0001193125-12-513420.txt : 20121226 0001193125-12-513420.hdr.sgml : 20121224 20121221175438 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-12-513420 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 5 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20121218 ITEM INFORMATION: Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement ITEM INFORMATION: Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20121224 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20121221 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: HILLMAN COMPANIES INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001029831 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: WHOLESALE-MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES [5080] IRS NUMBER: 232874736 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-13293 FILM NUMBER: 121282960 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 10590 HAMILTON AVE. CITY: CINCINNATI STATE: OH ZIP: 45231 BUSINESS PHONE: 5138514900 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 10590 HAMILTON AVE. CITY: CINCINNATI STATE: OH ZIP: 45231 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: SUNSOURCE INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19961231 8-K 1 d455962d8k.htm FORM 8-K Form 8-K

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 18, 2012

 

 

The Hillman Companies, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-13293   23-2874736

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File No.)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

10590 Hamilton Avenue

Cincinnati, Ohio 45231-1764

(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (513) 851-4900

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On December 21, 2012 (the “Closing Date”), The Hillman Group, Inc. (“Hillman Group”), a subsidiary of The Hillman Companies, Inc. (the “Company”), closed its previously announced offering of $65 million aggregate principal amount of 10.875% Senior Notes due 2018 (the “Notes”). The Company and its subsidiaries will use the net proceeds from the offering of the Notes, together with the net proceeds from its term loan financing, to pay the purchase price of the previously announced acquisition of H. Paulin & Co., Limited (“Paulin”) by the Company (the “Paulin Acquisition”), to repay a portion of indebtedness under its revolving credit facility, to pay fees, expenses and payments related to the Paulin Acquisition and for general corporate purposes.

Note Purchase Agreement

In connection with the Notes offering, Hillman Group and the Company, Hillman Investment Company, All Points Industries, Inc., and SunSub C Inc. (collectively, the “Note Guarantors”) entered into a Purchase Agreement, dated December 18, 2012, between Hillman Group, the Note Guarantors and the Initial Purchaser (the “Note Purchase Agreement”). Pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement, the Initial Purchaser agreed to purchase, and Hillman Group agreed to sell, the Notes, which the Initial Purchaser re-sold in an offering exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Note Purchase Agreement contains warranties, covenants and closing conditions that are customary for transactions of this type. In addition, Hillman Group and the Note Guarantors have agreed to indemnify the Initial Purchaser against certain liabilities arising from the transactions under the Note Purchase Agreement, including liabilities under the federal securities laws. The Note Purchase Agreement also contains customary contribution provisions.

The Initial Purchaser and its affiliates from time to time have provided or in the future may provide various investment and commercial banking and financial advisory services to the Company and its affiliates and subsidiaries, for which they have received customary fees and commissions and they expect to provide these services to the Company and its affiliates in the future, for which they expect to receive customary fees and commissions. In addition, affiliates of the Initial Purchaser are lenders or agents under the Company’s $420 million senior secured first lien credit facility, consisting of a $390 million term loan and a $30 million revolving credit facility.

This summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Note Purchase Agreement which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. Interested parties should read the Note Purchase Agreement in its entirety.

10.875% Senior Notes due 2018

On the Closing Date, Hillman Group issued $65 million in aggregate principal amount of the Notes. The Notes were issued pursuant to an Indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of the Closing Date, by and among (i) Hillman Group, (ii) the Company, Hillman Investment Company, All Points Industries, Inc., and SunSub C Inc. (collectively, the “Note Guarantors”) and (iii) Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). The Note Guarantors have issued guarantees (collectively, the “Guarantees”) of Hillman Group’s obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on a senior unsecured basis.

Special Redemption. If the Paulin Acquisition is not completed on or prior to March 28, 2013, or such earlier date as Hillman Group determines in its sole discretion that the Paulin Acquisition cannot be completed, Hillman Group will be required to redeem the Notes at a price equal to the offering price of the Notes (exclusive of pre-issuance interest), plus accrued and unpaid interest (including, for the avoidance of doubt, pre-issuance interest) from December 1, 2012 to, but not including, the date of redemption.

Mandatory Exchange Redemption. Following the consummation of the Paulin Acquisition, Hillman Group will redeem all of the Notes by issuing in exchange therefor Hillman Group’s 10.875% Senior Notes due 2018 (the “Permanent Notes”) in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (the “Mandatory Exchange Redemption”). The Permanent Notes so issued will constitute an additional issuance of Hillman Group’s 10.875% Senior Notes due 2018 pursuant to that certain indenture, dated as of May 28, 2010, as amended and supplemented on December 29, 2010 and April 1, 2011, between Hillman Group, the Note Guarantors and the Trustee (the “Existing Hillman Indenture”), under which Hillman Group previously issued $200 million in aggregate principal amount of 10.875% Senior Notes due 2018 (the “Existing Hillman Notes” and, together with the Permanent Notes, the “Hillman Notes”). Due to the mandatory nature of such exchange, if the Paulin Acquisition and such exchange are consummated, an investment in the Notes will result in an investment in the Permanent Notes without any further action by the holders of the Notes.

The Permanent Notes will be identical to, and will be pari passu with, the Existing Hillman Notes, except that the Permanent Notes will be subject to transfer restrictions under applicable securities laws and will have different CUSIP and ISIN numbers from the date of their issuance until the consummation of the Exchange Offer (as defined below), pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), dated as of the Closing Date, by and among Hillman Group, the Note Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers, at which time Hillman Group intends to cause such Permanent Notes to have the same CUSIP and ISIN numbers as the Existing Hillman Notes.

 

2


Certain terms and conditions of the Notes, the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement are as follows:

Maturity. The Notes mature on May 31, 2018.

Interest. The Notes accrue interest of 10.875% per year. Interest on the Notes is paid on each June 1 and December 1, except for the final interest payment date of May 31, 2018, commencing on June 1, 2013.

Ranking. The Notes are general unsecured, senior obligations of Hillman Group that effectively rank subordinate to all existing and future secured indebtedness, including indebtedness under the new term loan and the revolving credit facility, to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness. The Notes structurally rank subordinate to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities, including trade payables, of any non-guarantor subsidiaries (other than indebtedness and other liabilities owed to Hillman Group). The Notes rank equal in right of payment to all existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness and senior in right of payment to all future subordinated indebtedness.

Guarantees. The Notes are unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior unsecured basis by the Note Guarantors. All of the Note Guarantors have guaranteed Hillman Group’s obligations under the term loan and the revolving credit facility on a senior unsecured basis. Each guarantee effectively ranks subordinate to all existing and future secured indebtedness, including its guarantee of indebtedness under the new term loan and the revolving credit facility, to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness. Each guarantee structurally ranks subordinate to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities, including trade payables, of any non-guarantor subsidiaries (other than indebtedness and other liabilities owed to Hillman Group). Each guarantee ranks equal in right of payment to all existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness and senior in right of payment to all future subordinated indebtedness.

Optional Redemption. Hillman Group has the option to redeem the Notes prior to June 1, 2014 at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus a make-whole premium and accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. At any time on or after June 1, 2014, Hillman Group may redeem some or all of the Notes at certain fixed redemption prices expressed as percentages of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

Following the Mandatory Exchange Redemption, at any time prior to June 1, 2013, Hillman Group may, from time to time, redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Hillman Notes with the net cash proceeds received by Hillman Group from certain equity offerings at a price equal to 110.875% of the principal amount of the Hillman Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption, provided that the redemption occurs within 90 days of the closing date of such equity offering, and at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Hillman Notes issued under the Existing Hillman Indenture remains outstanding immediately thereafter.

Change of Control. If a change of control occurs, each holder of notes may require Hillman Group to repurchase all or a portion of its Notes for cash at a price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of such notes, plus any accrued or unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of repurchase.

Covenants. The Indenture governing the Notes contains covenants limiting, among other things, the ability of Hillman Group and its direct and indirect restricted subsidiaries to sell assets; pay dividends or make other distributions or repurchase or redeem their capital stock or make restricted payments in respect of subordinated indebtedness; make investments; incur additional indebtedness and issue preferred stock; create certain liens; enter into agreements that restrict dividends or other payments from the restricted subsidiaries of Hillman Group to Hillman Group; consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of the assets of Hillman Group; engage in transactions with affiliates; and create unrestricted subsidiaries. These covenants are subject to a number of important exceptions and qualifications.

Events of Default. The Indenture contains customary events of default which could, subject to certain conditions, cause the Notes to become immediately due and payable, including, but not limited to, the failure to make premium or interest payments; failure by Hillman Group to accept and pay for notes tendered when and as required by the change of control and asset sale provisions of the Indenture; failure to comply with the merger covenant in the Indenture; failure to comply with certain agreements in the Indenture following notice by the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class; a default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument caused by a failure to pay any indebtedness at final maturity after the expiration of any applicable grace period or that results in the acceleration of any indebtedness prior to its express maturity, if the amount of such indebtedness aggregates $10 million or more; failure to pay final judgments entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction aggregating $10.0 million or more (excluding amounts covered by insurance), which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed, for a period of 60 days; and certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency.

 

3


Existing Hillman Notes. Following the consummation of the Paulin Acquisition, Hillman Group will redeem all of the Notes by issuing in exchange therefor Permanent Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Notes. The Permanent Notes so issued will constitute an additional issuance of Existing Hillman Notes under the Existing Hillman Indenture. Certain terms and conditions of the Existing Hillman Notes are described in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on June 4, 2010.

Exchange Offer and Registration Rights. Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, Hillman Group is obligated to file with the SEC, a registration statement within 30 days after the later to occur of (i) the Mandatory Exchange Redemption and (ii) the final date by which the Company is required by applicable SEC rules to file with the SEC acquired company financial statements of Paulin, enabling holders of Permanent Notes to exchange the privately placed Permanent Notes for publicly registered notes with substantially identical terms (the “Exchange Offer”). Hillman Group is obligated to use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the registration statement to become effective within 75 days after the initial filing thereof and to complete the Exchange Offer within 30 business days after the registration statement becomes effective. Hillman Group will pay special interest on the Permanent Notes if it does not comply with certain of its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement.

This summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Indenture (including the form of Note attached thereto) and the Registration Rights Agreement, which are filed as exhibits 4.1 and 4.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K. Interested parties should read these documents in their entirety.

 

Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

The information contained in Item 1.01 above regarding the Notes offering is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(a) Not Applicable.

 

(b) Not Applicable.

 

(c) Not Applicable.

 

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

  4.1    Indenture governing the Temporary 10.875% Senior Notes due 2018, dated December 21, 2012, by and among The Hillman Group, Inc., the Guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.
  4.2    Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 21, 2012, by and among The Hillman Group, Inc., the Guarantors party thereto and Barclays Capital Inc.
10.1    Purchase Agreement (in relation to $65,000,000 aggregate principal amount of initial notes), dated as of December 18, 2012, by and among The Hillman Group, Inc., the Guarantors party thereto and the initial purchaser thereunder.

 

4


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: December 21, 2012     THE HILLMAN COMPANIES, INC.
    By:  

/s/ Anthony A. Vasconcellos

    Name:   Anthony A. Vasconcellos
    Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

5


EXHIBIT LIST

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

  4.1    Indenture governing the Temporary 10.875% Senior Notes due 2018, dated December 21, 2012, by and among The Hillman Group, Inc., the Guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.
  4.2    Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 21, 2012, by and among The Hillman Group, Inc., the Guarantors party thereto and Barclays Capital Inc.
10.1    Purchase Agreement (in relation to $65,000,000 aggregate principal amount of initial notes), dated as of December 18, 2012, by and among The Hillman Group, Inc., the Guarantors party thereto and the initial purchaser thereunder.

 

6

EX-4.1 2 d455962dex41.htm INDENTURE Indenture

Exhibit 4.1

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.

AND EACH OF THE GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO

10.875% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2018

 

 

TEMPORARY NOTES INDENTURE

Dated as of December 21, 2012

 

 

 

 

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

Trustee

 

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
ARTICLE 1   

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION

BY REFERENCE

  

  

Section 1.01

 

Definitions.

     1   

Section 1.02

 

Other Definitions.

     24   

Section 1.03

 

Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.

     25   

Section 1.04

 

Rules of Construction.

     25   

ARTICLE 2

THE NOTES

  

  

Section 2.01

 

Form and Dating.

     26   

Section 2.02

 

Execution and Authentication.

     27   

Section 2.03

 

Registrar and Paying Agent.

     28   

Section 2.04

 

Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

     28   

Section 2.05

 

Holder Lists.

     28   

Section 2.06

 

Transfer and Exchange.

     28   

Section 2.07

 

Replacement Notes.

     38   

Section 2.08

 

Outstanding Notes.

     39   

Section 2.09

 

Treasury Notes.

     39   

Section 2.10

 

Temporary Notes.

     39   

Section 2.11

 

Cancellation.

     39   

Section 2.12

 

Defaulted Interest.

     40   

Section 2.13

 

[Reserved.]

     40   

Section 2.14

 

[Reserved.]

     40   

Section 2.15

 

CUSIP, ISIN or Other Similar Numbers.

     40   

ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

  

  

Section 3.01

 

Notices to Trustee.

     40   

Section 3.02

 

Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased.

     41   

Section 3.03

 

Notice of Redemption.

     41   

Section 3.04

 

Effect of Notice of Redemption.

     42   

Section 3.05

 

Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price.

     42   

Section 3.06

 

Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part.

     42   

Section 3.07

 

Optional Redemption.

     42   

Section 3.08

 

Mandatory Redemption.

     43   

Section 3.09

 

Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds.

     43   

Section 3.10

 

Special Redemption.

     45   

Section 3.11

 

Mandatory Exchange Redemption.

     45   

ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

  

  

Section 4.01

 

Payment of Notes.

     46   

Section 4.02

 

Maintenance of Office or Agency.

     46   

Section 4.03

 

Reports.

     47   

Section 4.04

 

Compliance Certificate.

     47   

Section 4.05

 

Taxes.

     48   


Section 4.06

 

Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

     48   

Section 4.07

 

Restricted Payments.

     48   

Section 4.08

 

Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries.

     52   

Section 4.09

 

Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock.

     53   

Section 4.10

 

Asset Sales.

     57   

Section 4.11

 

Transactions with Affiliates.

     59   

Section 4.12

 

Liens.

     61   

Section 4.13

 

Business Activities.

     61   

Section 4.14

 

Corporate Existence.

     62   

Section 4.15

 

Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control.

     62   

Section 4.16

 

[Reserved]

     63   

Section 4.17

 

Additional Note Guarantees.

     63   

Section 4.18

 

Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

     64   

ARTICLE 5

SUCCESSORS

  

  

Section 5.01

 

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets.

     64   

Section 5.02

 

Successor Corporation Substituted.

     65   

ARTICLE 6

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

  

  

Section 6.01

 

Events of Default.

     65   

Section 6.02

 

Acceleration.

     67   

Section 6.03

 

Other Remedies.

     67   

Section 6.04

 

Waiver of Past Defaults.

     68   

Section 6.05

 

Control by Majority.

     68   

Section 6.06

 

Limitation on Suits.

     68   

Section 6.07

 

Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment.

     68   

Section 6.08

 

Collection Suit by Trustee.

     69   

Section 6.09

 

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

     69   

Section 6.10

 

Priorities.

     69   

Section 6.11

 

Undertaking for Costs.

     70   

ARTICLE 7

TRUSTEE

  

  

Section 7.01

 

Duties of Trustee.

     70   

Section 7.02

 

Rights of Trustee.

     71   

Section 7.03

 

Individual Rights of Trustee.

     72   

Section 7.04

 

Trustee’s Disclaimer.

     72   

Section 7.05

 

Notice of Defaults.

     72   

Section 7.06

 

Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes.

     73   

Section 7.07

 

Compensation and Indemnity.

     73   

Section 7.08

 

Replacement of Trustee.

     74   

Section 7.09

 

Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

     75   

Section 7.10

 

Eligibility; Disqualification.

     75   

Section 7.11

 

Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

     75   

ARTICLE 8

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

  

  

Section 8.01

 

Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

     75   

Section 8.02

 

Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

     75   

 

ii


Section 8.03

 

Covenant Defeasance.

     76   

Section 8.04

 

Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.

     76   

Section 8.05

 

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

     77   

Section 8.06

 

Repayment to Company.

     78   

Section 8.07

 

Reinstatement.

     78   

ARTICLE 9

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

  

  

Section 9.01

 

Without Consent of Holders of Notes.

     78   

Section 9.02

 

With Consent of Holders of Notes.

     79   

Section 9.03

 

Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.

     81   

Section 9.04

 

Revocation and Effect of Consents.

     81   

Section 9.05

 

Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

     81   

Section 9.06

 

Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.

     81   

ARTICLE 10

NOTE GUARANTEES

  

  

Section 10.01

 

Guarantee.

     81   

Section 10.02

 

Limitation on Guarantor Liability.

     82   

Section 10.03

 

Execution and Delivery of Note Guarantee.

     83   

Section 10.04

 

Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.

     83   

Section 10.05

 

Releases.

     84   

ARTICLE 11

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

  

  

Section 11.01

 

Satisfaction and Discharge.

     84   

Section 11.02

 

Application of Trust Money.

     85   

ARTICLE 12

MISCELLANEOUS

  

  

Section 12.01

 

Trust Indenture Act Controls.

     86   

Section 12.02

 

Notices.

     86   

Section 12.03

 

Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes.

  

Section 12.04

 

Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

     87   

Section 12.05

 

Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

     87   

Section 12.06

 

Rules by Trustee and Agents.

     87   

Section 12.07

 

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders.

     88   

Section 12.08

 

Governing Law.

     88   

Section 12.09

 

No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

     88   

Section 12.10

 

Successors.

     88   

Section 12.11

 

Severability.

     88   

Section 12.12

 

Counterpart Originals.

     88   

Section 12.13

 

Table of Contents, Headings, etc.

     88   

Section 12.14

 

Facsimile and PDF Delivery of Signature Pages.

     88   

Section 12.15

 

U.S.A. Patriot Act.

     89   

 

iii


EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A1    FORM OF NOTE
Exhibit A2    FORM OF REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE
Exhibit B    FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
Exhibit C    FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE
Exhibit D    FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR
Exhibit E    FORM OF NOTATION OF GUARANTEE
Exhibit F    FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

iv


TEMPORARY NOTES INDENTURE dated as of December 21, 2012 among The Hillman Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, the Guarantors (as defined) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.

The Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined) of the Company’s 10.875% Senior Notes due 2018 (the “Notes”):

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION

BY REFERENCE

 

Section 1.01 Definitions.

144A Global Note” means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A1 hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its nominee that will be issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A.

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

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

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

Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control,” 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. For purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with” have correlative meanings.

Agent” means any Registrar, co-registrar, Paying Agent or additional paying agent.

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

(1) 1.0% of the principal amount of the Note; or

(2) the excess of:

(a) the present value at such redemption date of (i) the redemption price of the Note at June 1, 2014 (such redemption price being set forth in the table appearing in Section 3.07 hereof), plus (ii) all required interest payments due on the Note through June 1, 2014 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest to the redemption date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such redemption date plus 50 basis points per annum discounted on a semi-annual bond equivalent basis; over

(b) the principal amount of the Note.

 

1


Calculation of the Applicable Premium will be made by the Company or on behalf of the Company by such Person as the Company shall designate.

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 Depositary, Euroclear and Clearstream that apply to such transfer or exchange.

Asset Sale” means:

(1) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any assets or rights by the Company or any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries; and

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

provided, that the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be governed by the provisions hereof described in Section 4.15 and/or Section 5.01 and not by Sections 3.09 and 4.10.

Notwithstanding the preceding, none of the following items will be deemed to be an Asset Sale:

(1) any single transaction or series of related transactions that involves assets having a Fair Market Value of less than $2.0 million;

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

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

(4) any exchange of assets for assets (including a combination of assets and Cash Equivalents) related to a Permitted Business of comparable or greater market value or usefulness to the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the Company, which in the event of an exchange of assets with a Fair Market Value in excess of (a) $2.0 million shall be evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate, and (b) $5.0 million shall be set forth in a resolution approved in good faith by at least a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company;

(5) the sale, lease or other transfer of inventory, products, byproducts, goods held for sale, services, accounts receivable in the ordinary course of business and any sale or other disposition of damaged, worn-out or obsolete assets in the ordinary course of business (including the abandonment or other disposition of any assets, including intellectual property, that is no longer used or useful or no longer economically practical to maintain in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as whole);

(6) licenses and sublicenses by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of software or intellectual property in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(7) any surrender or waiver of contract rights or settlement, release, recovery on or surrender of contract, tort or other claims in the ordinary course of business;

(8) the granting of, creation of or realization on Liens not prohibited by the covenant described in Section 4.12 hereof.

(9) the sale, transfer or other disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents;

(10) a Restricted Payment that does not violate the covenant described in Section 4.07 hereof or a Permitted Investment;

(11) the transfer of assets related to any Hedging Obligations incurred in compliance with Section 4.09 hereof pursuant to the unwinding of any such Hedging Obligations; and

(12) dispositions of Investments in joint ventures to the extent required by, or made pursuant to, buy/sell arrangements between the joint venture parties set forth in joint venture agreements and similar binding agreements.

Asset Sale Offer” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 3.09 hereof.

Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code 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 after the passage of time. The terms “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” have a corresponding meaning.

Board of Directors” means:

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

(2) with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors of the general partner of the partnership;

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

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

Business Day” means any day other than a Legal Holiday.

Capital Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, and the Stated Maturity thereof shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first date upon which such lease may be prepaid by the lessee without payment of a penalty.

 

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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, but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.

Cash Equivalents” means:

(1) United States dollars, pounds sterling, euros, the national currency of any participating member state of the European Union, Canadian dollars, or, in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, such local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

(2) securities issued or directly and fully 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 twelve months from the date of acquisition;

(3) certificates of deposit and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of twelve months or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding twelve months 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;

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

(5) commercial paper 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;

(6) money market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (1) through (5) of this definition; and

(7) in the case of a Foreign Subsidiary, substantially similar investments, of comparable credit quality, denominated in the currency of any jurisdiction in which such Person conducts business.

Change of Control” 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

 

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substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any Person (including any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act)) other than a Principal or a Related Party of a Principal;

(2) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company;

(3) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation), the result of which is that any Person (including any “person” (as defined above)), other than the Principals and their Related Parties, becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the Company, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; provided, however, that such event shall not be deemed a Change of Control so long as one or more of the Principals has the right or ability by voting power or contract to elect or designate for election a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company; or

(4) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company are not Continuing Directors.

For purposes of this definition, (i) any direct or indirect holding company of the Company (including Parent) shall not itself be considered a “person” or “group” for purposes of clause (3) above, provided that no “person” or “group” (other than the Principals and their Related Parties) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such holding company and (ii) no Change of Control pursuant to clause (1) above shall be deemed to have occurred solely as the result of a transfer of assets among the Company and the Guarantors.

Change of Control Offer” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 4.15 hereof.

Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, S.A.

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

Company” means The Hillman Group, Inc., and any and all successors thereto.

Consolidated EBITDA” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period plus, without duplication:

(1) the Fixed Charges of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such Fixed Charges 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) depreciation, amortization (including amortization of intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period) and other non-cash charges and expenses (excluding any such non-cash charge or expense to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash charges or expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash charge or expense that was paid in a prior period) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such depreciation, amortization and other non-cash charges or expenses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; minus

 

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(4) non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, other than the accrual of revenue in the ordinary course of business; plus,

(5) adjustments used in connection with the calculation of “Adjusted EBITDA” (as presented in the Existing Notes Offering Memorandum),

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 (loss) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis (excluding the net income (loss) of any Unrestricted Subsidiary of such Person), determined in accordance with GAAP and without any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends; provided that:

(1) all (a) extraordinary, nonrecurring or unusual gains and losses or income or expenses, including, without limitation, any expenses related to a facilities closing and any reconstruction, recommissioning or reconfiguration of fixed assets for alternate uses; any severance or relocation expenses; executive recruiting costs; restructuring costs; curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans; (b) any expenses (including, without limitation, financial advisory fees, accounting fees, legal fees and other similar advisory and consulting fees and related out-of-pocket expenses), costs or charges incurred in connection with any Equity Offering, Permitted Investment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness permitted under this Indenture, including a refinancing thereof (in each case whether or not successful) (including any such costs and charges incurred in connection with the transactions described in the section of the Existing Notes Offering Memorandum titled “The Transactions”); and (c) gains and losses realized in connection with any sale of assets outside the ordinary course of business, the disposition of securities, the early extinguishment of Indebtedness or associated with Hedging Obligations, together with any related provision for taxes on any such gain, will be excluded;

(2) 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 only to the extent of the amount of dividends or similar distributions paid in cash to the specified Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Person;

(3) solely for the purpose of the covenant described above under Section 4.07 hereof, the net income (but not loss) of any Restricted Subsidiary 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 agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders;

(4) any foreign currency translation gains or losses (including gains or losses related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, will be excluded;

 

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(5) the effect of any non-cash impairment charges or asset write-downs or write-offs resulting from the application of GAAP, including pursuant to ASC 350 and 360, and the amortization of intangibles arising from the application of GAAP, including pursuant to ASC 805, will be excluded;

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

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

(8) non-cash gains and losses attributable to movement in the mark-to-market valuation of Hedging Obligations pursuant to ASC 815; and

(9) interest payments made on the Subordinated Intercompany Promissory Note at the Stated Maturity of such interest payments and any amortization of premium resulting from any fair value adjustments of such note, will be excluded.

continuing” means, with respect to any Default or Event of Default, that such Default or Event of Default has not been cured or waived.

Continuing Directors” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors of the Company who:

(1) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date of this Indenture; or

(2) was nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of the Principals or a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board of Directors at the time of such nomination or election.

Contribution Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Company in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed two times the aggregate amount of cash received by the Company after the date of the Existing Indenture from the sale of its Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) or as a contribution to its common equity capital (in each case, other than to or from a Subsidiary of the Company); provided that such Indebtedness (a) is incurred within 180 days after the sale of such Equity Interests or the making of such capital contribution and (b) is designated as “Contribution Indebtedness” pursuant to an officer’s certificate on the date of its incurrence. Any sale of Equity Interests or capital contribution that forms the basis for an incurrence of Contribution Indebtedness will not be considered to be a sale of Qualifying Equity Interests and will be disregarded for purposes of Section 4.07 hereof and will not be considered to be an Equity Offering for purposes of Section 3.07 hereof.

Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee” will be at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 12.02 hereof or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Company.

Credit Agreement” means the Credit Agreement, dated as of the date of the Existing Indenture, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the Credit Agreement, dated as of December 22, 2010, and Amendment No. 2 to the Credit Agreement, dated as of April 18, 2011, as modified by the Joinder Agreement dated as of November 4, 2011, and as amended by Amendment No. 3 to the Credit Agreement, dated as of January 25, 2012, by and among OHCP HM Acquisition Corp., The Hillman Companies, Inc., Hillman Investment Company, The Hillman Group, Inc. and the lenders and agents from time to time party thereto, providing for up to $420.0 million of revolving credit and term loan

 

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borrowings, including any related notes, Guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced in any manner (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) or refinanced (including by means of sales of debt securities to investors) in whole or in part from time to time.

Credit Facilities” means one or more debt facilities (which may be outstanding at the same time and including, without limitation, the Credit Agreement) or commercial paper facilities, in each case, with banks or other lenders or investors or indentures or other agreements providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, debt securities, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit or other indebtedness, in each case, as amended, restated, supplemented, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced in any manner (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) or refinanced (including by means of sales of debt securities to investors) in whole or in part, in one or more instances, from time to time (including successive renewals, extensions, substitutions, refinancings, restructurings, replacements, supplementations or other modifications of the foregoing, including into one or more debt facilities, commercial paper facilities or other debt instruments, indentures or agreements (including by means of sales of debt securities to investors)), providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, letters of credit, debt securities or other debt obligations, from time to time.

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

Definitive Note” means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06 hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A1 hereto except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.

Depositary” means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.03 hereof as the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture.

Designated Non-cash Consideration” means any non-cash consideration received by the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale that is designated as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an officer’s certificate executed by an officer of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such Asset Sale.

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. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, (i) any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders of the Capital Stock have the right to require the Company to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale will not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the Company may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption complies with the covenant described in Section 4.07 hereof, (ii) if such Capital Stock is issued to any employee or to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because they may be required to be repurchased by the Company in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory

 

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obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability and (iii) any class of Capital Stock of such Person that by its terms authorizes such Person to satisfy its obligations thereunder by delivery of Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Stock shall not be deemed to be Disqualified Stock. The amount of Disqualified Stock deemed to be outstanding at any time for purposes of this Indenture will be the maximum amount that the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may become obligated to pay upon the maturity of, or pursuant to any mandatory redemption provisions of, such Disqualified Stock, exclusive of accrued dividends.

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that was formed under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States or the District of Columbia or that guarantees or otherwise provides direct credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company.

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

Equity Offering” means a public or private sale either (1) of Equity Interests of the Company by the Company (other than Disqualified Stock and other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) or (2) of Equity Interests of a direct or indirect parent entity of the Company (other than to the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) to the extent that the net proceeds therefrom are contributed to the common equity capital of the Company.

Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank, S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear system.

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

Excluded Contributions” means the Cash Equivalents received by the Company after the date of the Existing Indenture from (1) contributions to its common equity capital, and (2) the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company or to any Subsidiary management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement) of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company, in each case designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an officer’s certificate executed by an officer of the Company on or promptly after the date such capital contributions are made or the date such Equity Interest is sold, as the case may be. Any Excluded Contribution shall not be used or counted pursuant to Section 4.07(a)(3) hereof.

Existing Indebtedness” means all Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement and the Subordinated Intercompany Promissory Note) in existence on the date of the Existing Indenture, until such amounts are repaid.

Existing Indenture” means that certain indenture, dated as of May 28, 2010, among the Company, the guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee thereunder, as amended and supplemented on December 29, 2010 and April 1, 2011.

Existing Notes” means the $200.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 10.875% Senior Notes due 2018 previously issued under the Existing Indenture.

Existing Notes Offering Memorandum” means the Offering Memorandum, dated May 10, 2010, relating to the initial offering of the Existing Notes and setting forth information regarding the Company, the Existing Notes and the exchange notes related thereto.

 

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Fair Market Value” means the value that would be paid by a willing buyer to an unaffiliated willing seller in a transaction not involving distress or necessity of either party, determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company (unless otherwise provided in this Indenture).

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means with respect to any specified Person for any period, the ratio of the Consolidated EBITDA 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, redeems, defeases or otherwise discharges any Indebtedness (other than ordinary working capital borrowings) or issues, repurchases or redeems preferred stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated 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 (including all Pro Forma Cost Savings) to such incurrence, assumption, Guarantee, repayment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other discharge 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 the applicable four-quarter reference period.

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 or consolidations, or any Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries acquired by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, and including all related financing transactions and including increases in ownership of Restricted Subsidiaries, during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date, or that are to be made on the Calculation Date, will be given pro forma effect (including all Pro Forma Cost Savings) as if they had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period;

(2) the Consolidated EBITDA attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses (and ownership interests therein) 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 (and ownership interests therein) 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;

(4) any Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary on the Calculation Date will be deemed to have been a Restricted Subsidiary at all times during such four-quarter period;

(5) any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary on the Calculation Date will be deemed not to have been a Restricted Subsidiary at any time during such four-quarter period; and

(6) if any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest, the interest expense on such Indebtedness will be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligation applicable to such Indebtedness if such Hedging Obligation has a remaining term as at the Calculation Date in excess of 12 months).

 

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

(1) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued, including, without limitation, amortization of original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, 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 Hedging Obligations in respect of interest rates; plus

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

(3) any interest on Indebtedness of another Person that is guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether or not such Guarantee or Lien is called upon; plus

(4) the product of (a) all dividends, whether paid or accrued and whether or not in cash, on any series of preferred stock of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than dividends on Equity Interests payable solely in Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, times (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is one minus then current combined federal, state and local statutory tax rate of such Person, expressed as a decimal, in each case, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; less

(5) the consolidated interest income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether received or accrued, to the extent such income was included in determining Consolidated Net Income.

To the extent related to the Transactions or any refinancing of Indebtedness, amortization of debt issuance costs and premium and other financing fees and expenses shall be excluded from the calculation of Fixed Charges. In addition, interest payments made on the Subordinated Intercompany Promissory Note at the Stated Maturity of such interest payments and any amortization of premium resulting from any fair value adjustments of such note, will be excluded from the calculation of Fixed Charges.

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Domestic Subsidiary and any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of such Restricted Subsidiary.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect on the date of the Existing Indenture.

Global Note Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(2) hereof, which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.

Global Notes” means, individually and collectively, each of the Restricted Global Notes and the Unrestricted Global Notes deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depository or its nominee, substantially in the form of Exhibit A1 hereto and that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto, issued in accordance with Section 2.01, 2.06(b)(3), 2.06(b)(4), 2.06(d)(2) or 2.06(f) hereof.

