Representative shall notify the Trustee that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment 55 days after the retiring Notes Authorized Representative resigns or is removed, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective and (a) the retiring Notes Authorized Representative shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Security Documents and (b) all communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Notes Authorized Representative shall instead be made by or to Trustee directly, until such time as the Trustee or the Holders appoint a successor Notes Authorized Representative as provided for above in this Section 12.02(c). The retiring Notes Authorized Representative shall promptly transfer all property and assets held by it as Notes Authorized Representative to the successor Notes Authorized Representative, provided that all sums owing to the Notes Authorized Representative hereunder have been paid. Notwithstanding replacement of the Notes Authorized Representative pursuant to this Section 12.02(c), the Issuer’s obligations under this Section 12.02 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Notes Authorized Representative and the retiring Notes Authorized Representative shall not by reason of such resignation be deemed to be released from liability as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was the Notes Authorized Representative under this Indenture. The provision of this Section 12(c) shall in all respects be subject to the provisions of the Security Agreement.

(d) A resignation or removal of the Collateral Agent and appointment of a successor Collateral Agent shall become effective as set forth in the Security Agreement.

SECTION 12.03. After Acquired Property.

Promptly, but in no event later than 180 days, following the acquisition by the Issuer or any Guarantor of any After Acquired Property, the Issuer or such Guarantor shall execute and deliver such mortgages, Security Document supplements, security instruments and financing statements as shall be reasonably necessary to cause such After Acquired Property to be made subject to a perfected Lien (subject to Permitted Liens) in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Trustee and the Holders (as well as for the benefit of the holders of Existing Secured Notes, Senior Term Loan Obligations, Senior Revolving Credit Obligations and certain Additional Obligations (each such term as defined in the Security Agreement)), and thereupon all provisions of this Indenture and the Security Documents relating to the Collateral shall be deemed to relate to such After Acquired Property to the same extent and with the same force and effect, provided that (a) the Collateral in any event will exclude Excluded Assets and Excluded Subsidiary Securities and (b) in any event the Issuer or such Guarantor will not be required to (x) take any action in any jurisdiction other than the United States of America, or required by the laws of any such jurisdiction, in order to

 

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create any security interests (or other Liens) in assets located or titled outside of the United States of America or to perfect any security interests (or other Liens) in any Collateral, (y) deliver control agreements with respect to, or confer perfection by “control” over, any deposit accounts, bank or securities account or other Collateral, except, in the case of Collateral that constitutes Capital Stock or intercompany notes in certificated form, delivering such Capital Stock or intercompany notes (in the case of intercompany notes, limited to any such note with a principal amount in excess of $5.0 million) to the Collateral Agent (or another Person as required under the Security Agreement) or (z) deliver landlord lien waivers, estoppels or collateral access letters.

SECTION 12.04. Release of Collateral.

(a) The Collateral shall be released from the Lien and security interest created by the Security Documents to secure the Notes Obligations, all without delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by any party, at any time or from time to time in accordance with the provisions of the Security Documents or as provided by this Section 12.04. Upon such release, subject to the terms of the Security Documents all rights in the Collateral securing Notes Obligations shall revert to the Issuer, Holdings and the Guarantors. The Collateral shall be released from the Lien and security interest created by the Security Documents to secure the Notes Obligations under one or more of the following circumstances:

(1) to enable the disposition of such property or assets to any Person (other than the Issuer or a Guarantor);

(2) in the case of a Guarantor that is released from its Guarantee of the Notes (including upon (A) a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, (B) a Legal Defeasance or (C) a Covenant Defeasance), the release of the property and assets of such Guarantor

(3) with respect to Collateral that is Equity Interests, upon the dissolution or liquidation of the issuer of that Equity Interest that is not prohibited by this Indenture;

(4) if the Notes have Investment Grade Ratings from both Rating Agencies and the Issuer has delivered a notice of such Investment Grade Ratings to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent and no Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture;

(5) the release of Collateral by the Collateral Agent, acting on the instructions of the Applicable Authorized Representative in accordance with the terms of the Security Agreement (other than releases of all or substantially all of the Collateral);

(6) in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Security Documents;

(7) pursuant to an amendment or waiver in accordance with Article Nine of this Indenture;

 

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(8) payment in full of the principal of, together with accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes and all other Notes Obligations that are due and payable at or prior to the time such principal, together with accrued and unpaid interest, is paid; or

(9) upon a discharge of this Indenture or a Legal Defeasance or a Covenant Defeasance pursuant to Article Eight of this Indenture.

(b) The Collateral Agent and, if necessary, the Trustee shall, at the Issuer’s expense, execute, deliver or acknowledge any necessary or proper instruments of termination, satisfaction or release to evidence and shall do or cause to be done all other acts reasonably necessary to effect, in each case as soon as is reasonably practicable, the release of any Collateral permitted to be released pursuant to this Indenture and the Security Documents. Neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Agent shall be liable for any such release undertaken in good faith and in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct.

(c) The release of any Collateral from the terms of this Indenture and the Security Documents will not be deemed to impair the security under this Indenture in contravention of the provisions hereof if and to the extent the Collateral is released pursuant to the terms of the Security Documents. From the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA, to the extent applicable, the Issuer will cause TIA §313(b), relating to reports, and TIA §314(d), relating to the release of property or securities from the Lien and security interest of the Security Documents and relating to the substitution therefor of any property or securities to be subjected to the Lien and security interest of the Security Documents, to be complied with. From the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA, any certificate or opinion required by TIA §314(d) may be made by an Officer of the Issuer except in cases where TIA §314(d) requires that such certificate or opinion be made by an independent Person, which Person will be an independent engineer, appraiser or other expert selected or approved by the Trustee and the Collateral Agent in the exercise of reasonable care.

SECTION 12.05. Certificates of the Issuer.

From the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA, the Issuer will furnish to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, prior to each proposed release of Collateral pursuant to the Security Documents:

(1) all documents required by TIA §314(d); and

(2) an Opinion of Counsel, which may be rendered by internal counsel to the Issuer, to the effect that such accompanying documents constitute all documents required by TIA §314(d).

The Trustee may, to the extent permitted by Sections 7.01 and 7.02 hereof, accept as conclusive evidence of compliance with the foregoing provisions the appropriate statements contained in such documents and such Opinion of Counsel.

 

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From the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Sections 12.04 or 12.05, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall not be required to comply with all or any portion of TIA § 314(d) if they reasonably determine that under the terms of TIA § 314(d) or any interpretation or guidance as to the meaning thereof of the SEC and its staff, including “no action” letters or exemptive orders, all or any portion of TIA §314(d) is inapplicable to any release or series of releases of Collateral. From the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA, to the extent applicable, the Issuer will comply with the provisions of TIA §314(b), relating to opinions of counsel, except to the extent the Issuer reasonably determines such compliance is not required as set forth in the TIA or any other SEC regulation or any interpretation or guidance as to the meaning thereof of the SEC and its staff, including “no action” letters or exemptive orders.

SECTION 12.06. Authorization of Actions to be Taken by the Trustee Under the Security Documents.

Subject to the provisions of the Security Agreement, the Trustee may direct, on behalf of Holders of the Notes, the Notes Authorized Representative to take action permitted to be taken by it under the Security Agreement

Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default and subject to the provisions of the Security Agreement, and subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 and 7.02 hereof, the Trustee may, in its sole discretion and without the consent of the Holders, direct, on behalf of the Holders, the Notes Authorized Representative to direct the Collateral Agent to, take all actions it deems necessary or appropriate in order to:

(1) enforce any of the terms of the Security Documents; and

(2) collect and receive any and all amounts payable in respect of the Obligations of the Issuer hereunder.

Subject to the provisions of the Security Agreement and the other Security Documents, the Trustee will have power to institute and maintain such suits and proceedings, at the expense of the Issuer, as it may deem expedient to prevent any impairment of the Collateral by any acts that may be unlawful or in violation of the Security Documents or this Indenture, and such suits and proceedings as the Trustee may deem expedient to preserve or protect its interests and the interests of the Holders 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 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 the Holders or of the Trustee). Nothing in this Section 12.06 shall be considered to impose any such duty or obligation to act on the part of the Trustee.

 

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SECTION 12.07. Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Notes Authorized Representative Under the Security Documents.

Subject to the provisions of the Security Agreement, the Notes Authorized Representative is authorized to receive any funds for the benefit of the Holders distributed under the Security Documents, and to make further distributions of such funds to the Trustee for further distribution to the Holders according to the provisions of this Indenture.

SECTION 12.08. Termination of Security Interest.

Upon the full and final payment and performance of all Obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes or upon Legal Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture in accordance with Article Eight hereof, the Trustee (or the Notes Authorized Representative on its behalf) will, at the request of the Issuer, deliver a certificate to the Collateral Agent stating that such Obligations have been paid in full, and instruct the Collateral Agent to, as applicable, either (a) release the Liens securing the Notes Obligations pursuant to this Indenture and the Security Documents or (b) cease to be a party to the Security Documents on behalf of the Trustee and the Holders.

SECTION 12.09. Purchaser Protected.

