EX-4.1 2 d299142dex41.htm EX-4.1 EX-4.1

Exhibit 4.1

Execution Version

 

 

CALUMET SPECIALTY PRODUCTS PARTNERS, L.P.

CALUMET FINANCE CORP.

AND THE GUARANTORS NAMED ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HEREOF

 

 

8.125% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2027

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of January 20, 2022

 

 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

As Trustee

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  

ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

     1  

Section 1.01

   Definitions      1  

Section 1.02

   Other Definitions      28  

Section 1.03

   Rules of Construction      28  

ARTICLE 2 THE NOTES

     29  

Section 2.01

   Form and Dating      29  

Section 2.02

   Execution and Authentication      29  

Section 2.03

   Registrar and Paying Agent      30  

Section 2.04

   Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust      30  

Section 2.05

   Holder Lists      30  

Section 2.06

   Transfer and Exchange      31  

Section 2.07

   Replacement Notes      31  

Section 2.08

   Outstanding Notes      32  

Section 2.09

   Treasury Notes      32  

Section 2.10

   Temporary Notes      32  

Section 2.11

   Cancellation      33  

Section 2.12

   Defaulted Interest      33  

Section 2.13

   CUSIP Numbers      33  

Section 2.14

   Issuance of Additional Notes      33  

Section 2.15

   Calculation of Principal Amount of Securities      34  

ARTICLE 3 REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

     34  

Section 3.01

   Notices to Trustee      34  

Section 3.02

   Selection of Notes to be Redeemed      34  

Section 3.03

   Notice of Redemption      35  

Section 3.04

   Effect of Notice of Redemption      36  

Section 3.05

   Deposit of Redemption Price      36  

Section 3.06

   Notes Redeemed in Part      37  

Section 3.07

   Optional Redemption      37  

Section 3.08

   No Mandatory Sinking Fund      38  

Section 3.09

   Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds      38  

ARTICLE 4 COVENANTS

     40  

Section 4.01

   Payment of Notes      40  

Section 4.02

   Maintenance of Office or Agency      40  

Section 4.03

   Reports      41  

Section 4.04

   Compliance Certificate      42  

Section 4.05

   Taxes      43  

Section 4.06

   Stay, Extension and Usury Laws      43  

Section 4.07

   Limitation on Restricted Payments      43  

Section 4.08

   Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries      47  

Section 4.09

   Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock      49  

 

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Section 4.10

   Limitation on Asset Sales      51  

Section 4.11

   Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates      53  

Section 4.12

   Limitation on Liens      55  

Section 4.13

   Additional Subsidiary Guarantees      55  

Section 4.14

   Corporate Existence      55  

Section 4.15

   Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control Triggering Event      55  

Section 4.16

   Permitted Business Activities      58  

Section 4.17

   Covenant Suspension      58  

Section 4.18

   Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries      59  

ARTICLE 5 SUCCESSORS

     59  

Section 5.01

   Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets      59  

Section 5.02

   Successor Substituted      61  

ARTICLE 6 DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

     62  

Section 6.01

   Events of Default      62  

Section 6.02

   Acceleration      64  

Section 6.03

   Other Remedies      64  

Section 6.04

   Waiver of Past Defaults      65  

Section 6.05

   Control by Majority      65  

Section 6.06

   Limitation on Suits      65  

Section 6.07

   Rights of Holders to Receive Payment      65  

Section 6.08

   Collection Suit by Trustee      66  

Section 6.09

   Trustee May File Proofs of Claim      66  

Section 6.10

   Priorities      66  

Section 6.11

   Undertaking for Costs      67  

Section 6.12

   Restoration of Rights and Remedies      67  

Section 6.13

   Rights and Remedies Cumulative      67  

Section 6.14

   Delay or Omission Not Waiver      67  

ARTICLE 7 TRUSTEE

     68  

Section 7.01

   Duties of Trustee      68  

Section 7.02

   Rights of Trustee      69  

Section 7.03

   Individual Rights of Trustee      71  

Section 7.04

   Trustee’s Disclaimer      71  

Section 7.05

   Notice of Defaults      71  

Section 7.06

   Intentionally Omitted      72  

Section 7.07

   Compensation and Indemnity      72  

Section 7.08

   Replacement of Trustee      73  

Section 7.09

   Successor Trustee by Merger, etc      74  

Section 7.10

   Eligibility; Disqualification      74  

Section 7.11

   Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuers      74  

ARTICLE 8 LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

     74  

Section 8.01

   Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      74  

Section 8.02

   Legal Defeasance and Discharge      74  

Section 8.03

   Covenant Defeasance      75  

 

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Section 8.04

   Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance      75  

Section 8.05

   Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions      77  

Section 8.06

   Repayment to Issuers      77  

Section 8.07

   Reinstatement      78  

Section 8.08

   Discharge      78  

ARTICLE 9 AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

     79  

Section 9.01

   Without Consent of Holders      79  

Section 9.02

   With Consent of Holders      80  

Section 9.03

   Effect of Consents      81  

Section 9.04

   Notation on or Exchange of Notes      81  

Section 9.05

   Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.      82  

ARTICLE 10 GUARANTEES OF NOTES

     82  

Section 10.01

   Subsidiary Guarantees      82  

Section 10.02

   [Reserved]      83  

Section 10.03

   Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms      83  

Section 10.04

   Releases of Subsidiary Guarantees      83  

Section 10.05

   Execution and Delivery of Guaranty      84  

Section 10.06

   Limitation on Guarantor Liability      84  

ARTICLE 11 MISCELLANEOUS

     84  

Section 11.01

   [Reserved]      84  

Section 11.02

   Notices      84  

Section 11.03

   Intentionally Omitted      86  

Section 11.04

   Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent      86  

Section 11.05

   Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion      86  

Section 11.06

   Rules by Trustee and Agents      86  

Section 11.07

   No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Unitholders      87  

Section 11.08

   Governing Law      87  

Section 11.09

   No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements      87  

Section 11.10

   Successors      87  

Section 11.11

   Severability      87  

Section 11.12

   Table of Contents, Headings, etc.      87  

Section 11.13

   Counterparts      87  

Section 11.14

   Acts of Holders      88  

Section 11.15

   Patriot Act      89  

Section 11.16

   Submission to Jurisdiction      89  

Section 11.17

   Waiver of Trial by Jury      89  

Section 11.18

   Entire Agreement      90  

 

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APPENDIX, SCHEDULE AND ANNEX

 

RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX

   App. – 1

EXHIBIT 1 Form of Note

  

ANNEX A Form of Supplemental Indenture

               A – 1

 

 

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This Indenture, dated as of January 20, 2022, is among Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Company”), Calumet Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Finance Corp.” and, together with the Company, the “Issuers”), the guarantors listed on the signature pages hereof (each, a “Guarantor” and, collectively, the “Guarantors”) and Wilmington Trust, National Association, a national banking association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

The Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Issuers’ Initial Notes and any Additional Notes:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION

BY REFERENCE

Section 1.01 Definitions.

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

(1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person was merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into, or becoming a Subsidiary of, such specified Person, but excluding Indebtedness which is extinguished, retired or repaid in connection with such Person merging with or into or becoming a Subsidiary of such specified Person; and

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

Additional Notes” means, subject to the Company’s compliance with Section 4.09, 8.125% Senior Notes due 2027 issued from time to time after the Issue Date under the terms of this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 2.06, 2.07, 2.10 or 3.06 of this Indenture).

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,” as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise; provided, however, that beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the Voting Stock of a Person will be deemed to be control by the other Person; and further, that any third Person which also beneficially owns 10% or more of the Voting Stock of a specified Person shall not be deemed to be an Affiliate of either the specified Person or the other Person merely because of such common ownership in such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with” have correlative meanings.

Agent” means any Registrar or Paying Agent.

Agent Members” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

 

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Applicable Law,” except as the context may otherwise require, means all applicable laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, judgments, decrees, injunctions, writs and orders of any court or governmental or congressional agency or authority and rules, regulations, orders, licenses and permits of any United States federal, state, municipal, regional, or other governmental body, instrumentality, agency or authority.

Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and procedures of the Depository, Euroclear and Clearstream that apply to such transfer or exchange.

Asset Sale” means:

(1) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any properties or assets (including by way of a Sale and Leaseback Transaction); provided, however, that the disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be governed by the provisions of Section 4.15 and/or the provisions of Section 5.01 and not by the provisions of Section 4.10; and

(2) the issuance of Equity Interests in any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries or the sale of Equity Interests in any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Notwithstanding the preceding, the following items will not be deemed to be Asset Sales:

(1) any single transaction or series of related transactions that involves properties or assets having a fair market value of less than $15.0 million;

(2) a transfer of properties or assets between or among any of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(3) an issuance or sale of Equity Interests by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or to another Restricted Subsidiary;

(4) the sale, lease or other disposition of equipment, inventory, accounts receivable or other properties or assets in the ordinary course of business;

(5) the sale or other disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents, Hedging Contracts or other financial instruments in the ordinary course of business;

(6) a Restricted Payment that is permitted by Section 4.07 or a Permitted Investment;

(7) the creation or perfection of a Lien that is not prohibited by Section 4.12;

(8) dispositions in connection with Permitted Liens;

(9) surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release or surrender of contract, tort or other claims of any kind;

(10) the grant in the ordinary course of business of any non-exclusive license of patents, trademarks, registrations therefor and other similar intellectual property; and

(11) an Asset Swap.

 

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Asset Swap” means any substantially contemporaneous (and in any event occurring within 180 days of each other) purchase and sale or exchange of any assets or properties used or useful in a Permitted Business (or Capital Stock representing an interest therein) between the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and another Person; provided that any cash received must be applied in accordance with Section 4.10 as if the Asset Swap were an Asset Sale.

Attributable Debt” in respect of a Sale and Leaseback Transaction means, at the time of determination, the present value of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such Sale and Leaseback Transaction including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended. Such present value shall be calculated using a discount rate equal to the rate of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that, if such Sale and Leaseback Transaction results in a Finance Lease Obligation, the amount of Indebtedness represented thereby will be determined in accordance with the definition of “Finance Lease Obligation.” As used in the preceding sentence, the “net rental payments” under any lease for any such period shall mean the sum of rental and other payments required to be paid with respect to such period by the lessee thereunder, excluding any amounts required to be paid by such lessee on account of maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates or similar charges. In the case of any lease that is terminable by the lessee upon payment of penalty, such net rental payment shall also include the amount of such penalty, but no rent shall be considered as required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated.

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

Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, United States Code, as may be amended from time to time, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

Beneficial Owner” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such “person” will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such “person” has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition. The terms “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” have correlative meanings.

 

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Board of Directors” means:

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

(2) with respect to a partnership, the board of directors or board of managers of the general partner of the partnership or, if such general partner is itself a limited partnership, then the board of directors or board of managers of its general partner;

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

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

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

Borrowing Base” means, as of any date, the sum of (i) 85% of the fair market value of inventories of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent month preceding such date or any more recent date for which such information is available, and (ii) 90% of the book value of the accounts receivable (net of reserve for doubtful accounts) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent month preceding such date or any more recent date for which such information is available, in each case calculated on a consolidated basis and on a pro forma basis for any subsequent acquisitions or dispositions of business entities or property and assets constituting a division or line of business of any Person that have been made by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers or consolidations.

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

Capital Stock” means:

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

(2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests,

participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

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

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

Cash Equivalents” means:

(1) United States dollars;

(2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality of the United States government (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support of those securities) having maturities of not more than six months from the date of acquisition;

 

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(3) marketable general obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition thereof, having a credit rating of “A” or better from either S&P or Moody’s;

(4) certificates of deposit, demand deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any lender party to the Credit Agreement or with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million and a Thomson Bank Watch Rating of “B” or better;

(5) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2), (3) and (4) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) above;

(6) commercial paper having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from Moody’s or S&P and in each case maturing within six months after the date of acquisition; and

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

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

(1) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets (including Capital Stock of the Restricted Subsidiaries) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than a Restricted Subsidiary or a Qualifying Owner, which occurrence is followed by a Rating Decline within 60 days thereafter;

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

(3) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, the result of which is that any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), excluding the Qualifying Owners, becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of either the General Partner, if the Company is a partnership, or of the Company, if the Company is not a partnership, measured by voting power rather than number of shares, units or the like, which occurrence is followed by a Rating Decline within 60 days thereafter; or

(4) so long as any Existing Notes are outstanding, any “Change of Control” as defined in the indentures governing such then outstanding Existing Notes.

 

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

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

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

Company Order” means a written request or order signed on behalf of an Issuer by an Officer of the Company, who must be the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or the Controller of an Issuer, and delivered to the Trustee.

Consolidated Cash Flow” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period plus:

(1) an amount equal to any net loss realized by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale, to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

(2) provision for taxes based on income or profits of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such provision for taxes was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

(3) consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued and whether or not capitalized (including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Finance Lease Obligations, imputed interest with respect to Attributable Debt, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings), and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to interest rate Hedging Contracts, to the extent that any such expense was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

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(4) depreciation and amortization (including amortization of intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period), impairment, non-cash equity based compensation expense and other non-cash items (excluding any such non-cash item to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such depreciation and amortization, impairment and other non-cash items that were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

(5) unrealized non-cash losses resulting from foreign currency balance sheet adjustments required by GAAP to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

(6) all extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring items of gain or loss, or revenue or expense; minus

(7) non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, other than items that were accrued in the ordinary course of business;

in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP.

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

(1) the Net Income (but not loss) of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting will be included, but only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the specified Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Person;

(2) the Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Guarantor) will be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders, partners or members;

(3) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles will be excluded;

(4) unrealized losses and gains under derivative instruments included in the determination of Consolidated Net Income, including, without limitation those resulting from the application of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 815 will be excluded;

(5) realized losses and gains under derivative instruments excluded from the determination of Consolidated Net Income, without limitation those resulting from the application of the FASB ASC 815 will be included; and

(6) any nonrecurring charges relating to any premium or penalty paid, write off of deferred finance costs or other charges in connection with redeeming or retiring any Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity will be excluded.

 

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Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means, with respect to any Person at any date of determination, the aggregate amount of total assets included in such Person’s most recent quarterly or annual consolidated balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP less applicable reserves reflected in such balance sheet, after deducting the following amounts: (a) all current liabilities reflected in such balance sheet, and (b) all goodwill, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discounts and expenses and other like intangibles reflected in such balance sheet.

Consolidated Total Net Debt” means, as of any date of determination, (i) the outstanding aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, of the type described in clauses (1), (2), (3) and (5) of the definition of “Indebtedness,” minus (ii) cash and Cash Equivalents of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries on such date.

Corporate Conversion” means (a) a conversion (whether by merger, statutory conversion or otherwise) of the Company from a limited partnership to a corporation, (b) the consummation of an exchange of Capital Stock of the Company for Capital Stock in a corporation, whereby the Capital Stock of the Company ceases to be listed for trading on a national securities exchange and the common stock of such corporation is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or (c) an election by the Company to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee” means the office of the Trustee at which at any time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at Wilmington Trust, National Association, Global Capital Markets, 50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402, Attn: Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P., or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuers, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as a successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuers).

Credit Agreement” means that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of February 23, 2018, among the Company and certain of its subsidiaries, as borrowers, certain of its other subsidiaries as guarantors, certain financial institutions party thereto from time to time, as lenders, and Bank of America, N.A., as Agent, including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and in each case as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time.

Credit Facilities” means (i) one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the Credit Agreement), commercial paper facilities, loan agreements, or other financing agreements in each case the majority of the loans or commitments under which, as of the date of the closing of such facilities or agreements, are provided by commercial banks, by affiliates of commercial banks customarily engaging in making or providing commercial loans or other financing, or by governmental authorities, and which facilities or agreements provide for revolving credit loans, term loans, or letters of credit or similar financing arrangements in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time, and (ii)

 

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one or more indentures providing for the sale or issuance of debt securities to institutional investors; provided that immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of the Indebtedness under such indentures and the application of the proceeds thereof, the majority of the outstanding Indebtedness (including the Indebtedness under such indentures) and undrawn commitments that could then be incurred by the Company under the terms of such Credit Facility, in each case pursuant to clause (1) of the definition of “Permitted Debt,” are provided by commercial banks, by affiliates of commercial banks customarily engaging in making or providing commercial loans or other financing, or by governmental authorities, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time.

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.

Depository” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

Designated Non-cash Consideration” means the fair market value of non-cash consideration received by the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as “Designated Non-cash Consideration” pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate, less the amount of cash or Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of such Designated Non-cash Consideration.

Disqualified Stock” means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible, or for which it is exchangeable, in each case at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the date on which the Notes mature (in each case other than in exchange for Capital Stock of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (other than Disqualified Stock)). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders of the Capital Stock have the right to require the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to repurchase or redeem such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale will not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption complies with Section 4.07.

Distribution Compliance Period” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is formed under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States or the District of Columbia.

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).

 

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Equity Offering” means any public sale of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) made for cash on a primary basis by the Company after the Issue Date (other than a registration statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or otherwise relating to equity securities issuable under any employee benefit plan of the Company).

Euroclear” means the Euroclear System or any successor securities clearing agency.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Existing Indebtedness” means the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement, which is considered incurred under the first paragraph of Section 4.09 and other than intercompany Indebtedness) in existence on the Issue Date, until such amounts are repaid.