 

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

Guarantee” means a guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business, direct or indirect, in any manner including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreements to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take or pay or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise).

Guarantors” means Hillman Companies, Parent and any Subsidiary of the Company that executes a Note Guarantee in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, and their respective successors and assigns, in each case, until the Note Guarantee of such Person has been released in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

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

(1) interest rate swap agreements (whether from fixed to floating or from floating to fixed), interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements;

(2) other agreements or arrangements designed to manage interest rates or interest rate risk; and

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

Hillman Companies” means The Hillman Companies, Inc., and any and all successors thereto.

Hillman Group Capital Trust” means The Hillman Group Capital Trust, and any and all successors thereto.

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

“IAI Global Note” means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A1 hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee that will be issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold to Institutional Accredited Investors.

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person (excluding accrued expenses and trade payables), whether or not contingent:

(1) in respect of borrowed money;

(2) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);

(3) in respect of banker’s acceptances;

 

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(4) representing Capital Lease Obligations;

(5) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or services due more than six months after such property is acquired or such services are completed; or

(6) representing any Hedging Obligations,

if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) 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 others secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person (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. Indebtedness shall be calculated without giving effect to the effects of ASC 815 and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose under this Indenture as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness.

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

Indirect Participant” means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Global Note through a Participant.

Initial Purchaser” means Barclays Capital Inc.

Institutional Accredited Investor” means an institution that is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act, that is not also a QIB.

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 commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP. 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 equal to the Fair Market Value of the Company’s Investments in such Subsidiary that were not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in the penultimate paragraph of the covenant described in Section 4.07 hereof. The acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of a Person that holds an Investment in a third Person will be deemed to be an Investment by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in such third Person in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the Investments held by the acquired Person in such third Person in an amount determined as provided in the penultimate paragraph of the covenant described in Section 4.07 hereof. Except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, the amount of an Investment will be determined at the time the Investment is made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value.

Junior Subordinated Debentures” means Hillman Companies’ outstanding 11.6% Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2027 underlying the trust preferred securities issued by Hillman Group Capital Trust, as amended from time to time, provided that no such amendment may increase the interest rate or change the Stated Maturity of interest payments.

 

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Legal Holiday” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York or at a place of payment are authorized by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the intervening period.

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.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., and any successor to the ratings business thereof.

Net Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds and Cash Equivalents received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash or Cash Equivalents received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of (A) the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale, including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees and expenses, and brokerage and sales commissions, (B) any relocation expenses incurred as a result of the Asset Sale, (C) 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, (D) amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness, other than Indebtedness under a Credit Facility, secured by a Lien on the asset or assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale, (E) amounts to be paid to any Person (other than the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) owning a beneficial interest in the assets subject to the Asset Sale or having a Lien thereon, and (F) appropriate amounts to be provided as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against liabilities associated with such Asset Sale, including pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities, liabilities related to environmental matters and indemnification obligations associated with such Asset Sale, with any subsequent reduction of the reserve other than by payments made and charged against the reserved amount to be deemed a receipt of cash.

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; and

(2) as to which the lenders have been notified in writing that they will not have any recourse to the stock or assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the Equity Interests of an Unrestricted Subsidiary).

Non-U.S. Person” means a Person who is not a U.S. Person.

Note Custodian” means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Notes in global form, or any successor entity thereto.

 

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Note Guarantee” means the Guarantee by each Guarantor of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes, executed pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture.

Notes” has the meaning assigned to it in the preamble to this Indenture.

Obligations” means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

Offering Memorandum” means the Offering Memorandum, dated December 18, 2012, relating to the offering of the Notes and setting forth information regarding the Company, the Guarantors, the Guarantees, the Notes and the Exchange 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 General Counsel, the Secretary or any Vice-President of such Person.

Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by an Officer of the Company.

Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of Section 12.05 hereof. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or the Trustee. Such opinion may be subject to customary assumptions, exceptions and qualifications.

Parent” means Hillman Investment Company and any other person who is the direct owner of the Voting Stock of the Company.

Participant” means, with respect to the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, a Person who has an account with the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, respectively (and, with respect to DTC, shall include Euroclear and Clearstream).

Paulin Acquisition” means the acquisition of H. Paulin & Co., Limited by Hillman Companies.

Permanent Notes” means notes issued under the Existing Indenture in exchange for Notes pursuant to Section 3.11 hereof.

Permitted Business” means the businesses engaged in by the Company and its Subsidiaries on the date of the Existing Indenture and any other businesses that are complementary or ancillary thereto, reasonably related thereto or reasonable extensions thereof.

Permitted Investments” means:

(1) any Investment in the Company 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 assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

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(4) any Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Sale or other asset disposition that was made pursuant to and in compliance with the covenant described in Sections 3.09 and 4.10 hereof;

(5) any acquisition of assets or Capital Stock solely in exchange for the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;

(6) any Investments received in compromise or resolution of (A) obligations of trade creditors or customers that were incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer; or (B) litigation, arbitration or other disputes;

(7) Investments represented by Hedging Obligations;

(8) loans or advances to directors, officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $2.0 million at any one time outstanding;

(9) repurchases of the Notes;

(10) any guarantee of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09 hereof other than a guarantee of Indebtedness of an Affiliate of the Company that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

(11) any Investment existing on, or made pursuant to binding commitments existing on, the date of the Existing Indenture and any Investment consisting of an extension, modification or renewal of any Investment existing on, or made pursuant to a binding commitment existing on, the date of the Existing Indenture; provided that the amount of any such Investment may be increased (a) as required by the terms of such Investment as in existence on the date of the Existing Indenture or (b) as otherwise permitted under this Indenture;

(12) Investments acquired after the date of the Existing Indenture as a result of the acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of another Person, including by way of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a transaction that is not prohibited by Section 5.01 hereof after the date of the Existing Indenture to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation;

(13) advances, loans, rebates and extensions of credit to suppliers, customers and vendors in the ordinary course of business;

(14) any Investment acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of a foreclosure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default; and

(15) other Investments in any Person having an aggregate Fair Market Value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (15) that are at the time outstanding not to exceed the greater of $10.0 million and 1.5% of Total Assets.

 

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Permitted Liens” means:

(1) Liens on assets of the Company or any Guarantor securing Indebtedness and other Obligations under Credit Facilities that was permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred pursuant to clause (1) or clause (17) of the definition of Permitted Debt in Section 4.09(b) and/or securing Hedging Obligations related thereto and/or securing Obligations with regard to Treasury Management Arrangements;

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

(3) Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or 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 the contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or such merger or consolidation and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or is merged with or into or consolidated with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

(4) Liens on property (including Capital Stock) existing at the time of acquisition of the property by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such Liens were in existence prior to such acquisition and not incurred in contemplation of, such acquisition;

(5) Liens to secure the performance of public or statutory obligations, insurance, surety, or appeal bonds, customs duties, workers compensation obligations, unemployment insurance or similar legislation, good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts or leases, performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business (including Liens to secure letters of credit issued to assure payment of such obligations);

(6) Liens securing reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit that encumber documents and other property relating to such letters of credit and the proceeds thereof;

(7) Liens to secure Indebtedness (including Capital Lease Obligations) permitted by Section 4.09(b)(4) hereof covering only the assets acquired with or financed by such Indebtedness;

(8) Liens existing on the date of the Existing Indenture;

(9) customary Liens in favor of trustees and escrow agents, and netting and setoff rights, margins Liens and the like in favor of financial institutions and counterparties to financial obligations and instruments, including any such Liens securing Hedging Obligation;

(10) Liens on assets pursuant to merger agreements, stock or asset purchase agreements and similar agreements in respect of the disposition of such assets;

 

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(11) options, put and call arrangements, rights of first refusal and similar rights relating to Investments in joint ventures, partnerships and similar transactions;

(12) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently concluded; provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision as is required in conformity with GAAP has been made therefor;

(13) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s, landlord’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(14) survey exceptions, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real property that were not incurred in connection with Indebtedness and that do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

(15) Liens created for the benefit of (or to secure) the Notes (or the Note Guarantees);

(16) Liens to secure any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Indenture; provided, however, that:

(a) the new Lien is limited to all or part of the same property and assets that secured or, under the written agreements pursuant to which the original Lien arose, could secure the original Lien (plus improvements and accessions to, such property or proceeds or distributions thereof); and

(b) the Indebtedness secured by the new Lien is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (x) the outstanding principal amount, or, if greater, committed amount, of the Indebtedness renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged with such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness and (y) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such renewal, refunding, refinancing, replacement, defeasance or discharge;

(17) Liens on insurance policies and proceeds thereof, or other deposits, to secure insurance premium financings;

(18) filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements as a precautionary measure in connection with operating leases;

(19) bankers’ Liens, Liens securing appeal bonds of letters of credit issued in support of or in lieu of appeal bonds, rights of setoff, Liens arising out of judgments or awards not constituting an Event of Default and notices of lis pendens and associated rights related to litigation being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been made;

(20) Liens on cash, Cash Equivalents or other property arising in connection with the defeasance, discharge or redemption of Indebtedness;

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

 

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

(23) Liens securing Hedging Obligations to the extent permitted by Section 4.09 hereof;

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

(25) Liens securing Indebtedness incurred under any Credit Facility, so long as the Secured Indebtedness Ratio would be no greater than to 3.0 to 1.0 after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and the application of the proceeds therefrom;

(26) Liens on the assets of any Foreign Subsidiary securing Indebtedness and other Obligations under Indebtedness permitted by the terms of this Indenture pursuant to clauses (16) and (17) of the definition of Permitted Debt or pursuant to Section 4.09(a) hereof; and

(27) Liens of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company with respect to obligations that do not exceed $10.0 million at any one time outstanding.

Permitted Payments to Parent” means, without duplication as to amounts:

(1) payments by the Company to or on behalf of Parent or any direct or indirect parent of the Company (i) in an amount sufficient to pay franchise taxes and other fees required to maintain the legal existence of Parent or another direct or indirect parent of the Company in an amount sufficient for Parent or any direct or indirect parent of the Company to pay out-of-pocket legal, accounting and filing costs and other expenses in the nature of overhead in the ordinary course of business, plus (ii) amounts necessary to pay expenses required to maintain their corporate existence, customary salary, bonus and other benefits payable to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, its officers and employees and corporate overhead expenses, plus (iii) amounts necessary to pay customary and reasonable costs and expenses of financings, acquisitions or offerings of securities of any direct or indirect parent of the Company that are not consummated, in the case of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1.0 million in any calendar year; and

(2) payments made directly or indirectly to Parent or the direct or indirect parent of Parent of the amount that Parent or a direct or indirect parent of Parent is required to pay for federal, state or local income, franchise or similar taxes as the common parent of an affiliated group (within the meaning of Section 1504 of the Code) or a combined or unitary group of corporations of which the Company is a member and quarterly or annual payments for other taxes incurred by Parent or its direct or indirect Parent (but only to the extent that such other taxes relate to the operations of, or such Persons’ direct or indirect ownership of, the Company and its Subsidiaries); provided that (A) such payments with respect to income, franchise or similar taxes may be made only in respect of the period during which the Company is consolidated, combined, or affiliated with Parent and the direct or indirect parent of Parent for purposes of the payment of such taxes and (B) such payments with respect to income, franchise or similar taxes shall not exceed the aggregate amount that the Company reasonably estimates would be payable by the Company and its Subsidiaries if they filed a separate consolidated return with the Company as the parent, determined without giving effect to any deductions for amounts payable to Parent or the direct or indirect parent of Parent that have not been paid in cash.

 

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Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or any Indebtedness or preferred stock of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used (or will be used within 60 days of the incurrence or issuance of such permitted Refinancing Indebtedness) to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge other Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or any Indebtedness or preferred stock of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries); provided that:

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

(2) such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity that is (i) equal to or greater than the final maturity date and the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged or (ii) more than 90 days after the final maturity date of the Notes;

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

(4) such Indebtedness is incurred either by the Company or by the Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that was the obligor on the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged and is guaranteed only by the Guarantors (if the Company incurs such Indebtedness) or by Persons who were obligors on the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged.

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

Principal” means (A) Oak Hill Capital Partners, LLC, Oak Hill Capital Partners III, L.P., and Oak Hill Capital Management Partners III, L.P. and any of their Affiliates (but excluding any of their portfolio companies); and (B) any of Max W. Hillman, Richard P. Hillman, James P. Waters, George L. Heredia and Ali Fartaj.

Private Placement Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(1) hereof to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture except where otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.

Pro Forma Cost Savings” means operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies determined in good faith by the Company to be reasonably expected to result from any acquisition, merger, disposition or operational change (provided that such operating expense

 

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reductions and other operating improvements or synergies are (1) reasonably identifiable and factually supportable and (2) realized within twelve months of the date on which such acquisition, merger, disposition or operational change is consummated), based on assumptions determined in good faith by the Company.

QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.

Qualifying Equity Interests” means Equity Interests of the Company other than (1) Disqualified Stock and (2) Equity Interests that were used to support an incurrence of Contribution Indebtedness.

Regulation S” means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.

Regulation S Global Note” means a Regulation S Temporary Global Note or Regulation S Permanent Global Note, as appropriate.

“Regulation S Permanent Global Note” means a permanent Global Note in the form of Exhibit A1 hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note upon expiration of the Restricted Period.

“Regulation S Temporary Global Note” means a temporary Global Note in the form of Exhibit A2 hereto deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes initially sold in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S.

Related Party” means:

(1) any controlling stockholder, controlling member, general partner, majority owned Subsidiary, spouse, descendant or other immediate family member (which includes any child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law) (in the case of an individual) of any Principal; or

(2) any estate, trust, corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity, the beneficiaries, stockholders, partners, members, owners or Persons beneficially holding a majority (and controlling) interest of which consist of any one or more Principals and/or such other Persons referred to in the immediately preceding clause (1); or

(3) any executor, administrator trustee, manager, director, or other similar fiduciary of any Person referred to in the immediately preceding clause (2), acting solely in such capacity.

Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the Corporate Trust Administration of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

Restricted Definitive Note” means a Definitive Note bearing the Private Placement Legend.

Restricted Global Note” means a Global Note bearing the Private Placement Legend.

 

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

Restricted Period” means, with respect to any Notes, the 40-day distribution compliance period as defined in Regulation S as applicable to such Notes.

Restricted Subsidiary” of a Person means any Subsidiary of the referent Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

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

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

Rule 903” means Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act.

Rule 904” means Rule 904 promulgated under the Securities Act.

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, and any successor to the ratings business thereof.

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Secured Indebtedness Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Company and the Guarantors outstanding as of that date (with letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the maximum potential liability of the Company and the Guarantors thereunder) that is secured by a Lien to (b) the Company’s Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of determination, with such pro forma and other adjustments to the Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and to Consolidated EBITDA as are consistent with the adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.”

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

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

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 documentation governing such Indebtedness as of the date of this Indenture, and will not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.

Subordinated Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Company, any Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Note Guarantees, as applicable.

Subordinated Intercompany Promissory Note” means the Amended and Restated Subordinated Promissory Note from the Company to Parent in the principal amount of $105,446,000, maturing on September 30, 2027, and bearing interest (payable monthly) at a rate of 11.6% per annum, as in existence on the date of the Existing Indenture.

 

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Subsidiary” means, with respect to any specified Person:

(1) any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency and after giving effect to any voting agreement or stockholders’ agreement that effectively transfers voting power) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees of the corporation, association or other business entity 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 or limited liability company of which (a) more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general and limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership interests or otherwise, and (b) such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity.

TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb).

Total Assets” means the total assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, as shown on the most recent balance sheet of the Company. For purposes of testing whether any Investment, Indebtedness or other item that is incurred based on a basket related to Total Assets such item shall be permitted if such basket was available on the date of such incurrence even if Total Assets subsequently decreases.

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

Treasury Rate” means, as of any redemption date, the yield to maturity as of such redemption date of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the redemption date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the redemption date to June 1, 2014; provided, however, that if the period from the redemption date to June 1, 2014, is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used.

Trustee” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.

Unrestricted Definitive Note” means a Definitive Note that does not bear and is not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

Unrestricted Global Note” means a Global Note that does not bear and is not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

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Unrestricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company that is designated by the Board of Directors of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, but only to the extent:

(1) that if the Indebtedness of the Subsidiary is not Non-Recourse Debt, any guarantee or other credit support thereof by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the “Limitations on Additional Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock” covenant;

(2) except as permitted in Section 4.11 hereof, such Subsidiary 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) such Subsidiary 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, unless such obligation is a Permitted Investment or is otherwise permitted under the covenant described in Section 4.07 hereof; and

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

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

Voting Stock” of any specified Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock 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 or liquidation preference, including payment at final maturity, in respect of the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock, 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) then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness or liquidation preference of such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock.

 

Section 1.02 Other Definitions.

 

Term

  

Defined in

Section

“Advisor”    7.02
“Affiliate Transaction”    4.11
“Asset Sale Offer”    3.09
“Authenticating Agent”    2.02
“Authentication Order”    2.02
“Change of Control Offer”    4.15

 

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Term

  

Defined in

Section

“Change of Control Payment”    4.15
“Change of Control Payment Date”    4.15
“Covenant Defeasance”    8.03
“DTC”    2.01
“Event of Default”    6.01
“Excess Proceeds”    4.10
“incur”    4.09
“Legal Defeasance”    8.02
“Mandatory Exchange Redemption”    3.11
“Mandatory Exchange Redemption Date”    3.11
“Offer Amount”    3.09
“Offer Period”    3.09
“Paying Agent”    2.03
“Permitted Debt”    4.09
“Payment Default”    6.01
“PDF”    12.14
“Purchase Date”    3.09
“Registrar”    2.03
“Restricted Payments”    4.07
“Special Redemption”    3.10
“Special Redemption date”    3.10
“Special Redemption Trigger”    3.10
“Termination Date”    3.10

 

Section 1.03 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.

Unless explicitly stated in this Indenture, the provisions of the TIA shall not be incorporated by reference in or made a part of this Indenture.

 

Section 1.04 Rules of Construction.

Unless the context otherwise requires:

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

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

(3) “or” is not exclusive;

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

(5) “will” shall be interpreted to express a command;

(6) references to laws and statutes shall be deemed to refer to successor laws and statutes thereto;

(7) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; and

(8) references to sections of or rules under the Exchange Act, the Securities Act or the TIA will be deemed to include substitute, replacement of successor sections or rules adopted by the SEC from time to time.

 

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ARTICLE 2

THE NOTES

 

Section 2.01 Form and Dating.

(a) General. The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication will be substantially in the form of Exhibits A1 and A2 hereto. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Note will be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Company and the Guarantors shall approve the forms of the Notes and any notation, legend or endorsement thereon.

The terms and provisions contained in the Notes will constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

(b) Global Notes. Notes issued in global form will be substantially in the form of Exhibits A1 or A2 hereto. Notes issued in definitive form will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A1 hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and without the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Each Global Note will represent such of the outstanding Notes as will be specified therein and each shall provide that it represents the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby will be made by the Trustee, the Depository or the Note Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.06 hereof. The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.

(c) Temporary Global Notes. Notes offered and sold in reliance on Regulation S will be issued initially in the form of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note, which will be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with the Trustee, at its New York office, as custodian for the Depositary, and registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary for the accounts of designated agents holding on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The Restricted Period will be terminated upon the receipt by the Trustee of:

(1) a written certificate from the Depositary, together with copies of certificates from Euroclear and Clearstream certifying that they have received certification of non-United States beneficial ownership of 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note (except to the extent of any beneficial owners thereof who acquired an interest therein during the Restricted Period pursuant to another exemption from registration under the Securities Act and who will take delivery of a beneficial ownership interest in a 144A Global Note or an IAI Global Note bearing a Private Placement Legend, all as contemplated by Section 2.06(b) hereof); and

(2) an Officer’s Certificate from the Company.

 

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Following the termination of the Restricted Period, beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note will be exchanged for beneficial interests in the Regulation S Permanent Global Note pursuant to the Applicable Procedures. Simultaneously with the authentication of the Regulation S Permanent Global Note, the Trustee will cancel the Regulation S Temporary Global Note. The aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note and the Regulation S Permanent Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, in connection with transfers of interest as hereinafter provided.

(3) Euroclear and Clearstream Procedures Applicable. The provisions of the “Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System” and “Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear” and the “General Terms and Conditions of Clearstream Banking” and “Customer Handbook” of Clearstream will be applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note and the Regulation S Permanent Global Note that are held by Participants through Euroclear or Clearstream.

 

Section 2.02 Execution and Authentication.

At least one Officer of the Company must sign the Notes for the Company by manual or facsimile signature. If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time a Note is authenticated, the Note will nevertheless be valid.

A Note will not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee. The signature will be conclusive evidence that such Note has been duly and validly authenticated and issued under this Indenture.

The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is $65,000,000. The Trustee will, upon receipt of a written order of the Company signed by an Officer of the Company (an “Authentication Order”), authenticate and deliver on the date of this Indenture, the Notes in aggregate principal amount of $65,000,000. Such Authentication Order shall specify (i) the registered holder of each Note, (ii) the amount and maturity date of each Note to be authenticated, (iii) the date on which the Notes are to be authenticated, (iv) whether such Notes shall bear the Global Note Legend and/or the Private Placement Legend and (v) delivery instructions for the Notes. Furthermore, Notes may be authenticated and delivered upon registration or transfer, or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Section 2.06, 2.07, 2.10 or 9.05 or in connection with a Change of Control Offer pursuant to Section 4.15, an Asset Sale Offer pursuant to Section 3.09 or a redemption pursuant to Article 3. The aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding at any time may not exceed the aggregate principal amount of Notes authorized for issuance by the Company pursuant to one or more Authentication Orders, except as provided in Section 2.07 hereof.

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent (the “Authenticating Agent”) acceptable to the Company to authenticate Notes. 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 Authenticating Agent. An Authenticating Agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or an Affiliate of the Company.

 

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Section 2.03 Registrar and Paying Agent.

The Company will maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“Registrar”) and an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”). The Registrar will keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company will notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar. The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar and Paying Agent and to act as Note Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.

 

Section 2.04 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

The Company will require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of, premium on, if any, or interest on the Notes, and will notify the Trustee in writing of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by such Paying Agent. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary) will have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it will segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Company, the Trustee will serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.

 

Section 2.05 Holder Lists.

The Trustee will preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company will furnish to the Trustee at least seven 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 the Holders of Notes.

 

Section 2.06 Transfer and Exchange.

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. A Global Note may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. All Global Notes will be exchanged by the Company for Definitive Notes if:

(1) the Company delivers to the Trustee written notice from the Depositary that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as Depositary or that it is no longer a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 120 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary;

(2) the Company in its sole discretion determines that the Global Notes (in whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and delivers a written notice to such effect

 

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to the Trustee; provided that in no event shall the Temporary Regulation S Global Note be exchanged by the Company for Definitive Notes prior to (A) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (B) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B) under the Securities Act; or

(3) there has occurred and is continuing a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes.

Upon the occurrence of either of the preceding events in (1) or (2) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee. Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and 2.10 hereof. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to Sections 2.06, 2.07 or 2.10 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.06(a), however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.06(b), (c) or (f) hereof.

(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes will be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act. Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also will require compliance with either subparagraph (1) or (2) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:

(1) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note. Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend; provided, however, that transfers of beneficial interests in the Temporary Regulation S Global Note may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person. Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.06(b)(1).

(2) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 2.06(b)(1) above, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either:

(A) both:

(i) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and

(ii) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase; or

 

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(B) both:

(i) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and

(ii) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (i) above;

provided that in no event shall Definitive Notes be issued upon the transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note prior to (A) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (B) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903 under the Securities Act.

Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof.

(3) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(2) above and the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

(B) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note or the Regulation S Permanent Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; and

(C) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the IAI Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable.

(4) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(2) above and the Registrar receives the following:

(i) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(a) thereof; or

(ii) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

 

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and, in each such case, if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

(c) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes.

(1) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

(A) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(a) thereof;

(B) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

(C) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;

(D) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;

(E) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to an Institutional Accredited Investor in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in subparagraphs (B) through (D) above, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable;

(F) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to the Company, any Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or

(G) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c) thereof,

 

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the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(1) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.

(2) Beneficial Interests in Regulation S Temporary Global Note to Definitive Notes. Notwithstanding Sections 2.06(c)(1)(A) and (C) hereof, a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note may not be exchanged for a Definitive Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note prior to (A) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (B) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B) under the Securities Act, except in the case of a transfer pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 903 or Rule 904.

(3) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or may transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note only if the Registrar receives the following:

(i) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(b) thereof; or

(ii) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

and, in each such case, if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

(4) Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.06(b)(2) hereof, the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver to the Person

 

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designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(3) will be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest requests through instructions to the Registrar from or through the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee will deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(3)(4) will not bear the Private Placement Legend.

(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests.

(1) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes. If any Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note or to transfer such Restricted Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

(A) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(b) thereof;

(B) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

(C) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;

(D) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;

(E) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to an Institutional Accredited Investor in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in subparagraphs (B) through (D) above, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable;

(F) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to the Company, any Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or

(G) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c) thereof,

the Trustee will cancel the Restricted Definitive Note, increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of clause (A) above, the appropriate Restricted Global Note, in the case of clause (B) above, the 144A Global Note, in the case of clause (C) above, the Regulation S Global Note.

 

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(2) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note only if the Registrar receives the following:

(i) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(c) thereof; or

(ii) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

and, in each such case, if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in this Section 2.06(d)(2), the Trustee will cancel the Definitive Notes and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.

(3) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee will cancel the applicable Unrestricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global Notes.

If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to subparagraphs (2)(B), (2)(D) or (3) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee will authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive Notes so transferred.

(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.06(e), the Registrar will register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder must present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting Holder must provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.06(e).

 

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(1) Restricted Definitive Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be transferred to and registered in the name of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

(B) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; and

(C) if the transfer will be made pursuant to any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable.

(2) Restricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person or Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:

(i) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(d) thereof; or

(ii) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

and, in each such case, if the Registrar so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

(3) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A Holder of Unrestricted Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note. Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Unrestricted Definitive Notes pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.

(f) [Reserved.]

 

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(g) Legends. The following legends will appear on the face of all Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued under this Indenture unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this Indenture.

(1) Private Placement Legend.

(A) Except as permitted by subparagraph (B) below, each Global Note and each Definitive Note (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the legend in substantially the following form:

“THE NOTES EVIDENCED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE “SECURITIES ACT”) AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT (A)(1) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (2) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION COMPLYING WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (3) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE), (4) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OR (5) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (B) TO US, ANY OF THE GUARANTORS OR ANY OF THEIR SUBSIDIARIES AND (C) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE BLUE SKY LAWS OF THE STATES OF THE UNITED STATES, AND ANY SELLER 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.”

(B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraphs (b)(4), (c)(3), (c)(4), (d)(2), (d)(3), (e)(2), (e)(3) or (f) of this Section 2.06 (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) will not bear the Private Placement Legend.

(2) Global Note Legend. Each Global Note will bear a legend in substantially the following form:

“THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (1) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (3) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (4) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE

 

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DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE 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.”

(3) Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend. The Regulation S Temporary Global Note will bear a Legend in substantially the following form:

“THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE FOR CERTIFICATED NOTES, ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED HEREIN). NEITHER THE HOLDER NOR THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE PAYMENT OF INTEREST HEREON.”

(4) Original Issue Discount Legend. If required by the Code, or any regulation promulgated thereunder, each Additional Note (and the related Exchange Note) will bear a legend in substantially the following form:

“FOR THE PURPOSES OF SECTIONS 1272, 1273 AND 1275 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED, THIS SECURITY IS BEING ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT; FOR EACH $1,000 PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THIS SECURITY, THE ISSUE PRICE IS $[        ], THE AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT IS $[        ], THE ISSUE DATE IS [                    ], 20[    ] AND THE YIELD TO MATURITY IS [    ]% PER ANNUM.”

(h) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes. At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note will be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note will be reduced accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note will be increased accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

(i) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.

(1) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof or at the Registrar’s request.

 

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(2) No service charge will be made to a Holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.10, 3.06, 3.09, 4.10, 4.15 and 9.05 hereof).

(3) The Registrar will not be required to register the transfer of or exchange of any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

(4) All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes will be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

(5) Neither the Registrar nor the Company will be required:

(A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of selection;

(B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part; or

(C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a record date and the next succeeding interest payment date.

(6) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Company may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Company shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

(7) The Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof.

(8) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.06 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.

 

Section 2.07 Replacement Notes.

If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company and the Trustee and the Company receive evidence to their mutual satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Note, the Company will issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, will authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee’s and the Company’s requirements are met. An indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee, any Agent and any Authenticating Agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Company may charge for its expenses in replacing a Note.

 

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Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company and will be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.

 

Section 2.08 Outstanding Notes.

The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in this Section 2.08 as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.09 hereof, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note; however, Notes held by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company shall not be deemed to be outstanding for purposes of Section 3.07(a) hereof.

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser.

If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.01 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.

If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on a redemption date or maturity date, money sufficient to pay Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes will be deemed to be no longer outstanding and will cease to accrue interest.

 

Section 2.09 Treasury Notes.

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Company or any Guarantor, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company 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 conclusively on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that the Trustee actually knows are so owned will be so disregarded.

 

Section 2.10 Temporary Notes.

Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, will authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes will be substantially in the form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes and as may be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Company will prepare and the Trustee will authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.

Holders of temporary Notes will be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture.

 

Section 2.11 Cancellation.

The Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent will forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else will cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of

 

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transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and will destroy canceled Notes (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act). If requested by the Company, certification of the destruction of all canceled Notes will be delivered to the Company. The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

Section 2.12 Defaulted Interest.

If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it will pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Company will notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment. The Company will fix or cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date; provided that no such special record date may be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest. At least 15 days before the special record date, the Company (or, upon the written request of the Company, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company) will mail or cause to be mailed to Holders a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

 

Section 2.13 [Reserved.]

 

Section 2.14 [Reserved.]

 

Section 2.15 CUSIP, ISIN or Other Similar Numbers.

The Company in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP,” “ISIN” or other similar numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP,” “ISIN” or other similar numbers in notices of redemption or offers to purchase as a convenience to Holders; provided 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 or offer to purchase and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption or offer to purchase shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the “CUSIP,” “ISIN” or other similar numbers.

ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

 

Section 3.01 Notices to Trustee.

If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 3.07 hereof, it must furnish to the Trustee, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth:

(1) the clause of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur;

(2) the redemption date;

(3) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed; and

(4) the redemption price.

 

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Section 3.02 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased.

If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed or purchased in an offer to purchase at any time, the Trustee will select Notes for redemption or purchase on a pro rata basis (or, in the case of Notes issued in global form pursuant to Article 2 hereof, based on a method that most nearly approximates a pro rata selection as the Trustee deems fair and appropriate) unless otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange or depositary requirements.

In the event of partial redemption or purchase by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed or purchased will be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption or purchase date by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption or purchase.

The Trustee will promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes selected for redemption or purchase and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption or purchase, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed or purchased. No Notes of $2,000 or less can be redeemed in part. Notes and portions of Notes selected will be in amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed or purchased, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder shall be redeemed or purchased. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption or purchase also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase.

 

Section 3.03 Notice of Redemption.

Subject to the provisions of Section 3.09 hereof, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company will 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, except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Articles 8 or 11 hereof.

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

(1) the redemption date;

(2) the redemption price;

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

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

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

(6) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

 

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

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

At the Company’s request, the Trustee will give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense; provided, however, that the Company has delivered to the Trustee, at least 30 days prior to the redemption date (unless a shorter period is acceptable to the Trustee), an Officer’s Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.

 

Section 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption.

Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price. A notice of redemption may not be conditional.

 

Section 3.05 Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price.

On or prior to 10:00 am New York City time on the redemption or purchase date (or such later time of day to which the Trustee may reasonably agree), the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption or purchase price of, and accrued interest, if any, on, all Notes to be redeemed or purchased on that date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent will promptly return to the Company any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption or purchase price of, accrued interest, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased.

If the Company complies with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the redemption or purchase date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase. If a Note is redeemed or purchased on or after an interest record date but on or prior to the related interest payment date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such record date. If any Note called for redemption or purchase is not so paid upon surrender for redemption or purchase because of the failure of the Company to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption or purchase date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof.

 

Section 3.06 Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part.

Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed or purchased in part, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee will authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Company a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered.

 

Section 3.07 Optional Redemption.

(a) [Reserved.]

 

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(b) At any time prior to June 1, 2014, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the applicable date of redemption, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.

(c) Except pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the Notes will not be redeemable at the Company’s option prior to June 1, 2014.

(d) On or after June 1, 2014, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes redeemed, to the applicable date of redemption, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on June 1 of the years indicated below, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2014

     105.438

2015

     102.719

2016 and thereafter

     100.000

Unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on the applicable redemption date.

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

 

Section 3.08 Mandatory Redemption.

Except as set forth in Sections 3.10 and 3.11 hereof, the Company is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

 

Section 3.09 Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds.