In no event shall any purchaser or other transferee in good faith of any property or assets purported to be released hereunder be bound to ascertain the authority of the Collateral Agent or the Trustee to execute the release or to inquire as to the satisfaction of any conditions required by the provisions hereof for the exercise of such authority or to see to the application of any consideration given by such purchaser or other transferee; nor shall any purchaser or other transferee of any property or assets be under any obligation to ascertain or inquire into the authority of the Issuer or the applicable Guarantor to make any such sale or other transfer.

SECTION 12.10. 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 Twelve upon the Issuer or a Guarantor with respect to the release, sale or other disposition of such property or assets 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 a Guarantor or of any officer or officers thereof required by the provisions of this Article Twelve; and if the Trustee shall be in the possession of the Collateral under any provision of this Indenture, then such powers may be exercised by the Trustee.

 

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SIGNATURES

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed all as of the date first written above.

 

WMG ACQUISITION CORP.
By:  

/s/ Paul M. Robinson

Name:   Paul M. Robinson
Title:   Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO INDENTURE]


Guarantors:

A.P. SCHMIDT CO.

ARTS MUSIC INC.

ATLANTIC RECORDING CORPORATION

ATLANTIC/MR VENTURES INC.

AUDIO PROPERTIES/BURBANK, INC.

BIG BEAT RECORDS INC.

CAFÉ AMERICANA INC.

CHAPPELL MUSIC COMPANY, INC.

COTA MUSIC, INC.

COTILLION MUSIC, INC.

CRK MUSIC INC.

E/A MUSIC, INC.

ELEKSYLUM MUSIC, INC.

ELEKTRA ENTERTAINMENT GROUP INC.

ELEKTRA GROUP VENTURES INC.

ELEKTRA MUSIC GROUP INC.

ELEKTRA/CHAMELEON VENTURES INC.

FHK, INC.

FIDDLEBACK MUSIC PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC.

FOSTER FREES MUSIC, INC.

GENE AUTRY’S WESTERN MUSIC PUBLISHING CO.

GOLDEN WEST MELODIES, INC.

INSOUND ACQUISITION INC.

INTERSONG U.S.A., INC.

J. RUBY PRODUCTIONS, INC.

JADAR MUSIC CORP.

LEM AMERICA, INC.

LONDON-SIRE RECORDS INC.

MAVERICK PARTNER INC.

MCGUFFIN MUSIC INC.

MELODY RANCH MUSIC CO., INC.

MIXED BAG MUSIC, INC.

NONESUCH RECORDS INC.

NON-STOP MUSIC HOLDINGS, INC.

OCTA MUSIC, INC.

PEPAMAR MUSIC CORP.

REP SALES, INC.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO INDENTURE]


(cont-d):

REVELATION MUSIC PUBLISHING CORPORATION

RHINO ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY

RICK’S MUSIC INC.

RIDGEWAY MUSIC CO., INC.

RIGHTSONG MUSIC INC.

ROADRUNNER RECORDS, INC.

RYKO CORPORATION

RYKODISC, INC.

RYKOMUSIC, INC.

SEA CHIME MUSIC, INC.

SIX-FIFTEEN MUSIC PRODUCTIONS, INC.

SR/MDM VENTURE INC.

SUMMY-BIRCHARD, INC.

SUPER HYPE PUBLISHING, INC.

THE ALL BLACKS U.S.A., INC.

TOMMY VALANDO PUBLISHING GROUP, INC.

UNICHAPPELL MUSIC INC.

W.C.M. MUSIC CORP.

WALDEN MUSIC INC.

WARNER ALLIANCE MUSIC INC.

WARNER BRETHREN INC.

WARNER MUSIC PUBLISHING INTERNATIONAL INC.

WARNER RECORDS INC.

WARNER CUSTOM MUSIC CORP.

WARNER DOMAIN MUSIC INC.

WARNER MUSIC DISCOVERY INC.

WARNER MUSIC LATINA INC.

WARNER MUSIC SP INC.

WARNER SOJOURNER MUSIC INC.

WARNER SPECIAL PRODUCTS INC.

WARNER STRATEGIC MARKETING INC.

WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC SERVICES, INC.

WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC, INC.

WARNER CHAPPELL PRODUCTION MUSIC, INC.

WARNER-ELEKTRA-ATLANTIC CORPORATION

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO INDENTURE]


(cont-d):

WARNERSONGS, INC.

WARNER-TAMERLANE PUBLISHING CORP.

WARPRISE MUSIC INC.

WC GOLD MUSIC CORP.

W CHAPPELL MUSIC CORP.

WCM/HOUSE OF GOLD MUSIC, INC.

WARNER RECORDS/QRI VENTURE, INC.

WARNER RECORDS/RUFFNATION VENTURES, INC.

WEA EUROPE INC.

WEA INC.

WEA INTERNATIONAL INC.

WIDE MUSIC, INC.

WMG RHINO HOLDINGS INC.

ARTIST ARENA LLC

ASYLUM LLC

ASYLUM RECORDS LLC

ASYLUM WORLDWIDE LLC

ATLANTIC MOBILE LLC

ATLANTIC PIX LLC

ATLANTIC PRODUCTIONS LLC

ATLANTIC RECORDING LLC

ATLANTIC SCREAM LLC

ATLANTIC/143 L.L.C.

BB INVESTMENTS LLC

BULLDOG ISLAND EVENTS LLC

BUTE SOUND LLC

CORDLESS RECORDINGS LLC

EAST WEST RECORDS LLC

ELEKTRA MUSIC LLC

ELEKTRA RECORDS LLC

FERRET MUSIC HOLDINGS LLC

FERRET MUSIC LLC

FERRET MUSIC MANAGEMENT LLC

FERRET MUSIC TOURING LLC

FOZ MAN MUSIC LLC

FUELED BY RAMEN LLC

LAVA RECORDS LLC

MM INVESTMENT LLC

P & C PUBLISHING LLC

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO INDENTURE]


(cont-d):

RHINO NAME & LIKENESS HOLDINGS, LLC

RHINO ENTERTAINMENT LLC

RHINO FOCUS HOLDINGS LLC

RHINO/FSE HOLDINGS, LLC

SODATONE USA LLC

T-BOY MUSIC, L.L.C.

T-GIRL MUSIC, L.L.C.

THE BIZ LLC

UPPED.COM LLC

UPROXX LLC

WARNER MUSIC DISTRIBUTION LLC

WARNER MUSIC NASHVILLE LLC

WARNER RECORDS/SIRE VENTURES LLC

WARNER RECORDS LLC

WMG COE, LLC

WMG PRODUCTIONS LLC

WRONG MAN DEVELOPMENT LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

 

By:  

/s/ Paul M. Robinson

  Name:   Paul M. Robinson
  Title:   Vice President & Secretary of each of the above named entities listed under the heading Guarantors and signing this agreement in such capacity on behalf of each such entity

 

WARNER MUSIC INC.
By:  

/s/ Paul M. Robinson

  Name:   Paul M. Robinson
  Title:  

Executive Vice President,

General Counsel & Secretary

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO INDENTURE]


615 MUSIC LIBRARY, LLC
By: Six-Fifteen Music Productions, Inc., its Sole Member
By:  

/s/ Paul M. Robinson

  Name:   Paul M. Robinson
  Title:   Vice President & Secretary

 

ARTIST ARENA INTERNATIONAL, LLC
By:   Artist Arena LLC, its Sole Member
By:   Warner Music Inc., its Sole Member
By:  

/s/ Paul M. Robinson

  Name:   Paul M. Robinson
  Title:  

Executive Vice President,

General Counsel & Secretary

 

ALTERNATIVE DISTRIBUTION ALLIANCE
By: Warner Music Distribution LLC, its Managing Partner
By: Rep Sales, Inc., its Sole Member and Manager
By:  

/s/ Paul M. Robinson

  Name:   Paul M. Robinson
  Title:   Vice President & Secretary

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO INDENTURE]


MAVERICK RECORDING COMPANY
By: SR/MDM Venture Inc., its Managing Partner
By:  

/s/ Paul M. Robinson

  Name:   Paul M. Robinson
  Title:   Vice President & Secretary

 

NON-STOP CATACLYSMIC MUSIC, LLC
NON-STOP INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHING, LLC
NON-STOP OUTRAGEOUS PUBLISHING, LLC
By: Non-Stop Music Publishing, LLC, their Sole Member
By: Non-Stop Music Holdings, Inc., its Sole Member
By:  

/s/ Paul M. Robinson

  Name:   Paul M. Robinson
  Title:   Vice President & Secretary

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO INDENTURE]


NON-STOP MUSIC LIBRARY, L.C.
NON-STOP MUSIC PUBLISHING, LLC
NON-STOP PRODUCTIONS, LLC
By: Non-Stop Music Holdings, Inc., their Sole Member
By:  

/s/ Paul M. Robinson

  Name:   Paul M. Robinson
  Title:   Vice President & Secretary

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO INDENTURE]


 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:  

/s/ Stefan Victory

  Name:   Stefan Victory
  Title:   Vice President

 

CREDIT SUISSE AG, as Notes Authorized Representative and as Collateral Agent
By:  

/s/ Judith E. Smith

  Name:   Judith E. Smith
  Title:   Authorized Signatory
By:  

/s/ Jessica Gavarkovs

  Name:   Jessica Gavarkovs
  Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO INDENTURE]


EXHIBIT A-1

[FORM OF INITIAL DOLLAR NOTE]

WMG ACQUISITION CORP.