Existing Notes” means the $325.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7.75% Senior Notes due 2023 outstanding on the Issue Date, issued by the Company and Finance Corp. pursuant to an indenture dated as of March 27, 2015, $200.0 million aggregate principal amount of 9.25% Senior Secured First Lien Notes due 2024 outstanding on the Issue Date, issued by the Company and Finance Corp. pursuant to an indenture dated as of August 5, 2020, and $550.0 million aggregate principal amount of 11.00% Senior Notes due 2025 outstanding on the Issue Date, issued by the Company and Finance Corp. pursuant to an indenture dated as of October 11, 2019.

The term “fair market value” means the value that would be paid by a willing buyer to an unaffiliated willing seller in a transaction not involving distress or necessity of either party.

Finance Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a finance lease that would at that time be required to be recorded as a finance lease on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP; provided that any obligations that are classified as an operating lease under GAAP shall for all purposes not be treated as Finance Lease Obligations or Indebtedness.

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means with respect to any specified Person for any four-quarter reference period, the ratio of the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, guarantees, repays, repurchases or redeems any Indebtedness (other than ordinary working capital borrowings) or issues, repurchases or redeems preferred stock subsequent to the commencement of the applicable four-quarter reference period and on or prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “Calculation Date”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio will be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, repayment, repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of preferred stock, and the use of the proceeds therefrom as if the same had occurred at the beginning of such period.

 

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In addition, for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio:

(1) acquisitions that have been made by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers, consolidations or otherwise (including acquisitions of assets used in a Permitted Business), and including in each case any related financing transactions (including repayment of Indebtedness) during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date, will be given pro forma effect as if they had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period, including any Consolidated Cash Flow and any pro forma expense and cost reductions that have occurred or are reasonably expected to occur within the next 12 months, in the reasonable judgment of the chief financial or accounting officer of the General Partner (regardless of whether those cost savings or operating improvements could then be reflected in pro forma financial statements in accordance with Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act or any other regulation or policy of the SEC related thereto);

(2) the Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded;

(3) the Fixed Charges attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded, but only to the extent that the obligations giving rise to such Fixed Charges will not be obligations of the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries following the Calculation Date; and

(4) interest income reasonably anticipated by such Person to be received during the applicable four-quarter period from cash or Cash Equivalents held by such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person, which cash or Cash Equivalents exist on the Calculation Date or will exist as a result of the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, will be included.

Fixed Charges” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period,

(1) the sum, without duplication, of:

(a) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued (including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Finance Lease Obligations, imputed interest with respect to Attributable Debt, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings), and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to interest rate Hedging Contracts, other than gains or losses with respect to interest rate Hedging Contracts that are unwound in connection with the issuance of the Initial Notes and the application of the proceeds thereof, regardless of the timing of the cash settlement thereof; plus

(b) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period; plus

(c) any interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person that is guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries), whether or not such guarantee or Lien is called upon; plus

 

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(d) all dividends, whether paid or accrued and whether or not in cash, on any series of Disqualified Stock of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than dividends on Equity Interests payable solely in Equity Interests of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (other than Disqualified Stock) or to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, in each case excluding items eliminated in consolidation,

in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP, minus

(2) to the extent included in (1) above, write-off of non-recurring deferred financing costs of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period and any charge related to, or any premium or penalty paid in connection with, paying any such Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries prior to its Stated Maturity.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, which are in effect on the Issue Date.

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

Global Note” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

Government Securities” means direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America for the payment of which guarantee or obligations the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged.

The term “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, by way of a pledge of assets, acting as co-obligor or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness. When used as a verb, “guarantee” has a correlative meaning.

Guarantors” means each of (a) the Subsidiaries of the Company, other than Finance Corp., executing this Indenture as initial Guarantors, (b) any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that executes a supplement to this Indenture to become a Guarantor in accordance with Section 4.13 or 10.03 hereof or otherwise and (c) the respective successors and assigns of such Restricted Subsidiaries, as required under Article 10 hereof, in each case until such time as any such Restricted Subsidiary shall be released and relieved of its obligations pursuant to Section 10.04 hereof.

Hedging Contracts” means, with respect to any specified Person:

(1) interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements entered into with one or more financial institutions and designed to protect the Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries entering into the agreement against fluctuations in interest rates with respect to Indebtedness incurred;

 

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(2) foreign exchange contracts and currency protection agreements entered into with one or more financial institutions and designed to protect the Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries entering into the agreement against fluctuations in currency exchanges rates with respect to Indebtedness incurred;

(3) any commodity futures contract, commodity option or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect against fluctuations in the price of Hydrocarbons used, produced, processed or sold by that Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries at the time; and

(4) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries against fluctuations in interest rates, commodity prices or currency exchange rates; and in each case are entered into only in the normal course of business and not for speculative purposes.

Holder” means a Person in whose name a Note is registered.

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

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent:

(1) in respect of borrowed money;

(2) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments;

(3) in respect of all outstanding letters of credit issued for the account of such Person that support obligations that constitute Indebtedness (provided that the amount of such letters of credit included in Indebtedness shall not exceed the amount of the Indebtedness being supported) and, without duplication, the unreimbursed amount of all drafts drawn under letters of credit issued for the account of such Person;

(4) in respect of bankers’ acceptances;

(5) representing Finance Lease Obligations or Attributable Debt in respect of Sale Leaseback Transactions;

(6) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable; or

(7) representing any obligations under Hedging Contracts,

 

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if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit and obligations under Hedging Contracts) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the term “Indebtedness” includes all Indebtedness of other Persons secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person (other than Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries) (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by the specified Person) and, to the extent not otherwise included, the guarantee by the specified Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person. For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Indebtedness” excludes any obligation arising from any agreement providing for indemnities, purchase price adjustments, holdbacks, contingency payment obligations based on the performance of the acquired or disposed assets or similar obligations (other than guarantees of Indebtedness) incurred by the specified Person in connection with the acquisition or disposition of assets.

The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date will be:

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

(2) in the case of obligations under any Hedging Contracts, the termination value of the agreement or arrangement giving rise to such obligations that would be payable by such Person at such date; and

(3) the principal amount of the Indebtedness, together with any interest on the Indebtedness that is more than 30 days past due, in the case of any other Indebtedness.

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

Initial Notes” means the $325.0 million aggregate principal amount of 8.125% Senior Notes due 2027 issued pursuant to this Indenture on the Issue Date.

Interest Payment Date” has the meaning provided for in the Notes.

Initial Purchasers” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

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.

Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all direct or indirect investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of loans (including guarantees or other obligations), advances or capital contributions (excluding (1) commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business and (2) advances to customers in the ordinary course of business that are recorded as accounts receivable on the balance sheet of the lender), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of the Company such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the Company will be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of Section 4.07.

 

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Issue Date” means January 20, 2022.

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

Legal Holiday” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in New York, New York or another place of payment are authorized or required by law to close. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday, payment may be made on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.

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 other than a precautionary financing statement respecting a lease not intended as a security agreement.

Make Whole Premium means, as determined by the Company, with respect to a Note at any time, the excess, if any, of (a) the present value at such time of (i) the redemption price of such Note at January 15, 2024 specified in the table in Section 3.07(a), excluding accrued interest, plus (ii) any required interest payments due on such Note through January 15, 2024 (except for currently accrued and unpaid interest), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points, discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months), over (b) the principal amount of such Note.

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

Net Income” means, with respect to any specified Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends, excluding, however:

(1) any gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such gain (but not loss), realized in connection with: (a) any Asset Sale; or (b) the disposition of any securities by such Person or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person; and

(2) any extraordinary gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such extraordinary gain (but not loss).

Net Leverage Ratio” means, at any time of determination, the ratio of (i) Consolidated Total Net Debt to (ii) Consolidated Cash Flow of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the four fiscal quarter period most recently ended for which internal financial statements are available; provided that such Net Leverage Ratio shall be determined on a pro forma basis in a manner consistent with the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.”

 

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Net Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of:

(1) the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale, including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions, severance costs and any relocation expenses incurred as a result of the Asset Sale;

(2) taxes paid or payable as a result of the Asset Sale, in each case, after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements;

(3) amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the properties or assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale; and

(4) any amounts to be set aside in any reserve established in accordance with GAAP or any amount placed in escrow, in either case for adjustment in respect of the sale price of such properties or assets or for liabilities associated with such Asset Sale and retained by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries until such time as such reserve is reversed or such escrow arrangement is terminated, in which case Net Proceeds shall include only the amount of the reserve so reversed or the amount returned to the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries from such escrow arrangement, as the case may be.

Non-Recourse Debt” means Indebtedness:

(1) as to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) provides credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness) or (b) is directly or indirectly liable as a guarantor or otherwise;

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

(3) as to which the lenders have been notified in writing that they will not have any recourse to the Capital Stock or assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries except as contemplated by clause (9) of the definition of Permitted Liens.

For purposes of determining compliance with Section 4.09, in the event that any Non-Recourse Debt of any of the Company’s Unrestricted Subsidiaries ceases to be Non-Recourse Debt of such Unrestricted Subsidiary, such event will be deemed to constitute an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.

 

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Notes” means the Initial Notes and any Additional Notes.

Notes Custodian” has the meaning specified in the Appendix.

Obligations” means any principal, premium, if any, interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization, whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceeding), penalties, fees, charges, expenses, indemnifications, reimbursement obligations, damages, guarantees, and other liabilities or amounts payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness or in respect thereto.

Offering Memorandum” means the final offering memorandum of the Issuers, dated January 12, 2022, relating to the offering of the Initial Notes.

Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary or any Vice President of such Person (or, with respect to the Company, of the General Partner).

Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of an Issuer by two of its Officers, one of whom, in the case of any Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 4.04, must be the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or the Controller of the Company, that, in each case, meets the requirements of Section 11.05 hereof.

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

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel (not at the Trustee’s expense) who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of Section 11.05 hereof. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.

Pari Passu Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Excess Proceeds from Asset Sales, Indebtedness of an Issuer or any Guarantor that ranks equally in right of payment with the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, as the case may be, and the terms of which require the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to apply such Excess Proceeds to offer to repurchase such Indebtedness.

Partnership Agreement” means the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Company, dated as of January 31, 2006, as amended, as in effect on the Issue Date and as such may be further amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time.

Permitted Business” means either (1) processing or marketing Hydrocarbons or chemicals, or activities or services reasonably related or ancillary thereto including entering into Hedging Contracts in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes to support these businesses and the development, manufacture and sale of equipment or technology related to these activities, or (2) any other business that generates gross income that constitutes “qualifying income” under Section 7704(d) of the Code.

 

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

(1) at the time of such Investment and after giving pro forma effect thereto, the Net Leverage Ratio is not greater than 3.0 to 1.0;

(2) if such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture has outstanding Indebtedness at the time of such Investment, either (a) all such Indebtedness is Non-Recourse Debt or (b) any such Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture that is recourse to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (which shall include, without limitation, all Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture for which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may be directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, obligated to pay, whether pursuant to the terms of such Indebtedness, by law or pursuant to any guarantee, including, without limitation, any “claw-back,” “make-well” or “keep-well” arrangement) could, at the time such Investment is made, be incurred at that time by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries under the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.09; and

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

Permitted Investments” means:

(1) any Investment in the Company (including, without limitation, through purchases of Notes) or in a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

(2) any Investment in Cash Equivalents;

(3) any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a Person, if as a result of such Investment:

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

(b) such Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its properties or assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

(4) any Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.10, including pursuant to clause (11) of the items deemed not to be Asset Sales under the definition of “Asset Sale”;

(5) any Investment in any Person solely in exchange for the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;

(6) any Investments received in compromise of obligations of trade creditors or customers that were incurred in the ordinary course of business, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer, or as a result of a foreclosure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment in default;

 

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(7) Hedging Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

(8) Permitted Business Investments; and

(9) other Investments in any Person having an aggregate fair market value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), that, when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (9) that are at the time outstanding, do not exceed the greater of $100.0 million or 5.0% of the Company’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

Permitted Liens” means:

(1) Liens securing Indebtedness under a Credit Facility permitted to be incurred pursuant to clause (1) of the definition of “Permitted Debt”;

(2) Liens in favor of the Company or the Guarantors;

(3) Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged with or into or consolidated with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, provided that such Liens were in existence prior to such merger or consolidation and do not extend to any assets (other than improvements thereon, accessions thereto and proceeds thereof) other than those of the Person merged into or consolidated with the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary;

(4) Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition of the property by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, provided that such Liens were in existence prior to such acquisition and do not extend to any property other than the property so acquired by the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary;

(5) any interest or title of a lessor to the property subject to a Finance Lease Obligation or operating lease;

(6) Liens for the purpose of securing the payment of all or a part of the purchase price of, or Finance Lease Obligations, Attributable Debt, purchase money obligations or other payments incurred to finance the acquisition, lease, improvement or construction of or repairs or additions to, assets or property acquired or constructed in the ordinary course of business; provided that:

(a) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness secured by such Liens is otherwise permitted to be incurred under this Indenture and does not exceed the cost of the assets or property so acquired or constructed; and

 

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(b) such Liens are created within 180 days of the later of the acquisition, lease, completion of improvements, construction, repairs or additions or commencement of full operation of the assets or property subject to such Lien and do not encumber any other assets or property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than such assets or property and assets affixed or appurtenant thereto;

(7) Liens existing on the Issue Date;

(8) Liens to secure the performance of tenders, bids, statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds, trade contracts, government contracts, operating leases, performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(9) Liens on and pledges of the Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Joint Venture owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the extent securing Non-Recourse Debt or other Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture;

(10) Liens on pipelines or other facilities or equipment that arise by operation of law;

(11) Liens arising under operating agreements, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements, oil and gas leases, farmout agreements, division orders, contracts for sale, transportation or exchange of crude oil and natural gas, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, area of mutual interest agreements and other agreements arising in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are customary in the Permitted Business;

(12) Liens upon specific items of inventory, receivables or other goods or proceeds of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances or receivables securitizations issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory, receivables or other goods or proceeds and permitted by Section 4.09;

(13) Liens securing Obligations of the Issuers or any Guarantor under the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, as the case may be;

(14) Liens securing any Indebtedness equally and ratably with all Obligations due under the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee pursuant to a contractual covenant that limits Liens in a manner substantially similar to Section 4.12;

(15) Liens to secure performance of Hedging Contracts, or letters of credit issued in connection therewith, of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

(16) Liens securing any insurance premium financing under customary terms and conditions, provided that no such Lien may extend to or cover any assets or property other than the insurance being acquired with such financing, the proceeds thereof and any unearned or refunded insurance premiums related thereto;

 

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(17) other Liens incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, provided that, after giving effect to any such incurrence, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness then outstanding and secured by any Liens incurred pursuant to this clause (17) does not exceed the greater of $100.0 million or 5.0% of the Company’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; and

(18) any Lien renewing, extending, refinancing or refunding a Lien permitted by clauses (1) through (16) above, provided that (a) the principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by such Lien is not increased except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection therewith and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder and (b) no assets encumbered by any such Lien other than the assets permitted to be encumbered immediately prior to such renewal, extension, refinance or refund are encumbered thereby (other than improvements thereon, accessions thereto and proceeds thereof).

Permitted Payments to Parent” means the distribution by the Company to any direct or indirect parent of the Company from time to time of amounts necessary to fund the payment by or reimbursement of such parent entity of (i) its general corporate or other operating, administrative, compliance and overhead costs and expenses in the ordinary course of business, (ii) expenses related to the registration and offering of securities (in either case, including any such fees, costs or expenses of independent auditors and legal counsel to such parent entity, to the extent that all or a majority of the proceeds of such offering are or are intended to be permanently contributed to the capital of the Company) and (iii) fees and expenses required to maintain its corporate existence and customary salary, bonus and other benefits payable to its directors, officers and employees), to the extent such costs and expenses are reasonably attributable or related to the ownership of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any preferred stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund other Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any preferred stock of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than intercompany Indebtedness), provided that:

(1) the principal amount or liquidation preference (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of the Indebtedness (or accreted value, if applicable) or the liquidation preference of the Disqualified Stock or preferred stock being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded (plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness or accrued and unpaid dividends or distributions on such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock and the amount of all expenses and premiums incurred in connection therewith);

 

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(2) such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness (a) has a final maturity date or redemption date, as applicable, no earlier than the earlier of (i) the final maturity date or redemption date, as applicable, of the Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or preferred stock being refinanced, or (ii) 91 days after the final maturity of the Notes, and (b) has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity either (i) equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or preferred stock being refinanced, or (ii) longer than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Notes;

(3) if the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees on terms at least as favorable to the Holders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; and

(4) such Indebtedness is not incurred (other than by way of a guarantee) by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than Finance Corp.) if the Company is the issuer or other primary obligor on the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded.

Notwithstanding the preceding, any Indebtedness incurred under Credit Facilities pursuant to Section 4.09 shall be subject only to the refinancing provision in the definition of “Credit Facilities” and not pursuant to the requirements set forth in the definition of “Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness.”