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

The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders and all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers to purchase, prepay or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets, to purchase, prepay or redeem the maximum principal amount of notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness (plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of all fees and expenses, including premiums, incurred in connection therewith) that may be purchased, prepaid or redeemed out of such Excess Proceeds. The Asset Sale Offer will remain open for a period of at least 20 Business Days following its commencement and not more than 30 Business Days, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “Offer Period”). No later than three Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the “Purchase Date”), the Company will apply all Excess Proceeds (the “Offer Amount”) to the purchase of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness (on a pro rata basis based on the principal amount of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness surrendered, if applicable) or, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes and other Indebtedness tendered in response to the Asset Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased will be made in the same manner as interest payments are made.

 

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If the Purchase Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such record date, and no additional interest will be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer.

Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company will send, by first class mail, a notice to the Trustee and each of the Holders, with a copy to the Trustee. The notice will contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer. The notice, which will govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, will state:

(1) 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 will remain open;

(2) the Offer Amount, the purchase price and the Purchase Date;

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

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

(5) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer may elect to have Notes purchased in denominations of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof;

(6) that Holders electing to have Notes purchased pursuant to any Asset Sale Offer will be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” attached to the Notes completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Company, a Depositary, if appointed by the Company, or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days before the Purchase Date;

(7) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Company, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than the expiration of the Offer Period, a facsimile transmission or other electronic transmission 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;

(8) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness surrendered by holders thereof exceeds the Offer Amount, the Trustee will select the Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the principal amount of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness surrendered (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in denominations of $2,000, or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, will be purchased); and

(9) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer).

On or before the Purchase Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful, accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary, the Offer Amount of Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer, or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered, and will

 

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deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officer’s Certificate stating that such Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Company in accordance with the terms of this Section 3.09. The Company, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, will promptly (but in any case not later than five days after the Purchase Date) mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Company for purchase, and the Company will promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee, upon written request from the Company, will authenticate and mail or deliver (or cause to be transferred by book entry) such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof. The Company will publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer as promptly as practicable after the Purchase Date (but in any event no later than two Business Days after such date).

Other than as specifically provided in this Section 3.09, any purchase pursuant to this Section 3.09 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.

 

Section 3.10 Special Redemption.

Upon the occurrence of the earlier of the following two events (a “Special Redemption Trigger”), the Company shall redeem, within three Business Days of the occurrence of a Special Redemption Trigger, all of the outstanding Notes at a redemption price in cash equal to 106.5% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest (including, for the avoidance of doubt, pre-issuance interest) from December 1, 2012 to, but not including, the date of redemption (the “Special Redemption,” and the date on which such redemption occurs, the “Special Redemption date”):

(1) March 28, 2013 (the “Termination Date”), if the Paulin Acquisition has not been completed; or

(2) such date as the Company determines in its sole discretion that the Paulin Acquisition cannot be completed.

The Special Redemption date may be extended to the extent required under applicable law or by the applicable procedures of DTC.

 

Section 3.11 Mandatory Exchange Redemption.

If the Paulin Acquisition has occurred on or prior to the Termination Date, the Company shall, contemporaneously with the consummation of the Paulin Acquisition (or as promptly as practicable thereafter in accordance with the applicable procedures of the DTC), redeem all of the Notes then outstanding at a redemption price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount thereof (the “Mandatory Exchange Redemption”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Note, this Indenture or any other document, the consideration paid to each such Holder on the date of such Mandatory Exchange Redemption (the “Mandatory Exchange Redemption Date”) to redeem its Notes shall only consist of Permanent Notes issued by the Company in exchange for a like principal amount of Notes and having the terms described in the Existing Indenture.

Unless the Mandatory Exchange Redemption Date is a scheduled interest payment date for the Notes, the Company shall not be obligated to pay to any Holder any accrued and unpaid interest to the Mandatory Exchange Redemption Date in connection with the Mandatory Exchange Redemption, which accrued and unpaid interest will be evidenced by the Permanent Notes issued to such Holder in exchange for its Notes (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive accrued and unpaid interest from December 1, 2012 through the Mandatory Exchange Redemption Date (or more recent interest payment date) due on the relevant interest payment date).

 

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On and after the Mandatory Exchange Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on Notes called for redemption and the Notes and this Indenture will be deemed to have been satisfied and discharged in full as long as the Company has issued to each Holder of Notes, Permanent Notes in accordance with this Section 3.11.

ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

 

Section 4.01 Payment of Notes.

The Company will pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium on, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest will 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 the Company in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due.

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

 

Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency.

The Company will maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company fails to maintain any such required office or agency or fails to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission will in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

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

 

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Section 4.03 Reports.

(a) Whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company will furnish to the Holders of Notes and the Trustee (or file with the SEC for public availability and provide the Trustee with electronic notification thereof including a hyperlink to the relevant SEC website), within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations (giving effect to Rule 12h-5 and Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act):

(1) all quarterly and annual reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company were required to file such reports, including a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and, with respect to the annual 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) If the Company has designated any Significant Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, then the quarterly and annual financial information required by the preceding paragraphs will include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, 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 such Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing clauses (a) and (b), if any direct or indirect parent of the Company, including Parent or Hillman Companies, fully and unconditionally guarantees the Notes, the filing of such reports by such parent within the time periods specified above will satisfy such obligations of the Company under clauses (a) and (b) above; provided that, following effectiveness of an exchange offer registration statement or shelf registration statement, such reports shall include the information required by Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X with respect to the Company and the Guarantors.

(d) In addition, the Company and the Guarantors agree that, for so long as any Notes remain outstanding, if at any time they are not required to file with the SEC the reports required by the preceding paragraphs, they will furnish to the Holders of Notes and to securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

 

Section 4.04 Compliance Certificate.

(a) The Company and each Guarantor shall, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, an Officer’s Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year of the Company has been made under the supervision of the signing Officer 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 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 has 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) So long as any of the Notes are outstanding, the Company will deliver to the Trustee, forthwith upon any Officer becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officer’s Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto, unless such Event of Default shall have been previously cured or waived.

 

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Section 4.05 Taxes.

The Company will pay, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental levies except (a) such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or (b) where the failure to effect such payment would not have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, to perform their obligations under the Notes or this Indenture.

 

Section 4.06 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

The Company and each of the Guarantors covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will 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 the Company and each of the Guarantors (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

 

Section 4.07 Restricted Payments.

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

(i) declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment or distribution on account of the 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 and other than dividends or distributions payable to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company);

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

(iii) make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Subordinated Indebtedness (excluding any intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or among Restricted Subsidiaries), except a payment of interest or principal at the Stated Maturity thereof (other than a payment of interest on the Subordinated Intercompany Promissory Note); or

(iv) make any Restricted Investment

(all such payments and other actions set forth in these clauses (i) through (iv) above being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”),

unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment:

(1) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a consequence of such Restricted Payment;

 

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(2) the Company would, at the time of such Restricted Payment and after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Restricted Payment had been made at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, have been permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a) hereof; and

(3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries since the date of the Existing Indenture (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (10), (11) and (13) of paragraph (b) of this Section 4.07), is less than the sum, without duplication, of:

(A) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period (taken as one accounting period) from the beginning of the first fiscal quarter commencing after the date of the Existing Indenture to the end of the Company’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, if such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, less 100% of such deficit); plus

(B) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Company since the date of the Existing Indenture as a contribution to its common equity capital or from the issue or sale of Qualifying Equity Interests of the Company (in each case other than Excluded Contributions) or from the issue or sale of convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Stock of the Company or convertible or exchangeable debt securities of the Company, in each case that have been converted into or exchanged for Qualifying Equity Interests of the Company (other than Qualifying Equity Interests and convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Stock or debt securities sold to a Subsidiary of the Company); plus

(C) to the extent that any Restricted Investment that was made after the date of the Existing Indenture is (a) sold for cash or otherwise cancelled, liquidated or repaid for cash, the amount of cash received or (b) made in an entity that subsequently becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the initial amount of such Restricted Investment; plus

(D) to the extent that any Unrestricted Subsidiary designated as such after the date of the Existing Indenture is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary after the date of the Existing Indenture, the Fair Market Value of the Company’s Restricted Investment in such Subsidiary as of the date of such redesignation; plus

(E) 100% of any dividends or distributions received in cash by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a Guarantor after the date of the Existing Indenture from an Unrestricted Subsidiary, to the extent that such dividends or distributions were not otherwise included in the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for such period.

(b) The provisions of Section 4.07(a) hereof will not prohibit:

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

 

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(2) the making of any Restricted Payment in exchange for, or out of or with the net cash proceeds of the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of, Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or from the contribution of common equity capital to the Company; provided that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such Restricted Payment will not be considered to be net proceeds of Qualifying Equity Interests for purposes of Section 4.07(a)(3)(B) and will not be considered to be net cash proceeds from an Equity Offering for purposes of Section 3.07 hereof;

(3) the payment of any dividend (or, in the case of any partnership or limited liability company, any similar distribution) by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the holders of its Equity Interests on a pro rata basis;

(4) the repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds from a substantially concurrent incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, provided that any redemption of Subordinated Indebtedness for which a notice of redemption has been validly given pursuant to this Indenture or any other instrument governing such Subordinated Indebtedness and which is redeemed within 60 days of the incurrence of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall be deemed to have occurred substantially concurrent with such incurrence for purposes of this clause (4);

(5) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, payments to Parent that are used by Parent, Hillman Companies, or another direct or indirect parent of the Company to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of Parent, Hillman Companies or any other direct or indirect parent of the Company or payments to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, in each case, held by any current or former officer, director or employee of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or their estates or beneficiaries under their estates), upon their death, disability, retirement, severance or termination of employment or service; provided that the aggregate price paid for all such repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests may not exceed (A) $2.0 million in any calendar year (with unused amounts up to $1.0 million being available to be used in any succeeding calendar year for a total of up to $3.0 million in any calendar year) plus (B) the amount of any net cash proceeds received by or contributed to the Company from the issuance and sale since the date of the Existing Indenture of Qualified Equity Interests of the Company, Parent, Hillman Companies or another direct or indirect parent of the Company to its officers, directors or employees that have not been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments pursuant to the terms of Section 4.07(a)(3) or this clause (5), plus (C) the net cash proceeds of any “key-man” life insurance policies received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company after the date of the Existing Indenture that have not been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments pursuant to this clause (5); provided, further, that the cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the repurchase of Qualified Equity Interests will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment under this Indenture;

 

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(6) the repurchase of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock options to the extent such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of those stock options (or related withholding taxes);

(7) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, 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 stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company issued on or after the date of the Existing Indenture in accordance with Section 4.09 hereof;

(8) payments of cash, dividends, distributions, advances or other Restricted Payments by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to allow the payment of cash in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares upon (i) the exercise of options or warrants or (ii) the conversion or exchange of Capital Stock of any such Person;

(9) Permitted Payments to Parent;

(10) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such payment is then permitted by any Credit Facilities then in effect, without duplication, (a) distributions to Parent in an amount necessary to permit payments of interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures at the Stated Maturity of such interest payments provided such payments are applied to make payments of interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures at the Stated Maturity of such interest payments or (b) payments of interest on the Subordinated Intercompany Promissory Note at the Stated Maturity of such interest payments provided such payments are applied to make payments of interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures at the Stated Maturity of such interest payments;

(11) Restricted Payments made with Excluded Contributions;

(12) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the repurchase of any Subordinated Indebtedness at a purchase price not greater than 101% of the principal amount thereof in the event of a Change of Control pursuant to a provision no more favorable to the holders thereof than the provisions described in Section 4.15 hereof, provided that, in each case, prior to the repurchase the Company has made a Change of Control Offer to and repurchased all Notes issued under this Indenture that were validly tendered for payment in connection with the offer to purchase;

(13) distributions or dividends to Hillman Group or Parent to make the payments described in the section of the Offering Memorandum titled “Use of Proceeds” (if any); and

(14) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of $15.0 million and 2.5% of Total Assets since the date of the Existing Indenture.

The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the Fair Market Value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The Fair Market Value of any assets or securities that are required to be valued by this covenant will be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company whose resolution with respect thereto will be delivered to the trustee. For the avoidance of doubt, any “deemed dividend” resulting from the filing of a consolidated or combined tax return by any direct or indirect parent of the Company and not involving any cash distribution will not be a “Restricted Payment.”

 

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For purposes of determining compliance with this covenant, in the event that a proposed Restricted Payment (or portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Restricted Payments described in clauses (1) through (14) above, or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.07(a), the Company will be entitled to classify or re-classify (based on circumstances existing on the date of such reclassification) such Restricted Payment or portion thereof in any manner that complies with this covenant and such Restricted Payment will be treated as having been made pursuant to only such clause or clauses or Section 4.07(a).

 

Section 4.08 Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries.

(a) 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 with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or pay any indebtedness 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) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

(b) The restrictions in Section 4.08(a) hereof will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

(1) agreements governing Existing Indebtedness and Credit Facilities as in effect on the date of the Existing Indenture and any amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of those agreements; provided that the amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, with respect to such dividend and other payment restrictions than those contained in those agreements on the date of the Existing Indenture;

(2) the Existing Indenture, the Existing Notes and the related Note Guarantees;

(3) agreements governing other Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under Section 4.09 hereof and any amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of those agreements; provided that the restrictions therein will not materially adversely impact the ability of the Company to make required principal and interest payments on the Notes;

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

(5) 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

 

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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 properties or assets of the Person, so acquired;

(6) customary non-assignment or non-transfer provisions in contracts, leases and licenses entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(7) purchase money obligations for property acquired and Capital Lease Obligations that impose restrictions on the property purchased or leased of the nature described in Section 4.08(a)(3) hereof;

(8) any agreement for the sale or other disposition of assets (including the Equity Interests of a Restricted Subsidiary) that restricts transfers of assets (including distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary) pending the closing of such sale or other disposition;

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

(10) Liens permitted to be incurred under the provisions of Section 4.12 hereof that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets subject to such Liens;

(11) provisions limiting the disposition or distribution of assets or property in partnership agreements, limited liability company organizational governance documents, joint venture agreements, asset sale agreements, sale-leaseback agreements, stock sale agreements and other similar agreements (including agreements entered into in connection with a Restricted Investment), which limitation is applicable only to the assets that are the subject of such agreements; and

(12) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by suppliers, landlords or customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.08, (i) the priority of any Preferred Stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on common Equity Interests shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make distributions on Equity Interests and (ii) the subordination of loans or advances made to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to other Indebtedness incurred by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make loans or advances.

 

Section 4.09 Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock.

(a) 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), and the Company will not issue any Disqualified Stock and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred stock; provided, however, that the Company may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue Disqualified Stock, and the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue preferred stock, if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio 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

 

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is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or such preferred stock is issued, as the case may be, 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 the Disqualified Stock or the preferred stock had been issued, as the case may be, at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

(b) The provisions of Section 4.09(a) hereof will not prohibit the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness or the issuance of the following items of Disqualified Stock or preferred stock, as applicable (collectively, “Permitted Debt”):

(1) the incurrence by the Company and any Guarantor of additional Indebtedness and letters of credit under Credit Facilities in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding 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 Restricted Subsidiaries thereunder) not to exceed $420.0 million less the aggregate amount of all Net Proceeds of Asset Sales applied by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries since the date of the Existing Indenture to repay any term Indebtedness under a Credit Facility or to repay any revolving credit Indebtedness under a Credit Facility and effect a corresponding commitment reduction thereunder pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof;

(2) the incurrence by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries of (a) the Existing Indebtedness and (b) the Subordinated Intercompany Promissory Note;

(3) the incurrence by the Company and the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by the Existing Notes and the related Note Guarantees issued on the date of the Existing Indenture and the Exchange Notes and the related Note Guarantees to be issued pursuant to the related registration rights agreement;

(4) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, in each case, incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of design, construction, installation or improvement of property, plant or equipment used in the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in an aggregate principal amount, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (4), not to exceed the greater of $5.0 million and 1.5% of Total Assets at any time outstanding;

(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 renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness) that was permitted by this Indenture to be incurred under Section 4.09(a) hereof or clauses (2)(a), (3), (4), (5), (14), (15), (16) or (17) of this Section 4.09(b);

(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 or any Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness and the payee is not the Company or a Guarantor, such Indebtedness must be unsecured and expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations then due with respect to the Notes, in the case of the Company, or the Note Guarantee, in the case of a Guarantor; and

(B) (1) 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 (2) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company,

 

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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 issuance by any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries to the Company or to any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of shares of preferred stock; provided, however, that:

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

(B) any sale or other transfer of any such preferred stock to a Person that is not either the Company or Restricted Subsidiary of the Company,

will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an issuance of such preferred stock by such Restricted Subsidiary that was not permitted by this clause (7);

(8) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Hedging Obligations not entered into for speculation;

(9) the guarantee or co-issuance by the Company or any of the Guarantors of Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the extent that the guaranteed or co-issued Indebtedness was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this Section 4.09; provided that if the Indebtedness being guaranteed or co-issued is subordinated to or pari passu in right of payment with the Notes, then the Guarantee or co-issuance must be subordinated or pari passu, as applicable, in right of payment to the same extent as the Indebtedness guaranteed;

(10) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees, workers’ compensation claims, self-insurance obligations, bankers’ acceptances, guarantees, performance, surety, statutory, appeal, completion, export or import, indemnities, customs, revenue bonds or similar instruments in the ordinary course of business, including guarantees or obligations with respect thereto (in each case other than for an obligation for money borrowed); provided, however that upon the drawing of such letters of credit, such obligations are reimbursed within 30 days following such drawing;

(11) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently drawn against insufficient funds, so long as such Indebtedness is covered within five Business Days or incurrence;

(12) the incurrence by the Company of Contribution Indebtedness;

(13) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness arising from agreements providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, incurred in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than Guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any

 

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Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Restricted Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition), so long as the principal amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed the gross proceeds actually received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in connection with such transactions;

(14) Indebtedness incurred by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company, including Parent and Hillman Companies, to the extent described in Section 4.07(b)(5) hereof;

(15) Indebtedness of a Subsidiary outstanding on the date such Subsidiary was acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than Indebtedness incurred in contemplation of, or in connection with, the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such Subsidiary became a Subsidiary of or was otherwise acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company); provided that, on the date that such Subsidiary is acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and the acquisition of such Subsidiary pursuant to this clause (15), either (a) the Company would have been able to incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant or (b) the Company’s Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio would be greater than immediately prior to such acquisition;

(16) the incurrence by one or more Foreign Subsidiaries of additional Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) at any time outstanding, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (16) and then outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $20.0 million and 3% of Total Assets; and

(17) the incurrence by the Company of additional Indebtedness or Disqualified stock, or by one or more Restricted Subsidiaries of additional Indebtedness or preferred stock, in an aggregate principal amount (or accreted value or liquidation amount, as applicable) at any time outstanding, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock incurred pursuant to this clause (17) and then outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $20.0 million and 3% of Total Assets.

The Company will not incur, and will not permit any Guarantor to incur, any Indebtedness (including Permitted Debt) that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company or such Guarantor unless such Indebtedness is also contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and the applicable Note Guarantee on substantially identical terms; provided, however, that no Indebtedness will be deemed to be contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company solely by virtue of being unsecured or by virtue of being secured on a junior priority basis or pursuant to any customary provisions of any inter-creditor agreements related to the lien subordination (but not the payment subordination) of any such junior security interest.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09, in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (1) through (17) above, or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a) hereof, the Company will be permitted to classify and reclassify, in each case in its sole discretion, such item of Indebtedness and may divide, classify and reclassify (based on circumstances in existence at the time of such reclassification or redivision) such Indebtedness in more than one of the types of Indebtedness described,

 

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except that Indebtedness under Credit Facilities outstanding on the date on which Existing Notes were first issued and authenticated under the Existing Indenture will initially be deemed to have been incurred on such date in reliance on the exception provided by clause (1) of the definition of Permitted Debt. The accrual of interest or preferred stock dividends, 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, the reclassification of preferred stock as Indebtedness due to a change in accounting principles and the payment of dividends on preferred stock or Disqualified Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of preferred stock or Disqualified Stock will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of preferred stock or 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. For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be utilized, calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.09, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may incur pursuant to this Section 4.09 shall not be deemed to be exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in exchange rates or currency values.

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

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

(A) the Fair Market Value of such assets at the date of determination; and

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

 

Section 4.10 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 the 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 with respect to such Asset Sale) of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of; and

(2) at least 75% of the total consideration received in the Asset Sale by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents. For purposes of this provision, each of the following will be deemed to be cash:

(A) any liabilities, as shown on Hillman Companies’ most recent consolidated balance sheet, of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are Subordinated Indebtedness) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation or indemnity agreement that releases the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from or indemnifies against further liability;

 

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(B) any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are promptly, but in any event within 90 days of the consummation of the Asset Sale, subject to ordinary settlement periods, converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash, to the extent of the cash received in that conversion;

(C) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Asset Sale having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (c) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $15.0 million and 2.5% of Total Assets at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration (with the Fair Market Value of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); and

(D) any stock or assets of the kind referred to in clauses (3) or (5) of the next paragraph of this Section 4.10.

Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale, the Company (or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) may apply such Net Proceeds:

(1) to repay Indebtedness and other Obligations under a Credit Facility that are secured by a Lien and, if the Indebtedness repaid is revolving credit Indebtedness, to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto;

(2) to repay or repurchase and retire any Indebtedness that was secured by the assets sold in such Asset Sale;

(3) to acquire all or substantially all of the assets of, or any Capital Stock of, another Permitted Business, if, after giving effect to any such acquisition of Capital Stock, the Permitted Business is or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

(4) to make a capital expenditure;

(5) to acquire other assets that are not classified as current assets under GAAP and that are used or useful in a Permitted Business; or

(6) any combination of clauses (1) through (5);

provided, that, if during the 365 day period following the consummation of an Asset Sale the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary enters into a definitive binding agreement committing it to apply the Net Proceeds in accordance with the requirements of the above clauses after such 365 period, such 365 day period will be extended with respect to the amount of Net Proceeds so committed until such Net Proceeds are required to be applied in accordance with such agreement (but such extension will in no event be for a period longer than 180 days) (or, if earlier, the date of termination of such agreement).

Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds, the Company (or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary) may temporarily reduce revolving credit borrowings or otherwise invest the Net Proceeds in

 

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any manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture. Following the entering into of a binding agreement with respect to an Asset Sale and prior to the consummation thereof, cash or Cash Equivalents (whether or not actual Net Proceeds of such Asset Sale) used for the purposes described in clauses (1) through (6) above that are designated as used in accordance therewith, and not previously or subsequently so designated in respect of any other Asset Sale, shall be deemed to be Net Proceeds applied in accordance therewith.

Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in the second paragraph of this Section 4.10 will constitute “Excess Proceeds.” When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $15.0 million, within 30 days thereof, the Company will make an Asset Sale Offer to (A) all Holders of Notes and (B) all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu in right of payment with the Notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers to purchase, prepay or redeem with the proceeds of asset sales, to purchase, prepay or redeem the maximum principal amount of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness (plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of all fees and expenses, including premiums, incurred in connection therewith) that may be purchased, prepaid or redeemed out of the Excess Proceeds. The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase, prepayment or redemption, subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, and will be payable in cash. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, such amounts shall no longer be considered Excess Proceeds for purposes of this Indenture and the Company may use those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness tendered in (or required to be prepaid or redeemed in connection with) such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee will select the Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis, based on the amounts tendered or required to be prepaid or redeemed (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in denominations of $2,000, or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, will be purchased). 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 Section 3.09 hereof or 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 Section 3.09 hereof or this Section 4.10 by virtue of such compliance.

 

Section 4.11 Transactions with Affiliates.

(a) 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”) involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $5.0 million, 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; and

 

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(2) the Company delivers to the Trustee:

(A) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $10.0 million, the Company delivers to the Trustee a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company set forth in an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (1) of this Section 4.11(a) and that such Affiliate Transaction has been approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of the Company; and

(B) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $25.0 million, an opinion as to the fairness to the Company or such Subsidiary of such Affiliate Transaction from a financial point of view issued by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing.

(b) The following items will not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions and, therefore, will not be subject to the provisions of Section 4.11(a) hereof:

(1) any employment agreement, employee benefit plan, officer or director indemnification agreement or any similar arrangement entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and payments and other benefits (including bonuses, retirement, severances, health, stock option and other benefit plans) pursuant thereto;

(2) transactions between or among (A) the Company and one or more Restricted Subsidiaries or (B) Restricted Subsidiaries;

(3) transactions with a Person (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company) that is an Affiliate of the Company solely because the Company owns, directly or through a Restricted Subsidiary, an Equity Interest in, or controls, such Person;

(4) payment of reasonable and customary fees and reimbursements of expenses (pursuant to indemnity arrangements or otherwise) of officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(5) (A) any issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company to Affiliates of the Company (or contributions in respect of such Equity Interests by Affiliates) and the granting of registration and other customary rights in connection therewith, (B) contributions to the common capital of the Company or (C) the granting of registration and other customary rights related to Equity Interests to Affiliates of the Company;

(6) Restricted Payments or Permitted Investments that do not violate Section 4.07 hereof;

(7) loans or advances (or the cancellation thereof) to officers, directors, employees or consultants not to exceed $2.0 million in the aggregate at any one time outstanding;

(8) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, or purchasers or sellers of goods or services that are Affiliates, in each case in the ordinary course of business and which, in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors of the Company are on terms at least as favorable as would reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party;

 

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(9) (x) any agreement described in the section of the Existing Notes Offering Memorandum titled “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” as in effect on the date of the Existing Indenture or as thereafter amended, renewed or replaced in any manner, that, taken as a whole, is not more disadvantageous to the Holders of the Notes or the Company in any material respect than such agreement as it was in effect on the date of the Existing Indenture or (y) any transaction pursuant to any agreement referred to in the immediately preceding clause (x);

(10) any transaction with an Affiliate where the only consideration paid by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary is Qualified Equity Interests;

(11) transactions permitted by, and complying with, the provisions of Section 5.01 hereof;

(12) transactions between the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any Person that is an Affiliate solely because one or more of its directors is also a director of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company; provided that such director abstains from voting as a director of the Company or such direct or indirect parent, as the case may be, on any matter involving such other Person;

(13) transactions entered into in good faith with any of the Company’s or a Restricted Subsidiary’s Affiliates which provide for shared services and/or facilities arrangements and which provide cost savings and/or other operational efficiencies to the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors, and payments related thereto;

(14) Permitted Payments to Parent;

(15) the entering into of any tax sharing agreement that provides for payments to Parent or any other direct or indirect parent of the Company no greater than the amounts provided for in clause (2) of the definition of “Permitted Payments to Parent;” and

(16) the Subordinated Intercompany Promissory Note and the payments of interest thereon at the Stated Maturity of such interest payments.

 

Section 4.12 Liens.

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien of any kind securing Indebtedness on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired, except Permitted Liens.

 

Section 4.13 Business Activities.

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, engage in any business other than Permitted Businesses, except to such extent as would not be material to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

 

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Section 4.14 Corporate Existence.

Subject to Article 5 hereof, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect:

(1) 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; and

(2) the rights (charter and statutory) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof would not have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to perform their obligations under the Notes and the Indenture.

 

Section 4.15 Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control.

(a) If there is a Change of Control, the Company will be required to make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each Holder to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of that Holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes repurchased to the date of purchase, subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date (in either case, the “Change of Control Payment”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company will mail, or cause to be mailed, a notice to each Holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and stating:

(1) that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.15 and that all Notes tendered will be accepted for payment;

(2) the purchase price and the purchase date, which shall be a Business day no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the “Change of Control Payment Date”);

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

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

(5) that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender the Notes, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” attached to the Notes completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date;

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

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

 

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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 the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change in Control. 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 this Section 4.15 by virtue of such compliance.

(b) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful:

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

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

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

The Paying Agent will promptly mail (but in any case not later than five days after the Change of Control Payment Date) to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any. The Company will publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.15, the Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if (1) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section 4.15 and purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under the Change of Control Offer, or (2) notice of redemption has been given pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof, unless and until there is a default in payment of the applicable redemption price.

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

 

Section 4.16 [Reserved]

 

Section 4.17 Additional Note Guarantees.

If the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries acquires or creates another Domestic Subsidiary after the date of this Indenture, then the Company will cause that newly acquired or created Domestic Subsidiary to provide a Note Guarantee pursuant to a supplemental indenture in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and deliver an Opinion of Counsel reasonably

 

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satisfactory to the Trustee within 20 Business Days of the date on which it was acquired or created. Such Opinion of Counsel will state to the effect that such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by that Domestic Subsidiary and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of that Domestic Subsidiary, enforceable in accordance with its terms (subject to customary exceptions). The form of such supplemental indenture is attached as Exhibit E hereto.

 

Section 4.18 Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if that designation would not cause a Default. If a Restricted Subsidiary 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 designated as Unrestricted will be deemed to be an Investment made as of the time of the designation and will reduce the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.07 hereof or under one or more clauses of the definition of Permitted Investments, as determined by the Company. That designation will only be permitted if the Investment would be permitted at that time and if the Restricted Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The Board of Directors of the Company may redesignate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary if that redesignation would not cause a Default.

Any designation of a Subsidiary of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of a resolution of the Board of Directors giving effect to such designation and an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the preceding conditions and was permitted by Section 4.07 hereof. 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 hereof, the Company will be in default of such covenant. 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 hereof, calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the applicable 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.

The Company shall not, directly or indirectly: (1) consolidate or merge with or into another Person (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation); or (2) sell, assign, lease, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, in one or more related transactions, to another Person, unless:

(1) either:

(A) the Company is the surviving corporation; or

(B) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made is an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia; and, if such entity is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the Notes is a corporation organized or existing under any such laws;

 

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(2) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture pursuant to agreements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

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

(4) 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, conveyance or other disposition has been made would, on the date of such transaction 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 (i) be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a) hereof; or (ii) have had a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio greater than the actual Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company for such four-quarter period.

This Section 5.01 will not apply to any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, lease or other disposition of assets between or among the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries. Clauses (3) and (4) of this Section 5.01 will not apply to (1) any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into one of its Restricted Subsidiaries for any purpose or (2) with or into an Affiliate solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Company in another jurisdiction.

 

Section 5.02 Successor Corporation Substituted.

Upon the consummation of any transaction effected in accordance with Section 5.01, if the Company is not the continuing Person, the resulting, surviving or transferee Person will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture and the Notes with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company in this Indenture. Upon such substitution, except in the case of a lease of all or substantially all its assets, the Company will be released from its obligations under this Indenture and the Notes.

ARTICLE 6

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

Section 6.01 Events of Default.

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

(1) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on the Notes;

(2) default in the payment when due (at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise) of the principal of, or premium on, if any, the Notes;

 

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(3) failure by the Company to accept and pay for Notes tendered when and as required by the provisions of this Indenture described in Sections 4.10 or 4.15 or failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with the provisions of Section 5.01 hereof;

(4) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 60 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class to comply with any of the other agreements in this Indenture;

(5) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), whether such Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists, or is created after the date of this Indenture, if that default:

(A) is caused by a failure to pay such Indebtedness at final maturity after the expiration of any applicable grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default (a “Payment Default”); or

(B) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity,

and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $10.0 million or more;

(6) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction aggregating in excess of $10.0 million (excluding amounts which insurance carriers of the Hillman Companies, Parent, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiaries have expressly agreed to pay under applicable policies), which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed, for a period of 60 days;

(7) except as permitted by this Indenture, any Note Guarantee of any Significant Subsidiary 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 Note Guarantee;

(8) the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law:

(A) commences a voluntary case,

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

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

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

 

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

(A) is for relief against the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case;

(B) appoints a custodian of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; or

(C) orders the liquidation of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary;

and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days.

 

Section 6.02 Acceleration.

In the case of an Event of Default specified in clause (8) or (9) of Section 6.01 hereof, with respect to the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Upon any such declaration, the Notes shall become due and payable immediately.

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of all of the Holders of all the Notes, rescind an acceleration and its consequences hereunder, if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (except nonpayment of principal of, premium on, if any, or interest on the Notes that has become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived.

 

Section 6.03 Other Remedies.

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

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

 

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Section 6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults.

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes by written 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 principal of, premium on, if any, or interest on the Notes (including in connection with an offer to purchase); provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment Default that resulted from such acceleration. Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 6.05 Control by Majority.

Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of 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 that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Notes or the Trustee or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability provided however, that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction. Prior to taking any action hereunder, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnity satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

 

Section 6.06 Limitation on Suits.

No Holder of a Note may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:

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

(2) Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

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

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

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

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

 

Section 6.07 Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal of, premium on, if any, or interest on the Note, on or after the respective due

 

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dates expressed in the Note (including in connection with an offer to purchase), or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

 

Section 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee.

If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(1) or (2) hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of principal of, premium on, if any, and interest 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 reasonable compensation, 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 Company (or any other obligor upon the Notes), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

Section 6.10 Priorities.