[    ]% Senior Secured Notes due [            ]

CUSIP No.

ISIN No.

 

         No.       $[            ]

WMG ACQUISITION CORP., a Delaware corporation (the “Company,” which term includes any successor corporation), for value received promises to pay to [    ] or its registered assigns, the principal sum of [            ] dollars ($[            ]) [(or such lesser or greater amount as shall be outstanding hereunder from time to time in accordance with Sections 2.16 and 2.17 of the within-mentioned Indenture)]1 on [            ], [            ].

Interest Payment Dates: [            ] and [            ], commencing [            ]. Record Dates: [            ] and [            ].

Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note contained herein, which will for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 

1 

Include only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be signed manually or by facsimile by one of its duly authorized officers.

 

           Dated:     WMG ACQUISITION CORP.
      By:  

 

      Name:  
      Title:  

 

3


CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the [    ]% Senior Secured Notes due [            ] described in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

            Dated:     WELLS FARGO BANK,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
      By:  

 

      Authorized Signatory

 

4


[Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture] [Insert the Private Placement Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture] [Insert the OID Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

(Reverse of Note)

WMG Acquisition Corp.

[    ]% Senior Secured Notes due [            ]

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

SECTION 1. Interest. WMG Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company,” which term includes any successor corporation), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at [    ]% per annum from [            ] until maturity. The Company will pay interest semi-annually on [            ] and [            ] of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each an “Interest Payment Date”). Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of original issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a Record Date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided, further, that the first Interest Payment Date shall be [            ]. The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand to the extent lawful at the interest rate applicable to the Notes; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30 day months.

SECTION 2. Method of Payment. The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the [            ] or [            ] next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such Record Date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.13 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will be issued in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. The Company shall pay principal, premium, if any and interest on the Notes in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts (“U.S. Legal Tender”). Principal, premium, if any, and interest [and special interest], if any, on the Notes will be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their respective addresses set forth in the register of Holders or otherwise; provided that all payments of principal, premium and interest with respect to Notes the Holders of which have

 

5


given wire transfer instructions to the Company prior to the Record Date will be required to be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Holders thereof. Until otherwise designated by the Company, the Company’s office or agency in New York will be the office of the Trustee maintained for such purpose.

SECTION 3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company or any Affiliate may act in any such capacity.

SECTION 4. Indenture[; Registration Rights Agreement]. The Company issued this [_]% Senior Secured Note due [ ] of the Company (hereinafter called the “Notes”) under an Indenture dated as of June 29, 2020 (the “Base Indenture”) among the Company, the Guarantors, if any, from time to time parties thereto, the Trustee, the Notes Authorized Representative and the Collateral Agent as supplemented by a First Supplemental Indenture and the Second Supplemental Indenture, each dated as of June 29, 2020 (the “Supplemental Indentures” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and, subject to Section 1.03 of the Indenture and the Indenture being qualified under the TIA, those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S. Code §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) (the “TIA”). The Notes are subject to all such terms (except as aforementioned), and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the TIA, if applicable, for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling. Additional Notes may be issued from time to time in one or more series under the Indenture and (except as provided in Section 9.02 of the Indenture) will vote (or consent) as a single class with the Notes and otherwise be treated as Notes for purposes of the Indenture. [            ].2

SECTION 5. Optional Redemption. The Notes will be redeemable, at the Company’s option, in whole or in part, as provided in the Indenture.

SECTION 6. [Mandatory Redemption. The Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.]3

SECTION 7. Offers To Purchase. The Indenture provides that upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event and subject to further limitations contained therein, the Company shall make an offer to purchase outstanding Notes in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture.

 

2 

For an Initial Additional Note, add a registration rights provision if any, as may be agreed by the Company with respect to additional interest on such Initial Additional Note.

3 

Include unless otherwise provided in the Notes Supplemental Indenture establishing the applicable series of Notes.

 

6


SECTION 8. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture.

SECTION 9. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

SECTION 10. Amendment, Supplement and Waiver. Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture and the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (as defined in the Indenture) then outstanding, and any existing Default or compliance with any provision may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (as defined in the Indenture) then outstanding. Without notice to or consent of any Holder, the parties thereto may amend or supplement the Indenture and the Notes to, among other things, cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency in the Indenture, provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to certificated Notes, comply with any requirements of the Commission in connection with the qualification of the Indenture under the TIA, or make any change that does not materially adversely affect the rights of any Holder.

SECTION 11. Defaults and Remedies. If a Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (as defined in the Indenture) generally may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately by notice in writing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency as set forth in the Indenture, with respect to the Company, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (as defined in the Indenture) may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders notice of any continuing Default (except a Default relating to the payment of principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes (as defined in the Indenture) then outstanding by notice in writing to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default in the payment of interest on, or the principal of, the Notes or in respect of certain covenants set forth in the Indenture.

SECTION 12. Restrictive Covenants. The Indenture contains certain covenants that, among other things, limit the ability of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to make restricted payments, to incur indebtedness, to create liens, to sell assets, to permit restrictions on

 

7


dividends and other payments by Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company, to consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of its assets or to engage in transactions with affiliates. The limitations are subject to a number of important qualifications and exceptions. The Company must annually report to the Trustee on compliance with such limitations.

SECTION 13. No Recourse Against Others. No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company or any Subsidiary of the Company, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Indenture, the Guarantees[, the Registration Rights Agreement] or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

SECTION 14. Trustee Dealings with the Company. 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 the Company, its Subsidiaries or their respective Affiliates as if it were not the Trustee.

SECTION 15. Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

SECTION 16. 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 entirety), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

SECTION 17. Guarantees; Collateral. The Notes will be entitled to the benefits of certain Guarantees made for the benefit of the Holders. Reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and obligations thereunder of the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders. The Notes are secured by a security interest in the Collateral, subject to the terms of the Security Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement and any other applicable intercreditor agreement, subject to release or termination as provided in the Indenture and the Security Documents.

SECTION 18. CUSIP Numbers and ISINs. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers and ISINs to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may include CUSIP numbers and ISINs in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

SECTION 19. Governing Law. This Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

8


The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture.

 

9


ASSIGNMENT FORM

I or we assign and transfer this Note to:

 

    

 
(Insert assignee’s social security or tax I.D. number)  

    

 
(Print or type name, address and zip code of assignee)  

and irrevocably appoint:

Agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. 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:

SIGNATURE GUARANTEE

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

10


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.09 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box:

Section 4.09 [    ]

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.09 of the Indenture, state the amount: $

 

Dated:  

 

    Signed:  

 

(Sign exactly as name appears on the other side of this Note)

Signature Guarantee:

Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor program reasonably acceptable to the Trustee)

 

11


[FORM OF ASSIGNMENT FOR REGULATION S NOTE]

I or we assign and transfer this Note to:

(Insert assignee’s social security or tax I.D. number)

(Print or type name, address and zip code of assignee)

and irrevocably appoint:

Agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuer. The Agent may substitute another to act for him.

[Check One]

[    ] (a) this Note is being transferred in compliance with the exemption from registration under the Securities Act provided by Regulation S thereunder.

or

[    ] (b) this Note is being transferred other than in accordance with (a) above and documents are being furnished which comply with the conditions of transfer set forth in this Note and the Indenture.

If none of the foregoing boxes is checked, the Trustee or Registrar shall not be obligated to register this Note in the name of any person other than the holder of the Note hereof unless and until the conditions to any such transfer of registration set forth herein and in Sections 2.16 and 2.17 of the Indenture shall have been satisfied.

Date:                      Your Signature:                     

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

Signature Guarantee:     

SIGNATURE GUARANTEE

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

12


EXHIBIT A-2

[FORM OF INITIAL EURO NOTE]

WMG ACQUISITION CORP.

[    ]% Senior Secured Notes due [                    ]

Common Code No.

ISIN No.

 

No.    €[                ]

WMG ACQUISITION CORP., a Delaware corporation (the “Company,” which term includes any successor corporation), for value received promises to pay to [                    ] or its registered assigns, the principal sum of [                ] euros (€[                ]) [(or such lesser or greater amount as shall be outstanding hereunder from time to time in accordance with Sections 2.16 and 2.17 of the within-mentioned Indenture)]4 on [                ], [                ].

Interest Payment Dates: [                    ] and [                    ], commencing [                    ]. Record Dates: [                    ] and [                    ].

Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note contained herein, which will for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 

4 

Include only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

13


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be signed manually or by facsimile by one of its duly authorized officers.

 

Dated:     WMG ACQUISITION CORP.
    By:  

 

    Name:  
    Title:  

 

14


CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the [    ]% Senior Secured Notes due [                    ] described in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

[Dated:     WELLS FARGO BANK,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
    By:  

 

    Authorized Signatory]
[Dated:     WELLS FARGO BANK,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
    By:   [                    ], as Authenticating Agent
    By:  

 

    Name:  
    Title:]  

 

15


[Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture] [Insert the Private Placement Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture] [Insert the OID Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

(Reverse of Note)

WMG Acquisition Corp.