Permitted Tax Distributions” means:

(1) dividends or distributions by the Company or a subsidiary of the Company to any direct or indirect parent of the Company in an amount required for any such direct or indirect parent to pay franchise, excise and similar taxes and other fees and expenses required to maintain its corporate or other legal existence;

(2) from and after the consummation of a Corporate Conversion, with respect to any taxable period (or portion thereof) for which the Company and any of its subsidiaries are members of a consolidated, combined, affiliated, unitary or similar income tax group for U.S. federal and/or applicable foreign, state or local income tax purposes (each, a “Tax Group”) of which a direct or indirect parent of the Company is the common parent, or for which the Company is a partnership or disregarded entity for U.S. federal or applicable foreign, state or local income tax purposes that is wholly-owned (directly or indirectly) by an entity that is taxable as a corporation for such income tax purposes, dividends or distributions by the Company or an applicable subsidiary, as may be relevant, to such direct or indirect parent of the Company in an amount not to exceed the sum of the amount of any U.S. federal, foreign, state and/or local income taxes that the Company and/or its subsidiaries that are members of the relevant Tax Group, as applicable, would have paid for such taxable period (or such portion thereof) had the Company and/or such subsidiaries, as applicable, been a stand-alone corporate taxpayer or a stand-alone corporate group; and

 

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(3) with respect to any taxable period or portion thereof during which the Company is a passthrough entity (including a partnership or a disregarded entity) for U.S. federal income tax purposes, dividends or distributions by the Company to any holder of Equity Interests in the Company, on or prior to each estimated tax payment date as well as each other applicable due date, on a pro rata basis such that each holder (or its direct or indirect owners) receives, in the aggregate for such period, payments or distributions in an amount sufficient to enable such holder (or its direct or indirect owners) to pay its U.S. federal, state and local and foreign income taxes (as applicable) attributable to its direct or indirect ownership of the Company with respect to such taxable period (assuming that each such holder (or its direct and indirect owners) is subject to tax at the highest combined marginal U.S. federal, state and local income tax rates (including any tax rate imposed on “net investment income” by Section 1411 of the Code) applicable to an individual or, if higher, a corporation, resident in New York, New York), determined by (1) taking into account (A) the alternative minimum tax, (B) any adjustment to such holder’s taxable income attributable to its direct and indirect ownership of the Company and its subsidiaries as a result of any tax examination, audit or adjustment with respect to any taxable period or portion thereof, and (C) the character (e.g., long-term or short-term capital gain or ordinary) of the applicable income) and (2) not taking into account (A) the effect of any deduction under Section 199A of the Code and (B) the deductibility of state and local income tax purposes for U.S. federal income purposes.

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

Purchase Agreement” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

Qualifying Owners” means, collectively, (i) any of the owners of the General Partner as of the Issue Date and their respective Affiliates, trustees, beneficiaries or the heirs or family members thereof, including The Heritage Group, Jennifer Grube Straumins, William F. Grube, Irrevocable Intervivos Trust No. 12.27.73 for the Benefit of Fred Mehlert Fehsenfeld, Jr. and his issue, dated December 18, 2012 and Maggie Fehsenfeld Trust No. 106 12.30.74 for the Benefit of Fred Mehlert Fehsenfeld, Jr. and his issue, dated December 18, 2012 and (ii) any Person that becomes a direct or indirect parent entity of the General Partner or the Company, as applicable, in connection with a Corporate Conversion.

Rating Category” means:

(1) with respect to S&P, any of the following categories: AAA, AA, A, BBB, BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D (or equivalent successor categories); and

(2) with respect to Moody’s, any of the following categories: Aaa, Aa, A, Baa, Ba, B, Caa, Ca, C and D (or equivalent successor categories).

 

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Rating Decline” means a decrease in the rating of the Notes by either Moody’s or S&P by one or more gradations (including gradations within Rating Categories as well as between Rating Categories) from the rating of the Notes on the date of the applicable occurrence referred to in clauses (1) or (3) of the definition of “Change of Control Triggering Event.” In determining whether the rating of the Notes has decreased by one or more gradations, gradations within Rating Categories, namely + or—for S&P, and 1, 2, and 3 for Moody’s, will be taken into account; for example, in the case of S&P, a rating decline either from BB+ to BB or BB- to B+ will constitute a decrease of one gradation.

Record Date” has the meaning provided for in the Notes.

Regulation S” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

Regulation S Notes” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

Reporting Default” means a Default described in Section 6.01(d).

Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the corporate trust department (or any successor group of the Trustee) of the Trustee and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject, and who shall in each case have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

Restricted Global Note” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

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

Restricted Notes” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

Restricted Subsidiary” of a Person means any Subsidiary of the referent Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, Finance Corp. shall be deemed to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.

Rule 144A” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

Rule 144A Notes” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means, with respect to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, any arrangement relating to property now owned or hereafter acquired whereby the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers such property to a Person and the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary leases it from such Person; provided that any such arrangements with respect to catalyst or precious metals that are entered into in the ordinary course of business shall not be deemed to be Sale and Leaseback Transactions.

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Senior Debt” means

(1) all Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding under the Credit Agreement and all obligations under Hedging Contracts with respect thereto;

(2) any other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred under the terms of this Indenture, unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee; and

(3) all Obligations with respect to the items listed in the preceding clauses (1) and (2).

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding sentence, Senior Debt will not include:

 

  (a)

any intercompany Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the Company or any of its Affiliates; or

 

  (b)

any Indebtedness that is incurred in violation of this Indenture.

For the avoidance of doubt, “Senior Debt” will not include any trade payables or taxes owed or owing by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

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 Issue Date.

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.

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any specified Person:

(1) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership or limited liability company) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of Voting Stock 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

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

 

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Subsidiary Guarantees” means the joint and several guarantees issued by the Guarantors pursuant to Article 10 hereof.

TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Transfer Restricted Securities” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

Treasury Rate” means the yield to maturity at the time of computation of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 which has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the date fixed for redemption (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the redemption date to January 15, 2024; provided, however, that if such period is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States Treasury security for which a yield is given, the Company shall obtain the Treasury Rate by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the yield of United States Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the period from the redemption date to January 15, 2024 is less than one year, the yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used. The Company will on the second Business Day preceding the applicable redemption date (a) calculate the Treasury Rate for the applicable redemption date and (b) file with the Trustee a written statement, upon which the Trustee may conclusively rely, setting forth the Make Whole Premium and the Treasury Rate and showing the calculation of each in reasonable detail.

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

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

Unrestricted Global Note” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

Unrestricted Notes” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means Montana Renewables Holdings LLC and Montana Renewables, LLC and any other Subsidiary of the Company (other than Finance Corp.) that is designated by the Board of Directors of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Board Resolution, but only to the extent that such Subsidiary:

(1) except to the extent permitted by subclause (2)(b) of the definition of “Permitted Business Investments,” has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt owing to any Person other than the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

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(2) except to the extent permitted by Section 4.11, is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company;

(3) is a Person with respect to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (a) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (b) to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results, except to the extent the foregoing would constitute an Investment permitted under this Indenture; and

(4) has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

All Subsidiaries of an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall also be Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

Any designation after the Issue Date of a Subsidiary of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a Board Resolution giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the preceding conditions and was permitted by Section 4.07. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it will thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary will be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as of such date and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as of such date under Section 4.09, the Company will be in default of such covenant.

Voting Stock” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing:

(1) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect of the Indebtedness, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by

(2) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

 

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Section 1.02 Other Definitions.

 

Term

   Defined in Section  

“Act”

     11.14  

“Affiliate Transaction”

     4.11  

“Alternate Offer”

     4.15  

“Appendix”

     2.01  

“Asset Sale Offer”

     3.09  

“Change of Control Offer”

     4.15  

“Change of Control Payment”

     4.15  

“Change of Control Purchase Date”

     4.15  

“Change of Control Settlement Date”

     4.15  

“Covenant Defeasance”

     8.03  

“Discharge”

     8.08  

“Event of Default”

     6.01  

“Excess Proceeds”

     4.10  

“Incremental Funds”

     4.07  

“incur”

     4.09  

“Legal Defeasance”

     8.02  

“Offer Amount”

     3.09  

“Offer Period”

     3.09  

“Paying Agent”

     2.03  

“Payment Default”

     6.01  

“Permitted Debt”

     4.09  

“Registrar”

     2.03  

“Reinstatement Date”

     4.17  

“Restricted Payments”

     4.07  

“Settlement Date”

     3.09  

“Suspended Covenants”

     4.17  

“Termination Date”

     3.09  

“Trailing Four Quarters”

     4.07  

Section 1.03 Rules of Construction.

Unless the context otherwise requires:

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

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

(3) “or” is not exclusive;

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

 

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(5) the meanings of the words “will” and “shall” are the same when used to express an obligation;

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

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

ARTICLE 2

THE NOTES

Section 2.01 Form and Dating.

Provisions relating to the Notes are set forth in the Rule 144A/Regulation S Appendix attached hereto (the “Appendix”) which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made part of this Indenture. The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication therefor shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit 1 to the Appendix, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which an Issuer is subject, if any, or usage (provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Company). Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The terms of the Notes set forth in the Appendix are part of the terms of this Indenture.

Section 2.02 Execution and Authentication.

An Officer shall sign the Notes on behalf of each Issuer by manual or facsimile signature.

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

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

On the Issue Date, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver $325.0 million of Initial Notes and, at any time and from time to time thereafter, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Notes for original issue in an aggregate principal amount specified in such order, in each case upon receipt of a Company Order. Such Company Order shall comply with Section 11.05 and shall specify the amount of the Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated and to whom the Notes shall be registered and delivered and, in the case of an issuance of Additional Notes pursuant to Section 2.14 after the Issue Date, shall certify that such issuance is in compliance with Section 4.09.

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable to the Issuers to authenticate the Notes. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and demands.

 

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Section 2.03 Registrar and Paying Agent.

The Issuers shall maintain an office or agency in the United States where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “Registrar”) and an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (the “Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Issuers may have one or more co- registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar, and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent.

The Issuers shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar or Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Issuers shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of any such agent. If the Issuers fail to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 7.07. The Company or any Subsidiary may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

The Issuers initially appoint the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent in connection with the Notes at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee. If the Trustee is no longer the Registrar and Paying Agent, the Issuers shall provide the Trustee with access to inspect the Note register at all times and with copies of the Note register.

Section 2.04 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

Prior to 11:00 a.m. New York City time, on each due date of the principal and interest on any Note, an Issuer shall deposit with the Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such principal and interest when so becoming due. The Issuers shall require each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Notes and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuers in making any such payment. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it as a separate trust fund. The Issuers at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by the Paying Agent. Upon complying with this Section, the Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee.

Section 2.05 Holder Lists.

The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Holders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuers shall furnish to the Trustee, in writing at least ten Business Days before each Interest Payment Date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Holders and the principal amounts and number of Notes.

 

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Section 2.06 Transfer and Exchange.

The Notes shall be issued in registered form and shall be transferable only upon the surrender of a Note for registration of transfer. When a Note is presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer, the Registrar shall register the transfer as requested if the requirements of this Indenture and Section 8-401(a) of the Uniform Commercial Code are met. When Notes are presented to the Registrar with a request to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Notes of other denominations, the Registrar shall make the exchange as requested if the same requirements are met. The Issuers may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any taxes, assessments or other governmental charges in connection with any transfer or exchange pursuant to this Section (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Section 3.06, 4.10, 4.15 or 9.04).

The Issuers shall not be required to make, and the Registrar need not register, transfers or exchanges of Notes selected for redemption (except, in the case of Notes to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be redeemed) or of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed.

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

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

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

Section 2.07 Replacement Notes.

If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Issuers, the Trustee or the Registrar or if the Holder claims that the Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Issuers shall issue and the Trustee upon receipt of a Company Order shall authenticate a replacement Note if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met and the Holder satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee. If required by the Trustee, the Registrar or the Issuers, such Holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the Issuers and the Trustee to protect the Issuers, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Issuers, the Registrar and the Trustee may charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Note. In the event any such Note shall have matured,

 

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instead of issuing a new Note, the Issuers may direct the Trustee to pay the same without surrender thereof upon the Holder furnishing the Issuers and the Trustee with indemnity satisfactory to them and complying with such other reasonable regulations as the Issuers may prescribe and paying such reasonable expenses as the Issuer and the Trustee may incur in connection therewith.

Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Issuers.

Section 2.08 Outstanding Notes.

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

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee, any provider of an indemnity bond and the Issuers receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.

If the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than an Issuer, a Guarantor or an Affiliate thereof) segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with this Indenture, by 11:00 a.m. New York time, on a redemption date or other maturity date money sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest payable on that date with respect to the Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as the case may be, then on and after that date such Notes (or portions thereof) cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

Section 2.09 Treasury Notes.

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Issuers or any Guarantor, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuers or any Guarantor, will be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee will be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee knows are so owned will be so disregarded.

Section 2.10 Temporary Notes.

Until definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuers 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 Issuers consider appropriate for temporary Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuers shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Notes and deliver them in exchange for temporary Notes.

 

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Section 2.11 Cancellation.

An Issuer at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act) all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation. Upon written request, the Trustee will provide evidence of cancellation of all cancelled Notes to the Issuers. The Issuers may not issue new Notes to replace Notes they have redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 2.12 Defaulted Interest.

If the Issuers default in a payment of interest on the Notes, the Issuers shall pay defaulted interest (plus interest on such defaulted interest to the extent lawful) in any lawful manner. The Issuers may pay the defaulted interest to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date. The Issuers shall fix or cause to be fixed any such special record date and payment date and prior to such record date, the Issuer shall promptly mail to each Holder a notice that states the special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid.

Section 2.13 CUSIP Numbers.

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

Section 2.14 Issuance of Additional Notes.

The Issuers shall be entitled, subject to their compliance with Section 4.09, to issue Additional Notes under this Indenture which shall have identical terms as the Initial Notes, other than with respect to the date of issuance, issue price and the date from which interest begins to accrue. The Initial Notes and any Additional Notes shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, consents, directions, declarations, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase.

With respect to any Additional Notes, the Issuers shall set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, which shall be delivered to the Trustee, the following information:

(1) the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Notes to be authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture;

(2) the issue price, the issue date and the CUSIP number and any corresponding ISIN of such Additional Notes; and

(3) whether such Additional Notes shall be Transfer Restricted Securities and issued in the form of Restricted Notes or shall be issued in the form of Unrestricted Notes.

 

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Section 2.15 Calculation of Principal Amount of Securities.

The aggregate principal amount of the Notes, at any date of determination, shall be the principal amount of the Notes at such date of determination. With respect to any matter requiring consent, waiver, approval or other action of the Holders of a specified percentage of the principal amount of all the Notes, such percentage shall be calculated, on the relevant date of determination, by dividing (a) the principal amount, as of such date of determination, of Notes, the Holders of which have so consented by (b) the aggregate principal amount, as of such date of determination, of the Notes then outstanding, in each case, as determined in accordance with the preceding sentence and Sections 2.08 and 2.09 of this Indenture. Any such calculation made pursuant to this Section 2.15 shall be made by the Issuers and delivered to the Trustee pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate, unless a Default or Event of Default has occurred, in which case such calculation may be made by the Trustee.

ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

Section 3.01 Notices to Trustee.

If the Issuers elect to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 3.07 hereof, they shall furnish to the Trustee, at least five Business Days (unless a shorter period shall be agreeable to the Trustee) before the date of giving notice of the redemption pursuant to Section 3.03, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth (i) the clause of Section 3.07 pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed, (iv) the redemption price, if determinable, and (v) whether it requests the Trustee to give notice of such redemption. Any such notice may be cancelled at any time prior to the mailing of notice of such redemption to any Holder and shall thereby be void and of no effect.

Section 3.02 Selection of Notes to be Redeemed.

If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed among the Holders of the Notes as follows: (1) if the Notes are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the Notes are listed; (2) if the Notes are not listed on any national securities exchange but are in global form, then by lot or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC or the applicable depositary; or (3) if the Notes are not listed on any national securities exchange and are not in global form, on a pro rata basis or by lot or such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion shall deem appropriate. In the event of partial redemption, the particular Notes to be redeemed shall be selected, not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the giving of notice of the redemption pursuant to Section 3.03, by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption.

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuers in writing of the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Notes and portions of Notes selected shall be in minimum principal amounts of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000; except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a minimum of $2,000 or a multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.

 

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The provisions of the two preceding paragraphs of this Section 3.02 shall not apply with respect to any redemption affecting only a Global Note, whether such Global Note is to be redeemed in whole or in part. In case of any such redemption in part, the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of the Global Note shall be in an authorized denomination. Any redemption in whole or in part affecting a Global Note shall be made in accordance with Applicable Procedures.

Section 3.03 Notice of Redemption.

At least 10 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, except that redemption notices may be mailed (or otherwise delivered in accordance with the procedures of DTC) more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a Legal Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance or Discharge, the Issuers shall mail or cause to be mailed, by first class mail, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address.

The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:

(a) the redemption date;

(b) the redemption price or, if the redemption price is not then determinable, the manner in which it is to be determined;

(c) if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion shall be issued in the name of the Holder upon cancellation of the original Note;

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

(e) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

(f) that, unless the Issuers default in making such redemption payment, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date and the only remaining right of the Holders of such Notes is to receive payment of the redemption price upon surrender to the Paying Agent of the Notes redeemed;

(g) the paragraph of the Notes and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed;

 

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

(i) any conditions precedent to such redemption.

Redemptions may be conditioned on one or more conditions precedent specified in the notice of redemption. If any of the Notes to be redeemed is in the form of a Global Note, then the Issuers shall modify such notice to the extent necessary to accord with the Applicable Procedures of the Depository applicable to redemption.