If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article 6, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

First: to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection;

Second: to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, 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, if any, respectively; and

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

 

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

 

Section 6.11 Undertaking for Costs.

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

ARTICLE 7

TRUSTEE

 

Section 7.01 Duties of Trustee.

(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee will 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:

(1) the duties of the Trustee will 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

(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee will examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

(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:

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

(2) the Trustee will 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; and

(3) the Trustee will 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.

(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) No provision of this Indenture will require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at the request of any Holders, unless such Holder has offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

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

 

Section 7.02 Rights of Trustee.

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

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel, accountant, appraiser or other expert or adviser of its selection (any of the foregoing, an “Advisor”), whether retained or employed by the Company, or by the Trustee, and the written advice of such Advisor or any Opinion of Counsel will 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 will not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent or attorney appointed with due care.

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

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

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

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

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

(i) Except with respect to information contained in the Officer’s Certificate delivered to it pursuant to this Section 4.04 of this Indenture, the Trustee shall have no duty to monitor or investigate the Company’s compliance with, or the breach of, any representation, warranty or covenant made in this Indenture.

 

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(j) Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee described in Section 4.03 of this Indenture is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely conclusively on Officer’s Certificates). The Trustee is under no duty to examine such reports, information or documents to ensure compliance with the provision of this indenture or to ascertain the correctness or otherwise of the information or the statements contained therein.

(k) 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.

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

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

 

Section 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee.

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or any Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee (if this Indenture has been qualified under the TIA) or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11 hereof.

 

Section 7.04 Trustee’s Disclaimer.

The Trustee will not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes or the Note Guarantees, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Company or upon the Company’s direction under any provision of this Indenture, it will not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it will 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 it is known to the Trustee, Trustee, unless such Default or Event of Default has been cured or waived, will mail to Holders of Notes a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium on, if any, or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice and shall be protected in withholding such 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 Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes.

(a) Within 60 days after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following the date of this Indenture, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee will mail to the Holders of the Notes a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with TIA §313(a) (but if no event described in TIA §313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also will comply with TIA §313(b)(2). The Trustee will also transmit by mail all reports as required by TIA §313(c).

(b) A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders of Notes will be mailed by the Trustee to the Company and filed by the Trustee with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Notes are listed in accordance with TIA §313(d). The Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing when the Notes are listed on any stock exchange or any delisting thereof.

 

Section 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity.

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

(b) The Company and the Guarantors jointly and severally will indemnify the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee, including its officers, directors, agents and employees, and hold them harmless, against any and all losses, liabilities or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company and the Guarantors (including this Section 7.07) and reasonable fees and expenses of counsel and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, the Guarantors, 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, bad faith or willful misconduct. The Trustee will notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company will not relieve the Company or any of the Guarantors of their obligations hereunder. The Company or such Guarantor will defend the claim and the Trustee will cooperate in the defense. To the extent there exists a conflict of interest, the Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor need pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld.

(c) The obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under this Section 7.07 will survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

(d) To secure the Company’s and the Guarantors’ payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the Trustee will 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 of, premium on, if any, or interest on particular Notes. Such Lien will survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

(e) When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(8) or (9) 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.

(f) The Trustee will comply with the provisions of TIA §313(b)(2) to the extent applicable.

 

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Section 7.08 Replacement of Trustee.

(a) A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee will become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08.

(b) The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company may remove the Trustee if:

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

(2) 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;

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

(4) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

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

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

(e) 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.

(f) A successor Trustee will deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee will become effective, and the successor Trustee will have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee will mail a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee will 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 Company’s obligations under Section 7.07 hereof will continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

 

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Section 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act will be the successor Trustee.

 

Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification.

There will at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $100.0 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

This Indenture will always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA §310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA §310(b).

 

Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

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

ARTICLE 8

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

Section 8.01 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The Company may at any time, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by a resolution set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, elect to have either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof be applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.

 

Section 8.02 Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Company and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes (including the Note Guarantees) on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company and the Guarantors will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes (including the Note Guarantees), which will 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 clauses (1) and (2) below, and to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Notes, the Note Guarantees and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which will survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

(1) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium on, if any, or interest on, such Notes when such payments are due from the trust referred to in Section 8.04 hereof;

 

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(2) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Notes under Article 2 and Section 4.02 hereof;

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

(4) this Article 8.

Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof.

 

Section 8.03 Covenant Defeasance.

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Company and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from each of their obligations under Article 10 of this Indenture, the Note Guarantees and the covenants contained in Article 4 (other than Sections 4.01, 4.02, 4.04, 4.06 and 4.14 (but only with regard to the Company’s existence)) and clauses (3) and (4) of Section 5.01 hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Notes will 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 will continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes will not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes and Note Guarantees, the Company and the Guarantors may omit to comply with and will 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 will 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 will be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Sections 6.01(3), (4), (5), (6) and (7) hereof will not constitute Events of Default.

 

Section 8.04 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance under either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof:

(1) the Company 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 investment bank, appraisal firm, or firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium on, if any, and interest, if any, on, the outstanding Notes on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to such stated date for payment or to a particular redemption date;

 

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(2) in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that:

(A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or

(B) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law,

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

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

(4) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit (and any similar concurrent deposit relating to other Indebtedness), and the granting of Liens to secure such borrowings);

(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture and the agreements governing any other Indebtedness being defeased, discharged, refinanced or replaced) to which the Company or any of the Guarantors is a party or by which the Company or any of the Guarantors is bound;

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

(7) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

 

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

Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes will be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

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

Notwithstanding anything in this Article 8 to the contrary, the Trustee will deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or 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(1) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

Section 8.06 Repayment to Company.

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium on, if any, or interest, if any, on, any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request or (if then held by the Company) will be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note will thereafter be permitted to look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, will thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may (but shall not be obligated) at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which will not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

 

Section 8.07 Reinstatement.

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

ARTICLE 9

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

 

Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders of Notes.

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

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

 

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

(3) to provide for the assumption of the Company’s or a Guarantor’s obligations to the Holders of the Notes and Note Guarantees by a successor to the Company or such Guarantor pursuant to Article 5 or Article 10 hereof;

(4) 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 rights hereunder of any Holder;

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

(6) to conform the text of this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees to any provision of the “Description of Notes” section of the Offering Memorandum, to the extent that such provision in that “Description of Notes” was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, which intent may be evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate to that effect;

(7) to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture and/or a Note Guarantee with respect to the Notes or to secure the Notes; or

(8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of the appointment of a successor Trustee.

Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee will not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

Section 9.02 With Consent of Holders of Notes.

Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture (including, without limitation, Section 3.09, 4.10 and 4.15 hereof) and the Notes and the Note Guarantees with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes voting as a single class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes), and, subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium on, if any, or interest, if any, on, the Notes, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes voting as a single class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes). Section 2.08 hereof shall determine which Notes are considered to be “outstanding” for purposes of this Section 9.02.

 

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However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

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

(2) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or alter or waive any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Notes (except as provided above with respect to Sections 3.09, 4.10 and 4.15 hereof);

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

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

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

(6) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments of principal of, premium on, if any, or interest on the Notes;

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

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

(9) make any change in the preceding amendment and waiver provisions.

Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture unless such amended or supplemental indenture directly affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but will not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture.

It is not necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver, but it is sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Company will mail to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, will not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver.

 

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Section 9.03 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.

Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes will be set forth in an amended or supplemental indenture.

 

Section 9.04 Revocation and Effect of Consents.

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

 

Section 9.05 Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

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

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

 

Section 9.06 Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.

The Trustee will sign any amended or supplemental indenture authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. The Company may not sign an amended or supplemental indenture until the Board of Directors of the Company approves it. In executing any amended or supplemental indenture, the Trustee will be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) will be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 12.04 hereof, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.

ARTICLE 10

NOTE GUARANTEES

 

Section 10.01 Guarantee.

(a) Subject to this Article 10, to the fullest extent permitted by law each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that:

(1) the principal of, premium on, if any, and interest, if any, on, the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of, premium on, if any, and interest, if any, on, the Notes, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and

(2) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration or otherwise.

 

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Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.

(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder are unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance (other than complete performance) which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. To the fullest extent permitted by law, each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenant that this Note Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture.

(c) If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Company or the Guarantors, any amount paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Note Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, will be reinstated in full force and effect.

(d) Each Guarantor agrees that it will not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (1) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 hereof for the purposes of this Note Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (2) 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) will forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Note Guarantee. The Guarantors will 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 Note Guarantee.

 

Section 10.02 Limitation on Guarantor Liability.

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

 

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from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article 10, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Note Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

 

Section 10.03 Execution and Delivery of Note Guarantee.

To evidence its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 hereof, each Guarantor hereby agrees that a notation of such Note Guarantee substantially in the form attached as Exhibit D hereto will be endorsed by an Officer of such Guarantor on each Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and that this Indenture will be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by one of its Officers.

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 hereof will remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such Note Guarantee.

If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture or on the Note Guarantee no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note on which a Note Guarantee is endorsed, the Note Guarantee will be valid nevertheless.

The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, will constitute due delivery of the Note Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.

 

Section 10.04 Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 10.05 hereof, no Guarantor may sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to, or 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:

(1) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and

(2) either:

(a) subject to Section 10.05 hereof, the Person acquiring the property in any such sale or disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger unconditionally assumes all the obligations of that Guarantor under its Note Guarantee and this Indenture on the terms set forth herein or therein, pursuant to a supplemental indenture in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee; or

(b) in the case of any Guarantor other than Hillman Companies or Parent, the Net Proceeds of such sale or other disposition are applied in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture, including without limitation, Section 4.10 hereof.

In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance and upon the assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and reasonably satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the Note Guarantee endorsed upon the Notes and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Guarantor, such successor Person will succeed to and be substituted for the Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named herein as a Guarantor. Such successor Person thereupon may cause to be signed any or all of the Note Guarantees to be endorsed upon all of the Notes issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee. All the Note

 

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Guarantees so issued will in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Note Guarantees theretofore and thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Note Guarantees had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

Except as set forth in Articles 4 and 5 hereof, and notwithstanding clauses 2(a) and (b) above, nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Notes will prevent any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the Company or another Guarantor, or will prevent any sale or conveyance of the property of a Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Company or another Guarantor.

 

Section 10.05 Releases.

(a) In the event of any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of any Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, then the Person acquiring the property will be released and relieved of any obligations under the Note Guarantee;

(b) In the event of any sale or other disposition of Capital Stock of any 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 and such Guarantor ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as a result of the sale or other disposition, then such Guarantor will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Note Guarantee;

provided, in both cases, that such sale or other disposition does not violate Section 4.10 hereof. Upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such sale or other disposition was made by the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, including without limitation Section 4.10 hereof, the Trustee will execute any documents reasonably required in order to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its obligations under its Note Guarantee.

(c) Upon designation of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, such Guarantor will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Note Guarantee.

(d) Upon Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance in accordance with Article 8 hereof or satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture in accordance with Article 10 hereof, each Guarantor will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Note Guarantee.

Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Note Guarantee as provided in this Section 10.05 will remain liable for the full amount of principal of, premium on, if any, and interest, if any, on, the Notes and for the other obligations of any Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in this Article 10.

ARTICLE 11

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

Section 11.01 Satisfaction and Discharge.

This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all Notes issued hereunder, 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 Company, 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 by reason of the mailing of a notice of redemption or otherwise or will become due and payable by reason of redemption or final maturity within one year and the Company 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 thereof, in such 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 interest, if any, to the date of maturity or redemption;

 

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(2) in respect of subclause (b) of clause (1) of this Section 11.01, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of the deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit and any similar deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens to secure such borrowings) and the deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other material instrument to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Company or any Guarantor is bound (other than this Indenture and the agreements governing any other Indebtedness being defeased, discharged, refinanced or replaced);

(3) the Company or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under this Indenture; and

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

In addition, the Company must deliver an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money has been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (b) of clause (1) of this Section 11.01, the provisions of Sections 11.02 and 8.06 hereof will survive. In addition, nothing in this Section 11.01 will be deemed to discharge those provisions of Section 7.07 hereof, that, by their terms, survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

 

Section 11.02 Application of Trust Money.

Subject to the provisions of Section 8.06 hereof, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 11.01 hereof by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or

 

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judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s and any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof; provided that if the Company has made any payment of principal of, premium on, if any, or interest, if any, on, any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE 12

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 12.01 Trust Indenture Act Controls.

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by TIA §318(c), the imposed duties will control.

 

Section 12.02 Notices.

Any notice or communication by the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in Person or by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), facsimile transmission or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

If to the Company and/or any Guarantor:

The Hillman Group, Inc.

10590 Hamilton Avenue

Cincinnati, Ohio 45231

Facsimile No.: (513) 595-8297

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

With a copy to:

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

1285 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10019

Facsimile No.: (212) 492-0025

Attention: John C. Kennedy

If to the Trustee:

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

150 East 42nd Street, 40th Floor

New York, New York 10017

Facsimile No.: (917) 260-1593

Attention: Corporate Trust - Hillman Administrator

The Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee, by notice to the others, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) will 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 acknowledged, if transmitted by facsimile; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

 

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Any notice or communication to a Holder will 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. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it will not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

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

If the Company mails a notice or communication to Holders, it will mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

 

Section 12.03 [Reserved.]

 

Section 12.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

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

(1) an Officer’s Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which must include the statements set forth in Section 12.05 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

(2) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which must include the statements set forth in Section 12.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.

 

Section 12.05 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture must include:

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

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

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

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

 

Section 12.06 Rules by Trustee and Agents.

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

 

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Section 12.07 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders.

No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, this Indenture, the Note Guarantees 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. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

 

Section 12.08 Governing Law.

THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE NOTE GUARANTEES WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

 

Section 12.09 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

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

 

Section 12.10 Successors.

All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Notes will bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture will bind its successors. All agreements of each Guarantor in this Indenture will bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.05 hereof.

 

Section 12.11 Severability.

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

 

Section 12.12 Counterpart Originals.

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

 

Section 12.13 Table of Contents, Headings, etc.

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

 

Section 12.14 Facsimile and PDF Delivery of Signature Pages.

The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or portable document format (“PDF”) transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

 

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Section 12.15 U.S.A. Patriot Act.

The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. 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 as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

[Signatures on following page]

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Dated as of December 21, 2012    
    THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.
    THE HILLMAN COMPANIES, INC.
    HILLMAN INVESTMENT COMPANY
    ALL POINTS INDUSTRIES, INC.
    SUNSUB C INC.
    By:  

/s/ Anthony A. Vasconcellos

      Name:   Anthony A. Vasconcellos
      Title:   Chief Financial Officer


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

By:  

/s/ Raymond Delli Colli

  Name: Raymond Delli Colli
  Title: Vice President


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

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

[Insert the OID Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

[Face of Note]

CUSIP/CINS                     

10.875% Senior Notes due 2018

 

No.       $        

THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.

promises to pay to                      or registered assigns,

the principal sum of                                                                               DOLLARS on May 31, 2018.

Interest Payment Dates: June 1 and December 1, except for the final interest payment date, which shall be May 31, 2018

Record Dates: May 15 and November 15

Dated:             , 2012

 

THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

This is one of the Notes referred to

in the within-mentioned Indenture:

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

A1-1


[Back of Note]

10.875% Senior Notes due 2018

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

(1) INTEREST. The Hillman Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), promises to pay or cause to be paid interest on the principal amount of this Note at 10.875% per annum from             ,          until maturity. The Company will pay interest semi-annually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year (except for the final interest payment date, which shall be May 31, 2018), 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 issuance; provided that, if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided further that the first Interest Payment Date shall be             ,         . The Company will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate that is equal to the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest, if any (without regard to any applicable grace period), at the same rate to the extent lawful.

Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

(2) METHOD OF PAYMENT. The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the May 15 or November 15 next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium, if any, and interest at the office or agency of the Paying Agent and Registrar within the City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders; provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of, premium on, if any, and interest on all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which will have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying Agent. Such payment will 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, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change the Paying Agent or Registrar without prior notice to the Holders of the Notes. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

(4) INDENTURE. The Company issued the Notes under that certain Temporary Notes Indenture dated as of December 21, 2012 (the “Indenture”) among the Company, 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. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the

 

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provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling. The Notes are unsecured obligations of the Company. The Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be issued thereunder.

(5) OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.

(a) [Reserved.]

(b) At any time prior to June 1, 2014, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the applicable date of redemption, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

(c) Except pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the Notes will not be redeemable at the Company’s option prior to June 1, 2014.

(d) On or after June 1, 2014, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes redeemed, to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on June 1 of the years indicated below, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant Interest Payment Date:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2014

     105.438

2015

     102.719

2016 and thereafter

     100.000

Unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on the applicable redemption date.

(6) MANDATORY REDEMPTION. Except as set forth in paragraphs (7) and (8) hereof, the Company is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

(7) SPECIAL MANDATORY REDEMPTION. Upon the occurrence of a Special Redemption Trigger, the Company shall redeem, within three Business Days of the occurrence of a Special Redemption Trigger, all of the Notes outstanding at a redemption price in cash equal to 106.5% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest (including, for the avoidance of doubt, pre-issuance interest) from December 1, 2012 to, but not including, the Special Redemption date.

The Special Redemption date may be extended to the extent required under applicable law or by the applicable procedures of DTC.

(8) MANDATORY EXCHANGE REDEMPTION. If the Paulin Acquisition has occurred on or prior to the Termination Date, the Company shall, contemporaneously with the consummation of the Paulin Acquisition (or as promptly as practicable thereafter in accordance with the

 

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applicable procedures of the DTC), effect the Mandatory Exchange Redemption. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Note, this Indenture or any other document, the consideration paid to each such Holder on the Mandatory Exchange Redemption Date to redeem its Notes shall only consist of Permanent Notes issued by the Company in exchange for a like principal amount of Notes and having the terms described in the Existing Indenture.

Unless the Mandatory Exchange Redemption Date is a scheduled interest payment date for the Notes, the Company shall not be obligated to pay to any Holder any accrued and unpaid interest to the Mandatory Exchange Redemption Date in connection with the Mandatory Exchange Redemption, which accrued and unpaid interest will be evidenced by the Permanent Notes issued to such Holder in exchange for its Notes (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive accrued and unpaid interest from December 1, 2012 through the Mandatory Exchange Redemption Date (or more recent interest payment date) due on the relevant interest payment date).

On and after the Mandatory Exchange Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on Notes called for redemption and the Notes and the Indenture will be deemed to have been satisfied and discharged in full as long as the Company has issued to each Holder of Notes, Permanent Notes in accordance with this Section 3.11.

(9) REPURCHASE AT THE OPTION OF HOLDER.

(a) If there is a Change of Control, the Company will be required to make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each Holder to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of that Holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes repurchased to the date of purchase, subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date. Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company will mail, or cause to be mailed, a notice to each Holder setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as required by the Indenture.

(b) If the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company consummates any Asset Sales, within 30 days of each date on which the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $15.0 million, the Company will make an Asset Sale Offer to (A) all Holders of Notes and (B) all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu in right of payment with the Notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in the Indenture with respect to offers to purchase, prepay or redeem with the proceeds of asset sales, to purchase, prepay or redeem the maximum principal amount of notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness (plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of all fees and expenses, including premiums, incurred in connection therewith) that may be purchased, prepaid or redeemed out of the Excess Proceeds. The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase, prepayment or redemption, subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, and will be payable in cash. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, such amounts shall no longer be considered Excess Proceeds for purposes of this Indenture and the Company may use those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness tendered in (or required to be prepaid or redeemed in connection with) such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee will select the Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis,

 

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based on the amounts tendered or required to be prepaid or redeemed. Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero. Holders of Notes 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” attached to the Notes.

(10) NOTICE OF REDEMPTION. For purposes of a redemption described in paragraphs (5) or (9), at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company will 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, except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture pursuant to Articles 8 or 11 thereof. Notes and portions of Notes selected will be in amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed or purchased, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder shall be redeemed or purchased

(11) DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE. The Notes are in registered form in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company 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, the Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.

(12) PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes. Only registered Holders have rights under the Indenture.

(13) AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER. Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes voting as a single class, and any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes voting as a single class. Without the consent of any Holder of Notes, the Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be amended or supplemented to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to provide for the assumption of the Company’s or a Guarantor’s obligations to Holders of the Notes and Note Guarantees by a successor to the Company or such Guarantor pursuant to the Indenture, 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 rights under the Indenture of any Holder, to comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the TIA, to conform the text of the Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees to any provision of the “Description of Notes” section of the Offering Memorandum, to the extent that such provision in that “Description of Notes” was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees, which intent may be evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate to that effect, to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture to the Indenture and/or a Note Guarantee with respect to the Notes, or to evidence and provide for the acceptance of the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

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(14) DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES. Events of Default include: (i) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on the Notes; (ii) default in the payment when due (at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise) of the principal of, or premium on, if any, the Notes, (iii) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with the provisions of Sections 4.10 or 4.15 or failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with the provisions of Section 5.01 of the Indenture; (iv) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 60 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class to comply with any of the other agreements in the Indenture; (v) default under certain other agreements relating to Indebtedness of the Company which default is a Payment Default or results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity; (vi) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay certain final judgments, which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed, for a period of 60 days; (vii) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; and (viii) except as permitted by the Indenture, any Note Guarantee of any Significant Subsidiary 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 Note Guarantee. In the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of 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. 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 that withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of all the Holders, rescind an acceleration or waive an existing Default or Event of Default and its respective consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, premium on, if any, or interest on, the Notes (including in connection with an offer to purchase). The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Company is required, upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.

(15) TRUSTEE DEALINGS WITH COMPANY. The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.

(16) NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Indenture, the Note Guarantees 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. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

 

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(17) AUTHENTICATION. This Note will not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent.

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

(19) [RESERVED.]

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

(21) GOVERNING LAW. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THE INDENTURE, THIS NOTE AND THE NOTE GUARANTEES WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

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

The Hillman Group, Inc.,

10590 Hamilton Avenue

Cincinnati, Ohio, 45231

Attention: Chief Financial Officer.

 

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ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:  

 

  (Insert assignee’s legal name)

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)

 

 

 

 

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

 

and irrevocably appoint  

 

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

 

Date:                         
  Your Signature:  

 

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

 

Signature Guarantee*:  

 

  

 

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

 

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OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

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

¨  Section 4.10                     ¨  Section 4.15

If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

$        

 

Date:                         
  Your Signature:  

 

  (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)
  Tax Identification No.:  

 

 

Signature Guarantee*:  

 

  

 

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

 

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SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of Exchange

   Amount of decrease in
Principal Amount

of
this Global Note
   Amount of increase in
Principal Amount

of
this Global Note
   Principal Amount
of this Global  Note
following such
decrease
(or increase)
   Signature of authorized
signatory of Trustee,
Depository, or Note
Custodian
           
           

 

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THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE FOR CERTIFICATED NOTES, ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED HEREIN). NEITHER THE HOLDER NOR THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE PAYMENT OF INTEREST HEREON.

THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (1) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (3) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (4) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE 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.

THE NOTES EVIDENCED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE “SECURITIES ACT”) AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT (A)(1) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (2) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION COMPLYING WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (3) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE), (4) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OR (5) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (B) TO US, ANY OF THE GUARANTORS OR ANY OF THEIR SUBSIDIARIES AND (C) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE BLUE SKY LAWS OF THE STATES OF THE UNITED STATES, AND ANY SELLER 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.

 

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

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

[Insert the OID Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

[Face of Regulation S Temporary Global Note]

CUSIP/CINS                     

10.875% Senior Notes due 2018

 

No.         $        

THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.

promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or registered assigns,

the principal sum of                                                                               DOLLARS on May 31, 2018.

Interest Payment Dates: June 1 and December 1, except for the final interest payment date, which shall be May 31, 2018

Record Dates: May 15 and November 15

 

Dated:                     , 2012      
    THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.
    By:  

 

      Name:
      Title:

 

This is one of the Notes referred to
in the within-mentioned Indenture:

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

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[Back of Note]

10.875% Senior Notes due 2018

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

(1) INTEREST. The Hillman Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), promises to pay or cause to be paid interest on the principal amount of this Note at 10.875% per annum from             , 20[    ] until maturity. The Company will pay interest semi-annually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year (except for the final interest payment date which shall be May 31, 2018), 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 issuance; provided that if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided further that the first Interest Payment Date shall be             , 20[    ]. The Company will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate that is equal to the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it will 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.

Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

(2) METHOD OF PAYMENT. The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the                      or                      next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium, if any, and interest at the office or agency of the Paying Agent and Registrar within the City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders; provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of, premium on, if any, and interest on all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which will have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying Agent. Such payment will 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, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change the Paying Agent or Registrar without prior notice to the Holders of the Notes. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

(4) INDENTURE. The Company issued the Notes under that certain Temporary Notes Indenture dated as of December 21, 2012 (the “Indenture”) among the Company, 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. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the

 

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provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling. The Notes are unsecured obligations of the Company. The Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be issued thereunder.

(5) OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.

(a) [Reserved.]

(b) At any time prior to June 1, 2014, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the applicable date of redemption, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

(c) Except pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the Notes will not be redeemable at the Company’s option prior to June 1, 2014.

(d) On or after June 1, 2014, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes redeemed, to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on June 1 of the years indicated below, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant Interest Payment Date:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2014

     105.438

2015

     102.719

2016 and thereafter

     100.000

(e) Unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on the applicable redemption date.

(6) MANDATORY REDEMPTION. Except as set forth in paragraphs (7) and (8) hereof, the Company is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

(7) SPECIAL MANDATORY REDEMPTION. Upon the occurrence of a Special Redemption Trigger, the Company shall redeem, within three Business Days of the occurrence of a Special Redemption Trigger, all of the outstanding Notes at a redemption price in cash equal to 106.5% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest (including, for the avoidance of doubt, pre-issuance interest) from December 1, 2012 to, but not including, the Special Redemption date.

The Special Redemption date may be extended to the extent required under applicable law or by the applicable procedures of DTC.

(8) MANDATORY EXCHANGE REDEMPTION. If the Paulin Acquisition has occurred on or prior to the Termination Date, the Company shall, contemporaneously with the consummation

 

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of the Paulin Acquisition (or as promptly as practicable thereafter in accordance with the applicable procedures of the DTC), effect the Mandatory Exchange Redemption. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Note, this Indenture or any other document, the consideration paid to each such Holder on the Mandatory Exchange Redemption Date to redeem its Notes shall only consist of Permanent Notes issued by the Company in exchange for a like principal amount of Notes and having the terms described in the Existing Indenture.

Unless the Mandatory Exchange Redemption Date is a scheduled interest payment date for the Notes, the Company shall not be obligated to pay to any Holder any accrued and unpaid interest to the Mandatory Exchange Redemption Date in connection with the Mandatory Exchange Redemption, which accrued and unpaid interest will be evidenced by the Permanent Notes issued to such Holder in exchange for its Notes (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive accrued and unpaid interest from December 1, 2012 through the Mandatory Exchange Redemption Date (or more recent interest payment date) due on the relevant interest payment date).

On and after the Mandatory Exchange Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on Notes called for redemption and the Notes and the Indenture will be deemed to have been satisfied and discharged in full as long as the Company has issued to each Holder of Notes, Permanent Notes in accordance with this Section 3.11.

(9) REPURCHASE AT OPTION OF HOLDER.

(a) If there is a Change of Control, the Company will be required to make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each Holder to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of that Holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes repurchased to the date of purchase, subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date. Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company will mail or cause to be mailed a notice to each Holder setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as required by the Indenture.

(b) If the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company consummates any Asset Sales, within 30 days of each date on which the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $15.0 million, the Company will make an Asset Sale Offer to all Holders of Notes and all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu in right of payment with the Notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in the Indenture with respect to offers to purchase, prepay or redeem with the proceeds of asset sales, to purchase, prepay or redeem the maximum principal amount of notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness (plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of all fees and expenses, including premiums, incurred in connection therewith) that may be purchased, prepaid or redeemed out of the Excess Proceeds. The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase, prepayment or redemption, subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, and will be payable in cash. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, such amounts shall no longer be considered Excess Proceeds for purposes of this Indenture and the Company may use those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness tendered in (or required to be prepaid or redeemed in connection with) such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee will

 

A2-5


select the Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis, based on the amounts tendered or required to be prepaid or redeemed. Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero. Holders of Notes 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” attached to the Notes.

(10) NOTICE OF REDEMPTION. For purposes of a redemption described in paragraphs (5) or (9), at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date the Company will 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, except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture pursuant to Articles 8 and 11 thereof. Notes and portions of Notes selected will be in amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed or purchased, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder shall be redeemed or purchased.

(11) DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE. The Notes are in registered form in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company 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, the Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.

This Regulation S Temporary Global Note is exchangeable in whole or in part for one or more Global Notes only (i) on or after the termination of the 40-day distribution compliance period (as defined in Regulation S) and (ii) upon presentation of certificates (accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel, if applicable) required by Article 2 of the Indenture. Upon exchange of this Regulation S Temporary Global Note for one or more Global Notes, the Trustee shall cancel this Regulation S Temporary Global Note.

(12) PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes. Only registered Holders have rights under the Indenture.

(13) AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER. Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes voting as a single class, and any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes voting as a single class. Without the consent of any Holder of Notes, the Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be amended or supplemented to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to provide for the assumption of the Company’s or a Guarantor’s obligations to Holders of the Notes and Note Guarantees by a successor to the Company or such Guarantor pursuant to the Indenture, 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 rights under the Indenture of any Holder, to comply with the

 

A2-6


requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the TIA, to conform the text of the Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees to any provision of the “Description of Notes” section of the Offering Memorandum to the extent that such provision in that “Description of Notes” was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees, which intent may be evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate to that effect, to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture to the Indenture and/or a Note Guarantee with respect to the Notes, or to evidence and provide for the acceptance of the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(14) DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES. Events of Default include: (i) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on the Notes; (ii) default in the payment when due (at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise) of the principal of, or premium on, if any, the Notes, (iii) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with the provisions of Sections 4.10 or 4.15 or failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with the provisions of Section 5.01 of the Indenture; (iv) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 60 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class to comply with any of the other agreements in the Indenture; (v) default under certain other agreements relating to Indebtedness of the Company which default is a Payment Default or results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity; (vi) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay certain final judgments, which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed, for a period of 60 days; (vii) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; and (viii) except as permitted by the Indenture, any Note Guarantee of any Significant Subsidiary 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 Note Guarantee. In the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of 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. 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 that withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of all the Holders, rescind an acceleration or waive an existing Default or Event of Default and its respective consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, premium on, if any, or interest on the Notes (including in connection with an offer to purchase). The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Company is required, upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.

 

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(15) TRUSTEE DEALINGS WITH COMPANY. The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.

(16) NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Indenture, the Note 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 issuance of the Notes. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

(17) AUTHENTICATION. This Note will not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent.

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

(19) [RESERVED.]

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

(21) GOVERNING LAW. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THE INDENTURE, THIS NOTE AND THE NOTE GUARANTEES WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

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

The Hillman Group, Inc.,

10590 Hamilton Avenue

Cincinnati, Ohio, 45231

Attention: Chief Financial Officer.

 

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ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:   

 

   (Insert assignee’s legal name)

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)

 

 

 

 

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

 

and irrevocably appoint  

 

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

 

Date:                         
  Your Signature:  

 

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

 

Signature Guarantee*:  

 

  

 

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

 

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OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

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

¨  Section 4.10                     ¨  Section 4.15

If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

$        

 

Date:                         
  Your Signature:  

 

  (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)
  Tax Identification No.:  

 

 

Signature Guarantee*:  

 

  

 

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

 

A2-10


SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE

The following exchanges of a part of this Regulation S Temporary Global Note for an interest in another Global Note, or exchanges of a part of another other Restricted Global Note for an interest in this Regulation S Temporary Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of Exchange

   Amount of decrease in
Principal Amount

of
this Global Note
   Amount of increase in
Principal Amount

of
this Global Note
   Principal Amount
of this Global Note
following such
decrease

(or increase)
   Signature of authorized
signatory of Trustee,
Depository or Note
Custodian
           
           

 

A2-11


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

The Hillman Group, Inc.

10590 Hamilton Avenue

Cincinnati, Ohio, 45231,

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Wells Fargo Bank – DAPS Reorg.