[    ]% Senior Secured Notes due [                    ]

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

SECTION 1. Interest. WMG Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company,” which term includes any successor corporation), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at [    ]% per annum from [                    ] until maturity. The Company will pay interest semi-annually on [                    ] and [                    ] of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each an “Interest Payment Date”). Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of original issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a Record Date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided, further, that the first Interest Payment Date shall be [                ]. The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand to the extent lawful at the interest rate applicable to the Notes; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30 day months.

SECTION 2. Method of Payment. The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the [                    ] or [                    ] next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such Record Date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.13 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will be issued in denominations of €100,000 and integral multiples of €1,000. The Company shall pay principal, premium, if any and interest on the Notes in euros. Principal, premium, if any, and interest [and special interest], if any, on the Notes will be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their respective addresses set forth in the register of Holders or otherwise; provided that all payments of principal, premium and interest with respect to Notes the Holders of which have given wire transfer instructions to the Company prior to the Record Date will be required to be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts

 

16


specified by the Holders thereof. Until otherwise designated by the Company, the Company’s office or agency within the European Union will be the office of the Euro Paying Agent maintained for such purpose.

SECTION 3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, Société Générale Luxembourg will act as Euro Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company or any Affiliate may act in any such capacity. If and for so long as the Euro-denominated Notes are listed on the Official List of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and admitted for trading on the Euro MTF Market and to the extent that the rules and regulations of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange so require, the Company shall publish a notice of any change of Euro Paying Agent or Registrar in a newspaper having a general circulation in Luxembourg (which is expected to be the Luxemburger Wort) or, to the extent and in the manner permitted by the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, post such notice on the official website of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (as at the Issuer Date, www.bourse.lu).

SECTION 4. Indenture[; Registration Rights Agreement]. The Company issued this [    ]% Senior Secured Note due [                    ] of the Company (hereinafter called the “Notes”) under an Indenture dated as of June 29, 2020 (the “Base Indenture”) among the Company, the Guarantors, if any, from time to time parties thereto, the Trustee, the Notes Authorized Representative and the Collateral Agent as supplemented by a First Supplemental Indenture and a Second Supplemental Indenture, each dated as of June 29, 2020 (the “Supplemental Indentures” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and, subject to Section 1.03 of the Indenture and the Indenture being qualified under the TIA, those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S. Code §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) (the “TIA”). The Notes are subject to all such terms (except as aforementioned), and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the TIA, if applicable, for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling. Additional Notes may be issued from time to time in one or more series under the Indenture and (except as provided in Section 9.02 of the Indenture) will vote (or consent) as a single class with the Notes and otherwise be treated as Notes for purposes of the Indenture. [                ].5

SECTION 5. Optional Redemption. The Notes will be redeemable, at the Company’s option, in whole or in part, as provided in the Indenture.

 

5 

For an Initial Additional Note, add a registration rights provision if any, as may be agreed by the Company with respect to additional interest on such Initial Additional Note.

 

17


SECTION 6. [Mandatory Redemption. The Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.]6

SECTION 7. Offers To Purchase. The Indenture provides that upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event and subject to further limitations contained therein, the Company shall make an offer to purchase outstanding Notes in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture.

SECTION 8. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of €100,000 and integral multiples of €1,000. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture.

SECTION 9. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

SECTION 10. Amendment, Supplement and Waiver. Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture and the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (as defined in the Indenture) then outstanding, and any existing Default or compliance with any provision may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (as defined in the Indenture) then outstanding. Without notice to or consent of any Holder, the parties thereto may amend or supplement the Indenture and the Notes to, among other things, cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency in the Indenture, provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to certificated Notes, comply with any requirements of the Commission in connection with the qualification of the Indenture under the TIA, or make any change that does not materially adversely affect the rights of any Holder.

SECTION 11. Defaults and Remedies. If a Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (as defined in the Indenture) generally may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately by notice in writing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency as set forth in the Indenture, with respect to the Company, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (as defined in the Indenture) may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders notice of any continuing Default (except a Default relating to the payment of principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest.

 

6 

Include unless otherwise provided in the Notes Supplemental Indenture establishing the applicable series of Notes.

 

18


The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes (as defined in the Indenture) then outstanding by notice in writing to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default in the payment of interest on, or the principal of, the Notes or in respect of certain covenants set forth in the Indenture.

SECTION 12. Restrictive Covenants. The Indenture contains certain covenants that, among other things, limit the ability of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to make restricted payments, to incur indebtedness, to create liens, to sell assets, to permit restrictions on dividends and other payments by Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company, to consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of its assets or to engage in transactions with affiliates. The limitations are subject to a number of important qualifications and exceptions. The Company must annually report to the Trustee on compliance with such limitations.

SECTION 13. No Recourse Against Others. No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company or any Subsidiary of the Company, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Indenture, the Guarantees[, the Registration Rights Agreement] or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

SECTION 14. Trustee Dealings with the Company. 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 the Company, its Subsidiaries or their respective Affiliates as if it were not the Trustee.

SECTION 15. Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

SECTION 16. 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 entirety), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

SECTION 17. Guarantees; Collateral. The Notes will be entitled to the benefits of certain Guarantees made for the benefit of the Holders. Reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and obligations thereunder of the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders. The Notes are secured by a security interest in the Collateral, subject to the terms of the Security Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement and any other applicable intercreditor agreement, subject to release or termination as provided in the Indenture and the Security Documents.

SECTION 18. ISINs and Common Codes. The Company will cause ISINs and/or Common Codes to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may include ISINs and/or Common

 

19


Codes in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

SECTION 19. Governing Law. This Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture.

 

20


ASSIGNMENT FORM

I or we assign and transfer this Note to:

 

 

  
(Insert assignee’s social security or tax I.D. number)   

    

  
(Print or type name, address and zip code of assignee)   

and irrevocably appoint:

Agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. 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:

SIGNATURE GUARANTEE

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

21


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.09 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box:

Section 4.09 [    ]

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.09 of the Indenture, state the amount: €            

 

Dated:  

 

     Signed:  

 

(Sign exactly as name appears on the other side of this Note)

Signature Guarantee:

Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor program reasonably acceptable to the Trustee)

 

22


[FORM OF ASSIGNMENT FOR REGULATION S NOTE]

I or we assign and transfer this Note to:

(Insert assignee’s social security or tax I.D. number)

(Print or type name, address and zip code of assignee)

and irrevocably appoint:

Agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuer. The Agent may substitute another to act for him.

[Check One]

[    ] (a) this Note is being transferred in compliance with the exemption from registration under the Securities Act provided by Regulation S thereunder.

or

[    ] (b) this Note is being transferred other than in accordance with (a) above and documents are being furnished which comply with the conditions of transfer set forth in this Note and the Indenture.

If none of the foregoing boxes is checked, the Trustee or Registrar shall not be obligated to register this Note in the name of any person other than the holder of the Note hereof unless and until the conditions to any such transfer of registration set forth herein and in Sections 2.16 and 2.17 of the Indenture shall have been satisfied.

Date:                     Your Signature:

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

Signature Guarantee:     

SIGNATURE GUARANTEE

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

23


EXHIBIT B

[FORM OF LEGEND FOR RESTRICTED NOTES]

THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE ACQUIRER

(1) REPRESENTS THAT

(A) IT AND ANY ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT IS ACTING IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND THAT IT EXERCISES SOLE INVESTMENT DISCRETION WITH RESPECT TO EACH SUCH ACCOUNT, OR

(B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON (WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND

(2) AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT IT WILL NOT WITHIN [ONE YEAR FOR NOTES ISSUED PURSUANT TO RULE 144A] [40 DAYS – FOR NOTES ISSUED IN OFFSHORE TRANSACTIONS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S] AFTER THE LATER OF THE DATE OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THIS NOTE AND THE DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES OWNED THIS NOTE (OR ANY PREDECESSOR NOTE) OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND ONLY

(A) TO WARNER MUSIC GROUP CORP. OR ANY SUBSIDIARY OF WARNER MUSIC GROUP CORP.,

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

(C) TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,

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

(E) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE),

 

24


(F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

(3) REPRESENTS THAT EITHER (A) IT IS NOT, AND IS NOT ACTING ON BEHALF OF, A PLAN (WHICH TERM INCLUDES (I) EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), (II) PLANS, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS AND OTHER ARRANGEMENTS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”), OR TO PROVISIONS UNDER APPLICABLE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER LAWS OR REGULATIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO SUCH PROVISIONS OF ERISA OR THE CODE (“SIMILAR LAWS”) AND (III) ENTITIES THE UNDERLYING ASSETS OF WHICH ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” OF SUCH PLANS, ACCOUNTS AND ARRANGEMENTS) AND IT IS NOT PURCHASING THE NOTES ON BEHALF OF, OR WITH “PLAN ASSETS” OF, ANY PLAN; OR (B) ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF SUCH SECURITIES SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE OR RESULT IN A NONEXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA, SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR ANY PROVISION OF SIMILAR LAW.