At the Issuers’ request, the Trustee shall give the notice of optional redemption in the Issuers’ names and at their expense; provided, however, that the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least ten days before notice of redemption is required to be mailed or caused to be mailed (or otherwise delivered in accordance with the procedures of DTC) pursuant to this Section 3.03, an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the second preceding paragraph.

Section 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption.

Once notice of redemption is mailed (or otherwise delivered in accordance with the procedures of DTC) in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price, subject to satisfaction of any conditions specified in the notice of such redemption. If such redemption notice specifies that a redemption is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, then, in the Company’s discretion, the redemption date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the redemption date, or by the redemption date so delayed. If mailed (or otherwise delivered in accordance with the procedures of DTC) in the manner provided for in Section 3.03, the notice of redemption shall be conclusively presumed to have been given whether or not a Holder receives such notice. Failure to give timely notice or any defect in the notice shall not affect the validity of the redemption.

Section 3.05 Deposit of Redemption Price.

Prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the redemption date, the Issuers shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company or a Subsidiary thereof is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 2.04 hereof) money sufficient in same day funds to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed on that date. The Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Issuers any money deposited with the Paying Agent by an Issuer in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed.

If the Issuers comply with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption whether or not such Notes are presented for payment, and the only remaining right of the Holders of such Notes shall be to receive payment of the redemption price upon surrender to the Paying Agent of the Notes redeemed. If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid

 

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upon surrender for redemption because of the failure of an Issuer to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful, on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof. If a Note is redeemed on or after a Record Date but on or prior to the related Interest Payment Date, then any accrued and unpaid interest to the Redemption Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such Record Date.

Section 3.06 Notes Redeemed in Part.

Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Issuers shall issue in the name of the Holder and the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Issuers upon receipt of a Company Order a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered (or appropriate adjustments to the amount and beneficial interests in the Global Note will be made as appropriate).

Section 3.07 Optional Redemption.

(a) On or after January 15, 2024, the Issuers shall have the option on any one or more occasions to redeem the Notes, in whole or in part at any time, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the redemption date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on January 15 of the years indicated below:

 

YEAR

   PERCENTAGE  

2024

     104.063

2025

     102.031

2026 and thereafter

     100.000

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of clause (a) of this Section 3.07, at any time prior to January 15, 2024, the Issuers may on one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture at a redemption price of 108.125% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the redemption date), in an amount not greater than the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings, provided that:

(1) at least 60% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption (excluding any Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries); and

(2) each such redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of the closing of each such Equity Offering.

 

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(c) Prior to January 15, 2024, the Issuers may on any one or more occasions redeem all or part of the Notes at a redemption price equal to the sum of:

(1) 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus

(2) accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the redemption date), plus

(3) the Make Whole Premium at the redemption date.

(d) The Notes may also be redeemed, as a whole, following certain Change of Control Offers or Alternate Offers, at the redemption prices and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.15.

(e) Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01 through Section 3.06 hereof.

Section 3.08 No Mandatory Sinking Fund.

Except as set forth under Sections 4.10 and 4.15 hereof, neither of the Issuers shall be required to make sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes or to repurchase the Notes at the option of the Holders.

Section 3.09 Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds.

In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof, the Company shall be required to commence an offer to all Holders to purchase Notes (an “Asset Sale Offer”), it shall follow the procedures specified below.

The Asset Sale Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 Business Days following its commencement and no longer, except to the extent that a longer period is required by Applicable Law (the “Offer Period”). No later than five Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the “Settlement Date”), the Company shall purchase and pay for the principal amount of Notes required to be purchased pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof (the “Offer Amount”) or, if less than the Offer Amount has been validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn), all Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) in response to the Asset Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased shall be made in the manner prescribed in the Notes.

Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company shall send, by first class mail (or otherwise deliver in accordance with the procedures of DTC), a notice to each of the Holders, with a copy to the Trustee. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer. The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders. The notice, which shall govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, shall state:

(a) that the Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.09 and Section 4.10 hereof and the length of time the Asset Sale Offer shall remain open, including the time and date the Asset Sale Offer will terminate (the “Termination Date”);

 

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(b) the Offer Amount, the purchase price and the Settlement Date;

(c) that any Note not tendered or accepted for payment shall continue to accrue interest;

(d) that, unless the Company defaults in making such payment, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer shall cease to accrue interest after the Settlement Date;

(e) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer may only elect to have all of such Note purchased and may not elect to have only a portion of such Note purchased;

(f) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to any Asset Sale Offer shall be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Note completed, to the Company or to the applicable Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice, before the Termination Date;

(g) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Company or the applicable Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, prior to the Termination Date, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note the Holder delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased;

(h) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders, and Pari Passu Indebtedness surrendered by holders or lenders, collectively, exceeds the amount the Company is required to repurchase, the Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness shall be purchased on a pro rata basis (subject to adjustments to maintain the authorized denominations for the Notes) on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of tendered Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness; provided, however, that only Notes in minimum denominations of $2,000, or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000, shall be purchased; and

(i) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (or appropriate adjustments to the amount and beneficial interests in a Global Note if transferred by book-entry transfer).

If any of the Notes subject to an Asset Sale Offer is in the form of a Global Note, then the Company shall modify such notice to the extent necessary to accord with the Applicable Procedures of the Depository applicable to repurchases.

Promptly after the Termination Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful, accept for payment Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer in the aggregate principal amount required by Section 4.10 hereof, and prior to the Settlement Date it shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Notes or portions thereof were accepted for

 

39


payment by the Company in accordance with the terms of this Section 3.09 and Section 4.10. Prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Settlement Date, the Company or the applicable Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall distribute to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Company for purchase, and the Company shall issue a new Note, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order, shall authenticate and mail or deliver such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered (or appropriate adjustments to the amount and beneficial interests in the Global Note will be made as appropriate). Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof. The Company shall publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on or before the Settlement Date.

ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

Section 4.01 Payment of Notes.

The Issuers shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the due date money deposited by an Issuer or a Guarantor in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due.

The Issuers shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to the interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; and they shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.

Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency.

The Issuers shall maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee) where Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment and they shall maintain an office or agency in the United States (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange. The Issuers shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Issuers shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations and surrenders may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee. Notices and demands upon the Issuers in respect of the Notes shall be sent to the Issuers at the address set forth in Section 11.02.

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

 

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The Issuers hereby designate the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 2.03.

Section 4.03 Reports.

(a) Notwithstanding that the Company may not be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company will, unless they have been so filed and made publicly available, deliver to the Trustee and, upon a Holder’s prior written request to the Company, furnish (whether through hard copy or internet access) to such Holder of Notes, within five Business Days of filing, or attempting to file, the same with the SEC:

(1) all quarterly and annual financial and other information with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries that would be required to be contained in a filing with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company were required to file such Forms, including a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and, with respect to the annual financial information only, a report thereon by the Company’s certified independent accountants; and

(2) all current reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K if the Company were required to file such reports.

(b) The Company and the Guarantors shall furnish to the Holders and Beneficial Owners of the Notes, prospective purchasers of the Notes and securities analysts, upon their request, the information, if any, required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

(c) The Company will be deemed to have furnished the reports and information required by paragraph (a) of this Section 4.03 to the Holders if the Company has filed such reports or information, respectively, with the SEC using the EDGAR filing system (or any successor filing system of the SEC) or, if the SEC will not accept such reports or information, if the Company has posted such reports or information, respectively, on its website, and such reports or information, respectively, are publicly available to Holders through internet access.

(d) If the Company has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then, to the extent material, the quarterly and annual financial information required by paragraph (a) of this Section 4.03 shall include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes to the financial statements and in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

(e) In the event that any direct or indirect parent company of the Company becomes a guarantor of the Notes, the Company may satisfy its obligations under this Section 4.03 with respect to financial information relating to the Company by furnishing financial information relating to such parent company; provided that the same be accompanied by consolidated information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such parent, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand.

 

41


(f) Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under this Section 4.03 is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein.

(g) All Defaults or Events of Default arising from a failure to furnish in a timely manner any information required by this Section 4.03 be deemed cured (and the Company shall be deemed to be in compliance with this Section 4.03) upon furnishing such information as contemplated by this Section 4.03 (but without regard to the date on which such information or report is so furnished); provided that such cure shall not otherwise affect the rights of the holders under Article 6 if the principal of, premium, if any, on, and interest, if any, on, the notes have been accelerated in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and such acceleration has not been rescinded or cancelled prior to such cure.

Section 4.04 Compliance Certificate.

(a) The Issuers shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year beginning with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022, an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto).

(b) Delivery of reports, information, Officers’ Certificates and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such reports, information, Officers’ Certificates and/or documents shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuers’, any Guarantor’s or any other Person’s compliance with any of its covenants under the Indenture or the Notes (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on the compliance certificate described in Section 4.04(a)). The Trustee shall be not obligated to monitor or confirm, on a continuing basis or otherwise, either Issuer’s, any Guarantor’s or any other Person’s compliance with the covenants described herein or with respect to any reports, information, Officers’ Certificates or other documents filed under the Indenture.

(c) The Issuers shall, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, forthwith upon any Officer of the General Partner or Finance Corp. becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default, its status and the action the Issuers are taking or propose to take with respect thereto.

 

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Section 4.05 Taxes.

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

Section 4.06 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

Each of the Issuers and each of the Guarantors covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and each Issuer (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

Section 4.07 Limitation on Restricted Payments.

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

(1) declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment or distribution on account of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) or to the direct or indirect holders of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests in their capacity as such (other than dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or payable to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company);

(2) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value (including, without limitation, in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company) any Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company;

(3) make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Indebtedness that is subordinated to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees (excluding any intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), except a payment of interest or principal at the Stated Maturity thereof or within six months of the final Stated Maturity thereof; or

(4) make any Restricted Investment (all such payments and other actions set forth in these clauses (1) through (4) above being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”),

 

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unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, no Default (except a Reporting Default) or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a consequence of such Restricted Payment and either:

(1) if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (the “Trailing Four Quarters”) is not less than 2.5 to 1.0, such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2) through (12) of the next succeeding paragraph) with respect to the quarter for which such Restricted Payment is made, is less than the sum, without duplication, of:

(a) Available Cash from Operating Surplus with respect to the Company’s preceding fiscal quarter, plus

(b) 100% of the aggregate net proceeds received by the Company (including the fair market value of any Permitted Business or long-term assets that are used or useful in a Permitted Business to the extent acquired in consideration of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock)) after October 11, 2019 as a contribution to its common equity capital or from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or from the issue or sale of convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Stock or convertible or exchangeable debt securities of the Company that have been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or Disqualified Stock or debt securities) sold to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company), plus

(c) to the extent that any Restricted Investment that was made after October 11, 2019 is sold for cash or otherwise liquidated or repaid for cash, the cash return of capital with respect to such Restricted Investment (less the cost of disposition, if any); provided, however, that any cash return of capital with respect to any Investments in Existing Unrestricted Subsidiaries since October 11, 2019 will only be included in this clause (c) to the extent (and only to the extent) the cumulative amount of all cash received by the Company in respect of such Investments exceeds $145.0 million, plus

(d) the net reduction in Restricted Investments resulting from dividends, repayments of loans or advances, or other transfers of assets in each case to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from any Person (including, without limitation, Unrestricted Subsidiaries) or from redesignations of Unrestricted Subsidiaries as Restricted Subsidiaries, to the extent such amounts have not been included in Available Cash from Operating Surplus for any period commencing on or after October 11, 2019, plus

(e) $100.0 million (items (b), (c), (d) and (e) being referred to as “Incremental Funds”), minus

 

44


(f) the aggregate amount of Incremental Funds previously expended pursuant to this clause (1); or

(2) if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Trailing Four Quarters is less than 2.5 to 1.0, such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2) through (12) of the next succeeding paragraph) with respect to the quarter for which such Restricted Payment is made is less than $25.0 million, less the aggregate amount of all prior Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to this clause (2) since the Issue Date.

The preceding provisions will not prohibit:

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

(2) any Restricted Payment in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds of the substantially concurrent (a) contribution (other than from a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) to the equity capital of the Company or (b) sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of, Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock), with a sale being deemed substantially concurrent if such Restricted Payment occurs not more than 120 days after such sale; provided, however, that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such Restricted Payment will be excluded (or deducted, if included) from the calculation of Available Cash from Operating Surplus and Incremental Funds;

(3) the purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor with the net cash proceeds from an incurrence of, or in exchange for, Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;

(4) the payment of any dividend or distribution by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the holders of its Equity Interests on a pro rata basis (or on a basis more favorable to the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries);

(5) the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to any director or employee equity subscription agreement or equity option agreement or other employee benefit plan or to satisfy obligations under any Equity Interests appreciation rights or option plan or similar arrangement; provided, however, that the aggregate price paid for all such purchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests may not exceed $15.0 million in any calendar year, with any portion of such $15.0 million amount that is unused in any calendar year to be carried forward to successive calendar years and added to such amount;

 

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(6) the purchase, repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the exercise of unit options, warrants, incentives, rights to acquire Equity Interests or other convertible securities if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise or exchange price thereof, and any purchase, repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests made in lieu of withholding taxes in connection with any exercise or exchange of unit options, warrants, incentives or rights to acquire Equity Interests;

(7) from and after the consummation of a Corporate Conversion, Permitted Payments to Parent;

(8) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, any purchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition for value of any subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor (i) at a purchase price not greater than 101% of the principal amount of such subordinated Indebtedness plus accrued interest in accordance with provisions similar to those contained in Section 4.15 or (ii) at a purchase price not greater than 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest in accordance with provisions similar to those contained in Sections 3.09 and 4.10; provided, that, prior to or simultaneously with such purchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition, the Company shall have complied with Section 4.15 or Sections 3.09 and 4.10, as the case may be, and repurchased all Notes validly tendered for payment in connection with the Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as the case may be;

(9) Permitted Tax Distributions;

(10) cash payments in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares in connection with a consolidation, merger or transfer of assets in connection with a transaction that is not prohibited by this Indenture;

(11) the declaration and payment of regularly scheduled or accrued dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Company or any preferred securities of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company issued on or after the Issue Date in accordance with the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test under Section 4.09, to the extent such dividends are included in the definition of “Fixed Charges”; or

(12) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $25.0 million.

The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the fair market value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the Restricted Investment proposed to be made or the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The fair market value of any Restricted Investment, assets or securities that are required to be valued by this Section 4.07 will be determined, in the case of amounts under $35.0 million, by an officer of the General Partner and, in the case of amounts over $35.0 million, by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution. For purposes of determining compliance

 

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with this Section 4.07, in the event that a Restricted Payment or Investment (or portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Restricted Payments described in the preceding clauses (1) through (12) of this Section 4.07, or is permitted pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 4.07 or meets the criteria of one or more clauses contained in the definition of “Permitted Investments,” the Company will be permitted to divide or classify (or later divide or classify or reclassify in whole or in part in its sole discretion) such Restricted Payment, Investment or other such transaction (or portion thereof) on the date made or later divide or reclassify such Restricted Payment, Investment or other such transaction (or portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 4.07.

Section 4.08 Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries.

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:

(1) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or pay any Indebtedness or other obligations owed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(2) make loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

(3) transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

However, the preceding restrictions of this Section 4.08 will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

(1) agreements as in effect on the Issue Date and any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of those agreements or the Indebtedness to which they relate, provided that the amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, with respect to such dividend, distribution and other payment restrictions than those contained in those agreements on the Issue Date;

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

(3) Applicable Law;

(4) any instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of such acquisition (except to the extent such Indebtedness or Capital Stock was incurred in connection with or in contemplation of such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired, provided that, in the case of Indebtedness, such Indebtedness was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred;

 

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(5) customary non-assignment provisions in Hydrocarbon purchase and sale or exchange agreements or similar operational agreements or in licenses, easements or leases, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices;

(6) Finance Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, in each case for property acquired in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions on that property of the nature described in clause (3) of the preceding paragraph;

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

(8) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, provided that the restrictions contained in the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are not more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being refinanced;

(9) Liens securing Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred under the provisions of Section 4.12 that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets subject to such Liens;

(10) provisions with respect to the disposition or distribution of assets or property in joint venture agreements, asset sale agreements, stock sale agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(11) any agreement or instrument relating to any property or assets acquired after the Issue Date, so long as such encumbrance or restriction relates only to the property or assets so acquired and is not and was not created in anticipation of such acquisitions;

(12) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business; and (13) any other agreement governing Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor that is permitted to be incurred by Section 4.09; provided, however, that such encumbrances or restrictions are not either (a) materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in this Indenture or the Credit Agreement as it exists on the Issue Date or (b) reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Company to make required payments on the Notes.

 

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Section 4.09 Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock.