MAC N9303-121

608 2nd Avenue South

Minneapolis, MN 55479

Facsimile No.: (866) 969-1290

with a copy to:

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

150 East 42nd Street, 40th Floor

New York, New York 10017

Facsimile No.: (917) 260-1593

Attention: Corporate Trust – Hillman Administrator

 

Re:    10.875% Senior Notes Due 2018

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of December 21, 2012 (the “Indenture”), among The Hillman Group, Inc., as issuer (the “Company”), the Guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

                    , (the “Transferor”) owns and proposes to transfer the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the principal amount of $         in such Note[s] or interests (the “Transfer”), to                      (the “Transferee”), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:

[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]

1. ¨ Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to Rule 144A. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the 144A Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

B-1


2. ¨ Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note, the Regulation S Permanent Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to Regulation S. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a Person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S under the Securities Act [and/,] (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act [and (iv) if the proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser)]. Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Regulation S Permanent Global Note, the Regulation S Temporary Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

3. ¨ Check and complete if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the IAI Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to any provision of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A or Regulation S. The Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):

(a) ¨ such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act;

or

(b) ¨ such Transfer is being effected to the Company, any of the Guarantors or any of their respective subsidiaries;

or

(c) ¨ such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act;

or

(d) ¨ such Transfer is being effected to an Institutional Accredited Investor and pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A, Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904, and the Transferor hereby further certifies that it has not engaged in any general solicitation within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act and the Transfer complies with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note or Restricted Definitive Notes and the requirements of the exemption claimed, which certification is supported by (1) a certificate executed by the Transferee in the form of Exhibit D to the Indenture and (2) an Opinion of Counsel provided by the Transferor or the Transferee (a copy of which the Transferor has attached to this certification), to the effect that such Transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred

 

B-2


beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the IAI Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

4. ¨ Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or of an Unrestricted Definitive Note.

(a) ¨ Check if Transfer is pursuant to Rule 144. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

(b) ¨ Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Regulation S. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

(c) ¨ Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Other Exemption. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company.

 

 

  [Insert Name of Transferor]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Dated:  

 

 

B-3


ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

  1. The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:

[CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]

 

  (a) ¨ a beneficial interest in the:

 

  (i) ¨ 144A Global Note (CUSIP             ), or

 

  (ii) ¨ Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP             ), or

 

  (iii) ¨ IAI Global Note (CUSIP             ); or

 

  (b) ¨ a Restricted Definitive Note.

 

  2. After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:

[CHECK ONE]

 

  (a) ¨ a beneficial interest in the:

 

  (i) ¨ 144A Global Note (CUSIP             ), or

 

  (ii) ¨ Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP             ), or

 

  (iii) ¨ IAI Global Note (CUSIP             ); or

 

  (iv) ¨ Unrestricted Global Note (CUSIP             ); or

 

  (b) ¨ a Restricted Definitive Note; or

 

  (c) ¨ an Unrestricted Definitive Note,

in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

B-4


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE

The Hillman Group, Inc.

10590 Hamilton Avenue

Cincinnati, Ohio, 45231,

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Wells Fargo Bank – DAPS Reorg.

MAC N9303-121

608 2nd Avenue South

Minneapolis, MN 55479

Facsimile No.: (866) 969-1290

with a copy to:

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

150 East 42nd Street, 40th Floor

New York, New York 10017

Facsimile No.: (917) 260-1593

Attention: Corporate Trust – Hillman Administrator

 

Re:    10.875% Senior Notes Due 2018

(CUSIP [            ])

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of December 21, 2012 (the “Indenture”), among The Hillman Group, Inc., as issuer (the “Company”), the Guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

                    , (the “Owner”) owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of $         in such Note[s] or interests (the “Exchange”). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:

1. Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Unrestricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note

(a) ¨ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note in an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(b) ¨ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive

 

C-1


Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(c) ¨ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(d) ¨ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

2. Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes for Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes

(a) ¨ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Restricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

(b) ¨ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE] ¨ 144A Global Note, ¨ Regulation S Global Note, ¨ IAI Global Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the beneficial interest issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

C-2


This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company.

 

 

 

  [Insert Name of Transferor]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Dated:  

 

 

C-3


EXHIBIT D

FORM OF CERTIFICATE FROM

ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR

The Hillman Group, Inc.

10590 Hamilton Avenue

Cincinnati, Ohio 45231

Facsimile No.: (513) 595-8297

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

150 East 42nd Street, 40th Floor

New York, New York 10017

Facsimile No.: (917) 260-1593

Attention: Corporate Trust Services

 

Re:    10.875% Senior Notes due 2018

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of December 21, 2012 (the “Indenture”), among The Hillman Group, Inc., as issuer (the “Company”), the Guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

In connection with our proposed purchase of $         aggregate principal amount of:

(a) ¨ a beneficial interest in a Global Note, or

(b) ¨ a Definitive Note,

we confirm that:

1. We understand that any subsequent transfer of the Notes or any interest therein is subject to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in the Indenture and the undersigned agrees to be bound by, and not to resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Notes or any interest therein except in compliance with, such restrictions and conditions and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

2. We understand that the offer and sale of the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act, and that the Notes and any interest therein may not be offered or sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree, on our own behalf and on behalf of any accounts for which we are acting as hereinafter stated, that if we should sell the Notes or any interest therein, we will do so only (A) to the Company, any Guarantor or any of their respective subsidiaries, (B) to a Person whom we reasonably believe is a qualified institutional buyer within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act, (C) to an institutional “accredited investor” in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, (D) in an offshore transaction complying with Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (E) pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act provided by Rule 144 thereunder (if available) or (F) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, and we further agree to provide to any Person purchasing the Definitive Note or beneficial interest in a Global Note from us in a transaction meeting the requirements of clauses (A) through (E) of this paragraph a notice advising such purchaser that resales thereof are restricted as stated herein.

 

D-1


3. We understand that, on any proposed resale of the Notes or beneficial interest therein, we will be required to furnish to you and the Company such certifications, legal opinions and other information as you and the Company may reasonably require to confirm that the proposed sale complies with the foregoing restrictions. We further understand that the Notes purchased by us will bear a legend to the foregoing effect.

4. We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act) and have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and we and any accounts for which we are acting are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.

5. We are acquiring the Notes or beneficial interest therein purchased by us for our own account or for one or more accounts (each of which is an institutional “accredited investor”) as to each of which we exercise sole investment discretion.

You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.

 

 

  [Insert Name of Accredited Investor]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Dated:  

 

 

D-2


EXHIBIT E

[FORM OF NOTATION OF GUARANTEE]

For value received, each Guarantor (which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture) has, jointly and severally, unconditionally guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture dated as of December 21, 2012 (the “Indenture”) among The Hillman Group, Inc., (the “Company”), the Guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), (a) the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium on, if any, and interest on, the Notes, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, the due and punctual payment of interest on overdue principal of, premium on, if any, and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and the due and punctual performance of all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee all in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. The obligations of the Guarantors to the Holders of Notes and to the Trustee pursuant to the Note Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article 10 of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Note Guarantee.

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

 

[NAME OF GUARANTOR(S)]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

E-1


[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS]

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of                     , among                      (the “Guaranteeing Subsidiary”), a subsidiary of The Hillman Group, Inc. (or its permitted successor), a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the Company, the other Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture referred to herein) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association., as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the “Trustee”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of December 21, 2012 providing for the issuance of 10.875% Senior Notes due 2018 (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Company’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein (the “Note Guarantee”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:

1. CAPITALIZED TERMS. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

2. AGREEMENT TO GUARANTEE. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees to provide an unconditional Guarantee on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Note Guarantee and in the Indenture including but not limited to Article 10 thereof.

3. NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, this Indenture, the Note Guarantees 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. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

4. NEW YORK LAW TO GOVERN. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

5. COUNTERPARTS. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

 

F-1


6. EFFECT OF HEADINGS. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

7. THE TRUSTEE. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Company.

 

F-2


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

Dated:                     ,

 

[Guaranteeing Subsidiary]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
THE HILLMAN COMPANIES, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
HILLMAN INVESTMENT COMPANY
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
ALL POINTS INDUSTRIES, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

F-3


SUNSUB C, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

F-4

EX-4.2 3 d455962dex42.htm REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT Registration Rights Agreement

Exhibit 4.2

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

Dated as of December 21, 2012

by and among

THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.

THE GUARANTORS LISTED ON SCHEDULE I HERETO

and

BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.

 

 


REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of December 21, 2012 by and among the Hillman Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the guarantors listed on Schedule I hereto (the “Guarantors”) and Barclays Capital Inc. (the “Initial Purchaser”), who has agreed to purchase the Company’s 10.875% Senior Notes Due 2018 (the “Temporary Notes”) pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).

The Temporary Notes will be issued pursuant to an indenture dated as of December 21, 2012, among the Company, the Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.

Contemporaneously with the consummation of the Acquisition, as defined in the Arrangement Agreement dated as of December 17, 2012 by and between The Hillman Companies, Inc. (“Hillman Companies”) and H. Paulin & Co. Limited (the “Target”), the Company will redeem all of the Temporary Notes by issuing in exchange therefor (the “Mandatory Exchange” and the date on which such Mandatory Exchange is completed, the “Mandatory Exchange Date”) its 10.875% Senior Notes Due 2018 (the “Permanent Notes”) to be issued under the Existing Indenture (as defined below) in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of such Temporary Notes.

This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated December 18, 2012 (the “Purchase Agreement”), by and among the Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchaser. In order to induce the Initial Purchaser to purchase the Temporary Notes, the Company and the Guarantors have agreed to provide the registration rights in respect of the Permanent Notes, as set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchaser set forth in Section 7 of the Purchase Agreement.

Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Indenture, dated as of May 28, 2010, among the Company, the Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), relating to the Permanent Notes and the Exchange Notes (as amended and supplemented, the “Existing Indenture”).

The parties hereby agree as follows:

 

  1. DEFINITIONS

As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:

Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

Affiliate: As defined in Rule 144 of the Act.

Broker-Dealer: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.


Business Day: Any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York or at a place of payment are authorized by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed. If the time to perform any action hereunder falls on a day that is not a Business Day, such time will be extended to the next Business Day and no Special Interest shall accrue for the intervening period.

Commission: The Securities and Exchange Commission.

Consummate: An Exchange Offer shall be deemed “Consummated” for purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (a) the filing and effectiveness under the Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (b) the maintenance of such Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective and the keeping of the Exchange Offer open for a period not less than the period required pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof, and (c) the delivery by the Company to the Registrar (as defined in the Indenture) under the Indenture of Exchange Notes in the same aggregate principal amount as the aggregate principal amount of Permanent Notes tendered by Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

Consummation Deadline: As defined in Section 3(b) hereof.

Effectiveness Deadline: As defined in Sections 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.

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

Exchange Notes: The Company’s 10.875% Senior Notes due 2018 to be issued pursuant to the Existing Indenture: (i) in the Exchange Offer or (ii) as contemplated by Section 4 hereof.

Exchange Offer: The exchange and issuance by the Company of a principal amount of Exchange Notes (which shall be registered pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) equal to the outstanding principal amount of Permanent Notes that are validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders in connection with such exchange and issuance.

Exchange Offer Registration Statement: The Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.

Filing Deadline: As defined in Sections 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.

Free Writing Prospectus: Each offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Permanent Notes or the Exchange Notes that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, prepared by or on behalf of the Company or used or referred to by the Company in connection with the sale of the Permanent Notes or the Exchange Notes.

Hillman Companies: The Hillman Companies, Inc.

Holders: As defined in Section 2 hereof.

 

3


Interest Payment Date: As defined in the Permanent Notes and Exchange Notes.

Mandatory Exchange Date: As defined in the recitals.

Prospectus: The prospectus included in a Registration Statement at the time such Registration Statement is declared effective, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments thereto, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference into such Prospectus.

Recommencement Date: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.

Registration Default: As defined in Section 5 hereof.

Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company and the Guarantors relating to (a) an offering of Exchange Notes pursuant to an Exchange Offer or (b) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, (i) that is filed pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, (ii) including the Prospectus included therein, and (iii) including all amendments and supplements thereto (including post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by reference therein.

Rule 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.

Shelf Registration Statement: As defined in Section 4 hereof.

Special Interest. As defined in Section 5 hereof.

Suspension Notice: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.

Transfer Restricted Securities: Each Permanent Note until the earliest to occur of (a) the date on which such Permanent Note has been exchanged in the Exchange Offer by a Person other than a Broker-Dealer for an Exchange Note and is entitled to be resold to the public by the Holder thereof without complying with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Act, (b) following the exchange by a Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer of a Permanent Note for an Exchange Note, the date on which such Exchange Note is sold to a purchaser who receives from such Broker-Dealer on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (c) the date on which such Permanent Note has been effectively registered under the Act and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement; (d) the date on which such Permanent Note is sold or otherwise distributed to a Person who is not the Company or an Affiliate of the Company; provided, that a Permanent Note will not cease to be a Transfer Restricted Security for purposes of the Exchange Offer by virtue of this clause (d); or (e) the earliest date that is no less than two years after the date of the Indenture and on which all such Permanent Notes (except for Permanent Notes held by an Affiliate of the Company) are no longer subject to any restrictions on transfer under the Act, including Rule 144.

 

4


  2. HOLDERS

A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (each, a “Holder”) whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted Securities.

 

  3. REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER

(a) To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or Commission policy, the Company and the Guarantors shall (i) cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be filed with the Commission no later than the 30th day after the later to occur of (x) the Mandatory Exchange Date and (y) the final date by which Hillman Companies is required by Commission rules to file with the Commission acquired company financial statements of Target (such later date being the “Filing Deadline”), (ii) use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective no later than 75 days after the Filing Deadline (such 75th day being the “Effectiveness Deadline”), (iii) in connection with the foregoing, use all commercially reasonable efforts to (A) file all pre-effective amendments to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to cause it to become effective, (B) file, if applicable, a post-effective amendment to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and (C) cause all necessary filings, if any, in connection with the registration and qualification of the Exchange Notes to be made under the Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as are necessary to permit Consummation of the Exchange Offer, provided, however, that neither the Company nor any Guarantor shall be required to take any action that would subject them to general service of process or taxation in any jurisdiction where they are not already subject, and (iv) unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permitted by applicable law or Commission policy (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below have been complied with), upon the effectiveness of such Exchange Offer Registration Statement, commence and use all commercially reasonable efforts to Consummate the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall be on the appropriate form permitting (i) registration of the Exchange Notes to be offered in exchange for the Permanent Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) resales of Exchange Notes by Broker-Dealers that tendered into the Exchange Offer Permanent Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Permanent Notes acquired directly from the Company or any Affiliate thereof) as contemplated by Section 3(c) below.

(b) To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or Commission policy, the Company and the Guarantors shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be effective continuously, and shall keep the Exchange Offer open for a period of not less than the minimum period required under applicable federal and state securities laws to Consummate the Exchange Offer; provided, however, that in no event shall such period be less than 20 Business Days. The Company and the Guarantors shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws. No securities other than the Exchange Notes shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. The Company and the Guarantors shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be Consummated on the earliest practicable date after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become effective, but in no event later than 30 Business Days or longer, if required by the federal securities laws, after the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become effective (such 30th day, or such later date required by the federal securities laws, being the “Consummation Deadline”).

 

5


(c) The Company shall include a “Plan of Distribution” section in the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and indicate therein that any Broker-Dealer who holds Transfer Restricted Securities that were acquired for the account of such Broker-Dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Permanent Notes acquired directly from the Company or any Affiliate thereof), may exchange such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer. Such “Plan of Distribution” section shall also contain all other information with respect to such sales by such Broker-Dealers that the Commission may require in order to permit such sales pursuant thereto, but such “Plan of Distribution” shall not name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by any such Broker-Dealer, except to the extent required by the Commission as a result of a change in policy, rules or regulations after the date of this Agreement.

Because such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Act in connection with its initial sale of any Exchange Notes received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, the Company and Guarantors shall permit the use of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement by such Broker Dealer to satisfy such prospectus delivery requirement. To the extent necessary to ensure that the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is available for sales of Exchange Notes by Broker-Dealers, the Company and the Guarantors agree to use all commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented, amended and current as required by and subject to the provisions of Sections 6(a) and (c) hereof and in conformity with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of 180 days from the Consummation Deadline or such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto. The Company and the Guarantors shall provide sufficient copies of the latest version of such Prospectus to such Broker-Dealers, promptly upon request, and in no event later than five Business Days after such request, at any time during such period.

 

  4. SHELF REGISTRATION

(a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Company and the Guarantors are not (A) required to file the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or (B) permitted to Consummate the Exchange Offer because the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or Commission policy (after the Company and the Guarantors have complied with the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below) or (ii) any Holder notifies the Company prior to the 20th Business Day following Consummation of the Exchange Offer that (A) such Holder is prohibited by law or Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer, (B) such Holder may not resell the Exchange Notes acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a prospectus and the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales by such Holder or (C) such Holder is a Broker-Dealer and holds Permanent Notes acquired directly from the Company or any Affiliate thereof, then the Company and the Guarantors shall:

(x) use all commercially reasonable efforts to file, on or prior to the later of (i) 30 days after the earlier of (A) the date as of which the Company determines that the Exchange Offer Registration Statement will not be or cannot be, as the case may be, filed as a result of clause (a)(i) above and (B) the date on which the Company receives the notice specified in clause (a)(ii) above and (ii) 30 days after the later to occur of (x) the Mandatory Exchange Date, and (y) the final date by which Hillman Companies is required by Commission rules to file with the Commission acquired company financial statements of Target (such later date, the “Shelf Filing Deadline”), a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act (which may be an amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (the “Shelf Registration Statement”)), covering the resale of all Transfer Restricted Securities, and

(y) use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to become effective on or prior to the later of (i) 75 days after the Shelf Filing Deadline such date, the “Shelf Effectiveness Deadline”).

 

6


If, after the Company and the Guarantors have filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement that satisfies the requirements of Section 3(a) above, the Company and the Guarantors are required to file and make effective a Shelf Registration Statement solely because the Exchange Offer is not permitted under applicable federal law (i.e., clause (a)(i)(B) above), then the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of clause (x) above; provided that, in such event, the Company and the Guarantors shall remain obligated to meet the Shelf Effectiveness Deadline set forth in clause (y).

To the extent necessary to ensure that the Shelf Registration Statement is available for sales of Transfer Restricted Securities by the Holders thereof entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a) and the other securities required to be registered therein pursuant to Section 6(b)(ii) hereof, the Company and the Guarantors shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to keep any Shelf Registration Statement required by this Section 4(a) continuously effective, supplemented, amended and current as required by and subject to the provisions of Sections 6(b) and 6(c) hereof and in conformity with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of at least one year (as extended pursuant to Section 6(c)(i) or 6(d)) following the Mandatory Exchange Date, or such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto or are no longer Transfer Restricted Securities.

(b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with the Shelf Registration Statement. No Holder may include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to the Company in writing, within 15 days after receipt of a request therefor, the information specified in Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, of the Act, or other information reasonably requested by the Company or required by Regulation S-K of the Act, for use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus

 

7


included therein. No Holder shall be entitled to Special Interest pursuant to Section 5 hereof unless and until (and from and after such time) such Holder shall have provided all such information. Each selling Holder agrees to promptly furnish additional information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially misleading and shall promptly supply such other information as the Company may from time to time reasonably request.

 

  5. SPECIAL INTEREST

If (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the applicable Filing Deadline, (ii) any such Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the applicable Effectiveness Deadline, (iii) the Exchange Offer has not been Consummated on or prior to 30 Business Days after the Effectiveness Deadline with respect to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, or (iv) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is filed and declared effective but shall thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be usable for its intended purpose (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a “Registration Default”), then the Company and the Guarantors hereby jointly and severally agree to pay to each Holder affected thereby special interest (“Special Interest”) in an amount equal to 0.25% per annum of the principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holder for each week or portion thereof that the Registration Default continues for the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of the first such Registration Default. The amount of Special Interest shall increase by an additional 0.25% per annum of the principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities with respect to each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum amount of Special Interest of 0.50% per annum of the principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided that the Company and the Guarantors shall in no event be required to pay Special Interest for more than one Registration Default at any given time. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, (1) upon filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of clause (i) above, (2) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of clause (ii) above, (3) upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer, in the case of clause (iii) above, or (4) upon the filing of a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or an additional Registration Statement that causes the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement) to again be declared effective or made usable in the case of clause (iv) above, the Special Interest payable with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities as a result of such clause (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv), as applicable, shall cease on the date of such cure and the interest rate on such Transfer Restricted Securities will revert to the interest rate on such Transfer Restricted Securities prior to the applicable Registration Default.

All accrued Special Interest shall be paid by the Company and the Guarantors (or the Company and the Guarantors will cause the Paying Agent to make such payment on their behalf) to the Holders entitled thereto, in the manner provided for the payment of interest in the Existing Indenture, on each Interest Payment Date, as more fully set forth in the Indenture, the Permanent Notes and the Exchange Notes. Notwithstanding the fact that any securities for which Special Interest are due cease to be Transfer Restricted Securities, all obligations of the Company and the Guarantors to pay Special Interest with respect to securities that accrued prior to the time that such securities ceased to be Transfer Restricted Securities shall survive until such time as such obligations with respect to such securities shall have been satisfied in full.

 

8


  6. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES

(a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement. In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company and the Guarantors shall (x) comply with all applicable provisions of Section 6(c) below, (y) use all commercially reasonable efforts to effect such exchange and to permit the resale of Exchange Notes by Broker-Dealers that tendered in the Exchange Offer Permanent Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of its market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Permanent Notes acquired directly from the Company or any Affiliate thereof) being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and (z) comply with all of the following provisions:

(aa) If, following the date hereof there has been announced a change in Commission policy with respect to exchange offers such as the Exchange Offer, that in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Company raises a substantial question as to whether the Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable federal law, the Company and the Guarantors hereby agree to use all commercially reasonable efforts to either (x) seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision from the Commission allowing the Company and the Guarantors to Consummate an Exchange Offer for such Transfer Restricted Securities, or (y) file, in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof, a Shelf Registration Statement to permit the registration and/or resale of the Transfer Restricted Securities that would otherwise be covered by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement but for the announcement of a change in Commission policy. In the case of clause (x) above, the Company and the Guarantors hereby agree to pursue the issuance of such a decision to the Commission staff level but shall not be required to take action not commercially reasonable to affect a change of Commission policy. In connection with the foregoing, the Company and the Guarantors hereby agree to take all such other actions as may be requested by the Commission or otherwise reasonably required in connection with the issuance of such decision, including without limitation (A) participating in telephonic conferences with the Commission, (B) delivering to the Commission staff an analysis prepared by counsel to the Company setting forth the legal bases, if any, upon which such counsel has concluded that such an Exchange Offer should be permitted, and (C) diligently pursuing a resolution (which need not be favorable and which need not be a written resolution) by the Commission staff.

(ab) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer, each Holder (including, without limitation, any Holder who is a Broker-Dealer) shall furnish, upon the request of the Company, prior to the Consummation of the Exchange Offer, a written representation to the Company and the Guarantors (which may be contained in the letter of transmittal contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to the effect that (A) it is not an Affiliate of the Company, (B) it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, and has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in, a distribution of the Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (C) it is acquiring the Exchange Notes in its ordinary course of business, and (D) only if such Holder is a Broker-Dealer that will receive Exchange Notes in exchange for Permanent Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own private account as a result of market making or other trading activities, it will deliver a

 

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Prospectus, as required by law, in connection with any sale of such Exchange Notes. As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer, each Holder using the Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the Exchange Notes shall acknowledge and agree that, if the resales are of Exchange Notes obtained by such Holder in exchange for Permanent Notes acquired directly from the Company or any Affiliate thereof, it (1) could not, under Commission policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement, rely on the position of the Commission enunciated in Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the Commission’s letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and similar no-action letters (including, if applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above), and (2) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction and that such a secondary resale transaction must be covered by an effective registration statement containing the selling security holder information required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K.

(ac) Prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall provide a supplemental letter to the Commission (A) stating that the Company and the Guarantors are registering the Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of the Commission enunciated in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) as interpreted in the Commission’s letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and, if applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above, (B) including a representation that the Company and Guarantors have not entered into any arrangement or understanding with any Person to distribute the Exchange Notes to be received in the Exchange Offer and that, to the Company’s and each Guarantor’s information and belief, each Holder participating in the Exchange Offer is acquiring the Exchange Notes in its ordinary course of business and has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange Notes received in the Exchange Offer, and (C) any other undertaking or representation required by the Commission as set forth in any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above, if applicable.

(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall:

(aa) comply with all the provisions of Section 6(c) below and use all commercially reasonable efforts to effect such registration to permit the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof (as indicated in the information furnished to the Company pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof), and pursuant thereto the Company and the Guarantors will prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement relating to the registration on any appropriate form under the Act, which form shall be available for the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof within the time periods and otherwise in accordance with the provisions hereof, and

(ii) issue to any purchaser of Permanent Notes covered by any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, upon the request of the purchaser, registered Permanent Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Permanent Notes sold pursuant to the Shelf

 

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Registration Statement and surrendered to the Company for cancellation in the names as such purchaser shall designate; provided that such purchaser provides all documentation reasonably requested by the Company in connection with such issuance.

(c) General Provisions. In connection with any Registration Statement and any related Prospectus required by this Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors shall:

(aa) use all commercially reasonable efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite financial statements for the period specified in Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement, as applicable. Upon the occurrence of any event that would cause any such Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (B) not to be effective and usable for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities during the period required by this Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors shall file as promptly as practicable an appropriate amendment to such Registration Statement curing such defect, and, if Commission review is required, use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause such amendment to be declared effective as soon as practicable.

(ab) use all commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the applicable Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable period set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as the case may be; cause the Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, and to comply fully with Rules 424, 430A, and 462, as applicable, under the Act in a timely manner; and comply with the provisions of the Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;

(ac) advise (a) each Holder whose Transfer Restricted Securities have been included in a Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement), and (b) each Holder who has provided notice to the Company promptly and, if requested by such Holder, confirm such advice in writing, (A) when the Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to any applicable Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective, (B) of any request by the Commission for amendments to the Registration Statement or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or for additional information relating thereto, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Act or of the suspension by any state securities commission of the qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation of any proceeding for any of the preceding purposes, and (D) of the happening of any event that requires the Company to make changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order that the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto or any document incorporated by reference therein do not contain an untrue statement of material fact nor omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made)

 

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not misleading. If at any time the Commission shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any state securities commission or other regulatory authority shall issue an order suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under state securities or Blue Sky laws, the Company and the Guarantors shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible time;

(ad) subject to Section 6(d), if any fact or event contemplated by Section 6(c)(iii)(D) above shall exist or have occurred, prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of Transfer Restricted Securities, the Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(ae) furnish to each Holder whose Transfer Restricted Securities have been included in a Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement) in connection with such exchange, registration or sale, if any, before filing with the Commission, copies of any Registration Statement or any Prospectus included therein or any amendments or supplements to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference after the initial filing of such Registration Statement), which documents will be subject to the reasonable review and comment of such Holders in connection with such sale, if any, for a period of at least three Business Days, and the Company will not file any such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all such documents incorporated by reference) to which such Holders shall reasonably object within three Business Days after the receipt thereof. A Holder shall be deemed to have reasonably objected to such filing if such Registration Statement, amendment, Prospectus or supplement, as applicable, as proposed to be filed, contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or fails to comply with the applicable requirements of the Act;

(af) promptly prior to the filing of any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or Prospectus in connection with such exchange, registration or sale, if any, provide copies of such document to each Holder whose Transfer Restricted Securities have been included in a Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement) in connection with such exchange, registration or sale, if any, make the Company’s and the Guarantors’ representatives available for discussion of such document and other customary due diligence matters, subject to execution and delivery of customary confidentiality agreements, and include such information in such document prior to the filing thereof as such Holders may reasonably request;

(ag) make available, at reasonable times, for inspection by each Holder whose Transfer Restricted Securities have been included in a Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement) and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents of the Company and the Guarantors reasonably requested and cause the Company’s and the Guarantors’ officers, directors and

 

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employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Holder, attorney or accountant in connection with such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto subsequent to the filing thereof and prior to its effectiveness; provided that any Holder or representative thereof requesting or receiving such information shall agree to be bound by customary confidentiality agreements and procedures with respect thereto;

(ah) if requested by any Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities have been included in a Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement) in connection with such exchange, registration or sale, promptly include in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if necessary, such information as such Holders may reasonably request to have included therein, including, without limitation, information relating to the “Plan of Distribution” of the Transfer Restricted Securities and the use of the Registration Statement or Prospectus for market making activities; and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company is notified of the matters to be included in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;

(ai) upon request, furnish to each Holder whose Transfer Restricted Securities have been included in a Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement) in connection with such exchange, registration or sale, without charge, at least one copy of the Registration Statement, as first filed with the Commission, and of each amendment thereto, including all documents incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits (including exhibits incorporated therein by reference);

(aj) upon request, deliver to each Holder whose Transfer Restricted Securities have been included in a Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement) without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Holders reasonably may request; the Company and the Guarantors hereby consent to the use (in accordance with law and subject to Section 6(d) hereof) of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each selling Holder in connection with the offering and the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;

(ak) upon the reasonable request of such Holder, enter into such agreements (including an underwriting agreement containing customary terms), and make such representations and warranties, and take all such other reasonable and customary actions in connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, all to such extent as may be customarily and reasonably requested by any Holder or Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities who hold at least 50% in aggregate principal amount of such class of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided, that, the Company and the Guarantors shall not be required to enter into any such agreement more than once with respect to all of the Transfer Restricted Securities and may delay entering into such agreement if the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith that it is in the best interests of the Company and the Guarantors not to disclose the existence of or facts surrounding any proposed or pending material corporate transaction involving the Company and the Guarantors. In such connection, the Company and the Guarantors shall:

(i) upon the request of any Holder, furnish (or in the case of paragraphs (2) and (3), use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be furnished) to each such Holder (in the case of the Shelf Registration Statement) and any underwriter, upon the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be:

a certificate in customary form, dated such date, signed on behalf of the Company and each Guarantor by (x) the Chief Executive Officer or any Vice President, and (y) a principal financial or accounting officer of the Company and such Guarantor, confirming, as of the date thereof, such matters as such Holders may reasonably request;

 

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a customary opinion (including a customary negative assurance statement), dated the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, of counsel for the Company and the Guarantors in customary form and covering such other matters as such Holder may reasonably request; and

a customary comfort letter, dated the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, from the Company’s independent accountants, in the customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in comfort letters to underwriters in connection with underwritten offerings, and affirming the matters set forth in the comfort letters delivered pursuant to Section 8(e) of the Purchase Agreement; and

(ii) deliver such other documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the selling Holders to evidence compliance with the matters covered in clause (A) above and with any customary conditions contained in any agreement entered into by the Company and the Guarantors pursuant to this clause (xi);

(al) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders and their counsel in connection with the registration and qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the selling Holders may request and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company and the Guarantors shall not be required to register or qualify as a foreign corporation where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to the service of process in suits or to taxation in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject;

(am) in connection with any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities that will result in such securities no longer being Transfer Restricted Securities, cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and to enable such Transfer Restricted Securities to be registered in such denominations and such names as the selling Holders may request at least two Business Days prior to such sale of Transfer Restricted Securities;

 

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(an) use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof to consummate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities, subject to the proviso contained in clause (xii) above;

(ao) provide a CUSIP number for all Transfer Restricted Securities not later than the effective date of a Registration Statement covering such Transfer Restricted Securities and provide the Trustee under the Existing Indenture with certificates for the Transfer Restricted Securities which are in a form eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company; and

(ap) otherwise use all commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally available to its security holders with regard to any applicable Registration Statement, as soon as practicable, a consolidated earnings statement meeting the requirements of Rule 158 under the Act (which need not be audited) covering a twelve-month period beginning after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as such term is defined in paragraph (c) of Rule 158 under the Act).

(d) Restrictions on Holders. Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of the notice referred to in Section 6(c)(i) or 6(c)(iii)(C) or any notice from the Company of the existence of any fact of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof (in each case, a “Suspension Notice”), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement until (i) such Holder has received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(iv) hereof, or (ii) such Holder is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated by reference in the Prospectus (in each case, the “Recommencement Date”). Each Holder receiving a Suspension Notice hereby agrees that it will either (i) destroy any Prospectuses, other than permanent file copies, then in such Holder’s possession which have been replaced by the Company with more recently dated Prospectuses, or (ii) deliver to the Company (at the Company’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies, then in such Holder’s possession of the Prospectus covering such Transfer Restricted Securities that was current at the time of receipt of the Suspension Notice. The time period regarding the effectiveness of such Registration Statement set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, shall be extended by a number of days equal to the number of days in the period from and including the date of delivery of the Suspension Notice to the Recommencement Date.

 

  7. REGISTRATION EXPENSES

All expenses incident to the Company’s and the Guarantors’ performance of or compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company and the Guarantors, regardless of whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses; (ii) all fees and expenses of compliance with federal

 

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securities and state Blue Sky or securities laws; (iii) all expenses of printing (including printing certificates for the Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of Prospectuses), messenger and delivery services and telephone; (iv) the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and the Guarantors, and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of one counsel for all of the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities selected by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities being registered; (v) all application and filing fees in connection with listing the Exchange Notes on a national securities exchange or automated quotation system pursuant to the requirements hereof; and (vi) all fees and disbursements of independent certified public accountants of the Company and the Guarantors (including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters required by or incident to such performance); provided, however, that in no event shall the Company or the Guarantors be responsible for any underwriting discounts and commissions, brokerage commissions and transfer taxes, and fees attributable to the sale or other disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities.