PRIOR TO THE REGISTRATION OF ANY TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH (2)(C) ABOVE OR (2)(D) ABOVE, A DULY COMPLETED AND SIGNED CERTIFICATE (THE FORM OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) MUST BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE. PRIOR TO THE REGISTRATION OF ANY TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH (2)(E) OR (2)(F) ABOVE, THE COMPANY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF SUCH LEGAL OPINIONS, CERTIFICATIONS OR OTHER EVIDENCE AS MAY REASONABLY BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THAT THE PROPOSED TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NO REPRESENTATION IS MADE AS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF ANY RULE 144 EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

[FOR TEMPORARY NOTES ISSUED IN OFFSHORE TRANSACTIONS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S – BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS THAT IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON, NOR IS IT PURCHASING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A U.S. PERSON, AND IS ACQUIRING THIS NOTE IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

EXCEPT AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE, BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP INTERESTS IN THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE WILL NOT BE EXCHANGEABLE FOR INTERESTS IN THE PERMANENT REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE OR ANY OTHER NOTE REPRESENTING AN INTEREST IN THE NOTES REPRESENTED HEREBY WHICH DO NOT CONTAIN A LEGEND CONTAINING RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER, UNTIL THE EXPIRATION OF THE “40 DAY DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 903(b)(2)

 

25


OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT). DURING SUCH 40 DAY DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD, BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP INTERESTS IN THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED OR TRANSFERRED TO A U.S. PERSON OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF A U.S. PERSON.]

 

26


EXHIBIT C-1

[FORM OF EXCHANGE DOLLAR NOTE]

WMG ACQUISITION CORP.

[    ]% Senior Secured Notes due [                    ]

CUSIP No.

ISIN No.

 

No.        $[                ]

WMG ACQUISITION CORP., a Delaware corporation (the “Company,” which term includes any successor corporation), for value received promises to pay to [ ] or its registered assigns, the principal sum of [                ] dollars ($[            ]) [(or such lesser or greater amount as shall be outstanding hereunder from time to time in accordance with Sections 2.16 and 2.17 of the within-mentioned Indenture)]7 on [                    ], [                    ].

Interest Payment Dates: [                    ] and [                    ], commencing [                    ]. Record Dates: [                    ] and [                    ].

Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note contained herein, which will for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 

7 

Include only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

27


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be signed manually or by facsimile by one of its duly authorized officers.

 

Dated:     WMG ACQUISITION CORP.
    By:  

 

    Name:  
    Title:  

 

28


CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the [    ]% Senior Secured Notes due [                ] described in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

            Dated:    

WELLS FARGO BANK,

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee

      By:  

 

      Authorized Signatory

 

29


[Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture] [Insert the Private Placement Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture] [Insert the OID Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

(Reverse of Note)

WMG Acquisition Corp.

[    ]% Senior Secured Notes due [                ]

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

SECTION 1. Interest. WMG Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company,” which term includes any successor corporation), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at [    ]% per annum from [                ] until maturity, except that interest accrued on this Note for periods prior to the date on which the Initial Dollar Note was surrendered in exchange for this Note will accrue at the rate or rates borne by such Initial Dollar Note from time to time during such periods. The Company will pay interest semi-annually on [                ] and [                ] of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each an “Interest Payment Date”). [Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of original issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a Record Date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided, further, that the first Interest Payment Date shall be [                ]]8. The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand to the extent lawful at the interest rate applicable to the Notes; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30 day months.

SECTION 2. Method of Payment. The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the [                ] or [                ] next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such Record Date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.13 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will be issued in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. The Company shall pay principal, premium, if any and interest on the Notes in such coin or currency of the United States of

 

8 

Include only for Exchange Notes issued in exchange for Exchange Notes.

 

30


America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts (“U.S. Legal Tender”). Principal, premium, if any, and interest [and special interest], if any, on the Notes will be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their respective addresses set forth in the register of Holders or otherwise; provided that all payments of principal, premium and interest with respect to Notes the Holders of which have given wire transfer instructions to the Company prior to the Record Date will be required to be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Holders thereof. Until otherwise designated by the Company, the Company’s office or agency in New York will be the office of the Trustee maintained for such purpose.

SECTION 3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company or any Affiliate may act in any such capacity.

SECTION 4. Indenture. The Company issued this [    ]% Senior Secured Note due [                 ] of the Company (hereinafter called the “Notes”) under an Indenture dated as of June 29, 2020 (the “Base Indenture”) among the Company, the Guarantors, if any, from time to time parties thereto, the Trustee, the Notes Authorized Representative and the Collateral Agent as supplemented by a First Supplemental Indenture and Second Supplemental Indenture, each dated as of June 29, 2020 (the “Supplemental Indentures” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and, subject to Section 1.03 of the Indenture and the Indenture being qualified under the TIA, those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S. Code §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) (the “TIA”). The Notes are subject to all such terms (except as aforementioned), and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the TIA, if applicable, for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling. Additional Notes may be issued from time to time in one or more series under the Indenture and (except as provided in Section 9.02 of the Indenture) will vote (or consent) as a single class with the Notes and otherwise be treated as Notes for purposes of the Indenture.

SECTION 5. Optional Redemption. The Notes will be redeemable, at the Company’s option, in whole or in part, as provided in the Indenture.

SECTION 6. [Mandatory Redemption. The Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.]9

 

 

9 

Include unless otherwise provided in the Notes Supplemental Indenture establishing the applicable series of Notes.

 

31


SECTION 7. Offers To Purchase. The Indenture provides that upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event and subject to further limitations contained therein, the Company shall make an offer to purchase outstanding Notes in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture.

SECTION 8. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture.

SECTION 9. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

SECTION 10. Amendment, Supplement and Waiver. Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture and the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (as defined in the Indenture) then outstanding, and any existing Default or compliance with any provision may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (as defined in the Indenture) then outstanding. Without notice to or consent of any Holder, the parties thereto may amend or supplement the Indenture and the Notes to, among other things, cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency in the Indenture, provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to certificated Notes, comply with any requirements of the Commission in connection with the qualification of the Indenture under the TIA, or make any change that does not materially adversely affect the rights of any Holder.

SECTION 11. Defaults and Remedies. If a Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (as defined in the Indenture) generally may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately by notice in writing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency as set forth in the Indenture, with respect to the Company, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (as defined in the Indenture) may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders notice of any continuing Default (except a Default relating to the payment of principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes (as defined in the Indenture) then outstanding by notice in writing to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default in the payment of interest on, or the principal of, the Notes or in respect of certain covenants set forth in the Indenture.

 

32


SECTION 12. Restrictive Covenants. The Indenture contains certain covenants that, among other things, limit the ability of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to make restricted payments, to incur indebtedness, to create liens, to sell assets, to permit restrictions on dividends and other payments by Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company, to consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of its assets or to engage in transactions with affiliates. The limitations are subject to a number of important qualifications and exceptions. The Company must annually report to the Trustee on compliance with such limitations.

SECTION 13. No Recourse Against Others. No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company or any Subsidiary of the Company, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Indenture, the Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

SECTION 14. Trustee Dealings with the Company. 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 the Company, its Subsidiaries or their respective Affiliates as if it were not the Trustee.

SECTION 15. Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

SECTION 16. 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 entirety), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

SECTION 17. Guarantees; Collateral. The Notes will be entitled to the benefits of certain Guarantees made for the benefit of the Holders. Reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and obligations thereunder of the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders. The Notes are secured by a security interest in the Collateral, subject to the terms of the Security Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement and any other applicable intercreditor agreement, subject to release or termination as provided in the Indenture and the Security Documents.

SECTION 18. CUSIP Numbers and ISINs. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers and ISINs to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may include CUSIP numbers and ISINs in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

33


SECTION 19. Governing Law. This Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture.

 

34


ASSIGNMENT FORM

I or we assign and transfer this Note to:

 

 

  
(Insert assignee’s social security or tax I.D. number)   

 

  
(Print or type name, address and zip code of assignee)   

and irrevocably appoint:

Agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. 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:

  
 

SIGNATURE GUARANTEE

  

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

35


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.09 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box:

Section 4.09 [    ]

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.09 of the Indenture, state the amount: $

 

  Dated:  

 

  Signed:  

 

(Sign exactly as name appears on the other side of this Note)

Signature Guarantee:

Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor program reasonably acceptable to the Trustee)

 

36


[FORM OF ASSIGNMENT FOR REGULATION S NOTE]

I or we assign and transfer this Note to:

(Insert assignee’s social security or tax I.D. number)

(Print or type name, address and zip code of assignee)

and irrevocably appoint:

Agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuer. The Agent may substitute another to act for him.

[Check One]

[    ] (a) this Note is being transferred in compliance with the exemption from registration under the Securities Act provided by Regulation S thereunder.

or

[    ] (b) this Note is being transferred other than in accordance with (a) above and documents are being furnished which comply with the conditions of transfer set forth in this Note and the Indenture.

If none of the foregoing boxes is checked, the Trustee or Registrar shall not be obligated to register this Note in the name of any person other than the holder of the Note hereof unless and until the conditions to any such transfer of registration set forth herein and in Sections 2.16 and 2.17 of the Indenture shall have been satisfied.