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to (collectively, “incur”) any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt), the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, issue any Disqualified Stock, and the Company will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Guarantor) to issue any preferred securities; provided, however, that the Issuers and any Guarantor may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue Disqualified Stock or preferred securities, if, for the Company’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or preferred securities are issued, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio would have been at least 2.0 to 1.0, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred or Disqualified Stock or preferred securities had been issued, as the case may be, at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

The first paragraph of this Section 4.09 will not prohibit the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness (collectively, “Permitted Debt”) or the issuance of any preferred securities described in clause (11) below:

(1) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of additional Indebtedness (including letters of credit) under one or more Credit Facilities, provided that, after giving effect to any such incurrence, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred under this clause (1) (with letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the maximum potential liability of the Company and its Subsidiaries thereunder) and then outstanding does not exceed the greater of (a) $500.0 million or (b) the Borrowing Base;

(2) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of the Existing Indebtedness;

(3) the incurrence by the Company and the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by the Notes issued and sold on the Issue Date and the related Subsidiary Guarantees issued on the Issue Date;

(4) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness represented by Finance Lease Obligations, Attributable Debt, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, in each case, incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of construction or improvement of property, plant or equipment used in the business of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (4), provided that after giving effect to any such incurrence, the principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (4) and then outstanding does not exceed the greater of (a) $150.0 million or (b) 5.0% of the Company’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at such time;

(5) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to, extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund Indebtedness that was permitted by this Indenture to be incurred under the first paragraph of this Section 4.09 or clause (2) or (3) of this paragraph or this clause (5);

 

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(6) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that:

(a) if the Company is the obligor on such Indebtedness and a Guarantor is not the obligee, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations with respect to the Notes, or if a Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness and neither the Company nor another Guarantor is the obligee, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations with respect to the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Guarantor; and

(b) (i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and (ii) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is neither the Company nor a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by this clause (6);

(7) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of obligations under Hedging Contracts in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes, including any obligations with respect to letters of credit issued in connection therewith;

(8) the guarantee by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this Section 4.09;

(9) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of obligations relating to net Hydrocarbon balancing positions arising in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;

(10) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness in respect of bid, performance, surety and similar bonds issued for the account of the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, including guarantees and obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to letters of credit supporting such obligations (in each case other than an obligation for money borrowed);

(11) the issuance by any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries to the Company or to any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any preferred securities; provided, however, that:

(a) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such preferred securities being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; and

 

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(b) any sale or other transfer of any such preferred securities to a Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an issuance of such preferred securities by such Restricted Subsidiary that was not permitted by this clause (11);

(12) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Acquired Debt in connection with a merger or consolidation meeting either one of the financial tests set forth in clause (d) of the first paragraph of Section 5.01; and

(13) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of additional Indebtedness, provided that, after giving effect to any such incurrence, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred under this clause (13) and then outstanding does not exceed the greater of (a) $100.0 million or (b) 5.0% of the Company’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09, in the event that an item of Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (1) through (13) above, or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 4.09, the Company will be permitted to classify (or later classify or reclassify in whole or in part in its sole discretion) such item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this Section 4.09. Any Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement on the Issue Date shall be considered incurred under clause (1) of the second paragraph of this Section 4.09 and may not later be classified or reclassified as incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 4.09.

The accrual of interest, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, and the payment of dividends on Disqualified Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Stock will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Stock for purposes of this Section 4.09, provided, in each such case, that the amount thereof is included in Fixed Charges of the Company as accrued. Further, the accounting reclassification of any obligation of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as Indebtedness will not be deemed an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 4.09.

Section 4.10 Limitation on Asset Sales.

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale unless:

(1) the Company (or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration at the time of the Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value (measured as of the date of the definitive agreement in respect of such Asset Sale) of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of; and

 

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(2) at least 75% of the aggregate consideration received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Asset Sale is in the form of cash. For purposes of this provision, each of the following will be deemed to be cash:

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

(b) any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are, within 180 days after the Asset Sale, converted by the Company or such Subsidiary into cash, to the extent of the cash received in that conversion;

(c) any Equity Interests or assets of the kind referred to in clause (II), (III) or (V) of the immediately succeeding paragraph; and

(d) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Asset Sale; provided that the aggregate fair market value of such Designated Non-cash Consideration, taken together with the fair market value at the time of receipt of all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (d) less the amount of Net Proceeds previously realized in cash from prior Designated Non-cash Consideration, is less than the greater of (x) 2.5% of the Company’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration (with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value) and (y) $37.5 million.

Within 360 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may apply those Net Proceeds at its option to any combination of the following:

(I) to repay, redeem, repurchase or otherwise retire Senior Debt, including the Notes;

(II) to acquire all or substantially all of the properties or assets of a Person primarily engaged in a Permitted Business;

(III) to acquire a majority of the Voting Stock of a Person primarily engaged a Permitted Business;

(IV) to make capital expenditures; or

(V) to acquire other long-term assets that are used or useful in a Permitted Business.

 

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The requirement of clause (II), (III) or (V) of the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to be satisfied if a bona fide binding contract committing to make the acquisition referred to therein is entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries within the time period specified in the preceding paragraph and such Net Proceeds are subsequently applied in accordance with such contract within 180 days following the date such agreement is entered into. Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may invest the Net Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture. Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in the immediately preceding paragraph will constitute “Excess Proceeds.”

On the 361st day (as such period may be extended as provided in the immediately preceding paragraph) after the Asset Sale (or, at the Company’s option, any earlier date), if the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds then exceeds $50.0 million, the Company will make an Asset Sale Offer to all Holders, and to all holders of Pari Passu Indebtedness then outstanding, to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and such Pari Passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds. The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Settlement Date, subject to the right of Holders on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the Settlement Date, and will be payable in cash. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company may use those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee will select the Notes and the agent of the trustee for such other Pari Passu Indebtedness shall select such Pari Passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis as set forth in Section 3.09(h) of this Indenture. Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero.

The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with each repurchase of Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section 4.10, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under such provisions by virtue of such conflict.

Section 4.11 Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates.

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Company (each, an “Affiliate Transaction”), unless:

(1) the Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person or, if in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, no comparable transaction is available with which to compare such Affiliate Transaction, such Affiliate Transaction is otherwise fair to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view; and

 

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(2) the Company delivers to the Trustee with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $50.0 million, a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company set forth in an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with this Section 4.11 and that such Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions has been approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of the Company, if any.

The following items will not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions and, therefore, will not be subject to the provisions of the prior paragraph of this Section 4.11:

(1) any employment, equity award, equity option or equity appreciation agreement or plan entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(2) transactions between or among any of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(3) transactions with a Person that is an Affiliate of the Company solely because the Company owns an Equity Interest in such Person;

(4) transactions effected in accordance with the terms of agreements that are in effect on the Issue Date, and any amendment or replacement of any of such agreements so long as such amendment or replacement agreement is no less advantageous to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in any material respect than the agreement so amended or replaced;

(5) customary compensation, indemnification and other benefits made available to officers, directors or employees of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company, including reimbursement or advancement of out-of-pocket expenses and provisions of officers’ and directors’ liability insurance;

(6) sales of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) to Affiliates of the Company;

(7) Permitted Investments or Restricted Payments that are permitted by Section 4.07;

(8) payments to the General Partner with respect to reimbursement for expenses in accordance with the Partnership Agreement as in effect on the Issue Date and as it may be amended, provided that any such amendment is not less favorable to the Company in any material respect than the agreement prior to such amendment; and

 

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

Section 4.12 Limitation on Liens.

The Company will not and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any Lien of any kind (other than Permitted Liens) securing Indebtedness or Attributable Debt upon any of their property or assets, now owned or hereafter acquired, unless the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, is secured on an equal and ratable basis with (or on a senior basis to, in the case of obligations subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Subsidiary Guarantee, as the case may be) the obligations so secured until such time as such obligations are no longer secured by a Lien.

Section 4.13 Additional Subsidiary Guarantees.

If, after the Issue Date, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not already a Guarantor guarantees any Indebtedness of either of the Issuers or any Guarantor, or any Domestic Subsidiary, if not then a Guarantor, incurs any Indebtedness under a Credit Facility, then in either case that Subsidiary will become a Guarantor by executing a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Annex A hereto and delivering it to the Trustee within 20 Business Days of the date on which it guaranteed or incurred such Indebtedness, as the case may be. Any such guarantee shall be subject to the release and other provisions described in Article 10.

Section 4.14 Corporate Existence.

Except as otherwise permitted pursuant to the terms hereof (including consolidation and merger permitted by Section 5.01), the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence, and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve the existence of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (except Finance Corp.) if the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.

Section 4.15 Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control Triggering Event.

(1) No later than 30 days following the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, unless the Issuers have previously or concurrently exercised their right to redeem all of the Notes pursuant to Section 3.07, the Company shall make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer”) to repurchase all or any part (equal to a minimum of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000) of each Holder’s Notes at a purchase price (the “Change of Control Payment”) in cash equal to 101% (or, at the Company’s

 

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election, a higher percentage) of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to the date of settlement (the “Change of Control Settlement Date”), subject to the right of Holders on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the Change of Control Settlement Date. No later than 30 days following a Change of Control Triggering Event, unless the Issuers have previously or concurrently exercised their right to redeem all of the Notes pursuant to Section 3.07, the Company shall mail (or otherwise deliver in accordance with the procedures of DTC) a notice of the Change of Control Offer to each Holder and the Trustee describing the transaction that constitutes the Change of Control Triggering Event and stating:

(a) that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.15 and that all Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn will be accepted for payment;

(b) the purchase price and the purchase date, which shall be no earlier than 30 days but no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the “Change of Control Purchase Date”);

(c) that the Change of Control Offer will expire as of the time specified in such notice on the Change of Control Purchase Date and that the Company shall pay the Change of Control Purchase Price for all Notes accepted for purchase as of the Change of Control Purchase Date promptly thereafter on the Change of Control Settlement Date;

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

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

(f) that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender the Notes, properly endorsed for transfer, together with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Notes completed and such customary documents as the Company may reasonably request, to the applicable Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the termination of the Change of Control Offer on the Change of Control Purchase Date;

(g) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the applicable Paying Agent receives, five Business Days prior to the Change of Control Offer Settlement Date, a facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of Notes delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have the Notes purchased; and

(h) that Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, which unpurchased portion must be equal to a minimum of $2,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.

 

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If any of the Notes subject to a Change of Control Offer is in the form of a Global Note, then the Company shall modify such notice to the extent necessary to accord with the Applicable Procedures of the Depository applicable to repurchases. Further, the Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Notes as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section 4.15, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under such provisions by virtue of such conflict.

(2) On the Change of Control Settlement Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful, accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof (in minimum denominations of $2,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000) properly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) pursuant to the Change of Control Offer. Promptly thereafter on the Change of Control Settlement Date the Company shall:

(a) deposit with the Paying Agent by 11:00 a.m., New York City time, an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof so tendered (and not validly withdrawn); and

(b) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased by the Company.

On the Change of Control Settlement Date, the applicable Paying Agent shall remit to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes (or, if all the Notes are then in global form, make such payment through the facilities of the Depository) and the Trustee shall authenticate, upon Company Order, and deliver (or appropriate adjustments will be made in accordance with Applicable Procedures with respect to Global Notes) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided, however, that each such new Note will be in a principal amount of a minimum of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. The Company shall publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Purchase Date.

(3) The Change of Control Triggering Event provisions of this Section 4.15 shall be applicable whether or nor any other provisions of this Indenture are applicable.

(4) Prior to complying with any of the provisions of this Section 4.15, but in any event no later than the Change of Control Settlement Date, the Company or any Guarantor must either repay all of its other outstanding Senior Debt or obtain the requisite consents, if any, under all agreements governing such Senior Debt if and to the extent needed to permit the repurchase of Notes required by this Section 4.15.

 

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(5) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control Triggering Event if (i) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the time and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section 4.15 applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer or (ii) in connection with any Change of Control Triggering Event, the Company has made an offer to purchase (an “Alternate Offer”) any and all Notes validly tendered at a cash price equal to or higher than the Change of Control Payment and has purchased all Notes properly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Alternate Offer. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, a Change of Control Offer by the Company or a third party or an Alternate Offer by the Company 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 Triggering Event at the time the Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer is made.

(6) If Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in a Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer and the Issuers, or any other Person making a Change of Control Offer in lieu of the Company, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Company will have the right, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior written notice, given not more than 30 days following such purchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer, to redeem all Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a redemption price in cash equal to the applicable Change of Control Payment plus, to the extent not included in the Change of Control Payment, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

Section 4.16 Permitted Business Activities.

Finance Corp. shall not incur Indebtedness unless (1) the Company is a co-obligor or guarantor of such Indebtedness or (2) the net proceeds of such Indebtedness are loaned to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, used to acquire outstanding debt securities issued by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or used to repay Indebtedness of the Company as permitted under Section 4.09. Finance Corp. shall not engage in any business not related directly or indirectly to obtaining money or arranging financing for the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Section 4.17 Covenant Suspension.

If at any time (a) the rating assigned to the Notes by either S&P or Moody’s is an Investment Grade Rating, (b) no Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture and (c) the Issuers have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying its election to suspend covenants in accordance with this Section 4.17 and certifying to the foregoing provisions of this sentence, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will no longer be subject to the provisions of Sections 3.09, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.16, and clause (d) of the first paragraph

 

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of Section 5.01 of this Indenture (collectively, the “Suspended Covenants”); provided, however, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will remain subject to all of the other provisions of this Indenture. After the foregoing covenants have been suspended, the Company may not designate any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries. Thereafter, if either S&P or Moody’s withdraws its ratings or downgrades the ratings assigned to the Notes below the Investment Grade Rating so that the Notes do not have an Investment Grade Rating from either S&P or Moody’s, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants, subject to the terms, conditions and obligations set forth herein (each such date of reinstatement being the “Reinstatement Date”). Compliance with the Suspended Covenants with respect to Restricted Payments made after the Reinstatement Date will be calculated in accordance with the terms of Section 4.07 of this Indenture as though such covenants had been in effect during the period since the Issue Date.

Section 4.18 Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if that designation would not cause a Default. If a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the aggregate fair market value of all outstanding Investments owned by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Subsidiary properly designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be deemed to be either an Investment made as of the time of the designation that will reduce the amount available for Restricted Payments under the first paragraph of Section 4.07 or represent Permitted Investments, as determined by the Company. That designation shall only be permitted if the Investment would be permitted at that time and if the Subsidiary so designated otherwise meets the definition of an “Unrestricted Subsidiary.”

The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such designation will be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary and such designation will only be permitted if (1) such Indebtedness is permitted under Section 4.09, calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the four-quarter reference period, and (2) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such designation.

ARTICLE 5

SUCCESSORS

Section 5.01 Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets.

Neither of the Issuers may, directly or indirectly, (1) consolidate or merge with or into another Person (whether or not such Issuer is the survivor), or (2) sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions to another Person, unless:

(a) either (1) such Issuer is the survivor or (2) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Issuer) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia; provided, however, that Finance Corp. may not consolidate or merge with or into any Person other than a corporation satisfying such requirement so long as the Company is not a corporation;

 

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(b) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Issuer) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made assumes all the obligations of such Issuer under the Notes and this Indenture pursuant to a supplemental indenture or other agreement in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

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

(d) in the case of a transaction involving the Company and not Finance Corp., either;

(i) the Company or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made will, at the time of such transaction and after giving pro forma effect thereto and any related financing transactions as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof; or

(ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and any related financing transactions on a pro forma basis as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the Company’s most recently ended four full quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of the transactions, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made, will be equal to or greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately before such transactions; and

(e) such Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or disposition and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture.

Notwithstanding the restrictions described in the foregoing clause (d), any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Finance Corp.) may consolidate with, merge into or dispose of all or part of its properties and assets to the Company without complying with the preceding clause (d) in connection with any such consolidation, merger or disposition.

 

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Notwithstanding the second preceding paragraph of this Section 5.01, the Company may reorganize as any other form of entity in accordance with the following procedures provided that:

(1) the reorganization involves the conversion (by merger, sale, contribution or exchange of assets or otherwise) of the Company into a form of entity other than a limited partnership formed under Delaware law;

(2) the entity so formed by or resulting from such reorganization is an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

(3) the entity so formed by or resulting from such reorganization assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture pursuant to agreements necessary pursuant to the terms of the Notes and this Indenture;

(4) immediately after such reorganization no Default or Event of Default exists; and

(5) such reorganization is not materially adverse to the Holders or Beneficial Owners of the Notes (for purposes of this clause (5) a reorganization will not be considered materially adverse to the Holders or Beneficial Owners of the Notes solely because the successor or survivor of such reorganization (a) is subject to federal or state income taxation as an entity or (b) is considered to be an “includible corporation” of an affiliated group of corporations within the meaning of Section 1504(b) of the Code or any similar state or local law).

Section 5.02 Successor Substituted.

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of an Issuer in accordance with Section 5.01 hereof, the successor formed by such consolidation or into or with which such Issuer is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and may exercise every right and power of, such Issuer under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor had been named as such Issuer herein and shall be substituted for such Issuer (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the “Company” or “Finance Corp.,” as the case may be, shall refer instead to the successor and not to the Company or Finance Corp., as the case may be); and thereafter, except in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in accordance with this Indenture, it shall be discharged and released from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Notes. The Trustee, upon request of and at the expense of the applicable Issuer, shall enter into a supplemental indenture to evidence the succession and substitution of such successor and such discharge and release of such Issuer.

 

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ARTICLE 6

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 6.01 Events of Default.