The Company will, in any event, bear its and the Guarantors’ internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts, retained by the Company or the Guarantors.

 

  8. INDEMNIFICATION

(a) The Company and the Guarantors agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, its directors, officers and each Person, if any, who controls such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments, (including without limitation, any legal or other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any matter, including any action that could give rise to any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus or Prospectus, Free Writing Prospectus or any “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433 of the Act) filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments are caused by an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission that is based upon information relating to any of the Holders furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any of the Holders.

(b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Guarantors, and their respective directors and officers, and each Person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) the Company, or the Guarantors to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company and the Guarantors set forth in section (a) above, but only with reference to information relating to such Holder furnished in writing to the Company and the Guarantors by or on behalf of such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement. In no event shall

 

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any Holder, its directors, officers or any Person who controls such Holder be liable or responsible for any amount in excess of the amount by which the total amount received by such Holder with respect to its sale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds the sum of: (i) the amount paid by such Holder for such Transfer Restricted Securities plus (ii) the amount of any damages that such Holder, its directors, officers or any Person who controls such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

(c) In case any action shall be commenced involving any Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a) or 8(b) (the “indemnified party”), the indemnified party shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “indemnifying party”) in writing and the indemnifying party shall assume the defense of such action, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party and the payment of all reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel, as incurred (except that in the case of any action in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to both Sections 8(a) and 8(b), a Holder shall not be required to assume the defense of such action pursuant to this Section 8(c), but may employ separate counsel and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel, except as provided below, shall be at the expense of the Holder). Any indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnified party unless (i) the employment of such counsel has been specifically authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnifying party has failed to assume the defense of such action or employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, or (iii) the named parties to any such action (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party, and the indemnified party has been advised by such counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party). In any such case, the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) for all indemnified parties and all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by a majority of the Holders, in the case of the parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(a), and by the Company and Guarantors, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(b). The indemnifying party shall indemnify and hold harmless the indemnified party from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments by reason of any settlement of any action effected with its written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), effect any settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which the indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity or contribution may be or could have been sought hereunder by the indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability on claims that are or could have been the subject matter of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of the indemnified party.

 

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(d) To the extent that the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to therein, then each indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, from their sale of Transfer Restricted Securities, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 8(d)(i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 8(d)(i) above but also the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and of the Holder, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and of the Holder, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or such Guarantor, on the one hand, or by the Holder, on the other hand, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 8(c) hereof, any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim.

(e) The Company, the Guarantors and each Holder agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any matter, including any action that could have given rise to such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Holder, its directors, its officers or any Person, if any, who controls such Holder shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the total amount received by such Holder with respect to the sale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds the sum of: (i) the amount paid by such Holder for such Transfer Restricted Securities plus (ii) the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise paid or become liable to pay by reason of any untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8(d) are several in proportion to the respective principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by each Holder hereunder and not joint.

 

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  9. RULE 144A AND RULE 144

The Company and each Guarantor agrees with each Holder, for so long as any Transfer Restricted Securities remain outstanding and during any period in which the Company or such Guarantor is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, to make available, upon request of any Holder, to such Holder or beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted Securities designated by such Holder or beneficial owner, the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act in order to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A under the Act.

 

  10. MISCELLANEOUS

(a) Remedies. The Company and the Guarantors acknowledge and agree that any failure by the Company and/or the Guarantors to comply with their respective obligations under Sections 3 and 4 hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchaser or the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial Purchaser or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations under Sections 3 and 4 hereof. The Company and the Guarantors further agree to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

(b) Free Writing Prospectus. The Company represents, warrants and covenants that it (including its agents and representatives) will not prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or refer to any “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) in connection with the issuance and sale of the Permanent Notes and the Exchange Notes, other than (i) any communication pursuant to Rule 134, Rule 135 or Rule 135c under the Securities Act, (ii) any document constituting an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Initial Notes or the Exchange Notes that falls within the exception from the definition of prospectus in Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Securities Act, or (iii) a prospectus satisfying the requirements of section 10(a) of the Securities Act or of Rule 430, Rule 430A, Rule 430B, Rule 430C or Rule 431 under the Securities Act.

(c) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company and any Guarantor will not, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The Company and any Guarantor have not previously entered into, nor is currently a party to, any agreement granting any registration rights with respect to its securities to any Person that would require such securities to be included in any Registration Statement filed hereunder. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company’s and the Guarantors’ securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.

(d) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless (i) in the case of Section 5 hereof and this Section

 

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10(d)(i), the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities, and (ii) in the case of all other provisions hereof, the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities (excluding Transfer Restricted Securities held by the Company or its Affiliates). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities are being tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer, and that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights of other Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities are not being tendered pursuant to such Exchange Offer, may be given by the Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities subject to such Exchange Offer.

(e) Additional Guarantors. The Company shall cause any of its Domestic Subsidiaries (as defined in the Existing Indenture) that becomes, prior to the consummation of the Exchange Offer, a Guarantor in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Existing Indenture to become a party to this Agreement as a Guarantor.

(f) Third Party Beneficiary. The Holders shall be third party beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchaser, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent they may deem such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of Holders hereunder.

(g) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier, electronic transmission or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:

(aa) if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records of the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy to the Registrar under the Indenture; and

(ab) if to the Company or the Guarantors:

The Hillman Group

10590 Hamilton Avenue

Cincinnati, Ohio 45231-1764

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Fax: 513-595-8297

With a copy to:

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

1285 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10019

Attention: John C. Kennedy

Fax: 212-492-0025

 

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All such notices and communications 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 acknowledged, if telecopied or transmitted electronically; and on the next Business Day, if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.

Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the address specified in the Existing Indenture.

(h) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders; provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities in violation of the terms hereof or of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Transfer Restricted Securities in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Transfer Restricted Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Transfer Restricted Securities such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement, including the restrictions on resale set forth in this Agreement and, if applicable, the Purchase Agreement, and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof.

(i) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

(j) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

(k) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW RULES THEREOF.

(l) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

(m) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein with respect to the registration rights granted with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

(Signature Pages Follow)

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.
By:  

/s/ Anthony A. Vasconcellos

Name:   Anthony A. Vasconcellos
Title:   Chief Financial Officer
HILLMAN INVESTMENT COMPANY
THE HILLMAN COMPANIES, INC.
ALL POINTS INDUSTRIES, INC.
SUNSUB C INC.
By:  

/s/ Anthony A. Vasconcellos

Name:   Anthony A. Vasconcellos
Title:   Chief Financial Officer


BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.
By  

/s/ Tom Blouin

  Name:   Tom Blouin
  Title:   Managing Director


SCHEDULE I

Guarantors

Hillman Investment Company

The Hillman Companies, Inc.

All Points Industries, Inc.

SunSub C Inc.

EX-10.1 4 d455962dex101.htm PURCHASE AGREEMENT Purchase Agreement

Exhibit 10.1

EXECUTION VERSION

$65,000,000

THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.

10.875% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2018

(TEMPORARY NOTES & PERMANENT NOTES)

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

December 18, 2012

BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.

745 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The Hillman Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this agreement (this “Agreement”), to issue and sell to you, as the initial purchaser (the “Initial Purchaser”), $65,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of 10.875% Senior Notes due 2018 (the “Temporary Notes”). The Temporary Notes will be issued pursuant to an indenture (the “Temporary Notes Indenture”), to be dated December 21, 2012, among the Company, the Temporary Note Guarantors (as defined below) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (in such capacity, the “Temporary Notes Trustee”). The Temporary Notes will have terms and provisions that are summarized in the Offering Memorandum (as defined below).

Pursuant to an Arrangement Agreement, dated as of December 17, 2012 (the “Acquisition Agreement”), by and between Hillman Companies (as defined below) and H. Paulin & Co., Limited (the “Target”), the Company will acquire the Target in exchange for cash consideration of approximately CAD $103.5 million (the “Acquisition”). The Company expects to pay a portion of the consideration for the Acquisition with proceeds from the issuance of the Temporary Notes.

If the Acquisition is not consummated on or prior to March 28, 2013, the Notes will be redeemed at a price equal to the offering price of the Temporary Notes (excluding pre-issuance interest) plus accrued and unpaid interest (including, for the avoidance of doubt, pre-issuance interest) from the December 1, 2012 up to, but not including, the date of such redemption (such redemption, a “Special Mandatory Redemption”).

Contemporaneously with the consummation of the Acquisition, the Company will redeem all of the Temporary Notes by issuing in exchange therefor (the “Mandatory Exchange” and the date on which such Mandatory Exchange is completed, the “Mandatory Exchange Date”) the Company’s 10.875% Senior Notes due 2018 (the “Permanent Notes” and, together with the Temporary Notes, the “Notes”) to be issued pursuant to that certain Indenture, dated as of May 28, 2010, entered into among the Company, the Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank,

 

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National Association, as trustee (in such capacity, the “Existing Notes Trustee” and, together with the Temporary Notes Trustee, each a “Trustee”), as amended and supplemented, (the “Existing Indenture” and, together with the Temporary Notes Indenture, the “Indentures”), in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of such Temporary Notes (the “Permanent Notes Exchange Redemption”). The Permanent Notes, if issued, will constitute “Additional Notes” (as such term is defined in the Existing Indenture, and will form part of the same issue as, and be treated as a single class of securities with, the Company’s previously issued $200,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 10.875% Senior Notes due 2018 (the “Existing Notes”) under the Existing Indenture. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum, the Permanent Notes will have terms identical to the Existing Notes and will be treated as a single series of debt securities for all purposes under the Indenture.

The Company’s obligations under the Temporary Notes, including the due and punctual payment of interest on the Temporary Notes, will be irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis (the “Temporary Guarantees”) by The Hillman Companies, Inc. (“Hillman Companies”), Hillman Investment Company (“Parent”) and the other guarantors listed in Schedule II hereto (collectively, in such capacity, the “Temporary Notes Guarantors”). As used herein, the term “Temporary Notes” shall include the Temporary Notes and the Temporary Guarantees, unless the context otherwise requires.

The Company’s obligations under the Permanent Notes, including the due and punctual payment of interest on the Permanent Notes, will be irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis (the “Permanent Guarantees” and, together with the Temporary Guarantees, the “Guarantees”) by Hillman Companies, Parent and the other guarantors listed in Schedule II hereto (collectively, in such capacity the “Permanent Guarantors” and, together with the Temporary Notes Guarantors, the “Guarantors”). As used herein, the term “Permanent Notes” shall include the Permanent Notes and the Permanent Guarantees, and the term “Notes” shall include the Notes, the Temporary Guarantees and Permanent Guarantees, unless the context otherwise requires. This Agreement is to confirm the agreement concerning the purchase of the Temporary Notes from the Company by the Initial Purchaser.

1. Purchase and Resale of the Notes. The Temporary Notes will be offered and sold to the Initial Purchaser without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), in reliance on an exemption pursuant to Section 4(2) under the Securities Act. The Company and the Guarantors have prepared a preliminary offering memorandum, dated December 18, 2012 (the “Preliminary Offering Memorandum”), a pricing term sheet substantially in the form attached hereto as Schedule III (the “Pricing Term Sheet”) setting forth the terms of the Temporary Notes omitted from the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and certain other information and an offering memorandum, dated December 18, 2012 (the “Offering Memorandum”), setting forth information regarding the Company, the Guarantors, the Notes, and the Exchange Notes (as defined herein), the Guarantees and the Exchange Guarantees (as defined herein). The Preliminary Offering Memorandum, as supplemented and amended as of the Applicable Time (as defined below), together with the Pricing Term Sheet and any of the documents listed on Schedule IV(A) hereto are collectively referred to as the “Pricing Disclosure Package”. The Company and the Guarantors hereby confirm that they have authorized the use of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum in connection with the offering and resale of the Temporary Notes by the Initial Purchaser. “Applicable Time” means 4:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date of this Agreement.

 

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Any reference to the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Offering Memorandum shall be deemed to refer to and include the Hillman Companies’ most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended (the “Form 10-K”), and all subsequent documents filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), on or prior to the date of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Offering Memorandum, as the case may be. Any reference to the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, Pricing Disclosure Package or the Offering Memorandum, as the case may be, as amended or supplemented, as of any specified date, shall be deemed to include any documents filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, Pricing Disclosure Package or the Offering Memorandum, as the case may be, and prior to such specified date. All documents filed under the Exchange Act and so deemed to be included in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, Pricing Disclosure Package or the Offering Memorandum, as the case may be, or any amendment or supplement thereto are hereinafter called the “Exchange Act Reports”.

You have advised the Company that you will offer and resell (the “Exempt Resales”) the Temporary Notes purchased by you hereunder in private sales exempt from registration under the Securities Act on the terms set forth in each of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum, as amended or supplemented, solely to (i) persons whom you reasonably believe to be “qualified institutional buyers” as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“QIBs”), in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and (ii) outside the United States to certain persons who are not U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act (“Regulation S”)) (such persons, “Non-U.S. Persons”) in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S. As used herein, the terms “offshore transaction” and “United States” have the meanings assigned to them in Regulation S. Those persons specified in clauses (i) and (ii) are referred to herein as “Eligible Purchasers”.

Holders (including subsequent transferees) of the Permanent Notes will have the registration rights set forth in a registration rights agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), among the Company, the Permanent Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers to be dated the Closing Date (as defined herein), for so long as such Permanent Notes constitute “Transfer Restricted Securities” (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement). Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors will agree to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the circumstances set forth therein, a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to the Company’s 10.875% Senior Notes due 2018 (the “Exchange Notes”) and the Permanent Guarantors’ Exchange Guarantees (the “Exchange Guarantees”) to be offered in exchange for the Permanent Notes and the Permanent Guarantees. Such portion of the offering is referred to as the “Exchange Offer”.

 

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2. Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the Company and the Guarantors. The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, represent, warrant and agree as follows:

(a) When the Temporary Notes and Temporary Guarantees are issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement, such Temporary Notes and Temporary Guarantees will not be of the same class (within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act) as securities of the Company or the Guarantors that are listed on a national securities exchange registered under Section 6 of the Exchange Act or that are quoted in a United States automated inter-dealer quotation system.

(b) Assuming the accuracy of your representations and warranties in Section 3(b), and your compliance with your agreements set forth in this Agreement, the purchase and resale of the Temporary Notes pursuant to and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum (including pursuant to the Exempt Resales) are exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

(c) No form of general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Regulation D (including, but not limited to, advertisements, articles, notices or other communications published in any newspaper, magazine or similar medium or broadcast over television or radio, or any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been invited by any general solicitation or general advertising) was used by the Company, the Temporary Notes Guarantors, any of their respective affiliates or any of their respective representatives (other than you and your affiliates, as to whom the Company and the Temporary Notes Guarantors make no representation) in connection with the offer and sale of the Temporary Notes.

(d) No directed selling efforts within the meaning of Rule 902 under the Securities Act were used by the Company, the Temporary Notes Guarantors or any of their respective representatives (other than you, as to whom the Company and the Temporary Notes Guarantors make no representation) with respect to Temporary Notes sold outside the United States to Non-U.S. Persons, and the Company, any affiliate of the Company and any person acting on its or their behalf (other than you and your affiliates, as to whom the Company and the Temporary Notes Guarantors make no representation) has complied with and will implement the “offering restrictions” required by Rule 902 under the Securities Act.

(e) Each of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum, each as of its respective date, contains or will contain all the information specified in, and meet the requirements of, Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

(f) Neither the Company, any Temporary Notes Guarantor nor any other person acting on behalf of the Company or any Temporary Notes Guarantor has sold or issued any securities that would be integrated with the offering of the Temporary Notes contemplated by this Agreement pursuant to the Securities Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or the interpretations thereof by the Commission.

 

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(g) The Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum have been prepared by the Company and the Guarantors for use by the Initial Purchaser in connection with the Exempt Resales. No order or decree preventing the use of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Offering Memorandum, or any order asserting that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act has been issued, and no proceeding for that purpose has commenced or is pending or, to the knowledge of Company or any of the Guarantors is contemplated.

(h) The Offering Memorandum will not, as of its date or as of the Closing Date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Offering Memorandum in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Initial Purchaser specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 8(e).

(i) The Pricing Disclosure Package did not, as of the Applicable Time, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Pricing Disclosure Package in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Initial Purchaser specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 8(e).

(j) The Company has not made any offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Temporary Notes that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” (if the offering of the Notes was made pursuant to a registered offering under the Securities Act), as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (a “Free Writing Offering Document”), without the prior consent of the Initial Purchaser; any such Free Writing Offering Document the use of which has been previously consented to by the Initial Purchaser is listed on Schedule IV.

(k) The Pricing Disclosure Package, when taken together with each Free Writing Offering Document listed in Schedule IV(B) hereto, did not, as of the Applicable Time, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Pricing Disclosure Package (or Free Writing Offering Document listed in Schedule IV(B) hereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Initial Purchaser specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 8(e).

(l) The Exchange Act Reports, when they were or are filed with the Commission, conformed or will conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. The Exchange Act Reports did not and will not, when filed with the Commission, contain an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

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(m) Each of the Company, the Guarantors and their respective subsidiaries has been duly organized, is validly existing and in good standing as a corporation or other business entity under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and is duly qualified to do business and in good standing as a foreign corporation or other business entity in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its businesses requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, stockholders’ equity, properties or business of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”). Each of the Company, the Guarantors and their respective subsidiaries has all power and authority necessary to own or hold its properties and to conduct the businesses in which it is engaged. The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the subsidiaries listed on Schedule V hereto. None of the subsidiaries of the Company is a “significant subsidiary” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act).

(n) Hillman Companies has an authorized capitalization as set forth in each of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum. All of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. All of the issued shares of capital stock of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims, except for such liens, encumbrances, equities or claims as could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(o) The Company and each Guarantor has all requisite corporate power, partnership or limited liability company and authority, as applicable, to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Indentures. The Existing Indenture has been duly and validly authorized by the Company and the Permanent Guarantors, and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Trustee, constitutes the valid and binding agreement of the Company and the Permanent Guarantors, enforceable against the Company and the Permanent Guarantors in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, fraudulent conveyance, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and other laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). The Existing Indenture conforms in all material respects to the description thereof in each of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum. The Temporary Notes Indenture has been duly and validly authorized by the Company and the Temporary Notes Guarantors, and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Temporary Notes Trustee, when executed and delivered by the Company, will constitute the valid and binding agreement of the Company and the Temporary Notes Guarantors, enforceable against the Company and the Temporary Notes Guarantors in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, fraudulent conveyance, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and other laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is

 

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considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). The Existing Indenture conforms, and the Temporary Notes Indenture will conform, in all material respects to the descriptions thereof in each of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum.

(p) The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, issue, sell and perform its obligations under the Notes. The Notes have been duly authorized by the Company and (i) in the case of the Temporary Notes, when duly executed by the Company in accordance with the terms of the Temporary Notes Indenture, assuming due authentication of the Temporary Notes by the Temporary Notes Trustee, upon delivery to the Initial Purchaser against payment therefor in accordance with the terms hereof, and (ii) in the case of the Permanent Notes, when duly executed by the Company in accordance with the Existing Indenture, assuming due authentication of the Permanent Notes by the Permanent Notes Trustee, will be validly issued and delivered and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits of the applicable Indenture, enforceable against the Company in accordance with such Indenture’s terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, fraudulent conveyance, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and other laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). The Notes will conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof in each of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum.

(q) The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, issue and perform its obligations under the Exchange Notes. The Exchange Notes have been duly and validly authorized by the Company and if and when issued and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Existing Indenture and delivered in accordance with the Exchange Offer provided for in the Registration Rights Agreement, will be validly issued and delivered and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits of the Existing Indenture, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, fraudulent conveyance, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and other laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

(r) Each Guarantor has all requisite corporate, partnership or limited liability company power and authority, as applicable, to execute, issue and perform its obligations under the Guarantees. The Guarantees have been duly and validly authorized by the Guarantors and (i) in the case of the Temporary Note Guarantees, upon the due execution, authentication and delivery of the Temporary Notes in accordance with the Temporary Notes Indenture, assuming due authentication of the Temporary Notes by the Temporary Notes Trustee, and the issuance of the Temporary Notes in the sale to the Initial Purchaser contemplated by this Agreement, and (ii) in the case of the Permanent Guarantees, when issued and delivered in accordance with the Existing Indenture, assuming due authentication of the Permanent Notes by the Permanent Notes Trustee, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Guarantors, enforceable against the Guarantors in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, fraudulent conveyance, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and other laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). The Guarantees will conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof in each of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum.

 

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(s) Each Guarantor has all requisite corporate, partnership or limited liability company power and authority, as applicable, to execute, issue and perform its obligations under the Exchange Guarantees. The Exchange Guarantees have been duly and validly authorized by the Guarantors and if and when executed and delivered by the Guarantors in accordance with the terms of the Existing Indenture and upon the due execution and authentication of the Exchange Notes in accordance with the Existing Indenture and the issuance and delivery of the Exchange Notes in the Exchange Offer contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement, will be validly issued and delivered and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Guarantors entitled to the benefits of the Existing Indenture, enforceable against the Guarantors in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, fraudulent conveyance, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and other laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

(t) The Company and each Permanent Guarantor has all requisite corporate, partnership or limited liability company power and authority, as applicable, to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement. The Registration Rights Agreement has been duly authorized by the Company and each Permanent Guarantor and, when executed and delivered by the Company and each Permanent Guarantor on the Closing Date in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, will be validly executed and delivered and (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by you) will be the legally valid and binding obligation of the Company and each Permanent Guarantor in accordance with the terms thereof, enforceable against the Company and each Permanent Guarantor in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditor’s rights generally, by general equitable principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and, as to rights of indemnification and contribution, by principles of public policy. The Registration Rights Agreement will conform in all material respects to the description thereof in each of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum.

(u) Hillman Companies has all requisite corporate power and authority to consummate the Acquisition and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Acquisition Agreement (to the extent a party thereto).

(v) The Acquisition Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by Hillman Companies and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties thereto, constitute the valid and binding agreement of Hillman Companies enforceable against Hillman Companies in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, fraudulent conveyance, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and other laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

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(w) The Company and each Guarantor has all requisite corporate power to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and each of the Guarantors.

(x) Except as set forth in the Offering Memorandum, and assuming the accuracy of, and the Initial Purchaser’s compliance with, the representations, warranties and agreements of the Initial Purchaser set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement, the issue and sale of the Notes and the Guarantees, the execution, delivery and performance by the Company and the Guarantors of the Notes, the Guarantees, the Exchange Notes, the Exchange Guarantees, the Indentures, the Registration Rights Agreement, this Agreement and the Acquisition Agreement, the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Temporary Notes as described under “Use of Proceeds” in each of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum, the Permanent Notes Exchange Redemption and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, impose any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company, the Guarantors or their respective subsidiaries or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, license, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company, the Guarantors or any of their respective subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company, the Guarantors or any of their respective subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company, the Guarantors or any of their respective subsidiaries is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws (or similar organizational documents) of the Company, the Guarantors or any of their respective subsidiaries or (iii) result in any violation of any statute or any judgment, order, decree, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company, the Guarantors or any of their respective subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets, except, with respect to clauses (i) and (iii), breaches or defaults that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(y) Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Initial Purchaser contained herein and the compliance by the Initial Purchaser with its agreements contained herein, no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing, registration or qualification with any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company, the Guarantors or any of their respective subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets is required for the issue and sale of the Temporary Notes and the Temporary Note Guarantees, the execution, delivery and performance by the Company and the Guarantors of the Notes, the Guarantees, the Exchange Notes, the Exchange Guarantees, the Indentures, the Registration Rights Agreement, this Agreement and the Acquisition Agreement, the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes as described under “Use of Proceeds” in each of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum, the Permanent Notes Exchange Redemption and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except (i) such as have been or will be obtained or made on or prior to the Closing Date, (ii) for the filing of a registration statement by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act as required by the Registration Rights Agreement in connection with the issuance of the Exchange Notes and the Exchange Guarantees, (iii) such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, filings, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Temporary Notes by the Initial Purchaser, each of which had been obtained and is in full force and effect and (iv) where the

 

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failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or orders of, filings, registrations or qualifications could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(z) The historical financial statements (including the related notes and supporting schedules) included or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum present fairly in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the entities purported to be shown thereby, at the dates and for the periods indicated, and have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as disclosed therein).

(aa) KPMG LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company, and who have delivered the KPMG initial letter referred to in Section 7(h) hereof, are independent registered public accountants as required by the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

(bb) Except as otherwise disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum, the Company and the Guarantors maintain a system of internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that complies in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and that has been designed by, or under the supervision of, the Company’s and each Guarantors’ respective principal executive and principal financial officers, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. Except as otherwise disclosed in or contemplated by the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum, the Company and the Guarantors maintain internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and to maintain accountability for its assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. As of the date of the most recent balance sheet of Hillman Companies and its consolidated subsidiaries reviewed or audited by KPMG LLP and the audit committee of the board of directors of Hillman Companies, except as otherwise disclosed in or contemplated by the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum, there were no material weaknesses in Hillman Companies’ internal controls.

(cc) Except as otherwise disclosed in or contemplated by the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum, (i) the Company and the Guarantors maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act), (ii) such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by Hillman Companies in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management of Hillman Companies, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure to be made; and (iii) such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established.

 

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(dd) Except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Critical Accounting Policies” set forth or incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum accurately and fully describes (i) the accounting policies that Hillman Companies believes are the most important in the portrayal of Hillman Companies’ financial condition and results of operations and that require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments; (ii) the judgments and uncertainties affecting the application of critical accounting policies; and (iii) the likelihood that materially different amounts would be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions and an explanation thereof.

(ee) With respect to each of the items of financial data regarding the Target included in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum under the caption “Summary – Recent Developments” (the “Target Information”), such Target Information was obtained from publicly filed reports of the Target, and nothing has come to the attention of the Company that causes the Company to believe that the financial information contained in the Target Information is not true, correct and accurate in all material respects.

(ff) There is and has been no failure on the part of Hillman Companies and any of Hillman Companies’ directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith.

(gg) Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum, and except as otherwise disclosed in the Offering Memorandum, neither the Company, the Guarantors nor any of their respective subsidiaries has (i) sustained any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor disturbance or dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, (ii) issued or granted any securities, (iii) incurred any material liability or obligation, direct or contingent, other than liabilities and obligations that were incurred in the ordinary course of business, (iv) entered into any material transaction not in the ordinary course of business, (v) declared or paid any dividend on its capital stock, and (vi) since such date, there has not been any change in the capital stock, partnership or limited liability interests as applicable, or long-term debt of the Company, the Guarantors or any of their respective subsidiaries or any adverse change, or any development involving a prospective adverse change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, stockholders’ equity, properties, management or business of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in each case except as could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(hh) Except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company, the Guarantors and each of their respective subsidiaries has good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property and good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects, except such liens, encumbrances and

 

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defects as are described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum and such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company, the Guarantors or any of their respective subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such assets by the Company, the Guarantors or any of their respective subsidiaries.

(ii) The Company and each of its subsidiaries have such permits, licenses, patents, franchises, certificates of need and other approvals or authorizations of governmental or regulatory authorities (“Permits”) as are necessary under applicable law to own their properties and conduct their businesses in the manner described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum, except for any of the foregoing that could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Hillman Companies and each of its subsidiaries have fulfilled and performed all of its obligations with respect to the Permits, and no event has occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or results in any other impairment of the rights of the holder or any such Permits, except for any of the foregoing that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company, nor any of its subsidiaries has received notice of any revocation or modification of any such Permits, except for any notice that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(jj) Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and the Guarantors own or possess adequate rights to use all material patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses, know-how, software, systems and technology (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures) necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses and have not received any notice of any claim of infringement or other violation of, any such rights of others.

(kk) Except as otherwise disclosed in the Offering Memorandum, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject that could, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or could, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the performance by the Company and the Guarantors of the performance of this Agreement, the Indentures, the Notes, the Guarantees, the Acquisition Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby. To the Company’s and each Guarantors’ knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or others.

(ll) There are no contracts or other documents that would be required to be described in a registration statement filed under the Securities Act or filed as exhibits to a registration statement of the Company pursuant to Item 601(10) of Regulation S-K that have not been described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum. The statements made in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum, insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of the terms of the contracts and other documents that are so described, constitute accurate summaries of the terms of such contracts and documents in all

 

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material respects. Neither the Company, the Guarantors nor any of their respective subsidiaries has knowledge that any other party to any such contract or other document has any intention not to render full performance as contemplated by the terms thereof.

(mm) The Company and each Guarantor carries, or are covered by, insurance from insurers of recognized financial responsibility in such amounts and covering such risks as is adequate for the conduct of their respective businesses and the value of their respective properties and as is customary for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries, except where the failure to maintain such insurance could not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and the Guarantors are in compliance with the terms of such policies, neither the Company nor any Guarantor has received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that capital improvements or other expenditures are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance, there are no claims by the Company or the Guarantors under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause, and neither the Company nor any Guarantor has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business, in each case other than as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(nn) No labor disturbance by or dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of any officer of the Company or any Guarantor is imminent that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(oo) Neither the Company nor any of the Guarantors (i) is in violation of its charter or by-laws (or similar organizational documents), (ii) is in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant, condition or other obligation contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, license or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its properties or assets is subject, or (iii) is in violation of any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over it or its property or assets or has failed to obtain any license, permit, certificate, franchise or other governmental authorization or permit necessary to the ownership of its property or to the conduct of its business, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), to the extent any such conflict, breach, violation, failure or default could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(pp) (i) There are no proceedings that are pending, or known to be threatened, against the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, orders, judgments, decrees, permits or other legal requirements of any governmental authority, including without limitation any international, foreign, national, state, provincial, regional, or local authority, relating to pollution, the protection of human health or safety, the environment, or natural resources, or to use, handling, storage, manufacturing, transportation, treatment, discharge, disposal or release of or exposure to hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”) in which a governmental authority is also a party, other than such proceedings regarding which it is reasonably believed no monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more will be imposed and (ii) the Company, the Guarantors and their

 

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respective subsidiaries are not aware of any issues regarding compliance with Environmental Laws, including any pending or proposed Environmental Laws, or liabilities or other obligations under Environmental Laws or concerning hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(qq) The Company, the Guarantors and each of their respective subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns required to be filed through the date hereof, subject to permitted extensions, and have paid all taxes due, and no tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company, the Guarantors or any of their respective subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor has any knowledge of any tax deficiencies that have been, or could reasonably be expected to be asserted against the Company, the Guarantors and each of their respective subsidiaries, that could, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(rr) (i) Each “employee benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”)) that is sponsored or maintained within the United States and with respect to which the Company has any direct or indirect liability, whether contingent or otherwise (each a “Plan”) has been established and administered in all material respects in compliance with its terms and with the requirements of all applicable statutes, rules and regulations including ERISA and the Code; (ii) with respect to each Plan, no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any Plan excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption or that have been corrected, that would result in a material liability to the Company ; (iii) no Plan is subject to Title IV of ERISA; and (iv) each Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service or is in the form of a prototype plan with respect to which the IRS has issued a favorable opinion letter, in each case to the effect that the Plan satisfies the requirements of Section 401(a) of the Code and that its related trust is exempt from tax under Section 501(a) of the Code and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would be reasonably be expected to cause the loss of such qualification.

(ss) No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s property or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, except as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum and as could not be reasonably expected to impact the ability of the Company or the Guarantors to make payments on the Notes when due.

(tt) The statistical and market-related data included in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum and the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries included in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable in all material respects.

(uu) Neither of the Company nor any Guarantor is, and after giving effect to the offer and sale of the Temporary Notes and the application of the proceeds therefrom as

 

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described under “Use of Proceeds” in each of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum will be an “investment company” or a company “controlled by an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

(vv) The statements set forth in, or incorporated by reference by, each of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum under the caption “Description of Notes,” insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Notes and the Guarantees and under the captions “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations,” “Description of Certain Other Indebtedness” and “Plan of Distribution,” insofar as they purport to summarize the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate summaries in all material respects.

(ww) Except as described in the Offering Memorandum, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company, any Guarantor and any person granting such person the right to require the Company or any Guarantor to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any securities of the Company or any Guarantor (other than the Registration Rights Agreement) owned or to be owned by such person or to require the Company or any Guarantor to include such securities in the securities registered pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement or in any securities being registered pursuant to any other registration statement filed by the Company or any Guarantor under the Securities Act.

(xx) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that could give rise to a valid claim against any of them or the Initial Purchaser for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Notes.

(yy) Except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, none of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including, without limitation, the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Temporary Notes), will violate or result in a violation of Section 7 of the Exchange Act, or any regulation promulgated thereunder, including, without limitation, Regulations T, U and X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

(zz) The Company and its affiliates have not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company or the Guarantors in connection with the offering of the Temporary Notes.

(aaa) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company and the Guarantors, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company, the Guarantors or any of their respective subsidiaries, has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977; or (iv) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.