 

         Date:     Your Signature:

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

Signature Guarantee:     

SIGNATURE GUARANTEE

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

37


EXHIBIT C-2

[FORM OF EXCHANGE EURO NOTE]

WMG ACQUISITION CORP.

[    ]% Senior Secured Notes due [                ]

Common Code No.

ISIN No.

 

  No.    €[                ]   

WMG ACQUISITION CORP., a Delaware corporation (the “Company,” which term includes any successor corporation), for value received promises to pay to [                ] or its registered assigns, the principal sum of [                ] euros (€[                ]) [(or such lesser or greater amount as shall be outstanding hereunder from time to time in accordance with Sections 2.16 and 2.17 of the within-mentioned Indenture)]10 on [                ], [                ].

Interest Payment Dates: [                ] and [                ], commencing [                ]. Record Dates: [                ] and [                ].

Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note contained herein, which will for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 

10 

Include only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

38


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be signed manually or by facsimile by one of its duly authorized officers.

 

  Dated:     WMG ACQUISITION CORP.
      By:  

 

      Name:  
      Title:  

 

39


CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the [    ]% Senior Secured Notes due [                ] described in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

           [Dated:     WELLS FARGO BANK,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
      By:  

 

      Authorized Signatory]
  [Dated:     WELLS FARGO BANK,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
      By: [                     ], as Authenticating Agent
      By:  

 

      Name:
      Title:]

 

40


[Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture] [Insert the Private Placement Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture] [Insert the OID Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

(Reverse of Note)

WMG Acquisition Corp.

[    ]% Senior Secured Notes due [                ]

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

SECTION 1. Interest. WMG Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company,” which term includes any successor corporation), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at [    ]% per annum from [                ] until maturity, except that interest accrued on this Note for periods prior to the date on which the Initial Euro Note was surrendered in exchange for this Note will accrue at the rate or rates borne by such Initial Euro Note from time to time during such periods. The Company will pay interest semi-annually on [                ] and [                ] of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each an “Interest Payment Date”). [Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of original issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a Record Date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided, further, that the first Interest Payment Date shall be [                ].]11 The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand to the extent lawful at the interest rate applicable to the Notes; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30 day months.

SECTION 2. Method of Payment. The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the [                ] or [                ] next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such Record Date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.13 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will be issued in denominations of €100,000 and integral multiples of €1,000. The Company shall pay principal, premium, if any and interest on the Notes in euros. Principal, premium, if any, and interest [and special interest], if any, on the Notes will be payable at the office or agency of the Company

 

11 

Include only for Exchange Notes issued in exchange for Exchange Notes.

 

41


maintained for such purpose or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their respective addresses set forth in the register of Holders or otherwise; provided that all payments of principal, premium and interest with respect to Notes the Holders of which have given wire transfer instructions to the Company prior to the Record Date will be required to be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Holders thereof. Until otherwise designated by the Company, the Company’s office or agency within the European Union will be the office of the Euro Paying Agent maintained for such purpose.

SECTION 3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, Société Générale Luxembourg will act as Euro Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company or any Affiliate may act in any such capacity. If and for so long as the Euro-denominated Notes are listed on the Official List of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and admitted for trading on the Euro MTF Market and to the extent that the rules and regulations of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange so require, the Company shall publish a notice of any change of Euro Paying Agent or Registrar in a newspaper having a general circulation in Luxembourg (which is expected to be the Luxemburger Wort) or, to the extent and in the manner permitted by the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, post such notice on the official website of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (as at the Issuer Date, www.bourse.lu).

SECTION 4. Indenture. The Company issued this [    ]% Senior Secured Note due [                ] of the Company (hereinafter called the “Notes”) under an Indenture dated as of June 29, 2020 (the “Base Indenture”) among the Company, the Guarantors, if any, from time to time parties thereto, the Trustee, the Notes Authorized Representative and the Collateral Agent as supplemented by a First Supplemental Indenture and Second Supplemental Indenture, each dated as of June 29, 2020 (the “Supplemental Indentures” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and, subject to Section 1.03 of the Indenture and the Indenture being qualified under the TIA, those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S. Code §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) (the “TIA”). The Notes are subject to all such terms (except as aforementioned), and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the TIA, if applicable, for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling. Additional Notes may be issued from time to time in one or more series under the Indenture and (except as provided in Section 9.02 of the Indenture) will vote (or consent) as a single class with the Notes and otherwise be treated as Notes for purposes of the Indenture.

SECTION 5. Optional Redemption. The Notes will be redeemable, at the Company’s option, in whole or in part, as provided in the Indenture.

 

42


SECTION 6. [Mandatory Redemption. The Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.]12

SECTION 7. Offers To Purchase. The Indenture provides that upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event and subject to further limitations contained therein, the Company shall make an offer to purchase outstanding Notes in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture.

SECTION 8. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of €100,000 and integral multiples of €1,000. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture.

SECTION 9. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

SECTION 10. Amendment, Supplement and Waiver. Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture and the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (as defined in the Indenture) then outstanding, and any existing Default or compliance with any provision may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (as defined in the Indenture) then outstanding. Without notice to or consent of any Holder, the parties thereto may amend or supplement the Indenture and the Notes to, among other things, cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency in the Indenture, provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to certificated Notes, comply with any requirements of the Commission in connection with the qualification of the Indenture under the TIA, or make any change that does not materially adversely affect the rights of any Holder.

SECTION 11. Defaults and Remedies. If a Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (as defined in the Indenture) generally may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately by notice in writing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency as set forth in the Indenture, with respect to the Company, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (as defined in the Indenture) may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders notice of any continuing Default (except a Default relating to the payment of principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest.

 

12 

Include unless otherwise provided in the Notes Supplemental Indenture establishing the applicable series of Notes.

 

43


The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes (as defined in the Indenture) then outstanding by notice in writing to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default in the payment of interest on, or the principal of, the Notes or in respect of certain covenants set forth in the Indenture.

SECTION 12. Restrictive Covenants. The Indenture contains certain covenants that, among other things, limit the ability of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to make restricted payments, to incur indebtedness, to create liens, to sell assets, to permit restrictions on dividends and other payments by Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company, to consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of its assets or to engage in transactions with affiliates. The limitations are subject to a number of important qualifications and exceptions. The Company must annually report to the Trustee on compliance with such limitations.

SECTION 13. No Recourse Against Others. No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company or any Subsidiary of the Company, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Indenture, the Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

SECTION 14. Trustee Dealings with the Company. 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 the Company, its Subsidiaries or their respective Affiliates as if it were not the Trustee.

SECTION 15. Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

SECTION 16. 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 entirety), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

SECTION 17. Guarantees; Collateral. The Notes will be entitled to the benefits of certain Guarantees made for the benefit of the Holders. Reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and obligations thereunder of the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders. The Notes are secured by a security interest in the Collateral, subject to the terms of the Security Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement and any other applicable intercreditor agreement, subject to release or termination as provided in the Indenture and the Security Documents.

SECTION 18. ISINs and Common Codes. The Company will cause ISINs and/or Common Codes to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may include ISINs and/or Common

 

44


Codes in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

SECTION 19. Governing Law. This Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture.

 

45


ASSIGNMENT FORM

I or we assign and transfer this Note to:

 

 

  
(Insert assignee’s social security or tax I.D. number)   

 

  
(Print or type name, address and zip code of assignee)   

and irrevocably appoint:

Agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. 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:

     

SIGNATURE GUARANTEE

     

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

46


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.09 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box:

Section 4.09 [    ]

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.09 of the Indenture, state the amount: €

 

Dated:  

 

     Signed:   

 

(Sign exactly as name appears on the other side of this Note)

Signature Guarantee:

Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor program reasonably acceptable to the Trustee)

 

47


[FORM OF ASSIGNMENT FOR REGULATION S NOTE]

I or we assign and transfer this Note to:

(Insert assignee’s social security or tax I.D. number)

(Print or type name, address and zip code of assignee)

and irrevocably appoint:

Agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuer. The Agent may substitute another to act for him.

[Check One]

[    ] (a) this Note is being transferred in compliance with the exemption from registration under the Securities Act provided by Regulation S thereunder.

or

[    ] (b) this Note is being transferred other than in accordance with (a) above and documents are being furnished which comply with the conditions of transfer set forth in this Note and the Indenture.

If none of the foregoing boxes is checked, the Trustee or Registrar shall not be obligated to register this Note in the name of any person other than the holder of the Note hereof unless and until the conditions to any such transfer of registration set forth herein and in Sections 2.16 and 2.17 of the Indenture shall have been satisfied.

 

         Date:       Your Signature:

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

Signature Guarantee:     

SIGNATURE GUARANTEE

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

48


EXHIBIT D

[FORM OF LEGEND FOR DOLLAR GLOBAL NOTE]

Any Dollar Global Note authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend (which would be in addition to any other legends required in the case of a Restricted Security) in substantially the following form:

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL NOTE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITARY. THIS SECURITY IS NOT EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (A NEW YORK CORPORATION) (“DTC”) TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR 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.