An “Event of Default” occurs if one of the following shall have occurred and be continuing (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be involuntary or be effected by operation of law):

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

(b) an Issuer defaults in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on the Notes when due at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise;

(c) the Company fails to comply with its obligations to offer to repurchase Notes or to consummate a repurchase of Notes when required under the provisions of Sections 3.09, 4.10, 4.15 or the Company fails to comply with its obligations under Section 5.01 hereof;

(d) the Company fails to comply with the provisions of Section 4.03 for 180 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or Holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding of such failure;

(e) the Company fails to comply with any other covenant or other agreement in this Indenture or the Notes for 60 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding of such failure;

(f) a default occurs under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists or is created after the Issue Date, if such default:

(1) is caused by a failure to pay principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of any grace period provided in such Indebtedness (a “Payment Default”); or

(2) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity,

and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $50.0 million or more; provided, however, that if any such Payment Default is cured or

 

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waived or any such acceleration rescinded, or such Indebtedness is repaid, within a period of 60 days from the continuation of such Payment Default beyond the applicable grace period or the occurrence of such acceleration, as the case may be, such Event of Default and any consequential acceleration of the Notes shall be automatically rescinded, so long as such rescission does not conflict with any judgment or decree;

(g) the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries fails to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $50.0 million (to the extent not covered by insurance by a reputable and creditworthy insurer as to which the insurer has not disclaimed coverage), which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days;

(h) except as permitted by this Indenture, any Subsidiary Guarantee is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee; and

(i) the Company, Finance Corp., any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law:

(1) commences a voluntary case,

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

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

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

(5) admits in writing it generally is not paying its debts as they become due; or

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

(1) is for relief against the Company, Finance Corp., any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company in an involuntary case;

 

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(2) appoints a Custodian of the Company, Finance Corp., any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company, Finance Corp., any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company, that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company; or

(3) orders the liquidation of the Company, Finance Corp., any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company; and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days.

Section 6.02 Acceleration.

If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, by notice to the Issuers, or the Holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, by notice to the Issuers and the Trustee, may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Upon any such declaration, the Notes shall become due and payable immediately, together with all accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon. Notwithstanding the preceding, if an Event of Default specified in clause (i) or (j) of Section 6.01 hereof occurs with respect to the Company, Finance Corp., any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company, all outstanding Notes shall become due and payable without further action or notice, together with all accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of all of the Holders rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (except with respect to nonpayment of principal, interest or premium, if any, that have become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived.

Section 6.03 Other Remedies.

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

 

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Section 6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults.

Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences hereunder, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of or premium or interest, if any, on the Notes. Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 6.05 Control by Majority.

Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability.

Section 6.06 Limitation on Suits.

A Holder may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes only if:

(a) the Holder gives to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default;

(b) the Holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

(c) such Holder or Holders offer and, if requested, provide to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

(d) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of indemnity or security; and

(e) during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.

A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder.

Section 6.07 Rights of Holders to Receive Payment.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be amended or waived in a manner adverse to such Holder without the consent of such Holder.

 

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Section 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee.

If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a) or (b) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuers and the Guarantors for the whole amount of principal of, premium, if any, and unpaid interest, if any, remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the compensation, and the reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

Section 6.09 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuers (or any other obligor upon the Notes), their creditors or their property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

Section 6.10 Priorities.

If the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article, it shall pay out the money or property in the following order:

First: to the Trustee, the Agents and their respective agents and attorneys for amounts due under this Indenture, including payment of all compensation, indemnity amounts, expense and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by any of them and their costs and expenses of collection;

 

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

Third: to the Issuers or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.10.

Section 6.11 Undertaking for Costs.

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

Section 6.12 Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceedings, the Issuers, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding has been instituted.

Section 6.13 Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes in Section 2.07 hereof, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

Section 6.14 Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Note to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

 

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ARTICLE 7

TRUSTEE

Section 7.01 Duties of Trustee.

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

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

(i) the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(ii) the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.01;

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

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05 hereof; and

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

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

 

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

Section 7.02 Rights of Trustee.

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document. The Trustee shall receive and retain financial reports and statements of the Issuers as provided herein, but shall have no duty to review or analyze such reports or statements to determine compliance with covenants or other obligations of the Issuers.

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. No such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel shall be at the expense of the Trustee. The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

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

(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within its discretion, rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from an Issuer shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of such Issuer.

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

(g) The Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to the performance of the Issuers’ covenants in Article 4 hereof. In addition, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default except: (1) any Event of Default occurring pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or 6.01(b) hereof; or (2) any Default or Event of Default of which a Responsible Officer shall have received written notification or obtained actual knowledge.

(h) The right of the Trustee to perform any discretionary act enumerated hereunder shall not be construed as a duty.

 

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(i) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder and each agent and other person employed to act hereunder and in its capacity as Trustee under any other agreement executed in connection with this Indenture to which the Trustee is a party.

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

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

(l) Any request or direction of an Issuer mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a written request or order signed by an Officer of such Issuer, and any resolution of the board of directors shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution.

(m) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the execution of the powers granted hereunder.

(n) The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fires; floods; wars; civil or military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communications service, accidents; labor disputes; acts of civil or military authority or governmental actions (it being understood that the Trustee shall use commercially reasonable efforts to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances).

(o) The Trustee shall neither be responsible for, nor chargeable with, knowledge of the terms and conditions of any other agreement, instrument, or document other than this Indenture, whether or not an original or a copy of such agreement has been provided to the Trustee.

(p) In the event that the Trustee obeys or complies with any such writ, order or decree it shall not be liable to any of the parties or to any other person, firm or corporation, should, by reason of such compliance notwithstanding, such writ, order or decree be subsequently reversed, modified, annulled, set aside or vacated.

(q) If any conflict, disagreement or dispute arises between, among, or involving any of the parties hereto concerning the meaning or validity of any provision hereunder or concerning any other matter relating to this Indenture, or the Trustee is in doubt as to the action to be taken hereunder, the Trustee may, at its option, after sending written notice of the same to the other parties hereto, refuse to act until such time as it receives a written instruction, executed by each of the parties involved in such disagreement or dispute, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. The Trustee will be entitled to act on any such written instruction or final, non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction without further question, inquiry or consent. The Trustee may file an interpleader action in a state or federal court, and upon the filing thereof, the Trustee will be relieved of all liability and will be entitled to recover reasonable and documented out-of-pocket attorneys’ fees, expenses and other costs incurred in commencing and maintaining any such interpleader action.

 

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(r) The Trustee shall have no duty (A) to see to any recording, filing, or depositing of this Indenture or any agreement referred to herein or any financing statement or continuation statement evidencing a security interest, or to see to the maintenance of any such recording or filing or depositing or to any rerecording, refiling or redepositing of any thereof, (B) to see to any insurance or (C) to see to the payment or discharge of any tax, assessment, or other governmental charge or any lien or encumbrance of any kind.

(s) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Trustee shall have no duty to prepare or file any Federal or state tax report or return with respect to any funds held pursuant to this Indenture or any income earned thereon, except for the delivery and filing of tax information reporting forms required to be delivered and filed with the Internal Revenue Service.

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 Issuers, any Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Issuers with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11 hereof.

Section 7.04 Trustees Disclaimer.

The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for either Issuer’s use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to an Issuer or upon either Issuer’s direction under any provision of this Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.

Section 7.05 Notice of Defaults.

If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to Holders a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after a Responsible Officer acquires actual knowledge or has received written notice of such Default or Event of Default unless such Default or Event of Default has been cured or waived. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.

 

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Section 7.06 Intentionally Omitted.

Section 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity.

The Issuers shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation as the Issuers and the Trustee may agree in writing for the Trustee’s acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuers shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the compensation, and reasonable disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

The Issuers and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall indemnify the Trustee and its officers, directors, employees, agents and any predecessor trustee and its officers, directors, employees and agents and hold each of the foregoing harmless against any and all losses, damages, claims, liabilities or expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel and taxes other than those based on the income of the Trustee) incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Issuers and the Guarantors (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by an Issuer, any Guarantor or any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability or expense may be attributable to its negligence or willful misconduct. The Trustee shall notify the Issuers and the Guarantors promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Issuers and the Guarantors shall not relieve the Issuers or the Guarantors of their obligations hereunder. The Issuers and the Guarantors shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Issuers and the Guarantors shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Issuers and the Guarantors need not pay for any settlement made without their consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Neither the Issuers nor the Guarantors need reimburse the Trustee for any expense or indemnity against any liability or loss of the Trustee to the extent such expense, liability or loss is attributable to the negligence or willful misconduct of the Trustee.

The obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors under this Section 7.07 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

To secure the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(i) or (j) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

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Section 7.08 Replacement of Trustee.

A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section.

The Trustee may resign in writing upon 30 days’ notice at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Issuers. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Issuers in writing and may appoint a successor trustee with the consent of the Issuers. The Issuers may remove the Trustee if:

(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;

(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

(c) a receiver, Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Issuers shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Issuers.

If a successor Trustee does not take office within 30 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee (at the Issuers’ expense), the Issuers or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a Holder for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof, such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuers. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders of the Notes. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, provided all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

 

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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 successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification.

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50.0 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

Any successor Trustee shall be required to satisfy the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(5).

Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuers.

The Trustee is subject to TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

ARTICLE 8

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 8.01 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The Issuers may, at the option of their respective Boards of Directors evidenced by a resolution set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, at any time, exercise their rights under either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof with respect to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.

Section 8.02 Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Issuers shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have discharged their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes, and each Guarantor shall be deemed to have discharged its obligations with respect to its Subsidiary Guarantee, on the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Issuers shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes, and each Guarantor shall be deemed to have paid and discharged its Subsidiary Guarantee (which in each case shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (a) and (b) below) and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Notes or Subsidiary Guarantee and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Issuers, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive

 

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solely from the trust fund described in Section 8.04 hereof, and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Notes when such payments are due, (b) the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such Notes under Sections 2.03, 2.04, 2.06, 2.07, 2.10 and 4.02 hereof and the Appendix, (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee and the Agents hereunder and the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ obligations in connection therewith and (d) the Legal Defeasance provisions of this Article 8. Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Issuers may exercise their option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof.

If the Issuers exercise their Legal Defeasance option, each Guarantor will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee, and any security for the Notes (other than the trust) will be released.

Section 8.03 Covenant Defeasance.

Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Issuers shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from their obligations under the covenants contained in Article 4 (other than those in Sections 4.01, 4.02, 4.06 and 4.14) and in clause (d) of the first paragraph of Section 5.01 hereof on and after the date the conditions set forth below 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. For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes, the Issuers and any Guarantor may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03 hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Sections 6.01(f) through 6.01(h) hereof shall not constitute Events of Default.

If the Issuers exercise their Covenant Defeasance option, each Guarantor will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee and any security for the Notes (other than the trust) will be released.

Section 8.04 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:

(a) the Issuers must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the outstanding Notes on the date of fixed maturity or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Issuers must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to the date of fixed maturity or to a particular redemption date;

 

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(b) in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that:

(1) the Issuers have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or

(2) since the Issue Date, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law,

in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

(c) in the case of an election under Section 8.03 hereof, the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

(d) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit);

(e) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;

(f) the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuers with the intent of preferring the Holders over any other creditors of the Issuers or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of the Issuers or others; and

(g) the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

 

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Section 8.05 Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.04 or 8.08 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company or any of its Subsidiaries acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Issuers shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 or 8.08 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

Anything in this Article 8 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Issuers from time to time upon the written request of the Issuers any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 or 8.08 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(a) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance or Discharge, as the case may be.

Section 8.06 Repayment to Issuers.

Subject to applicable escheat and abandoned property laws, any money or non-callable Government Securities deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by an Issuer, in trust for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Issuers on their written request or (if then held by an Issuer) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter, as an unsecured creditor, look only to the Issuers for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money or non-callable Government Securities, and all liability of the Issuers as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, shall at the written direction and expense of the Issuers cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Issuers.

 

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Section 8.07 Reinstatement.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.05 hereof, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Issuers’ obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.05 hereof; provided, however, that, if an Issuer makes any payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, such Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

Section 8.08 Discharge.

This Indenture shall be satisfied and discharged and shall cease to be of further effect as to all Notes issued hereunder (except for (a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive solely from the trust fund described in clause (1)(b) of this Section 8.08, and as more fully set forth in such clause (1)(b), payments in respect of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Notes when such payments are due, (b) the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such Notes under Sections 2.03, 2.04, 2.06, 2.07, 2.10 and 4.02 hereof and the Appendix and (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee and the Agents hereunder and the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ obligations in connection therewith), when:

(1) either:

(a) 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 and thereafter repaid to the Issuers, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(b) all Notes that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable or will become due and payable within one year by reason of the mailing of a notice of redemption or otherwise, and the Issuers or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable Government Securities, in amounts 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 for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of fixed maturity or redemption (provided that if such redemption is made as provided in Section 3.07(c), (x) the amount of cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, that must be irrevocably deposited will be determined using an assumed Make Whole Premium calculated as of the date of such deposit and (y) the depositor must irrevocably deposit or cause to be deposited additional money in trust on the redemption date as necessary to pay the Make Whole Premium as determined by such date);

(2) the Issuers or any Guarantor have paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under this Indenture;

 

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(3) the Issuers have delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at fixed maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be; and

(4) the Issuers have delivered an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture (“Discharge”) have been satisfied.

ARTICLE 9

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders.

Notwithstanding Section 9.02 of this Indenture, the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Notes without the consent of any Holder:

(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

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

(c) to provide for the assumption of an Issuer’s obligations to the Holders pursuant to Article 5 hereof;

(d) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights hereunder of any Holder, provided that any change to conform this Indenture to the Offering Memorandum shall not be deemed to adversely affect the legal rights hereunder of any Holder;

(e) to secure the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees pursuant to the requirements of Section 4.12 or otherwise;

(f) to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in this Indenture;

(g) to conform the text of this Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees to any provision of the “Description of Notes” section of the Offering Memorandum to the extent that such text of this Indenture or such Subsidiary Guarantee was intended to reflect such provision of such “Description of Notes” as evidenced in an Officers’ Certificate;

(h) to add any additional Guarantor with respect to the Notes or to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with Article 10 hereof;

(i) to evidence or provide for the acceptance of appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee; or

 

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(j) to provide for the reorganization of the Company as any other form of entity, in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.01.

Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 9.05 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Issuers and the Guarantors in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Section 9.02 With Consent of Holders.

Except as provided above in Section 9.01 and below in this Section 9.02, the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture and the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes), and, subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, tender offer or exchange offer for Notes). However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

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

(b) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or alter any of the provisions with respect to the redemption or repurchase of the Notes (other than Sections 3.09, 4.10 and 4.15 hereof);

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

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

(e) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the Notes;

(f) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or Events of Default or the rights of Holders to receive payments of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes (except as permitted in clause (g) below) (it being understood that changes to covenants or definitions or other actions that do not expressly change provisions of the Notes or this Indenture providing for payments of principal, interest or premium, if any, will not be deemed for any purpose in this Indenture or the Notes to change or impair the rights of Holders to receive payments of principal, interest or premium, if any, on the Notes);

 

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(g) waive a redemption or repurchase payment with respect to any Note (other than a payment required by Sections 3.09, 4.10 and 4.15 hereof);

(h) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee or this Indenture, except in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; or

(i) make any change in the preceding amendment, supplement and waiver provisions.

Upon the request of the Issuers accompanied by Board Resolutions authorizing their execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 9.05 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Issuers and the Guarantors in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture, unless such amended or supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders 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.

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

Section 9.03 Effect of Consents.

After an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder, unless it makes a change described in any of clauses (a) through (i) of Section 9.02, 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 indebtedness as the consenting Holder’s Note.

Section 9.04 Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Issuers, in exchange for all Notes, may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

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Section 9.05 Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.

The Trustee shall sign any amended or supplemental indenture authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. In executing any amended or supplemental indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that all conditions precedent are satisfied.

ARTICLE 10

GUARANTEES OF NOTES

Section 10.01 Subsidiary Guarantees.

Subject to this Article 10, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally guarantees, on a senior unsecured basis, to each Holder 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 held thereby and the Obligations of the Issuers hereunder and thereunder, that: (a) the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, upon repurchase or redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and premium, if any, (to the extent permitted by law) interest on the Notes, and all other payment Obligations of the Issuers to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder will be promptly paid in full and performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other Obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, upon repurchase or redemption or otherwise. Failing payment when so due of any amount so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. An Event of Default under this Indenture or the Notes shall constitute an event of default under the Subsidiary Guarantees, and shall entitle the Holders to accelerate the obligations of the Guarantors hereunder in the same manner and to the same extent as the Obligations of the Issuers.

The Guarantors hereby agree that their 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, the recovery of any judgment against an Issuer, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance (other than complete performance) which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a Guarantor. Each Guarantor further, to the extent permitted by law, hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of an Issuer, any right to require a proceeding first against an Issuer, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that its Subsidiary Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the Obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture.

If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to an Issuer, the Guarantors, or any Custodian, Trustee or other similar official acting in relation to any of the Issuers or the Guarantors, any amount paid by an Issuer or any Guarantor to the Trustee or such Holder, the Subsidiary Guarantees, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect. Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to, and hereby waives, any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any Obligations guaranteed hereby.

 

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Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (a) the maturity of the Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 hereof for the purposes of its Subsidiary Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Obligations guaranteed thereby, and (b) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such Obligations as provided in Article 6 hereof, such Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantor for the purpose of its Subsidiary Guarantee. The Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Subsidiary Guarantees.

Section 10.02 [Reserved].

Section 10.03 Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.