 

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(bbb) The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(ccc) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or the Guarantors and delivered to the Initial Purchaser or counsel for the Initial Purchaser in connection with the offering of the Notes shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company or such Guarantor, jointly and severally, as to matters covered thereby, to the Initial Purchaser.

3. Purchase of the Notes by the Initial Purchaser, Agreements to Sell, Purchase and Resell.

(a) The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally hereby agree, on the basis of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Initial Purchaser contained herein and subject to all the terms and conditions set forth herein, to issue and sell to the Initial Purchaser and, upon the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company and the Guarantors herein contained and subject to all the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Initial Purchaser agrees to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of 106.5% of the principal amount thereof, the total principal amount of Temporary Notes. In the event a Mandatory Exchange occurs, the Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally hereby agree to promptly pay the Initial Purchaser on the Mandatory Exchange Date an amount equal to 2.25% of the total principal amount of Temporary Notes purchased hereunder. The Company and the Guarantors shall not be obligated to deliver any of the securities to be delivered hereunder except upon payment for all of the securities to be purchased as provided herein.

(b) The Initial Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to the Company that it will offer the Temporary Notes for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and in the Pricing Disclosure Package. The Initial Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Company, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company and the Guarantors, that such Initial Purchaser: (i) is a QIB with such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as are necessary in order to

 

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evaluate the merits and risks of an investment in the Temporary Notes; (ii) is purchasing the Temporary Notes pursuant to a private sale exempt from registration under the Securities Act; (iii) in connection with the Exempt Resales, will solicit offers to buy the Temporary Notes only from, and will offer to sell the Temporary Notes only to, the Eligible Purchasers in accordance with this Agreement and on the terms contemplated by the Pricing Disclosure Package; (iv) will not offer or sell the Temporary Notes, nor has it offered or sold the Temporary Notes by, or otherwise engaged in, any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D, including, but not limited to, advertisements, articles, notices or other communications published in any newspaper, magazine, or similar medium or broadcast over television or radio, or any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been invited by any general solicitation or general advertising) and will not engage in any directed selling efforts within the meaning of Rule 902 under the Securities Act, in connection with the offering of the Temporary Notes; and (v) has offered the Temporary Notes and will offer and sell the Temporary Notes (A) as part of its distribution at any time and (B) otherwise until 40 days after the later of the commencement of the offering and the Closing Date, only in accordance with Rule 903 of Regulation S and, accordingly, neither it nor any persons acting on its behalf have engaged or will engage in any directed selling efforts (within the meaning of Regulation S) with respect to the Securities, and any such persons have complied and will comply with the offering restrictions requirement of Regulation S. The Initial Purchaser has advised the Company that it will offer the Temporary Notes to Eligible Purchasers at a price initially equal to 106.5% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest, if any, from the last interest payment date of the Existing Notes. Such price may be changed by the Initial Purchaser at any time without notice.

(c) The Initial Purchaser has not nor, prior to the later to occur of (A) the Closing Date and (B) completion of the distribution of the Notes, will not, use, authorize use of, refer to or distribute any material in connection with the offering and sale of the Notes other than (i) the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Offering Memorandum, (ii) any written communication that contains no “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433(h)(2) under the Act) that was not included (including through incorporation by reference) in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or any Free Writing Offering Document listed on Schedule IV hereto, (iii) the Free Writing Offering Documents listed on Schedule IV hereto, (iv) any written communication prepared by such Initial Purchaser and approved by the Company in writing, or (v) any written communication that contains the terms of the Notes in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Offering Memorandum.

(d) The Initial Purchaser hereby acknowledges that upon original issuance thereof, and until such time as the same is no longer required under the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Temporary Notes (and all securities issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) shall bear legends substantially in the forms as set forth in the “Notice to Investors” section of the Pricing Disclosure Package and Offering Memorandum (along with such other legends as the Company and its counsel deem necessary).

The Initial Purchaser understands that the Company and, for purposes of the opinions to be delivered to the Initial Purchaser pursuant to Sections 7(c), 7(d) and 7(e) hereof, counsel to the Company and counsel to the Initial Purchaser, will rely upon the accuracy and truth of the foregoing representations, warranties and agreements, and the Initial Purchaser hereby consent to such reliance.

 

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4. Delivery of the Notes and Payment Therefor. Delivery to the Initial Purchaser of and payment for the Notes shall be made at the New York offices of Latham & Watkins LLP, at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on December 21, 2012 (the “Closing Date”). The place of closing for the Notes and the Closing Date may be varied by agreement between the Initial Purchaser and the Company.

The Temporary Notes will be delivered to the Initial Purchaser, or the Trustee as custodian for The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), against payment by or on behalf of the Initial Purchaser of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer in immediately available funds, by causing DTC to credit the Temporary Notes to the account of the Initial Purchaser at DTC. The Temporary Notes will be evidenced by one or more global securities in definitive form and will be registered in the name of Cede & Co. as nominee of DTC. The Temporary Notes to be delivered to the Initial Purchaser shall be made available to the Initial Purchaser in New York City for inspection and packaging not later than 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the business day next preceding the Closing Date.

5. Agreements of the Company and the Guarantors. The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, agree with the Initial Purchaser as follows:

(a) The Company and the Guarantors furnish to the Initial Purchaser, without charge, not later than the second business day following the date of the Offering Memorandum, such number of copies of the Offering Memorandum as may then be amended or supplemented as they may reasonably request.

(b) The Company and the Guarantors will prepare the Offering Memorandum in a form approved by the Initial Purchaser and will not make any amendment or supplement to the Pricing Disclosure Package or to the Offering Memorandum of which the Initial Purchaser shall not previously have been advised or to which they shall reasonably object in a timely manner after being so advised.

(c) Subject to the proviso in Section 5(f), the Company and each of the Guarantors consents to the use of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum in accordance with the securities or Blue Sky laws of the jurisdictions in which the Temporary Notes are offered by the Initial Purchaser and by all dealers to whom Temporary Notes may be sold, in connection with the offering and sale of the Temporary Notes.

(d) If, at any time prior to completion of the distribution of the Temporary Notes by the Initial Purchaser to Eligible Purchasers, any event occurs or information becomes known that, in the judgment of the Company or any of the Guarantors or in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Initial Purchaser, should be set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Offering Memorandum so that the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Offering Memorandum, as then amended or supplemented, does not include any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary

 

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to supplement or amend the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Offering Memorandum in order to comply with any law, the Company and the Guarantors will forthwith prepare an appropriate supplement or amendment thereto, and will expeditiously furnish to the Initial Purchaser and dealers a reasonable number of copies thereof.

(e) Neither the Company nor any Guarantor will make any offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Temporary Notes that would constitute a Free Writing Offering Document without the prior consent of the Initial Purchaser, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. If at any time following issuance of a Free Writing Offering Document any event occurred or occurs as a result of which such Free Writing Offering Document conflicts with the information in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Offering Memorandum or, when taken together with the information in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Offering Memorandum, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then prevailing, not misleading, as promptly as practicable after becoming aware thereof, the Company will give notice thereof to the Initial Purchaser and, if requested by the Initial Purchaser, will prepare and furnish without charge to such Initial Purchaser a Free Writing Offering Document or other document which will correct such conflict, statement or omission.

(f) Promptly from time to time to take such action as the Initial Purchaser may reasonably request to qualify the Temporary Notes for offering and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Initial Purchaser may request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Temporary Notes; provided that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction in which it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any jurisdiction in which it would not otherwise be subject.

(g) For a period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the 90th day after the date of the Offering Memorandum, the Company and the Guarantors agree not to, directly or indirectly, (i) offer for sale, sell, or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction or device that is designed to, or would be expected to, result in the disposition by any person at any time in the future of) any debt securities of the Company substantially similar to the Notes or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such debt securities of the Company, or sell or grant options, rights or warrants with respect to such debt securities of the Company or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such debt securities of the Company, (ii) enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic benefits or risks of ownership of such debt securities of the Company, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of debt securities of the Company or other securities, in cash or otherwise, (iii) file or cause to be filed a registration statement, including any amendments, with respect to the registration of debt securities of the Company substantially similar to the Notes or securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable into debt securities of the Company, or (iv) publicly announce an offering of any debt securities of the Company substantially similar to the Notes or securities convertible or exchangeable into such debt securities, in each case without the prior written consent of the

 

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Initial Purchaser, except any offer or sale of Temporary Notes, Permanent Notes, Exchange Notes, Temporary Guarantees, Permanent Guarantees, or Exchange Guarantees pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, and any filings with the SEC related thereto.

(h) So long as any of the Notes are outstanding and the Company and the Guarantors are so required pursuant to the Indentures, the Company and the Guarantors will, furnish at their expense to the Initial Purchaser, and, upon request, to the holders of the Notes and prospective purchasers of the Notes the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act (if any).

(i) The Company and the Guarantors will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Temporary Notes to be sold by such parties hereunder substantially in accordance with the description set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum under the caption “Use of Proceeds.”

(j) The Company, the Guarantors and their respective affiliates will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that reasonably could be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company or the Guarantors in connection with the offering of the Temporary Notes.

(k) The Company and the Guarantors will use all commercially reasonable efforts to permit the Temporary Notes to be eligible for clearance and settlement through DTC.

(l) For a period of one year (calculated in accordance with paragraph (d) of Rule 144 under the Securities Act) from the Closing Date, the Company and the Guarantors will not, and will not permit any of their respective affiliates (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) to, resell any of the Notes that have been acquired by any of them, except (i) for Notes that are sold in a transaction registered under the Securities Act or (ii) in the opinion of counsel, the buyer of such Notes is not acquiring “restricted securities” under Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

(m) The Company and the Guarantors agree not to sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any security (as defined in the Securities Act) that would be integrated with the sale of the Temporary Notes in a manner that would require the registration under the Securities Act of the sale to the Initial Purchaser or the Eligible Purchasers of the Temporary Notes. The Company and the Guarantors will take reasonable precautions designed to insure that any offer or sale, direct or indirect, in the United States or to any U.S. person (as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act), of any Notes or any substantially similar security issued by the Company or any Guarantor, within six months subsequent to the date on which the distribution of the Temporary Notes has been completed (as notified to the Company by the Initial Purchaser), is made under restrictions and other circumstances reasonably designed not to affect the status of the offer and sale of the Notes in the United States and to U.S. persons contemplated by this Agreement as transactions exempt from the registration provisions of the Securities Act, including any sales pursuant to Rule 144A under, or Regulations D or S of, the Securities Act.

 

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(n) The Company and the Guarantors agree to comply with all the terms and conditions of the Registration Rights Agreement and all agreements set forth in the representation letters of the Company and the Guarantors to DTC relating to the approval of the Notes by DTC for “book entry” transfer.

(o) The Company and the Guarantors will do and perform all things required or necessary to be done and performed under this Agreement by them prior to the Closing Date, and to satisfy all conditions precedent to the Initial Purchaser’s obligations hereunder to purchase the Temporary Notes.

6. Expenses. Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, agree to pay all expenses, costs, fees and taxes incident to and in connection with: (a) the preparation, printing, filing and distribution of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum (including, without limitation, financial statements and exhibits) and all amendments and supplements thereto (including the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s and the Guarantors’ accountants and counsel, but not, however, legal fees and expenses of the Initial Purchaser’s counsel incurred in connection therewith); (b) the preparation, printing (including, without limitation, word processing and duplication costs) and delivery of this Agreement, the Indentures, the Registration Rights Agreement, all Blue Sky memoranda and all other agreements, memoranda, correspondence and other documents printed and delivered in connection therewith and with the Exempt Resales (but not, however, legal fees and expenses of the Initial Purchaser’s counsel incurred in connection with any of the foregoing other than reasonable and documented fees of counsel plus reasonable disbursements incurred in connection with the preparation, printing and delivery of such Blue Sky memoranda); (c) the issuance and delivery by the Company of the Notes and by the Guarantors of the Guarantees and any taxes payable in connection therewith; (d) the qualification of the Notes and Exchange Notes for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of the several states and any foreign jurisdictions as the Initial Purchaser may designate (including, without limitation, the reasonable and documented out of pocket fees and disbursements of the Initial Purchaser’s counsel relating to such registration or qualification); (e) the furnishing of such copies of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum, and all amendments and supplements thereto, as may be reasonably requested for use in connection with the Exempt Resales; (f) the preparation of certificates for the Notes (including, without limitation, printing and engraving thereof); (g) the approval of the Notes by DTC for “book-entry” transfer; (h) the rating of the Notes and the Exchange Notes; (i) the obligations of the Trustee, any agent of the Trustee and the counsel for the Trustee in connection with the Indentures, the Notes, the Guarantees, the Exchange Notes and the Exchange Guarantees; (j) the performance by the Company and the Guarantors of their other obligations under this Agreement; (k) solely in the event a Special Mandatory Redemption occurs, the legal fees and expenses of the Initial Purchaser’s counsel incurred in connection with the offering of the Temporary Notes up to an amount not to exceed $275,000 in the aggregate; and (l) all of the travel expenses of the Company’s officers and employees and any other expenses of the Company in connection with attending or hosting meetings with prospective purchasers of the Temporary Notes, and expenses associated with any electronic road show. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this section shall require the Company and the Guarantors to pay any fees or disbursements of counsel to the Initial Purchaser, other than those fees and disbursements described in clauses (b) and (d) above.

 

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7. Conditions to Initial Purchaser’s Obligations. The obligations of the Initial Purchaser hereunder are subject to the accuracy, when made and on and as of the Closing Date, of the representations and warranties of the Company and the Guarantors contained herein, to the performance by the Company and the Guarantors of their respective obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional terms and conditions:

(a) All corporate proceedings and other legal matters incident to the authorization, form and validity of this Agreement, the Notes, the Guarantees, the Exchange Notes, the Exchange Guarantees, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Indentures, the Acquisition Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum, and all other legal matters relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be reasonably satisfactory in all material respects to counsel for the Initial Purchaser, and the Company and the Guarantors shall have furnished to such counsel all documents and information that they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

(b) Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP shall have furnished to the Initial Purchaser its written opinion and negative assurance letter, as counsel to the Company and the Guarantors, addressed to the Initial Purchaser and dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchaser, substantially in the form of Exhibit B-1 and B-2 hereto.

(c) Holland & Knight LLP shall have furnished to the Initial Purchaser its written opinion, as counsel to the Company and the Guarantors, addressed to the Initial Purchaser and dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchaser, substantially in the form of Exhibit B-3 hereto.

(d) The Initial Purchaser shall have received from Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Initial Purchaser, such opinion or opinions and negative assurance letter, dated the Closing Date, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Notes, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Offering Memorandum and other related matters as the Initial Purchaser may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents and information as such counsel reasonably requests for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

(e) At the time of execution of this Agreement, the Initial Purchaser shall have received from KPMG LLP a letter, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchaser, addressed to the Initial Purchaser and dated the date hereof (i) confirming that it is an independent public accountant within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission and (ii) stating, as of the date hereof (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of a date not more than three days prior to the date hereof), the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and (iii) covering such other matters as are ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings.

 

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(f) With respect to the letter of KPMG LLP referred to in the preceding paragraph and delivered to the Initial Purchaser concurrently with the execution of this Agreement (the “KPMG initial letter”), KPMG LLP shall have furnished to the Initial Purchaser a “bring-down letter” addressed to the Initial Purchaser and dated the Closing Date (i) confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission, (ii) stating, as of the Closing Date (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in each of the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Offering Memorandum, as of a date not more than three days prior to the date of the Closing Date), the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters covered by the KPMG initial letter, and (iii) confirming in all material respects the conclusions and findings set forth in the KPMG initial letter.

(g) (i) Neither the Company, any Guarantor nor any of their respective subsidiaries shall have sustained, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum, any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, or (ii) since such date, there shall not have been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company, any Guarantor or any of their respective subsidiaries or any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, stockholders’ equity, properties, management or business of the Company, the Guarantors and their respective subsidiaries, taken as a whole, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is, individually or in the aggregate, in the judgment of the Initial Purchaser, so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or the delivery of the Temporary Notes being delivered on the Closing Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum.

(h) The Company and each Guarantor shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Initial Purchaser dated as of the Closing Date a certificate of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and each Guarantor, or other officers satisfactory to the Initial Purchaser, as to such matters as the Initial Purchaser may reasonably request, including, without limitation, a statement that the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company and the Guarantors in Section 2 are true and correct on and as of the Closing Date, and the Company has complied with all its agreements contained herein and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date.

(i) The Temporary Notes shall be eligible for clearance and settlement through DTC.

 

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(j) The Company and the Guarantors shall have executed and delivered the Registration Rights Agreement and the Initial Purchaser shall have received an original copy thereof, duly executed by the Company and the Guarantors.

(k) The Company, the Guarantors and the Temporary Notes Trustee have executed and delivered the Temporary Notes Indenture, and the Initial Purchaser have received an original copy thereof, duly executed by the Company, the Guarantors and the Temporary Notes Trustee.

(l) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market, or trading in any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market, shall have been suspended or materially limited or the settlement of such trading generally shall have been materially disrupted or minimum prices shall have been established on any such exchange or such market by the Commission, by such exchange or by any other regulatory body or governmental authority having jurisdiction, (ii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or New York State authorities, (iii) the United States shall have become engaged in hostilities, there shall have been an escalation in hostilities involving the United States or there shall have been a declaration of a national emergency or war by the United States, or (iv) there shall have occurred such a material adverse change in general economic, political or financial conditions, including, without limitation, as a result of terrorist activities after the date hereof (or the effect of international conditions on the financial markets in the United States shall be such), as to make it, in the judgment of the Initial Purchaser, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Temporary Notes being delivered on the Closing Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Offering Memorandum or that, in the judgment of the Initial Purchaser, could materially and adversely affect the financial markets or the markets for the Notes and other debt securities.

(m) There shall exist at and as of the Closing Date no condition that would constitute a default (or an event that with notice or the lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under the Indentures as in effect at the Closing Date (or an event that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute such a default or material breach).

(n) On or prior to the Closing Date, the Company and the Guarantors shall have furnished to the Initial Purchaser such further certificates and documents as the Initial Purchaser may reasonably request.

All opinions, letters, evidence and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Initial Purchaser.

8. Indemnification and Contribution.

(a) The Company and each Guarantor hereby agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold harmless the Initial Purchaser, its affiliates, directors, officers and employees and each person, if any, who controls the Initial Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of

 

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the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any loss, claim, damage, liability or action relating to purchases and sales of Notes), to which the Initial Purchaser, affiliate, director, officer, employee or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained (A) in any Free Writing Offering Document, the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Offering Memorandum or in any amendment or supplement thereto, (B) in any Blue Sky application or other document prepared or executed by the Company or any Guarantor (or based upon any written information furnished by the Company or any Guarantor) specifically for the purpose of qualifying any or all of the Notes under the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction (any such application, document or information being hereinafter called a “Blue Sky Application”), or (C) in any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company or any Guarantor in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Notes (“Marketing Materials”), including any road show or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically) or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in any Free Writing Offering Document, the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Offering Memorandum, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any Blue Sky Application or in any Marketing Materials, any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and shall reimburse the Initial Purchaser and each such director, officer, employee or controlling person promptly upon demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Initial Purchaser, director, officer, employee or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company and the Guarantors shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Free Writing Offering Document, Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Pricing Disclosure Package or Offering Memorandum, or in any such amendment or supplement thereto, or in any Blue Sky Application or in any Marketing Materials, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning such Initial Purchaser furnished to the Company by the Initial Purchaser specifically for inclusion therein, which information consists solely of the information specified in Section 8(e). The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability that the Company or the Guarantors may otherwise have to the Initial Purchaser or to any affiliate, director, officer, employee or controlling person of the Initial Purchaser.

(b) The Initial Purchaser hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each Guarantor, their respective officers and employees, each of their respective directors, and each person, if any, who controls the Company or any Guarantor within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof, to which the Company, any Guarantor or any such director, officer, employee or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained (A) in any Free Writing Offering Document, Preliminary

 

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Offering Memorandum, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Offering Memorandum or in any amendment or supplement thereto, (B) or in any Blue Sky Application or (C) in any Marketing Materials, or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in any Free Writing Offering Document, Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Offering Memorandum, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any Blue Sky Application or in any Marketing Materials, any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning the Initial Purchaser furnished to the Company by the Initial Purchaser specifically for inclusion therein, which information is limited to the information set forth in Section 8(e). The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability that the Initial Purchaser may otherwise have to the Company, any Guarantor or any such director, officer, employee or controlling person.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of any claim or the commencement of any action, the indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the claim or the commencement of that action; provided, however, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under this Section 8 except to the extent it has been materially prejudiced (by the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure and; provided, further, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 8. If any such claim or action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. After notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense of such claim or action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to employ its or their own counsel in any such action if (i) the indemnified party and the indemnifying party shall have so mutually agreed; (ii) the indemnifying party shall have failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party or parties; (iii) the indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded, based on the advice of counsel, that there may be legal defenses available to them that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnified party; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party, on the one hand, and the indemnified party, on the other hand, and representation of both sets of parties by the same counsel would present a conflict due to actual or potential differing interests between them, and in any such event the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be paid by the indemnifying party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one counsel (together with appropriate local counsel) at any time for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but substantially similar or related actions arising in the same jurisdiction out of the same general allegations or circumstances; provided that if the use of such counsel chosen to represent all indemnified

 

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parties would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, each indemnified party shall have the right to select separate counsel to defend such action on behalf of such indemnified party. No indemnifying party shall (x) without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and does not include a statement as to, or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party, or (y) be liable for any settlement of any such action effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with the consent of the indemnifying party or if there be a final judgment of the plaintiff in any such action, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.

(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 shall for any reason be unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 8(a) or 8(b) in respect of any loss, claim, damage or liability, or any action in respect thereof, referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, (i) in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Temporary Notes Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchaser, on the other, from the offering of the Temporary Notes, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchaser, on the other, with respect to the statements or omissions that resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchaser, on the other, with respect to such offering shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Temporary Notes purchased under this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the Temporary Notes Guarantors, on the one hand, and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Initial Purchaser with respect to the Temporary Notes purchased under this Agreement, on the other hand, bear to the total gross proceeds from the offering of the Temporary Notes under this Agreement as set forth on the cover page of the Offering Memorandum. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company, the Temporary Notes Guarantors, or the Initial Purchaser, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. For purposes of the preceding two sentences, the net proceeds deemed to be received by the Company shall be deemed to be also for the benefit of the Temporary Notes Guarantors, and information supplied by the Company shall also be deemed to have been supplied by the Temporary Notes Guarantors. The Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchaser agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 8(d) were to be determined by pro rata

 

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allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 8(d) shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 8(d), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8(d), the Initial Purchaser shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds from the sale to Eligible Purchasers of the Temporary Notes initially purchased by it exceeds the amount of any damages that the Initial Purchaser has otherwise paid or become liable to pay by reason of any untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

(e) The Initial Purchaser confirms and the Company and the Guarantors acknowledge and agree that the statements with respect to the offering of the Temporary Notes by the Initial Purchaser set forth in (i) the second sentence of the second to last paragraph on the front cover of the Offering Memorandum and (ii) the sub-section entitled “Stabilization and Short Positions” and the fourth, fifth and sixth sentences of the first paragraph and the second paragraph of the sub-section entitled “Rule 144A and Regulation S” of the section entitled “Plan of Distribution,” in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum are correct and constitute the only information concerning the Initial Purchaser furnished in writing to the Company or any Guarantor by the Initial Purchaser specifically for inclusion in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum or in any amendment or supplement thereto.

9. [Reserved]

10. Termination. The obligations of the Initial Purchaser hereunder may be terminated by the Initial Purchaser by notice given to and received by the Company prior to delivery of and payment for the Temporary Notes if, prior to that time, any of the events described in Sections 7(j) or 7(o) shall have occurred or if the Initial Purchaser shall decline to purchase the Temporary Notes for any reason permitted under this Agreement.

11. Reimbursement of Initial Purchaser’s Expenses. If (a) the Company for any reason fails to tender the Temporary Notes for delivery to the Initial Purchaser, or (b) the Initial Purchaser shall decline to purchase the Temporary Notes for any reason permitted under this Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors shall reimburse the Initial Purchaser for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses (including fees and disbursements of one firm of outside counsel for the Initial Purchaser) incurred by the Initial Purchaser in connection with this Agreement and the proposed purchase of the Temporary Notes, and upon demand the Company and the Guarantors shall pay the full amount thereof to the Initial Purchaser. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9 by reason of the default of the Initial Purchaser, the Company and the Guarantors shall not be obligated to reimburse the Initial Purchaser on account of those expenses.

 

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12. Notices, etc. All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and:

(a) if to any Initial Purchaser, shall be delivered or sent by hand delivery, mail, telex, overnight courier or facsimile transmission to Barclays Capital Inc., 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, Attention: Syndicate Registration with a copy to Latham & Watkins LLP, 885 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022, Attention: Greg Rodgers (Fax: 212-751-4864), and with a copy, in the case of any notice pursuant to Section 8(c), to the Director of Litigation, Office of the General Counsel, Barclays Capital Inc., 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019;

(b) if to the Company or any Guarantor, shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex, overnight courier or facsimile transmission to The Hillman Group, Inc., 10590 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45231-1764, Attention: Chief Financial Officer (Fax: 513-595-8297), with a copy to Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, 1285 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10019, Attention: John C. Kennedy (Fax: 212-492-0025);

provided, however, that any notice to the Initial Purchaser pursuant to Section 8(c) shall be delivered or sent by hand delivery, mail, facsimile or electronic transmission to the Initial Purchaser. Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect at the time of receipt thereof.

13. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Initial Purchaser, the Company, the Guarantors and their respective successors. This Agreement and the terms and provisions hereof are for the sole benefit of only those persons, except that the representations, warranties, indemnities and agreements contained in this Agreement shall also be deemed to be for the benefit of the other indemnified parties referred to in clauses 8(a) and (b), and their respective successors and assigns. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, other than the persons referred to in this Section 14, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein.

14. Survival. The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchaser contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Temporary Notes and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of any of them or any person controlling any of them.

15. Definition of the Terms “Business Day”, “Affiliate”, and “Subsidiary”. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) “business day” means any day on which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. is open for trading, and (b) “affiliate” and “subsidiary” have the meanings set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

16. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

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17. Waiver of Jury Trial. The Company and the Initial Purchaser hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

18. No Fiduciary Duty. The Company and the Guarantors acknowledge and agree that in connection with this offering, or any other services the Initial Purchaser may be deemed to be providing hereunder, notwithstanding any preexisting relationship, advisory or otherwise, between the parties or any oral representations or assurances previously or subsequently made by the Initial Purchaser: (a) no fiduciary or agency relationship between the Company, and Guarantor and any other person, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchaser, on the other, exists; (b) the Initial Purchaser is not acting as an advisor, expert or otherwise, to the Company and the Guarantors, including, without limitation, with respect to the determination of the purchase price of the Temporary Notes, and such relationship between the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchaser, on the other, is entirely and solely commercial, based on arms-length negotiations; (c) any duties and obligations that the Initial Purchaser may have to the Company and the Guarantors shall be limited to those duties and obligations specifically stated herein; (d) the Initial Purchaser and its affiliates may have interests that differ from those of the Company and the Guarantors; and (e) the Company and the Guarantors have consulted their own legal and financial advisors to the extent they deemed appropriate. The Company and the Guarantors hereby waive any claims that the Company and the Guarantors may have against the Initial Purchaser with respect to any breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the Notes.

19. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and, if executed in more than one counterpart, the executed counterparts shall each be deemed to be an original but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

20. Headings. The headings herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.

 

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If the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement among the Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchaser, please indicate your acceptance in the space provided for that purpose below.

 

Very truly yours,
THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.
By:  

/s/ Anthony A. Vasconcellos

  Name:   Anthony A. Vasconcellos
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer

HILLMAN INVESTMENT COMPANY

THE HILLMAN COMPANIES, INC.

ALL POINTS INDUSTRIES, INC.

SUNSUB C INC.

By:  

/s/ Anthony A. Vasconcellos

Name:   Anthony A. Vasconcellos
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

[Signature Page to Note Purchase Agreement]


Accepted:
BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.
By  

/s/ Tom Blouin

  Name:   Tom Blouin
  Title:   Managing Director

[Signature Page to Note Purchase Agreement]


SCHEDULE I

 

Initial Purchaser

   Principal
Amount of
Notes

to be
Purchased
 

Barclays Capital Inc.

   $ 65,000,000   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 65,000,000   
  

 

 

 

 

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SCHEDULE II

LIST OF GUARANTORS

HILLMAN COMPANIES, INC.

HILLMAN INVESTMENT CO.

ALL POINTS INDUSTRIES, INC.

SUNSUB C INC.

 

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SCHEDULE III

 

LOGO

The Hillman Group, Inc.

$65,000,000 10.875% Senior Notes due 2018

December 18, 2012

 

Pricing Supplement
Pricing Supplement dated December 18, 2012 to the Preliminary Offering Memorandum December 18, 2012 of the Hillman Group, Inc. This Pricing Supplement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Preliminary Offering Memorandum. The information in this Pricing Supplement supplements the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and supersedes the information in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum to the extent it is inconsistent with the information in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum. Capitalized terms used in this Pricing Supplement but not defined have the meanings given them in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum.
Issuer    The Hillman Group, Inc.
Guarantors   

The Hillman Companies, Inc.

Hillman Investment Co.

All Points Industries, Inc.

SunSub C Inc.

and each of the Issuer’s future Domestic Subsidiaries

Title of Securities    10.875% Senior Notes due 2018 (the “Temporary Notes”)
Aggregate Principal Amount    $65,000,000
Gross Proceeds    $69,225,000 (excluding accrued and unpaid interest from December 1, 2012 to the date of delivery paid in addition to the issue price, which will be paid to the applicable holders on the next interest payment date, June 1, 2013)
Distribution    144A/Regulation S with Registration Rights
Maturity Date    May 31, 2018
Issue Price    106.500%, plus pre-issuance accrued and unpaid interest from December 1, 2012
Coupon    10.875%
Yield to Worst    8.649%
Spread to Benchmark Treasury    789 basis points
Benchmark Treasury    0.625% due November 30, 2017
Interest Payment Dates    June 1 and December 1 of each year, beginning on June 1, 2013 (except for the final interest payment, which shall be May 31, 2018)
Record Dates    May 15 and November 15 of each year

 

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Trade Date    December 18, 2012
Settlement Date   

December 21, 2012 (T+3)

 

We expect that delivery of the Temporary Notes will be made against payment therefor on or about the third business day following the date of confirmation of orders with respect to the notes (this settlement cycle being referred to as “T+3”).

Make-Whole Redemption    Make-whole redemption at Treasury Rate + 50 basis points prior to June 1, 2014
Special Mandatory Redemption    If the Paulin Acquisition is not completed on or prior to March 28, 2013 “Termination Date”, we will be required to redeem the Temporary Notes no later than the third business day following the Termination Date at a price equal to 100% of the offering price (excluding pre-issuance accrued interest) of the Temporary Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest from December 1, 2012 to, but not including, the date of redemption.
Permanent Notes Mandatory Exchange    If the Paulin Acquisition occurs on or prior to the Termination Date, we will redeem all of the Temporary Notes then outstanding at a redemption price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount thereof in exchange for a like aggregate principal amount of Permanent Notes.
Optional Redemption    On or after June 1, 2014, at the following redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Permanent Notes redeemed during the twelve-month period indicated beginning on June 1 of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Price  

2014

     105.438

2015

     102.719

2016 and thereafter

     100.000

 

Equity Clawback    Up to 35% of the Permanent Notes at 110.875% prior to June 1, 2013
Change of Control    101% plus accrued and unpaid interest
Sole Book-Running Manager    Barclays Capital Inc.
Temporary CUSIP Numbers   

Rule 144A: 43162RAD6

 

Regulation S: U4328PAC2

Temporary ISIN Numbers   

Rule 144A: US43162RAD61

 

Regulation S: USU4328PAC24

Permanent CUSIP Numbers   

Rule 144A: 43162RAE4

 

Regulation S: U4328PAD0

Permanent ISIN Numbers   

Rule 144A: US43162RAE45

 

Regulation S: USU4328PAD07

Denominations    Minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof

 

 

 

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This material is strictly confidential and has been prepared by the Issuer solely for use in connection with the proposed offering of the securities described in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum. This material is personal to each offeree and does not constitute an offer to any other person or the public generally to subscribe for or otherwise acquire the securities. Please refer to the Preliminary Offering Memorandum for a complete description.

The securities have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and are being offered only to (1) “qualified institutional buyers” as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act and (2) outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act, and this communication is only being distributed to such persons.

This communication is not an offer to sell the securities and it is not a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction.

 

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SCHEDULE IV

 

A. Each document provided as an amendment or supplement to the Preliminary Offering Memorandum:

None.

 

B. Free Writing Offering Documents:

None.

 

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SCHEDULE V

LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES

ALL POINTS INDUSTRIES, INC.

SUNSUB C INC

THE HILLMAN GROUP CANADA, LTD

SUNSOURCE INTEGRATED SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V.