[FORM OF LEGEND FOR EURO GLOBAL NOTE]

Any Euro Global Note authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend (which would be in addition to any other legends required in the case of a Restricted Security) in substantially the following form:

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL NOTE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A COMMON DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF A COMMON DEPOSITARY. THIS SECURITY IS NOT EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE COMMON DEPOSITARY OR ITS

 

49


NOMINEE EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY AS A WHOLE BY THE COMMON DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE COMMON DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE COMMON DEPOSITARY TO THE COMMON DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF []13 (“[]”) TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF [] OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF [] (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO [] OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF []), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, [] HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

13 

Insert name of Common Depositary.

 

50


EXHIBIT E

Form of Certificate To Be Delivered in Connection with

Transfers to Non-QIB Accredited Investors

[                    ], [         ]

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee and Registrar

Attn: DAPS – Reorg

600 South 4th Street – 7th Floor

Minneapolis, MN 55415

Facsimile: (866) 969-1290

Phone: (800) 344-5128

Email: ***@***

Or, if to the Paying Agent and Registrar in respect of Euro-denominated Notes:

Société Générale Luxembourg

28-32 Place de la gare

l-1616 Luxembourg

Phone: 352 47 93 11 5522

Fax: 352 24 15 75

Attention: SGSS/SBO/CIS/ISS

Email: ***@***

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In connection with our proposed purchase of [    ]% Senior Secured Notes due 20[    ] of WMG ACQUISITION CORP., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), we confirm that:

1.    We have received a copy of the Offering Circular (the “Offering Circular”), dated [                    ], [        ], relating to the Notes and such other information as we deem necessary in order to make our investment decision. We acknowledge that we have read and agreed to the matters stated in the section entitled “Notice to Investors” of such Offering Circular, including the restrictions on duplication and circulation of the Offering Circular.

2.    We understand that any subsequent transfer of the Notes is subject to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in the Indenture relating to the Notes (the “Indenture”) as described in the Offering Circular and the undersigned agrees to be bound by, and not to resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Notes except in compliance with, such restrictions and conditions and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and all applicable State securities laws.

3.    We understand that the offer and sale of the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act, and that the Notes may not be offered or sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree, on our own behalf and on behalf of any accounts for which we

 

51


are acting as hereinafter stated, that if we should sell any Notes, we will do so only (i) to Warner Music Group Corp. or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) inside the United States in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act), (iii) inside the United States to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined below) that, prior to such transfer, furnishes (or has furnished on its behalf by a U.S. broker-dealer) to the Trustee (as defined in the Indenture) a signed letter containing certain representations and agreements relating to the restrictions on transfer of the Notes (the form of which letter can be obtained from the Trustee), (iv) outside the United States in accordance with Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act to non-U.S. persons, (v) pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act (if available), (vi) in accordance with another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act (and based upon an Opinion of Counsel if the Issuer so requests) or (vii) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, and we further agree to provide to any person purchasing any of the Notes from us a notice advising such purchaser that resales of the Notes are restricted as stated herein.

4.    We are not acquiring the Notes for or on behalf of, and will not transfer the Notes to, any pension or welfare plan (as defined in Section 3 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended) or plan (as defined in Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended), except as permitted in the section entitled “Notice to Investors” of the Offering Circular.

5.    We understand that, on any proposed resale of any Notes, we will be required to furnish to the Trustee and the Issuer such certification, legal opinions and other information as the Trustee and the Issuer may reasonably require to confirm that the proposed sale complies with the foregoing restrictions. We further understand that the Notes purchased by us will bear a legend to the foregoing effect.

6.    We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act) and have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and we and any accounts for which we are acting are each able to bear the economic risk of our or their investment, as the case may be.

7.    We are acquiring the Notes purchased by us for our account or for one or more accounts (each of which is an institutional “accredited investor”) as to each of which we exercise sole investment discretion.

You, the Issuer, the Trustee and others are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.

Very truly yours, [Name of Transferee]

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

52


EXHIBIT F

Form of Certificate To Be Delivered in Connection with Transfers

Pursuant to Regulation S

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee and Registrar

Attn: DAPS – Reorg

600 South 4th Street – 7th Floor

Minneapolis, MN 55415

Facsimile: (866) 969-1290

Phone: (800) 344-5128

Email: ***@***

Or, if to the Paying Agent and Registrar in respect of Euro-denominated Notes:

Société Générale Luxembourg

28-32 Place de la gare

l-1616 Luxembourg

Phone: 352 47 93 11 5522

Fax: 352 24 15 75

Attention: SGSS/SBO/CIS/ISS

Email: ***@***

 

  Re:

WMG Acquisition Corp. (the “Issuer”) [    ]% Senior Secured Notes due [    ] (the “Notes”)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In connection with our proposed sale of [$][€][                    ] aggregate principal amount of the Notes, we confirm that such sale has been effected pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, we represent that:

(1)    the offer of the Notes was not made to a person in the United States;

(2)    either (a) at the time the buy offer was originated, the transferee was outside the United States or we and any person acting on our behalf reasonably believed that the transferee was outside the United States, or (b) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither we nor any person acting on our behalf knows that the transaction has been prearranged with a buyer in the United States;

(3)    no directed selling efforts have been made in the United States in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S, as applicable;

(4)    the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act; and

(5) we have advised the transferee of the transfer restrictions applicable to the Notes.

 

53


In addition, if the sale is made during a Restricted Period and the provisions of Rule 903(b)(2), Rule 903(b)(3) or Rule 904(b)(1) of Regulation S are applicable thereto, we confirm that such sale has been made in accordance with the applicable provisions of Rule 903(b)(2), Rule 903(b)(3) or Rule 904(b)(1), as the case may be.

You, the Issuer and counsel for the Issuer are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby. Terms used in this certificate have the meanings set forth in Regulation S.

Very truly yours,

[Name of Transferor]

 

By:

 

 

 

Authorized Signature

 

54


EXHIBIT G

FORM OF OID LEGEND

THIS SECURITY WAS ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT UNDER SECTIONS 1272, 1273 AND 1275 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED. YOU MAY CONTACT ERIC LEVIN, THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF THE ISSUER, AT 1633 BROADWAY, 7TH FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY 10019 OR BY PHONE AT ###-###-####, WHO WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH ANY REQUIRED INFORMATION REGARDING THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT.

 

56


EXHIBIT H

FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE ESTABLISHING A SERIES OF

[DOLLAR-DENOMINATED][EURO-DENOMINATED] NOTES

WMG ACQUISITION CORP.

as Issuer

and

the Subsidiary Guarantors from time to time party to the Indenture

and

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as Trustee

 

 

[                    ] SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

DATED AS OF [        ], 20[    ]

to the

INDENTURE

DATED AS OF JUNE 29, 2020

Providing for the Issuance of

[    ]% Senior Secured Notes Due [                    ]

 

57


[                    ]14 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of [                        ], 20[    ] (this “Supplemental Indenture”), among WMG Acquisition Corp. (together with its successors and assigns, the “Company”), as issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors under the Indenture referred to below (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee.

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee, the Notes Authorized Representative and the Collateral Agent are party to the Indenture, dated as of June 29, 2020 (as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Indenture”), which provides for the issuance from time to time of Notes by the Company;

WHEREAS, Section 9.01(8) of the Indenture provides that the Company may [provide for the issuance of [Initial Notes] [Additional Notes] in accordance with the limitations set forth in the Indenture as of the Closing Date] [provide for the issuance of Exchange Notes];

WHEREAS, in connection with the issuance of the [                    ] Notes (as defined herein), the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture to establish the forms and terms of the [                    ] Notes as hereinafter described; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the parties hereto are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture to amend the Indenture, without the consent of any Holder;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the benefit of the Holders as follows:

 

 

14 

Insert supplement number.


1.    Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

2.    Title of Notes. There shall be a series of Notes of the Company designated the “[    ]%15 Senior Secured Notes due 20[    ]”16 (the “[                    ]17 Notes”), which Notes shall be [Dollar][Euro]-denominated.

3.    Maturity Date. The Maturity Date of the [                    ] Notes shall be [                    ], 20[    ].18

4.    Interest and Interest Rates. Interest on the outstanding principal amount of [                ] Notes will accrue at the rate of [ ]%19 per annum and will be payable semi-annually in arrears on [                    ] and [                    ]20 in each year, commencing on [                    ], 20[    ],21 to holders of record on the immediately preceding [                    ] and [                ],22 respectively (each such [                    ] and [                    ], a “Record Date”). Interest on the [                    ] Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or provided for or, if no interest has been paid, from [                    ], 20[    ], except that interest on any Additional [                ] Notes (as defined below) issued on or after the first Interest Payment Date (and Exchange Notes issued in exchange therefor) will accrue (or

 

15 

Insert interest rate.

 

16 

Insert year during which the maturity date falls.

 

17 

Insert title of notes.

 

18 

Insert Maturity Date.

 

19 

Insert interest rate.

 

20 

Insert Interest Payment Dates.

 

21 

Insert first Interest Payment Date.

 

22 

Insert Record Dates.