(a) No Guarantor shall consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person), another Person (other than the Company or another Guarantor), unless, (i) either (1) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company or a Guarantor) unconditionally assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor, pursuant to a supplemental indenture, substantially in the form of Annex A hereto, under the Notes, this Indenture and its Subsidiary Guarantee on terms set forth therein, or (2) such transaction is permitted by the provisions of Section 4.10, and (ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists.

(b) In the case of any such consolidation or merger and upon the assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and substantially in the form of Annex A hereto, of the Subsidiary Guarantee and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants of this Indenture to be performed by the Guarantor, such successor Person shall succeed to and be substituted for the Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named herein as a Guarantor.

Section 10.04 Releases of Subsidiary Guarantees.

The Subsidiary Guarantee of a Guarantor shall be released: (1) in connection with any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of such Guarantor (including by way of merger or consolidation) to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, if the sale or other disposition does not violate the provisions of Section 4.10; (2) in connection with any sale or other disposition of Capital Stock of such Guarantor to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, if the sale or other disposition does not violate the provisions of Section 4.10 and the Guarantor ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as a result of the sale or other disposition; (3) if the Company designates such Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 4.18 of this Indenture; (4) upon Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance or Discharge in

 

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accordance with Article 8; (5) upon the liquidation or dissolution of such Guarantor, provided no Default or Event of Default has occurred that is continuing; or (6) at such time as such Guarantor ceases to both (x) guarantee any other Indebtedness of either of the Issuers and any other Guarantor and (y) to be an obligor with respect to any Indebtedness under a Credit Facility.

Upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that any of the conditions described in the foregoing clauses (1) through (6) has occurred, the Trustee, at the Company’s written request and expense, shall execute any documents reasonably requested by the Company in order to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee. Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and for the other obligations of such Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in this Article 10.

Section 10.05 Execution and Delivery of Guaranty.

The execution by each Guarantor of this Indenture (or a Supplemental Indenture) evidences the Subsidiary Guaranty of such Guarantor, whether or not the person signing as an officer of the Guarantor still holds that office at the time of authentication of any Note. The delivery of any Note by the Trustee after authentication constitutes due delivery of the Subsidiary Guaranty set forth in this Indenture on behalf of each Guarantor.

Section 10.06 Limitation on Guarantor Liability.

The obligations of each Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee will be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under this Indenture, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal or state law and not otherwise being void or voidable under any similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

ARTICLE 11

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 11.01 [Reserved].

Section 11.02 Notices.

Any notice or communication by an Issuer, any Guarantor or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing (in the English language) and delivered in person or mailed by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

 

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If to any of the Issuers or the Guarantors:

Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P.

2780 Waterfront Pkwy E. Drive, Suite 200

Indianapolis, Indiana 46214

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Telecopier No: (317) 328-5668

with a copy (not constituting notice) to:

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

811 Main Street, Suite 3000

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention: Hillary H. Holmes

Telecopier No: (346) 718-6902

If to the Trustee:

Wilmington Trust, National Association

Global Capital Markets

50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402

Attention: Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P. Administrator

Telecopier No: (612) 217-5651

An Issuer, any of the Guarantors or the Trustee, by notice to the others, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery in each case to the address shown above, provided that any notice or communication delivered to the Trustee shall be deemed effective upon actual receipt thereof.

Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar, or in any case where DTC or its nominee is the Holder, any notice or communication shall be given in accordance with DTC’s applicable procedures. Failure to give a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

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

If either of the Issuers gives a notice or communication to Holders, it shall give a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

 

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Section 11.03 Intentionally Omitted.

Section 11.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

Upon any request or application by an Issuer or any of the Guarantors to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, such Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee:

(a) an Officers’ Certificate in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 11.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

(b) Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 11.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.

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 shall include:

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

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

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

(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been satisfied.

Section 11.06 Rules by Trustee and Agents.

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Trustee, the Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

 

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Section 11.07 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Unitholders.

None of the General Partner or any past, present or future director, officer, partner, employee, incorporator, manager or unitholder or other owner of Capital Stock of the General Partner, the Issuers or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers or any Guarantor under the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees or this Indenture, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

Section 11.08 Governing Law.

THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES SHALL 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 any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

Section 11.10 Successors.

All agreements of the Issuers and the Guarantors in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind their respective successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.

Section 11.11 Severability.

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

Section 11.12 Table of Contents, Headings, etc.

The Table of Contents and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

Section 11.13 Counterparts.

The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture, and each party hereto may sign any number of separate copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, telecopier, other electronic transmission (i.e., a “pdf” or “tif”), or electronic mail (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other Applicable Law, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes, and which shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart thereof.

 

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Section 11.14 Acts of Holders.

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by the Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agents duly appointed in writing, and may be given or obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, outstanding Notes; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Issuers if made in the manner provided in this Section 11.14.

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

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 11.14, the principal amount and serial numbers of Notes held by any Holder, and the date of holding the same, shall be proved by the register of the Notes maintained by the Registrar as provided in Section 2.03.

(d) If the Issuers shall solicit from the Holders of the Notes any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Issuers may, at their option, by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, but the Issuers shall have no obligation to do so. Such record date shall be the record date specified in or pursuant to such Board Resolution, which shall be a date not earlier than the date 30 days prior to the first solicitation of Holders generally in connection therewith or the date of the most recent list of Holders forwarded to the Trustee prior to such solicitation pursuant to Section 2.05 and not later than the

 

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date such solicitation is completed. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of the then outstanding Notes have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the then outstanding Notes shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders on such record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than eleven months after the record date.

(e) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Note shall bind every future Holder of the same Note and the Holder of every Note issued upon the registration or transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or an Issuer in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Note.

(f) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Note may do so itself with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Note or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount.

(g) For purposes of this Indenture, any action by the Holders that may be taken in writing may be taken by electronic means in writing through portable document format (.pdf) or as otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

Section 11.15 Patriot Act. The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information within their possession or control as it may reasonably request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act.

Section 11.16 Submission to Jurisdiction. The parties hereby (i) irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of any federal or state court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, the city of New York, (ii) waive any objection to laying of venue in any such action or proceeding in such courts, and (iii) waive any objection that such courts are an inconvenient forum or do not have jurisdiction over any party.

Section 11.17 Waiver of Trial by Jury. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS INDENTURE.

 

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Section 11.18 Entire Agreement. This Indenture and the exhibits hereto set forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties related to this transaction and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written.

 

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SIGNATURES:  
CALUMET SPECIALTY PRODUCTS PARTNERS, L.P.
By:   Calumet GP, LLC, its general partner
        By:   /s/ L. Todd Borgmann
  Name: L. Todd Borgmann
  Title: Executive Vice President and Chief           Financial Officer
CALUMET FINANCE CORP.
        By:   /s/ L. Todd Borgmann
  Name: L. Todd Borgmann
  Title: Executive Vice President and Chief           Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to Indenture


GUARANTORS:  
CALUMET OPERATING, LLC
CALUMET REFINING, LLC
CALUMET PRINCETON REFINING, LLC
CALUMET COTTON VALLEY REFINING, LLC
CALUMET SHREVEPORT REFINING, LLC
CALUMET MONTANA REFINING, LLC
CALUMET MISSOURI, LLC
CALUMET KARNS CITY REFINING, LLC
CALUMET DICKINSON REFINING, LLC
CALUMET BRANDED PRODUCTS, LLC
BEL-RAY COMPANY, LLC
CALUMET INTERNATIONAL, INC.
KURLIN COMPANY, LLC
CALUMET MEXICO, LLC
CALUMET SPECIALTY PRODUCTS CANADA, ULC
        By:   /s/ L. Todd Borgmann
  Name: L. Todd Borgmann
 

Title: Executive Vice President and

          Chief Financial Officer

CALUMET SPECIALTY OILS DE MEXICO, S. DE R.L. DE C.V.
        By:   /s/ L. Todd Borgmann
  Name: L. Todd Borgmann
 

Title: Executive Vice-President and

          Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to Indenture


WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

 

By:   /s/ Jane Schweiger
  Name: Jane Schweiger
  Title: Vice President

 

Signature Page to Indenture


1. Definitions

1.1 Definitions.

For the purposes of this Appendix the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:

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

“Initial Purchasers” means (1) with respect to the Initial Notes, BofA Securities, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Barclays Capital Inc., Regions Securities LLC, PNC Capital Markets LLC, BMO Capital Markets Corp. and U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. and (2) with respect to each issuance of Additional Notes, the Persons purchasing such Additional Notes under the related Purchase Agreement.

“Notes Custodian” means the custodian with respect to a Global Note (as appointed by the Depository), or any successor Person thereto and shall initially be the Trustee.

“Purchase Agreement” means (1) with respect to the Initial Notes, the Purchase Agreement, dated January 12, 2022, among the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers, and (2) with respect to each issuance of Additional Notes, the purchase agreement or underwriting agreement among the Issuers and the Persons purchasing such Additional Notes.

“Transfer Restricted Securities” means Notes that bear or are required to bear the legend set forth in Section 2.3(b) hereof.

1.2 Other Definitions.

 

Term

   Defined in Section:  
“Agent Members”      2.1 (b) 
“Distribution Compliance Period”      2.1 (b) 
“Global Note”      2.1 (a) 
“Regulation S”      2.1 (a) 
“Regulation S Notes”      2.1 (a) 
“Restricted Global Note”      2.1 (a) 
“Restricted Notes”      2.1 (a) 
“Rule 144A”      2.1 (a) 
“Rule 144A Notes”      2.1 (a) 
“Unrestricted Global Note”      2.1 (a) 
“Unrestricted Notes”      2.1 (a) 

2. The Notes.

2.1 (a) Form and Dating. Notes offered and sold to QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A (“Rule 144A Notes”) under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”) or in reliance on Regulation S (“Regulation S Notes” and, together with Rule 144A Notes, “Restricted Notes”) under the Securities Act (“Regulation S”), in each case as provided in a Purchase Agreement, shall be issued

 

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initially in the form of one or more permanent Global Notes in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons with the Global Notes legend and restricted Notes legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto (each, a “Restricted Global Note”), which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with the Notes Custodian, and registered in the name of the Depository or a nominee of the Depository, duly executed by the Issuers and authenticated, upon receipt of a Company Order by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. Beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note representing Notes sold in reliance on either Rule 144A or Regulation S may be held through Euroclear or Clearstream, as indirect participants in the Depository. Notes that are not required to bear the restricted Notes legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto (“Unrestricted Notes”) shall be issued in global form with the Global Notes legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto (each, an “Unrestricted Global Note”) or in certificated form as provided in Section 2.4 of this Appendix. The aggregate principal amount of the Global Notes may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depository or its nominee as hereinafter provided. Restricted Global Notes and Unrestricted Global Notes are sometimes referred to herein as “Global Notes.”

(b) Book-Entry Provisions. This Section 2.1(b) shall apply only to a Global Note deposited with or on behalf of the Depository.

The Issuers shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section 2.1(b), authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global Notes that (a) shall be registered in the name of the Depository for such Global Note or Global Notes or the nominee of such Depository and (b) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depository or pursuant to such Depository’s instructions or held by the Trustee as Notes Custodian for the Depository. If such Global Notes are Restricted Global Notes, then separate Global Notes shall be issued to represent Rule 144A Notes and Regulation S Notes so long as required by law or the Depository.

Members of, or participants in, the Depository (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depository or by the Notes Custodian or under such Global Note, and the Issuers, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuers or the Trustee shall be entitled to treat the Holder as the absolute owner of such Global Note for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Issuers, the Trustee or any agent of the Issuers or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depository or impair, as between the Depository and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices of such Depository governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Note.

Until the 40th day after the later of the commencement of the offering of any Restricted Notes and the original issue date of such Restricted Notes (such period, the “Distribution Compliance Period”), a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note representing Regulation S

Notes may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in a Restricted Global Note representing Rule 144A Notes only if the transferor first delivers to the Trustee a written certificate (in the form provided in Exhibit 1 hereto) to the effect that such transfer is being made to a Person who the transferor reasonably believes is purchasing for its own account or accounts as to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that such Person is a QIB, in each case in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States or any other jurisdiction. After the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, such certification requirements shall not apply to such transfers of beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note representing Regulation S Notes.

 

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Beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note representing Rule 144A Notes may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in a Restricted Global Note representing Regulation S Notes, whether before or after the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, only if the transferor first delivers to the Trustee a written certificate (in the form provided in Exhibit 1 hereto) to the effect that such transfer is being made in accordance with Rule 904 of Regulation S or Rule 144 (if available).

(c) Certificated Notes. Except as provided in Section 2.3 or 2.4, owners of beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes shall not be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated Notes. Certificated Notes shall not be exchangeable for beneficial interests in Global Notes, except with the consent of the Company.

2.2 Authentication. The Trustee shall authenticate and deliver: (1) on the Issue Date, an aggregate principal amount of $325.0 million Initial Notes and (2) any Additional Notes for an original issue in an aggregate principal amount specified in the written order of the Issuers pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Indenture. Such order shall specify the amount of the Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated and to whom the Notes shall be registered and delivered and, in the case of any issuance of Additional Notes pursuant to Section 2.14 of the Indenture, shall certify that such issuance is in compliance with Section 4.09 of the Indenture.

2.3 Transfer and Exchange.

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes.

(i) The transfer and exchange of Global Notes or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the Depository, in accordance with this Indenture (including applicable restrictions on transfer set forth herein, if any) and the Applicable Procedures of the Depository therefor. A transferor of a beneficial interest in a Global Note shall deliver to the Registrar a written order given in accordance with the Depository’s procedures containing information regarding the participant account of the Depository to be credited with a beneficial interest in the Global Note. The Registrar shall, in accordance with such instructions cause to be credited to the account of the Person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in the Global Note and to debit the account of the Person making the transfer the beneficial interest in the Global Note being transferred.

(ii) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Appendix, a Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depository to a nominee of the Depository or by a nominee of the Depository to the Depository or another nominee of the Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such successor Depository.

 

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(iii) In the event that a Restricted Global Note is exchanged for Notes in certificated form pursuant to Section 2.4 of this Appendix, such Notes may be exchanged only in accordance with such procedures as are substantially consistent with the provisions of this Section 2.3 (including the certification requirements set forth on the reverse of the Restricted Notes intended to ensure that such transfers comply with Rule 144A or Regulation S, as the case may be) and such other procedures as may from time to time be adopted by the Company.

(b) Legends.

(i) Except as permitted by the following paragraph (ii), each Note certificate evidencing the Restricted Global Notes (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED, OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, SELL, OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS ONE YEAR (IN THE CASE OF RULE 144A SECURITIES) AFTER THE LATER OF THE ISSUE DATE OF THE NOTES INITIALLY ISSUED OR THE ISSUANCE DATE OF ANY ADDITIONAL NOTES ISSUED UNDER THE INDENTURE AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH AN ISSUER OR ANY AFFILIATE OF AN ISSUER WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY) OR 40 DAYS (IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S SECURITIES), ONLY (A) TO AN ISSUER, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3), OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR ACQUIRING THE SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, IN EACH CASE IN A MINIMUM PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

 

App - 4


OF THE SECURITIES OF $250,000, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE ISSUERS’ AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE, OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D), (E), OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION, AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THE HOLDER AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS NOTE OR AN INTEREST HEREIN IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER OR AN ISSUER ON OR AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.

BY ITS ACQUISITION AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY, THE HOLDER THEREOF WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED, WARRANTED AND AGREED THAT EITHER (I) NO PORTION OF THE ASSETS USED BY SUCH HOLDER TO ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY (OR ANY INTEREST IN THIS SECURITY) CONSTITUTES THE ASSETS OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN SUBJECT TO THE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS OF TITLE I OF ERISA, OF A PLAN, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”), A GOVERNMENTAL, CHURCH, NON-U.S., OR OTHER PLAN WHICH IS SUBJECT TO ANY FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER LAWS OR REGULATIONS THAT ARE SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR TO SUCH PROVISIONS OF ERISA OR THE CODE (“SIMILAR LAWS”), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” BY REASON OF SUCH PLAN’S, ACCOUNT’S OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT’S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, OR (II) THE ACQUISITION, HOLDING AND DISPOSITION OF THIS SECURITY WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR, IN THE CASE OF A PLAN THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE, A SIMILAR VIOLATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAWS.

IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS THAT IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON NOR IS IT PURCHASING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

(ii) The Company, acting in its discretion, may remove the legend set forth in paragraph (i) above from any Transfer Restricted Security at any time on or after the Resale Restriction Termination Date applicable to such Transfer Restricted Security so long as the Applicable Procedures are satisfied. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, the Company may effect such removal by issuing and delivering, in exchange for

 

App - 5


such Transfer Restricted Security, a Note without such legend, registered to the same Holder and in an equal principal amount, and upon receipt of a written order of the Company given at least three Business Days in advance of the proposed date of exchange specified therein (which shall be no earlier than the Resale Restriction Termination Date), the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Note as directed in such Company Order.

(c) Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Note. At such time as all beneficial interests in a Global Note have either been exchanged for certificated Notes, redeemed, purchased or canceled, such Global Note shall be returned to the Trustee for cancellation or retained and canceled by the Trustee. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for certificated Notes, redeemed, purchased or canceled, or if any certificated Note is exchanged for such a beneficial interest, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced or increased, as appropriate, and an adjustment shall be made on the books and records of the Trustee (if it is then the Notes Custodian for such Global Note) with respect to such Global Note, by the Trustee or the Notes Custodian, to reflect such reduction or increase, as the case may be.