 

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Exhibit A

FORM OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of December 21, 2012 by and among the Hillman Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the guarantors listed on Schedule I hereto (the “Guarantors”) and Barclays Capital Inc. (the “Initial Purchaser”), who has agreed to purchase the Company’s 10.875% Senior Notes Due 2018 (the “Temporary Notes”) pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).

The Temporary Notes will be issued pursuant to an indenture dated as of December 21, 2012, among the Company, the Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.

Contemporaneously with the consummation of the Acquisition, as defined in the Arrangement Agreement dated as of December 17, 2012 by and between The Hillman Companies, Inc. (“Hillman Companies”) and H. Paulin & Co. Limited (the “Target”), the Company will redeem all of the Temporary Notes by issuing in exchange therefor (the “Mandatory Exchange” and the date on which such Mandatory Exchange is completed, the “Mandatory Exchange Date”) its 10.875% Senior Notes Due 2018 (the “Permanent Notes”) to be issued under the Existing Indenture (as defined below) in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of such Temporary Notes.

This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated December 18, 2012 (the “Purchase Agreement”), by and among the Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchaser. In order to induce the Initial Purchaser to purchase the Temporary Notes, the Company and the Guarantors have agreed to provide the registration rights in respect of the Permanent Notes, as set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchaser set forth in Section 7 of the Purchase Agreement.

Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Indenture, dated as of May 28, 2010, among the Company, the Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), relating to the Permanent Notes and the Exchange Notes (as amended and supplemented, the “Existing Indenture”).

The parties hereby agree as follows:

 

  1. DEFINITIONS

As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:

Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.


Affiliate: As defined in Rule 144 of the Act.

Broker-Dealer: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.

Business Day: Any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York or at a place of payment are authorized by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed. If the time to perform any action hereunder falls on a day that is not a Business Day, such time will be extended to the next Business Day and no Special Interest shall accrue for the intervening period.

Commission: The Securities and Exchange Commission.

Consummate: An Exchange Offer shall be deemed “Consummated” for purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (a) the filing and effectiveness under the Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (b) the maintenance of such Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective and the keeping of the Exchange Offer open for a period not less than the period required pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof, and (c) the delivery by the Company to the Registrar (as defined in the Indenture) under the Indenture of Exchange Notes in the same aggregate principal amount as the aggregate principal amount of Permanent Notes tendered by Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

Consummation Deadline: As defined in Section 3(b) hereof.

Effectiveness Deadline: As defined in Sections 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.

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

Exchange Notes: The Company’s 10.875% Senior Notes due 2018 to be issued pursuant to the Existing Indenture: (i) in the Exchange Offer or (ii) as contemplated by Section 4 hereof.

Exchange Offer: The exchange and issuance by the Company of a principal amount of Exchange Notes (which shall be registered pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) equal to the outstanding principal amount of Permanent Notes that are validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders in connection with such exchange and issuance.

Exchange Offer Registration Statement: The Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.

Filing Deadline: As defined in Sections 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.

Free Writing Prospectus: Each offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Permanent Notes or the Exchange Notes that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, prepared by or on behalf of the Company or used or referred to by the Company in connection with the sale of the Permanent Notes or the Exchange Notes.

 

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Hillman Companies: The Hillman Companies, Inc.

Holders: As defined in Section 2 hereof.

Interest Payment Date: As defined in the Permanent Notes and Exchange Notes.

Mandatory Exchange Date: As defined in the recitals.

Prospectus: The prospectus included in a Registration Statement at the time such Registration Statement is declared effective, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments thereto, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference into such Prospectus.

Recommencement Date: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.

Registration Default: As defined in Section 5 hereof.

Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company and the Guarantors relating to (a) an offering of Exchange Notes pursuant to an Exchange Offer or (b) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, (i) that is filed pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, (ii) including the Prospectus included therein, and (iii) including all amendments and supplements thereto (including post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by reference therein.

Rule 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.

Shelf Registration Statement: As defined in Section 4 hereof.

Special Interest. As defined in Section 5 hereof.

Suspension Notice: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.

Transfer Restricted Securities: Each Permanent Note until the earliest to occur of (a) the date on which such Permanent Note has been exchanged in the Exchange Offer by a Person other than a Broker-Dealer for an Exchange Note and is entitled to be resold to the public by the Holder thereof without complying with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Act, (b) following the exchange by a Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer of a Permanent Note for an Exchange Note, the date on which such Exchange Note is sold to a purchaser who receives from such Broker-Dealer on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (c) the date on which such Permanent Note has been effectively registered under the Act and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement; (d) the date on which such Permanent Note is sold or otherwise distributed to a Person who is not the Company or an Affiliate of the Company; provided, that a Permanent Note will not cease to be a Transfer Restricted Security for purposes of the Exchange Offer by virtue of this clause (d); or (e) the earliest date that is no less than two years after the date of the Indenture and on which all such Permanent Notes (except for Permanent Notes held by an Affiliate of the Company) are no longer subject to any restrictions on transfer under the Act, including Rule 144.

 

3


  2. HOLDERS

A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (each, a “Holder”) whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted Securities.

 

  3. REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER

(a) To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or Commission policy, the Company and the Guarantors shall (i) cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be filed with the Commission no later than the 30th day after the later to occur of (x) the Mandatory Exchange Date and (y) the final date by which Hillman Companies is required by Commission rules to file with the Commission acquired company financial statements of Target (such later date being the “Filing Deadline”), (ii) use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective no later than 75 days after the Filing Deadline (such 75th day being the “Effectiveness Deadline”), (iii) in connection with the foregoing, use all commercially reasonable efforts to (A) file all pre-effective amendments to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to cause it to become effective, (B) file, if applicable, a post-effective amendment to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and (C) cause all necessary filings, if any, in connection with the registration and qualification of the Exchange Notes to be made under the Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as are necessary to permit Consummation of the Exchange Offer, provided, however, that neither the Company nor any Guarantor shall be required to take any action that would subject them to general service of process or taxation in any jurisdiction where they are not already subject, and (iv) unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permitted by applicable law or Commission policy (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below have been complied with), upon the effectiveness of such Exchange Offer Registration Statement, commence and use all commercially reasonable efforts to Consummate the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall be on the appropriate form permitting (i) registration of the Exchange Notes to be offered in exchange for the Permanent Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) resales of Exchange Notes by Broker-Dealers that tendered into the Exchange Offer Permanent Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Permanent Notes acquired directly from the Company or any Affiliate thereof) as contemplated by Section 3(c) below.

(b) To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or Commission policy, the Company and the Guarantors shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be effective continuously, and shall keep the Exchange Offer open for a period of not less than the minimum period required under applicable federal and state securities laws to Consummate the Exchange Offer; provided, however, that in no event shall such period be less than 20 Business Days. The Company and the Guarantors shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws. No securities other than the Exchange Notes shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. The Company and the Guarantors shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be Consummated on the earliest practicable date after the

 

4


Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become effective, but in no event later than 30 Business Days or longer, if required by the federal securities laws, after the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become effective (such 30th day, or such later date required by the federal securities laws, being the “Consummation Deadline”).

(c) The Company shall include a “Plan of Distribution” section in the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and indicate therein that any Broker-Dealer who holds Transfer Restricted Securities that were acquired for the account of such Broker-Dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Permanent Notes acquired directly from the Company or any Affiliate thereof), may exchange such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer. Such “Plan of Distribution” section shall also contain all other information with respect to such sales by such Broker-Dealers that the Commission may require in order to permit such sales pursuant thereto, but such “Plan of Distribution” shall not name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by any such Broker-Dealer, except to the extent required by the Commission as a result of a change in policy, rules or regulations after the date of this Agreement.

Because such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Act in connection with its initial sale of any Exchange Notes received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, the Company and Guarantors shall permit the use of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement by such Broker Dealer to satisfy such prospectus delivery requirement. To the extent necessary to ensure that the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is available for sales of Exchange Notes by Broker-Dealers, the Company and the Guarantors agree to use all commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented, amended and current as required by and subject to the provisions of Sections 6(a) and (c) hereof and in conformity with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of 180 days from the Consummation Deadline or such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto. The Company and the Guarantors shall provide sufficient copies of the latest version of such Prospectus to such Broker-Dealers, promptly upon request, and in no event later than five Business Days after such request, at any time during such period.

 

  4. SHELF REGISTRATION

(a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Company and the Guarantors are not (A) required to file the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or (B) permitted to Consummate the Exchange Offer because the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or Commission policy (after the Company and the Guarantors have complied with the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below) or (ii) any Holder notifies the Company prior to the 20th Business Day following Consummation of the Exchange Offer that (A) such Holder is prohibited by law or Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer, (B) such Holder may not resell the Exchange Notes acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a prospectus and the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not

 

5


appropriate or available for such resales by such Holder or (C) such Holder is a Broker-Dealer and holds Permanent Notes acquired directly from the Company or any Affiliate thereof, then the Company and the Guarantors shall:

(x) use all commercially reasonable efforts to file, on or prior to the later of (i) 30 days after the earlier of (A) the date as of which the Company determines that the Exchange Offer Registration Statement will not be or cannot be, as the case may be, filed as a result of clause (a)(i) above and (B) the date on which the Company receives the notice specified in clause (a)(ii) above and (ii) 30 days after the later to occur of (x) the Mandatory Exchange Date, and (y) the final date by which Hillman Companies is required by Commission rules to file with the Commission acquired company financial statements of Target (such later date, the “Shelf Filing Deadline”), a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act (which may be an amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (the “Shelf Registration Statement”)), covering the resale of all Transfer Restricted Securities, and

(y) use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to become effective on or prior to the later of (i) 75 days after the Shelf Filing Deadline such date, the “Shelf Effectiveness Deadline”).

If, after the Company and the Guarantors have filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement that satisfies the requirements of Section 3(a) above, the Company and the Guarantors are required to file and make effective a Shelf Registration Statement solely because the Exchange Offer is not permitted under applicable federal law (i.e., clause (a)(i)(B) above), then the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of clause (x) above; provided that, in such event, the Company and the Guarantors shall remain obligated to meet the Shelf Effectiveness Deadline set forth in clause (y).

To the extent necessary to ensure that the Shelf Registration Statement is available for sales of Transfer Restricted Securities by the Holders thereof entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a) and the other securities required to be registered therein pursuant to Section 6(b)(ii) hereof, the Company and the Guarantors shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to keep any Shelf Registration Statement required by this Section 4(a) continuously effective, supplemented, amended and current as required by and subject to the provisions of Sections 6(b) and 6(c) hereof and in conformity with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of at least one year (as extended pursuant to Section 6(c)(i) or 6(d)) following the Mandatory Exchange Date, or such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto or are no longer Transfer Restricted Securities.

(b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with the Shelf Registration Statement. No Holder may include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to the Company in writing, within 15 days after receipt of a request therefor, the information specified in Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, of the Act, or other information reasonably requested by the Company or required by Regulation S-K of the Act, for use in

 

6


connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus included therein. No Holder shall be entitled to Special Interest pursuant to Section 5 hereof unless and until (and from and after such time) such Holder shall have provided all such information. Each selling Holder agrees to promptly furnish additional information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially misleading and shall promptly supply such other information as the Company may from time to time reasonably request.

 

  5. SPECIAL INTEREST

If (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the applicable Filing Deadline, (ii) any such Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the applicable Effectiveness Deadline, (iii) the Exchange Offer has not been Consummated on or prior to 30 Business Days after the Effectiveness Deadline with respect to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, or (iv) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is filed and declared effective but shall thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be usable for its intended purpose (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a “Registration Default”), then the Company and the Guarantors hereby jointly and severally agree to pay to each Holder affected thereby special interest (“Special Interest”) in an amount equal to 0.25% per annum of the principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holder for each week or portion thereof that the Registration Default continues for the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of the first such Registration Default. The amount of Special Interest shall increase by an additional 0.25% per annum of the principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities with respect to each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum amount of Special Interest of 0.50% per annum of the principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided that the Company and the Guarantors shall in no event be required to pay Special Interest for more than one Registration Default at any given time. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, (1) upon filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of clause (i) above, (2) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of clause (ii) above, (3) upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer, in the case of clause (iii) above, or (4) upon the filing of a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or an additional Registration Statement that causes the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement) to again be declared effective or made usable in the case of clause (iv) above, the Special Interest payable with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities as a result of such clause (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv), as applicable, shall cease on the date of such cure and the interest rate on such Transfer Restricted Securities will revert to the interest rate on such Transfer Restricted Securities prior to the applicable Registration Default.

All accrued Special Interest shall be paid by the Company and the Guarantors (or the Company and the Guarantors will cause the Paying Agent to make such payment on their behalf) to the Holders entitled thereto, in the manner provided for the payment of interest in the Existing Indenture, on each Interest Payment Date, as more fully set forth in the Indenture, the Permanent Notes and the Exchange Notes. Notwithstanding the fact that any securities for which Special Interest are due cease to be Transfer Restricted Securities, all obligations of the Company and the

 

7


Guarantors to pay Special Interest with respect to securities that accrued prior to the time that such securities ceased to be Transfer Restricted Securities shall survive until such time as such obligations with respect to such securities shall have been satisfied in full.

 

  6. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES

(a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement. In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company and the Guarantors shall (x) comply with all applicable provisions of Section 6(c) below, (y) use all commercially reasonable efforts to effect such exchange and to permit the resale of Exchange Notes by Broker-Dealers that tendered in the Exchange Offer Permanent Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of its market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Permanent Notes acquired directly from the Company or any Affiliate thereof) being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and (z) comply with all of the following provisions:

(aa) If, following the date hereof there has been announced a change in Commission policy with respect to exchange offers such as the Exchange Offer, that in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Company raises a substantial question as to whether the Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable federal law, the Company and the Guarantors hereby agree to use all commercially reasonable efforts to either (x) seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision from the Commission allowing the Company and the Guarantors to Consummate an Exchange Offer for such Transfer Restricted Securities, or (y) file, in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof, a Shelf Registration Statement to permit the registration and/or resale of the Transfer Restricted Securities that would otherwise be covered by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement but for the announcement of a change in Commission policy. In the case of clause (x) above, the Company and the Guarantors hereby agree to pursue the issuance of such a decision to the Commission staff level but shall not be required to take action not commercially reasonable to affect a change of Commission policy. In connection with the foregoing, the Company and the Guarantors hereby agree to take all such other actions as may be requested by the Commission or otherwise reasonably required in connection with the issuance of such decision, including without limitation (A) participating in telephonic conferences with the Commission, (B) delivering to the Commission staff an analysis prepared by counsel to the Company setting forth the legal bases, if any, upon which such counsel has concluded that such an Exchange Offer should be permitted, and (C) diligently pursuing a resolution (which need not be favorable and which need not be a written resolution) by the Commission staff.

(ab) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer, each Holder (including, without limitation, any Holder who is a Broker-Dealer) shall furnish, upon the request of the Company, prior to the Consummation of the Exchange Offer, a written representation to the Company and the Guarantors (which may be contained in the letter of transmittal contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to the effect that (A) it is not an Affiliate of the Company, (B) it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, and has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in, a distribution of the Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (C) it is acquiring the Exchange Notes in its ordinary course of business, and (D) only if such Holder is a Broker-Dealer that will receive Exchange Notes in exchange for Permanent Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own

 

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private account as a result of market making or other trading activities, it will deliver a Prospectus, as required by law, in connection with any sale of such Exchange Notes. As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer, each Holder using the Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the Exchange Notes shall acknowledge and agree that, if the resales are of Exchange Notes obtained by such Holder in exchange for Permanent Notes acquired directly from the Company or any Affiliate thereof, it (1) could not, under Commission policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement, rely on the position of the Commission enunciated in Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the Commission’s letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and similar no-action letters (including, if applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above), and (2) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction and that such a secondary resale transaction must be covered by an effective registration statement containing the selling security holder information required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K.

(ac) Prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall provide a supplemental letter to the Commission (A) stating that the Company and the Guarantors are registering the Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of the Commission enunciated in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) as interpreted in the Commission’s letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and, if applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above, (B) including a representation that the Company and Guarantors have not entered into any arrangement or understanding with any Person to distribute the Exchange Notes to be received in the Exchange Offer and that, to the Company’s and each Guarantor’s information and belief, each Holder participating in the Exchange Offer is acquiring the Exchange Notes in its ordinary course of business and has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange Notes received in the Exchange Offer, and (C) any other undertaking or representation required by the Commission as set forth in any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above, if applicable.

(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall:

(aa) comply with all the provisions of Section 6(c) below and use all commercially reasonable efforts to effect such registration to permit the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof (as indicated in the information furnished to the Company pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof), and pursuant thereto the Company and the Guarantors will prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement relating to the registration on any appropriate form under the Act, which form shall be available for the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof within the time periods and otherwise in accordance with the provisions hereof, and

(ii) issue to any purchaser of Permanent Notes covered by any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, upon the request of the purchaser, registered Permanent Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to

 

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the aggregate principal amount of Permanent Notes sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and surrendered to the Company for cancellation in the names as such purchaser shall designate; provided that such purchaser provides all documentation reasonably requested by the Company in connection with such issuance.

(c) General Provisions. In connection with any Registration Statement and any related Prospectus required by this Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors shall:

(aa) use all commercially reasonable efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite financial statements for the period specified in Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement, as applicable. Upon the occurrence of any event that would cause any such Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (B) not to be effective and usable for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities during the period required by this Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors shall file as promptly as practicable an appropriate amendment to such Registration Statement curing such defect, and, if Commission review is required, use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause such amendment to be declared effective as soon as practicable.

(ab) use all commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the applicable Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable period set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as the case may be; cause the Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, and to comply fully with Rules 424, 430A, and 462, as applicable, under the Act in a timely manner; and comply with the provisions of the Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;

(ac) advise (a) each Holder whose Transfer Restricted Securities have been included in a Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement), and (b) each Holder who has provided notice to the Company promptly and, if requested by such Holder, confirm such advice in writing, (A) when the Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to any applicable Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective, (B) of any request by the Commission for amendments to the Registration Statement or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or for additional information relating thereto, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Act or of the suspension by any state securities commission of the qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation of any proceeding for any of the preceding purposes, and (D) of the happening of any event that requires the Company to make changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order that the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto or any document incorporated by reference therein do not contain an untrue statement of material fact nor omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements

 

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therein (in the case of the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading. If at any time the Commission shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any state securities commission or other regulatory authority shall issue an order suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under state securities or Blue Sky laws, the Company and the Guarantors shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible time;

(ad) subject to Section 6(d), if any fact or event contemplated by Section 6(c)(iii)(D) above shall exist or have occurred, prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of Transfer Restricted Securities, the Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(ae) furnish to each Holder whose Transfer Restricted Securities have been included in a Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement) in connection with such exchange, registration or sale, if any, before filing with the Commission, copies of any Registration Statement or any Prospectus included therein or any amendments or supplements to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference after the initial filing of such Registration Statement), which documents will be subject to the reasonable review and comment of such Holders in connection with such sale, if any, for a period of at least three Business Days, and the Company will not file any such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all such documents incorporated by reference) to which such Holders shall reasonably object within three Business Days after the receipt thereof. A Holder shall be deemed to have reasonably objected to such filing if such Registration Statement, amendment, Prospectus or supplement, as applicable, as proposed to be filed, contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or fails to comply with the applicable requirements of the Act;

(af) promptly prior to the filing of any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or Prospectus in connection with such exchange, registration or sale, if any, provide copies of such document to each Holder whose Transfer Restricted Securities have been included in a Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement) in connection with such exchange, registration or sale, if any, make the Company’s and the Guarantors’ representatives available for discussion of such document and other customary due diligence matters, subject to execution and delivery of customary confidentiality agreements, and include such information in such document prior to the filing thereof as such Holders may reasonably request;

(ag) make available, at reasonable times, for inspection by each Holder whose Transfer Restricted Securities have been included in a Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement) and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents of the Company and the Guarantors

 

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reasonably requested and cause the Company’s and the Guarantors’ officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Holder, attorney or accountant in connection with such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto subsequent to the filing thereof and prior to its effectiveness; provided that any Holder or representative thereof requesting or receiving such information shall agree to be bound by customary confidentiality agreements and procedures with respect thereto;

(ah) if requested by any Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities have been included in a Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement) in connection with such exchange, registration or sale, promptly include in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if necessary, such information as such Holders may reasonably request to have included therein, including, without limitation, information relating to the “Plan of Distribution” of the Transfer Restricted Securities and the use of the Registration Statement or Prospectus for market making activities; and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company is notified of the matters to be included in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;

(ai) upon request, furnish to each Holder whose Transfer Restricted Securities have been included in a Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement) in connection with such exchange, registration or sale, without charge, at least one copy of the Registration Statement, as first filed with the Commission, and of each amendment thereto, including all documents incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits (including exhibits incorporated therein by reference);

(aj) upon request, deliver to each Holder whose Transfer Restricted Securities have been included in a Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement) without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Holders reasonably may request; the Company and the Guarantors hereby consent to the use (in accordance with law and subject to Section 6(d) hereof) of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each selling Holder in connection with the offering and the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;

 

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(ak) upon the reasonable request of such Holder, enter into such agreements (including an underwriting agreement containing customary terms), and make such representations and warranties, and take all such other reasonable and customary actions in connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, all to such extent as may be customarily and reasonably requested by any Holder or Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities who hold at least 50% in aggregate principal amount of such class of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided, that, the Company and the Guarantors shall not be required to enter into any such agreement more than once with respect to all of the Transfer Restricted Securities and may delay entering into such agreement if the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith that it is in the best interests of the Company and the Guarantors not to disclose the existence of or facts surrounding any proposed or pending material corporate transaction involving the Company and the Guarantors. In such connection, the Company and the Guarantors shall:

(i) upon the request of any Holder, furnish (or in the case of paragraphs (2) and (3), use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be furnished) to each such Holder (in the case of the Shelf Registration Statement) and any underwriter, upon the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be:

a certificate in customary form, dated such date, signed on behalf of the Company and each Guarantor by (x) the Chief Executive Officer or any Vice President, and (y) a principal financial or accounting officer of the Company and such Guarantor, confirming, as of the date thereof, such matters as such Holders may reasonably request;

a customary opinion (including a customary negative assurance statement), dated the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, of counsel for the Company and the Guarantors in customary form and covering such other matters as such Holder may reasonably request; and

a customary comfort letter, dated the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, from the Company’s independent accountants, in the customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in comfort letters to underwriters in connection with underwritten offerings, and affirming the matters set forth in the comfort letters delivered pursuant to Section 8(e) of the Purchase Agreement; and

(ii) deliver such other documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the selling Holders to evidence compliance with the matters covered in clause (A) above and with any customary conditions contained in any agreement entered into by the Company and the Guarantors pursuant to this clause (xi);

(al) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders and their counsel in connection with the registration and qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the selling Holders may request and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company and the Guarantors shall not be required to register or qualify as a foreign corporation where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to the service of process in suits or to taxation in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject;

(am) in connection with any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities that will result in such securities no longer being Transfer Restricted Securities, cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and to enable such

 

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Transfer Restricted Securities to be registered in such denominations and such names as the selling Holders may request at least two Business Days prior to such sale of Transfer Restricted Securities;

(an) use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof to consummate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities, subject to the proviso contained in clause (xii) above;

(ao) provide a CUSIP number for all Transfer Restricted Securities not later than the effective date of a Registration Statement covering such Transfer Restricted Securities and provide the Trustee under the Existing Indenture with certificates for the Transfer Restricted Securities which are in a form eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company; and

(ap) otherwise use all commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally available to its security holders with regard to any applicable Registration Statement, as soon as practicable, a consolidated earnings statement meeting the requirements of Rule 158 under the Act (which need not be audited) covering a twelve-month period beginning after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as such term is defined in paragraph (c) of Rule 158 under the Act).

(d) Restrictions on Holders. Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of the notice referred to in Section 6(c)(i) or 6(c)(iii)(C) or any notice from the Company of the existence of any fact of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof (in each case, a “Suspension Notice”), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement until (i) such Holder has received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(iv) hereof, or (ii) such Holder is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated by reference in the Prospectus (in each case, the “Recommencement Date”). Each Holder receiving a Suspension Notice hereby agrees that it will either (i) destroy any Prospectuses, other than permanent file copies, then in such Holder’s possession which have been replaced by the Company with more recently dated Prospectuses, or (ii) deliver to the Company (at the Company’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies, then in such Holder’s possession of the Prospectus covering such Transfer Restricted Securities that was current at the time of receipt of the Suspension Notice. The time period regarding the effectiveness of such Registration Statement set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, shall be extended by a number of days equal to the number of days in the period from and including the date of delivery of the Suspension Notice to the Recommencement Date.

 

  7. REGISTRATION EXPENSES

All expenses incident to the Company’s and the Guarantors’ performance of or compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company and the Guarantors, regardless of whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including without limitation: (i) all

 

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registration and filing fees and expenses; (ii) all fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities and state Blue Sky or securities laws; (iii) all expenses of printing (including printing certificates for the Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of Prospectuses), messenger and delivery services and telephone; (iv) the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and the Guarantors, and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of one counsel for all of the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities selected by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities being registered; (v) all application and filing fees in connection with listing the Exchange Notes on a national securities exchange or automated quotation system pursuant to the requirements hereof; and (vi) all fees and disbursements of independent certified public accountants of the Company and the Guarantors (including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters required by or incident to such performance); provided, however, that in no event shall the Company or the Guarantors be responsible for any underwriting discounts and commissions, brokerage commissions and transfer taxes, and fees attributable to the sale or other disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities.

The Company will, in any event, bear its and the Guarantors’ internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts, retained by the Company or the Guarantors.

 

  8. INDEMNIFICATION

(a) The Company and the Guarantors agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, its directors, officers and each Person, if any, who controls such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments, (including without limitation, any legal or other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any matter, including any action that could give rise to any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus or Prospectus, Free Writing Prospectus or any “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433 of the Act) filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments are caused by an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission that is based upon information relating to any of the Holders furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any of the Holders.

(b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Guarantors, and their respective directors and officers, and each Person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) the Company, or the Guarantors to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company and the Guarantors set forth in section (a) above, but only with reference to information relating to such Holder furnished in writing to the Company and the Guarantors by

 

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or on behalf of such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement. In no event shall any Holder, its directors, officers or any Person who controls such Holder be liable or responsible for any amount in excess of the amount by which the total amount received by such Holder with respect to its sale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds the sum of: (i) the amount paid by such Holder for such Transfer Restricted Securities plus (ii) the amount of any damages that such Holder, its directors, officers or any Person who controls such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

(c) In case any action shall be commenced involving any Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a) or 8(b) (the “indemnified party”), the indemnified party shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “indemnifying party”) in writing and the indemnifying party shall assume the defense of such action, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party and the payment of all reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel, as incurred (except that in the case of any action in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to both Sections 8(a) and 8(b), a Holder shall not be required to assume the defense of such action pursuant to this Section 8(c), but may employ separate counsel and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel, except as provided below, shall be at the expense of the Holder). Any indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnified party unless (i) the employment of such counsel has been specifically authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnifying party has failed to assume the defense of such action or employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, or (iii) the named parties to any such action (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party, and the indemnified party has been advised by such counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party). In any such case, the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) for all indemnified parties and all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by a majority of the Holders, in the case of the parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(a), and by the Company and Guarantors, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(b). The indemnifying party shall indemnify and hold harmless the indemnified party from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments by reason of any settlement of any action effected with its written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), effect any settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which the indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity or contribution may be or could have been sought hereunder by the indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability on claims that are or could have been the subject matter of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of the indemnified party.

 

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(d) To the extent that the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to therein, then each indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, from their sale of Transfer Restricted Securities, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 8(d)(i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 8(d)(i) above but also the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and of the Holder, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and of the Holder, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or such Guarantor, on the one hand, or by the Holder, on the other hand, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 8(c) hereof, any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim.

(e) The Company, the Guarantors and each Holder agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any matter, including any action that could have given rise to such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Holder, its directors, its officers or any Person, if any, who controls such Holder shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the total amount received by such Holder with respect to the sale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds the sum of: (i) the amount paid by such Holder for such Transfer Restricted Securities plus (ii) the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise paid or become liable to pay by reason of any untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8(d) are several in proportion to the respective principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by each Holder hereunder and not joint.

 

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  9. RULE 144A AND RULE 144

The Company and each Guarantor agrees with each Holder, for so long as any Transfer Restricted Securities remain outstanding and during any period in which the Company or such Guarantor is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, to make available, upon request of any Holder, to such Holder or beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted Securities designated by such Holder or beneficial owner, the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act in order to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A under the Act.

 

  10. MISCELLANEOUS

(a) Remedies. The Company and the Guarantors acknowledge and agree that any failure by the Company and/or the Guarantors to comply with their respective obligations under Sections 3 and 4 hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchaser or the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial Purchaser or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations under Sections 3 and 4 hereof. The Company and the Guarantors further agree to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

(b) Free Writing Prospectus. The Company represents, warrants and covenants that it (including its agents and representatives) will not prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or refer to any “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) in connection with the issuance and sale of the Permanent Notes and the Exchange Notes, other than (i) any communication pursuant to Rule 134, Rule 135 or Rule 135c under the Securities Act, (ii) any document constituting an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Initial Notes or the Exchange Notes that falls within the exception from the definition of prospectus in Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Securities Act, or (iii) a prospectus satisfying the requirements of section 10(a) of the Securities Act or of Rule 430, Rule 430A, Rule 430B, Rule 430C or Rule 431 under the Securities Act.

(c) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company and any Guarantor will not, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The Company and any Guarantor have not previously entered into, nor is currently a party to, any agreement granting any registration rights with respect to its securities to any Person that would require such securities to be included in any Registration Statement filed hereunder. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company’s and the Guarantors’ securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.

(d) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless (i) in the case of Section 5 hereof and this Section

 

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10(d)(i), the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities, and (ii) in the case of all other provisions hereof, the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities (excluding Transfer Restricted Securities held by the Company or its Affiliates). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities are being tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer, and that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights of other Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities are not being tendered pursuant to such Exchange Offer, may be given by the Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities subject to such Exchange Offer.

(e) Additional Guarantors. The Company shall cause any of its Domestic Subsidiaries (as defined in the Existing Indenture) that becomes, prior to the consummation of the Exchange Offer, a Guarantor in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Existing Indenture to become a party to this Agreement as a Guarantor.

(f) Third Party Beneficiary. The Holders shall be third party beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchaser, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent they may deem such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of Holders hereunder.

(g) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier, electronic transmission or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:

(aa) if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records of the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy to the Registrar under the Indenture; and

(ab) if to the Company or the Guarantors:

The Hillman Group

10590 Hamilton Avenue

Cincinnati, Ohio 45231-1764

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Fax: 513-595-8297

With a copy to:

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

1285 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10019

Attention: John C. Kennedy

Fax: 212-492-0025

 

19


All such notices and communications 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 acknowledged, if telecopied or transmitted electronically; and on the next Business Day, if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.

Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the address specified in the Existing Indenture.

(h) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders; provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities in violation of the terms hereof or of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Transfer Restricted Securities in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Transfer Restricted Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Transfer Restricted Securities such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement, including the restrictions on resale set forth in this Agreement and, if applicable, the Purchase Agreement, and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof.

(i) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

(j) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

(k) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW RULES THEREOF.

(l) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

(m) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein with respect to the registration rights granted with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

 

20


(Signature Pages Follow)

 

21


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.
By:  

 

Name:   Anthony A. Vasconcellos
Title:   Chief Financial Officer
HILLMAN INVESTMENT COMPANY
THE HILLMAN COMPANIES, INC.
ALL POINTS INDUSTRIES, INC.
SUNSUB C INC.
By:  

 

Name:   Anthony A. Vasconcellos
Title:   Chief Financial Officer


BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.
By  

 

  Name:
  Title:

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


SCHEDULE I

Guarantors

Hillman Investment Company

The Hillman Companies, Inc.

All Points Industries, Inc.

SunSub C Inc.


ANNEX A

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Each broker-dealer that receives exchange notes for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such exchange notes. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of exchange notes received in exchange for unregistered notes where such unregistered notes were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. To the extent any such broker-dealer participates in the exchange offer, we have agreed that for a period of up to 180 days we will use commercially reasonable efforts to make this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to such broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale, and will deliver as many additional copies of this prospectus and each amendment or supplement to this prospectus and any documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus as such broker-dealer may reasonably request.

We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of exchange notes by broker-dealers. Exchange notes received by broker-dealers for their own accounts pursuant to the exchange offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the exchange notes or a combination of these methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such broker-dealer or the purchasers of any such exchange notes. Any broker-dealer that resells exchange notes that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of such exchange notes may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit on any such resale of exchange notes and any commissions or concessions received by any such Persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. The letter of transmittal states that by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

We have agreed to pay all expenses incident to the exchange offer and will indemnify the holders of outstanding notes, including any broker-dealers, against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.


Exhibit B-1


Exhibit B-2


Exhibit B-3

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