 

2


will be deemed to have accrued) from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for or, if no interest has been paid on such Additional [                    ] Notes, from the Interest Payment Date immediately preceding the date of issuance of such Additional [                    ] Notes (or if the date of issuance of such Additional [                    ] Notes is an Interest Payment Date, from such date of issuance); provided that if any [                    ] Note and any Exchange Notes issued in exchange therefor are surrendered for exchange on or after a record date for an Interest Payment Date that will occur on or after the date of such exchange, interest on such Note received in exchange thereof will accrue from such Interest Payment Date.

5.    [No] Limitation on Aggregate Principal Amount. The aggregate principal amount of [                    ] Notes that may be authenticated and delivered and outstanding under the Indenture is [not limited] [limited to [$][€][                    ]].23 [The aggregate principal amount of the [                    ] Notes shall initially be [$][€][                    ] million.]24 [The aggregate principal amount of the [                    ] Notes issued pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture shall be [$][€][                    ] million.]25 The Company may from time to time, without the consent of the Holders, create and issue Additional Notes having the same terms and conditions as the [                    ] Notes in all respects or in all respects except for issue date, issue price and, if applicable, the first date on which interest accrues and the first payment of interest thereon. Additional Notes issued in this manner will be consolidated with, and will form a single series with, the [                    ] Notes (any such Additional Notes, “Additional [                    ] Notes”), unless otherwise specified for Additional Notes in an applicable Notes Supplemental Indenture, or otherwise designated by the Company, as contemplated by Section 2.01 of the Indenture.

6.    Redemption. (a) The [                    ] Notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time prior to [                    ], 20[    ], at the option of the Company, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the [                    ] Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of,

 

23 

Insert whether the applicable series of Notes will be limited or not.

 

24 

Insert for the initial notes of any applicable series.

 

25 

Insert for the Additional Notes of any applicable series.

 

3


and accrued and unpaid interest [and special interest], if any, to, the applicable Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).

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

 

  (1)    1.0%

of the then outstanding principal amount of such [                    ] Note; and

 

  (2)    the

excess, if any, of:

(a)    the present value at such redemption date of (i) the redemption price of the [                    ] Note at [                    ], 20[    ]26 (such redemption price being set forth in the table appearing in Section 6(b)) plus (ii) all required remaining scheduled interest payments due on the [                    ] Note through [                    ], 20[    ]27 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest to such redemption date), computed using a discount rate equal to the [Treasury Rate]28 [Bund Rate]29 as of such redemption date plus [75.0] basis points; over

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

[“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

 

26 

Insert date upon which the Notes are callable.

 

27 

Insert date upon which the Notes are callable.

 

28 

Insert for Dollar-denominated Notes.

 

29 

Insert for Euro-denominated Notes.

 

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Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from such redemption date to [                    ], 20[    ]30; provided, that if the Treasury Rate determined in accordance with the foregoing shall be less than zero, the Treasury Rate shall be deemed to be zero for all purposes of the Indenture.]31

[“Bund Rate” means, as of the applicable redemption date, the yield to maturity as of such redemption date of direct obligations of the Federal Republic of Germany (Bunds or Bundesanleihen) with a constant maturity (as officially compiled and published in the most recent financial statistics that have become publicly available at least two business days (but not more than five business days) prior to such redemption date (or, if such financial statistics are not so published or available, any publicly available source of similar market data selected by the Company in good faith)) most nearly equal to the period from such redemption date to [                    ], [                    ]; provided, however, that if the period from such redemption date to [                    ], 20[    ]32 is not equal to the constant maturity of the direct obligation of the Federal Republic of Germany for which a weekly average yield is given, the Bund Rate shall be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of direct obligations of the Federal Republic of Germany for which such yields are given; provided that if the Bund Rate determined in accordance with the foregoing shall be less than zero, the Bund Rate shall be deemed to be zero for all purposes of the Indenture.]33

(b)    On or after [                    ], 20[    ]34, the Company may redeem all or a part of the [                    ] Notes, at its option, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set

 

30 

Insert date upon which the Notes are callable.

 

31 

Insert for Dollar-denominated Notes.

 

32 

Insert date upon which the Notes are callable.

 

33 

Insert for Euro-denominated Notes.

 

34 

Insert date upon which the Notes are callable.

 

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forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest [and special interest], if any, on the [                    ] Notes to be redeemed to the applicable Redemption Date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on [                    ]35 of the years indicated below:

 

Year36    Percentage37  

20[    ]

     [    ]%  

20[    ]

     [    ]%  

20[    ]

     [    ]%  

20[    ] and thereafter

     100.000

(c)    At any time prior to [                    ], 20[    ]38, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to [    ]39% of the aggregate principal amount of [                    ] Notes (including the aggregate principal amount of any Additional [                    ] Notes) issued under the Indenture, at its option, at a redemption price equal to [    ]40% of the principal amount of the [                    ] Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest [and special interest] thereon, if any, to the date of redemption (subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant Record Date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date) (each, a “Note Equity Offering Redemption”), with funds in an aggregate amount not exceeding the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings by the Company or any contribution to the Company’s common equity capital made with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings by the Company’s direct or indirect parent; provided that:

 

35 

Insert date upon which the Notes are callable.

 

36 

Insert years, adding or deleting lines if applicable.

 

37 

Insert prices.

 

38 

Insert date until which equity clawback is applicable.

 

39 

Insert maximum percentage for equity clawback.

 

40 

Insert premium for equity clawback.

 

6


(i)    at least [    ]% of the aggregate principal amount of [                    ] Notes originally issued under the Indenture (including the aggregate principal amount of any Additional [                    ] Notes) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption (unless all such Notes are otherwise repurchased or redeemed substantially concurrently with the corresponding Note Equity Offering Redemption); and

(ii)    notice of such redemption is given no more than [    ] days after the date of, and may be conditioned upon, the closing of such Equity Offering.

[(d)    In addition, during any twelve-month period prior to [                    ], 20[    ],41 [                ] the Company may redeem up to [    ]42% of the original aggregate principal amount of the [                    ] Notes (including the principal amount of any Additional [                    ] Notes) at a redemption price equal to [    ]43% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest [and special interest] thereon, if any, to the Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).]

[(d)][(e)]    The Company may acquire [                    ] Notes by means other than a redemption, whether by tender offer, open market purchases, negotiated transactions or otherwise, in accordance with applicable securities laws, so long as such acquisition does not otherwise violate the terms of the Indenture.

[(e)][(f)]    Any redemption or notice of any redemption may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of an Equity Offering, other offering or other corporate transactions or event. Notice of any redemption in respect of an Equity Offering may be given prior to the completion thereof.

 

41 

Insert date upon which the Notes are callable.

 

42 

Insert maximum percentage for additional optional redemption amount.

 

43 

Insert premium for additional optional redemption amount.

 

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[(f)][(g)]    If the optional redemption date is on or after a Record Date and on or before the related Interest Payment Date, the accrued and unpaid interest will be paid to the Person in whose name the [                    ] Note is registered at the close of business on such Record Date, and no additional interest will be payable to Holders whose [                    ] Notes will be subject to redemption by the Company.44

[[(g)][(h)]    [ ]]45

[[(h)][(i)]    [ ]]46

7.    [ ]47

8.    Form. The [                    ] Notes shall be issued substantially in the form set forth, or referenced, in Article Two of the Indenture, and Exhibit [A-1][A-2] or Exhibit [C-1][C-2] attached to the Indenture, in each case as provided for in Section 2.02 of the Indenture (as such form may be modified in accordance with Section 2.01 of the Indenture).

9.    Governing Law. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

 

44 

Insert if applicable for Euro-denominated Notes.

 

45 

Include appropriate provisions in accordance with Section 2.01(v)(ii) of the Indenture, if any.

 

46 

Include appropriate provisions in accordance with Section 2.01(vi) of the Indenture, if any.

 

47 

Include appropriate provisions in accordance with Section 2.01(vii) and/or Section 2.01(viii) of the Indenture, if any.

 

8


10.    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 heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby. The Trustee makes no representation or warranty as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or as to the accuracy of the recitals to this Supplemental Indenture.

11.    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.

12.    Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

9


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

WMG ACQUISITION CORP.

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

[SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS:

[                     ]

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee

By:

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

10


EXHIBIT I

[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS]

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of [                    ], among    (the “Guaranteeing Subsidiary”), a subsidiary of WMG Acquisition Corp. (or its permitted successor), a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the “Trustee”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee, the Notes Authorized Representative and the Collateral Agent an indenture, dated as of June 29, 2020 (as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified, the “Indenture”), providing for the issuance of Notes in series;

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Company’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein (the “Note Guarantee”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:

1. CAPITALIZED TERMS. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

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2.    AGREEMENT TO GUARANTEE. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees to provide an unconditional Guarantee on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Note Guarantee and in the Indenture including but not limited to Article Ten thereof.

3.     NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company or Subsidiary of the Company, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Indenture, the Guarantees[, the Registration Rights Agreement] or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

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 heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby. The Trustee makes no representation or warranty as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or as to the accuracy of the recitals to this Supplemental Indenture.

5.    NEW YORK LAW TO GOVERN. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

6.    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.

7.    EFFECT OF HEADINGS. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

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8.    THE TRUSTEE. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Company.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date first above written. Dated:                    ,

 

[GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY]
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
WMG ACQUISITION CORP.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory

 

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