(d) Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Notes.

(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuers shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate certificated Notes and Global Notes.

(ii) No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuers may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax, assessments or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 3.06, 4.10, 4.15 and 9.04 and of the Indenture).

(iii) The Registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of or exchange of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, it need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed.

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

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

 

App - 6


(e) No Obligation of the Trustee or any Agent.

(i) Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have any responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Note, a member of, or a participant in the Depository or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depository or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Notes or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depository) of any notice (including any notice of optional redemption) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Notes. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders under the Notes shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holders (which shall be the Depository or its nominee in the case of a Global Note). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Note shall be exercised only through the Depository subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository. The Trustee and the Agents may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depository with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.

(ii) Neither the Trustee nor the Registrar shall have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under Applicable Law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depository participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

2.4 Certificated Notes.

(a) A Global Note deposited with the Depository or with the Notes Custodian pursuant to Section 2.1 shall be transferred to the beneficial owners thereof in the form of certificated Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Note, in exchange for such Global Note, only if such transfer complies with Section 2.3 and (i) the Depository notifies the Issuers that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository for such Global Note or if at any time such Depository ceases to be a “clearing agency” registered under the Exchange Act and in either event a successor depositary is not appointed by the Issuers within 90 days, or (ii) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and DTC notifies the Trustee of its decision to exchange the Global Notes. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, and notwithstanding any contrary indication in Section 2.3(b), beneficial interests in a Global Note may be exchanged for certificated Notes only with the consent of the Company, including if an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company acquires such interests.

(b) Any Global Note that is transferable to the beneficial owners thereof pursuant to this Section shall be surrendered by the Depository or the Notes Custodian to the Trustee located at its Corporate Trust Office to be so transferred, in whole or from time to time in part, without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, upon such transfer of each portion of such Global Note, an equal aggregate principal amount of certificated Notes of authorized denominations. Any portion of a Global Note transferred pursuant to this Section shall be

 

App - 7


executed, authenticated and delivered only in minimum denominations of $2,000 principal amount and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000 and registered in such names as the Depository shall direct. Any certificated Note delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Note shall, except as otherwise provided by Section 2.3(b), bear the restricted Notes legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto.

(c) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.4(b), the Holder of a Global Note shall be entitled to grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Notes.

(d) In the event of the occurrence of any of the circumstances specified in Section 2.4(a), the Issuers shall promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of certificated Notes in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons.

 

App - 8


[FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]

[Global Notes Legend]

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO AN ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC) ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

[Restricted Notes Legend]

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED, OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, SELL, OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS ONE YEAR (IN THE CASE OF RULE 144A SECURITIES) AFTER THE LATER OF THE ISSUE DATE OF THE NOTES INITIALLY ISSUED OR THE ISSUANCE DATE OF ANY ADDITIONAL NOTES ISSUED UNDER THE INDENTURE AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH AN ISSUER OR ANY AFFILIATE OF AN ISSUER WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY) OR 40 DAYS (IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S SECURITIES), ONLY (A) TO AN ISSUER, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN

 

Ex. 1 to App - 1


RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3), OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR ACQUIRING THE SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, IN EACH CASE IN A MINIMUM PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THE SECURITIES OF $250,000, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE ISSUERS’ AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE, OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D), (E), OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION, AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THE HOLDER AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS NOTE OR AN INTEREST HEREIN IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER OR AN ISSUER ON OR AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.

BY ITS ACQUISITION AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY, THE HOLDER THEREOF WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED, WARRANTED AND AGREED THAT EITHER (I) NO PORTION OF THE ASSETS USED BY SUCH HOLDER TO ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY (OR ANY INTEREST IN THIS SECURITY) CONSTITUTES THE ASSETS OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN SUBJECT TO THE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS OF TITLE I OF ERISA, OF A PLAN, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”), A GOVERNMENTAL, CHURCH, NON-U.S., OR OTHER PLAN WHICH IS SUBJECT TO ANY FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER LAWS OR REGULATIONS THAT ARE SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR TO SUCH PROVISIONS OF ERISA OR THE CODE (“SIMILAR LAWS”), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” BY REASON OF SUCH PLAN’S, ACCOUNT’S OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT’S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, OR (II) THE ACQUISITION, HOLDING AND DISPOSITION OF THIS SECURITY WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A NONEXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR, IN THE CASE OF A PLAN THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE, A SIMILAR VIOLATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAWS.

IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS THAT IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON NOR IS IT PURCHASING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

Ex. 1 to App - 2


CALUMET SPECIALTY PRODUCTS PARTNERS, L.P.

CALUMET FINANCE CORP.

 

No.                $                    
   CUSIP No.
   ISIN No.

8.125% Senior Note due 2027

Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and Calumet Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation, jointly and severally promise to pay to _____________, or registered assigns, the principal sum of ________ Dollars on January 15, 2027 [or such greater or lesser amount as may be indicated on Schedule A hereto].1

Interest Payment Dates: January 15 and July 15.

Record Dates: January 1 and July 1.

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.

 

CALUMET SPECIALTY PRODUCTS PARTNERS, L.P.
By: Calumet GP, LLC, its general partner
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
CALUMET FINANCE CORP.
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

1 

If this Note is a Global Note, add this provision.

 

Ex. 1 to App - 3


TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF

AUTHENTICATION

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Notes referred to in the Indenture.

By:    
  Authorized Signatory
Dated:  

 

Ex. 1 to App - 4


[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF NOTE]

8.125% Senior Note due 2027

Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

1. Interest. Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Company”), and Calumet Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation ( “Finance Corp.” and, together with the Company, the “Issuers”), jointly and severally promise to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of this Note at 8.125% per annum. The Issuers will pay interest semiannually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year, commencing July 15, 2022, 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 or Event of 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, except in the case of the original issuance of Notes, in which case interest shall accrue from the date of authentication. The Issuers 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 at a rate that is the rate then in effect; they 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.

2. Method of Payment. The Issuers will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders at the close of business on the January 1 or July 1 next preceding the Interest Payment Date (each a “Record Date”), even if such Notes are cancelled after such Record Date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. Holders must surrender Notes to the Paying Agent to collect payments of principal and premium, if any, together with accrued and unpaid interest due at maturity. The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium, if any, and interest at the office or agency of the Issuers maintained for such purpose, or, at the option of the Issuers, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders, and provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to any amounts due on all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Issuers and the Paying Agent. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, Wilmington Trust, 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 of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

 

Ex. 1 to App - 5


4. Indenture. The Issuers issued the Notes under an Indenture, dated as of January 20, 2022 (“Indenture”), among the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture for a statement of such terms. The Notes are unsecured senior obligations of the Issuers limited to $325.0 million aggregate principal amount in the case of Notes issued on the Issue Date (as defined in the Indenture), subject to the Issuers’ right to issue Additional Notes as provided in the Indenture.

5. Optional Redemption.

(a) On or after January 15, 2024, the Issuers shall have the option on any one or more occasions to redeem the Notes, in whole or in part at any time, upon prior notice as set forth in Paragraph 8, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the redemption date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on January 15 of the years indicated below:

 

YEAR

  

PERCENTAGE

2024

   104.063%

2025

   102.031%

2026 and thereafter

   100.000%

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph 5, at any time prior to January 15, 2024, the Issuers may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes (including any Additional Notes) issued under the Indenture at a redemption price of 108.125% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the redemption date), in an amount not greater than the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings; provided that (i) at least 60% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes (including any Additional Notes) issued under the Indenture remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption (excluding any Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries) and (ii) each such redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of the closing of each such Equity Offering.

(c) Prior to January 15, 2024, the Issuers may on any one or more occasions redeem all or part of the Notes, at a redemption price equal to the sum of (1) 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus (2) accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the redemption date), plus (3) the Make Whole Premium at the redemption date.

(d) The Notes may also be redeemed, as a whole, following certain Change of Control Offers or Alternate Offers, at the redemption price and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.15 of the Indenture.

 

Ex. 1 to App - 6


6. No Mandatory Redemption or Sinking Fund.

Except as set forth in Paragraph 7 below, neither of the Issuers shall be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes or to repurchase the Notes at the option of the Holders.

7. Repurchase at Option of Holder.

(a) Except as provided in the Indenture, no later than 30 days following the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, unless the Issuers have previously or concurrently exercised their right to redeem all of the Notes as described in paragraph 5 above, the Company shall make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer”) to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000) of each Holder’s Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% (or, at the Company’s election, a higher percentage) of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of settlement (the “Change of Control Settlement Date”), subject to the right of Holders on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the Change of Control Settlement Date. Except as provided in the Indenture, no later than 30 days following a Change of Control Triggering Event, unless the Issuers have previously or concurrently exercised their right to redeem all of the Notes as described in paragraph 5 above, the Company shall mail a notice of the Change of Control Offer to each Holder and the Trustee describing the transaction that constitutes the Change of Control Triggering Event and setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as required by Section 4.15 of the Indenture.

(b) On the 361st day (as such period may be extended) after an Asset Sale, if the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds then exceeds $50.0 million, the Company shall commence an offer to all Holders (an “Asset Sale Offer”) pursuant to Section 3.09 of the Indenture, and to all holders of any Pari Passu Indebtedness then outstanding, to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and such Pari Passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds, at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to the date of settlement, subject to the right of Holders on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the Settlement Date, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company may use such remaining Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders thereof and Pari Passu Indebtedness surrendered by holders or lenders, collectively, exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Trustee so that only Notes in minimum denominations of $2,000, or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000, shall be purchased) on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of tendered Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness. Holders that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive an Asset Sale Offer from the Company prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Notes.

 

Ex. 1 to App - 7


8. Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption will be mailed at least 10 days but not more than 60 days (except as otherwise provided in the Indenture if the notice is issued in connection with a Legal Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance or Discharge) before the redemption date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address. Notices of redemption may specify one or more conditions precedent, as provided in the Indenture. If mailed in the manner provided for in Section 3.03 of the Indenture, the notice of optional redemption shall be conclusively presumed to have been given whether or not a Holder receives such notice. Failure to give timely notice or any defect in the notice shall not affect the validity of the redemption. Notes in minimum denominations larger than $2,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed. On and after the redemption date interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

9. Guarantees. The payment by the Issuers of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Notes is fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several senior unsecured basis by each of the Guarantors to the extent set forth in the Indenture.

10. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. 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 due on transfer or exchange. The Issuers need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, they need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed.

11. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

12. Amendment, Supplement and Waiver. Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, and any existing default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes. Without the consent of any Holder, the Indenture or the Notes may be amended or supplemented as provided in the Indenture.

13. Defaults and Remedies. The Notes are subject to certain Events of Default as provided in the Indenture. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, by notice to the Issuers, or the Holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, by notice to the Issuers and the Trustee, may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the preceding, in the case of an Event of Default arising from such events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization described in Section 6.01(i) or 6.01(j) of the Indenture, 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 principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power conferred on it. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest) if it determines

 

Ex. 1 to App - 8


that withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes. The Issuers are required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Issuers are required upon certain Officers becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default, its status and the action the Issuers are taking or propose to take with respect thereto.

14. Defeasance and Discharge. The Notes are subject to defeasance and discharge upon the terms and conditions specified in the Indenture.

15. No Recourse Against Others. None of the General Partner or any past, present or future director, officer, partner, employee, incorporator, manager or unitholder or other owner of Capital Stock of the General Partner, the Issuers or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers or any Guarantor under the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees or the Indenture, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.

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

17. Abbreviations. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

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

19. Governing Law. THE INDENTURE AND THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

20. Successors. In the event a successor assumes all the obligations of an Issuer under the Notes and the Indenture, pursuant to the terms thereof, such Issuer will be released from all such obligations.

 

Ex. 1 to App - 9


The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to:

Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P. 2780 Waterfront Pkwy E. Drive, Suite 200 Indianapolis, Indiana 46214 Attention: Chief Financial Officer

 

Ex. 1 to App - 10


ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Note to

 

 

Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

 

(Insert assignee’s Soc. Sec. or tax I.D. No.)

and irrevocably appoint ____________________ agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuers. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Date:         Your Signature:    
        Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.

 

Signature Guarantee:
 

 

(Signature must be guaranteed)

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.

In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to one year after the later of the date of original issuance of such Notes (or the date of any subsequent reopening of the Notes) and the last date, if any, on which such Notes were owned by an Issuer or any Affiliate of an Issuer (or, in the case of Regulation S Notes, prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period), the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

 

(1)

  

   to an Issuer; or

(2)

  

   pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933; or

(3)

  

   to a person who the undersigned reasonably believes is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933) that is purchasing for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933; or

 

Ex. 1 to App - 11


(4)

  

   outside the United States in an offshore transaction within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act in compliance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act of 1933; or

(5)

  

   pursuant to another available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933.

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any person other than the registered holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (4) or (5) is checked, the Trustee shall be entitled to require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, such as the exemption provided by Rule 144 under such Act.

 

 

 

Signature

 

Ex. 1 to App - 12


TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (3) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Issuers and any Guarantors as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

Dated: ___________________

 

 

Notice: To be executed by an executive officer

 

Ex. 1 to App - 13


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.15 of the Indenture, check the box below:

☐ Section 4.10                                                             ☐ Section 4.15

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased pursuant to Section 4.15 of the Indenture, state the amount (in minimum denomination of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000) you elect to have purchased: $ __________

Date: _____________________                                Your Signature: ___________________________________________________

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

Soc. Sec. or Tax Identification No.: ________________

Signature Guarantee: _______________________________

                                    (Signature must be guaranteed)

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.

 

Ex. 1 to App - 14


[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL NOTE]

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE

The following increases or decreases in this Global Note have been made:

 

Date

  

Amount of
decrease in

Principal
Amount of this
Global Note

  

Amount of
increase in
Principal
Amount of this
Global Note

  

Principal
Amount of this
Global Note
following such
decrease or
increase

  

Signature of
authorized
officer of
Trustee or Notes
Custodian

 

 

Ex. 1 to App - 15


ANNEX A

 

 

CALUMET SPECIALTY PRODUCTS PARTNERS, L.P.

CALUMET FINANCE CORP.

and

the Guarantors named herein

 

 

8.125% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2027

 

 

FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

AND AMENDMENT — SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE

DATED AS OF ____________ __, _

 

 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

A-1


This SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of ________, ___ ___, is among Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Company”), Calumet Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation ( “Finance Corp.” and, together with the Company, the “Issuers”), each of the parties identified under the caption “Guarantors” on the signature page hereto (the “Guarantors”) and Wilmington Trust, National Association, a national banking association, as Trustee.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Issuers, the initial Guarantors and the Trustee entered into an Indenture, dated as of January 20, 2022 (the “Indenture”), pursuant to which the Company has issued $_______ in the aggregate principal amount of 8.125% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, Section 9.01(g) of the Indenture provides that the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture in order to comply with Section 4.13 or 10.03 thereof, without the consent of the Holders of the Notes; and

WHEREAS, all acts and things prescribed by the Indenture, by law and by the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws (or comparable constituent documents) of the Issuers, of the Guarantors and of the Trustee necessary to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid instrument legally binding on the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee, in accordance with its terms, have been duly done and performed;

NOW, THEREFORE, to comply with the provisions of the Indenture and in consideration of the above premises, the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee covenant and agree for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective Holders of the Notes as follows:

ARTICLE 1

Section 1.01 This Supplemental Indenture is supplemental to the Indenture and does and shall be deemed to form a part of, and shall be construed in connection with and as part of, the Indenture for any and all purposes.

Section 1.02 This Supplemental Indenture shall become effective immediately upon its execution and delivery by each of the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee.

ARTICLE 2

From this date, in accordance with Section 4.13 or 10.03 and by executing this Supplemental Indenture, the Guarantors whose signatures appear below are subject to the provisions of the Indenture to the extent provided for in Article 10 thereunder.

ARTICLE 3

Section 3.01 Except as specifically modified herein, the Indenture and the Notes are in all respects ratified and confirmed (mutatis mutandis) and shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with their terms with all capitalized terms used herein without definition having the same respective meanings ascribed to them as in the Indenture.

 

A-2


Section 3.02 Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no duties, responsibilities or liabilities are assumed, or shall be construed to be assumed, by the Trustee by reason of this Supplemental Indenture. This Supplemental Indenture is executed and accepted by the Trustee subject to all the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture with the same force and effect as if those terms and conditions were repeated at length herein and made applicable to the Trustee with respect hereto. The Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the recitals contained herein, which shall be taken as the statements of the Issuers and the Trustee shall not be responsible or accountable in any way whatsoever for or with respect to the validity, execution or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture and makes no representation with respect thereto. In entering into this Supplemental Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to the benefit of every provision of the Indenture relating to the conduct of or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee.

Section 3.03 THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 3.04 The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of such executed copies together shall represent the same agreement.

[NEXT PAGE IS SIGNATURE PAGE]

 

A-3


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

 

CALUMET SPECIALTY PRODUCTS PARTNERS, L.P.

By:

 

Calumet GP, LLC, its general partner

        By:

   
 

Name:

 

Title:

CALUMET FINANCE CORP.

By:

   
 

Name:

 

Title:

GUARANTORS

         [_____________________________]

                By:    
                Name:    
                Title:    
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION as Trustee
                By:    
                Name:    
                Title:    

 

A-4