EX-4.1 2 tm2315530d1_ex4-1.htm EXHIBIT 4.1

Exhibit 4.1

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

CURO Group Holdings Corp.

 

as the Issuer

 

and the Guarantors party hereto

 

$682,298,000

aggregate principal amount of

 

7.500% SENIOR 1.5 LIEN SECURED NOTES DUE 2028

 

 

 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of May 15, 2023

 

 

 

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
as Trustee

 

and

 

Collateral Agent

 

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

Page

 

ARTICLE 1 Definitions and Incorporation by Reference

1
   
Section 1.01 Definitions 1
Section 1.02 Other Definitions 31
Section 1.03 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act 32
Section 1.04 Rules of Construction 32
     
ARTICLE 2 The Notes 33
   
Section 2.01 Form and Dating 33
Section 2.02 Execution and Authentication 34
Section 2.03 Registrar and Paying Agent 34
Section 2.04 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust 35
Section 2.05 Holder Lists 35
Section 2.06 Transfer and Exchange 35
Section 2.07 Replacement Notes 46
Section 2.08 Outstanding Notes 47
Section 2.09 Treasury Notes 47
Section 2.10 Temporary Notes 48
Section 2.11 Cancellation 48
Section 2.12 Defaulted Interest 48
Section 2.13 CUSIP Numbers 48
Section 2.14 Issuance of Additional Notes 49
     
ARTICLE 3 Redemption and Prepayment 49
   
Section 3.01 Notices to Trustee 49
Section 3.02 Selection of Notes to be Redeemed 49
Section 3.03 Notice of Redemption 50
Section 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption 51
Section 3.05 Deposit of Redemption Price 51
Section 3.06 Notes Redeemed in Part 52
Section 3.07 Optional Redemption 52
Section 3.08 Mandatory Redemption 53
Section 3.09 Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds 53
Section 3.10 [Reserved] 55
Section 3.11 Company May Acquire Notes 55
     
ARTICLE 4 Satisfaction and Discharge 55
   
Section 4.01 Satisfaction and Discharge 55
Section 4.02 Application of Trust Money 56
     
ARTICLE 5 Covenants 56
   
Section 5.01 Payment of Notes 56
Section 5.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency 56
Section 5.03 Reports 57
Section 5.04 Compliance Certificate 58

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents
(continued)

 

Page

 

Section 5.05 Taxes 58
Section 5.06 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws 58
Section 5.07 Restricted Payments 59
Section 5.08 Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries 61
Section 5.09 Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock 63
Section 5.10 Asset Sales 67
Section 5.11 Transactions with Affiliates 69
Section 5.12 Liens 70
Section 5.13 Corporate Existence; Maintenance of Property and Insurance 70
Section 5.14 Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control 71
Section 5.15 [Reserved] 73
Section 5.16 [Reserved] 73
Section 5.17 Additional Subsidiary Guarantees 73
Section 5.18 Business Activities 74
Section 5.19 [Reserved] 74
Section 5.20 [Reserved] 74
Section 5.21 Mortgages 74
Section 5.22 Further Assurances 75
Section 5.23 Loan SPV 75
Section 5.24 Minimum Liquidity 76
Section 5.25 Minimum Adjusted Pre-Tax Income 76
Section 5.26 Operating Covenants 76
Section 5.27 Post-Issuance Obligations 77
     
ARTICLE 6 Successors 77
   
Section 6.01 Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets 77
Section 6.02 Successor Entity Substituted 79
     
ARTICLE 7 Defaults and Remedies 80
   
Section 7.01 Events of Default 80
Section 7.02 Acceleration 82
Section 7.03 Other Remedies 83
Section 7.04 Waiver of Past Defaults 83
Section 7.05 Control by Majority 83
Section 7.06 Limitation on Suits 84
Section 7.07 Rights of Holders To Receive Payment 84
Section 7.08 Collection Suit By Trustee 84
Section 7.09 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim 85
Section 7.10 Priorities 85
Section 7.11 Undertaking For Costs 85
Section 7.12 Rights and Remedies Cumulative 86
Section 7.13 Delay or Omission Not Waiver 86

 

ii

 

 

Table of Contents
(continued)

 

Page

 

ARTICLE 8 Trustee 86
   
Section 8.01 Duties of Trustee 86
Section 8.02 Rights of Trustee 87
Section 8.03 Individual Rights of Trustee 89
Section 8.04 Trustee’s Disclaimer 89
Section 8.05 Notice of Defaults 89
Section 8.06 [Reserved] 90
Section 8.07 Compensation and Indemnity 90
Section 8.08 Replacement of Trustee 91
Section 8.09 Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc. 92
Section 8.10 Eligibility, Disqualification 92
Section 8.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company 92
     
ARTICLE 9 Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance 92
   
Section 9.01 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance 92
Section 9.02 Legal Defeasance and Discharge 92
Section 9.03 Covenant Defeasance 93
Section 9.04 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance 94
Section 9.05 Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions 94
Section 9.06 Repayment to Company 95
Section 9.07 Reinstatement 95
     
ARTICLE 10 Amendment, Supplement and Waiver 96
   
Section 10.01 Without Consent of Holders 96
Section 10.02 With Consent of Holders 97
Section 10.03 Revocation and Effect of Consents 99
Section 10.04 Notation On or Exchange of Notes 100
Section 10.05 Trustee or Collateral Agent to Sign Amendments, Etc. 100
     
ARTICLE 11 Guarantees 100
   
Section 11.01 Guarantees 100
Section 11.02 Additional Guarantors 101
Section 11.03 Releases of Guarantees 102
Section 11.04 Limitation on Guarantor Liability 102
Section 11.05 “Trustee” to Include Paying Agent 103
     
ARTICLE 12 Miscellaneous 103
   
Section 12.01 Notices 103
Section 12.02 [Reserved] 105
Section 12.03 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent 105
Section 12.04 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion 105
Section 12.05 Rules by Trustee and Agents 106

 

iii

 

 

Table of Contents
(continued)

 

Page

 

Section 12.06 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders 106
Section 12.07 Governing Law 106
Section 12.08 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements 106
Section 12.09 Successors 106
Section 12.10 Severability 106
Section 12.11 Counterpart Originals 107
Section 12.12 Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. 107
Section 12.13 Intercreditor Agreements 107
Section 12.14 Payments Due on Non-Business Days 107
Section 12.15 Waiver of Jury Trial 108
     
ARTICLE 13 Collateral and Security 108
   
Section 13.01 Collateral Documents 108
Section 13.02 Recording and Opinions 108
Section 13.03 Release of Collateral 109
Section 13.04 Specified Releases of Collateral 109
Section 13.05 Release upon Satisfaction or Defeasance of all Outstanding Obligations 110
Section 13.06 Form and Sufficiency of Release and Subordination 110
Section 13.07 Purchaser Protected 111
Section 13.08 Authorization of Actions to be Taken by the Collateral Agent Under the Collateral Documents 111
Section 13.09 Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee Under the Collateral Documents 113
Section 13.10 Action by the Collateral Agent 113
Section 13.11 Compensation and Indemnity 114
Section 13.12 Co-Collateral Agent; Separate Collateral Agent 115

 

EXHIBITS    
     
Exhibit A - Form of Note
Exhibit B - Form of Certificate of Transfer
Exhibit C - Form of Certificate of Exchange
Exhibit D - Form of Certificate from Acquiring Accredited Investor
Exhibit E - Form of Supplemental Indenture
     
SCHEDULE    
     
Schedule I - Post-Issuance Obligations

 

iv

 

 

INDENTURE dated as of May 15, 2023, among CURO Group Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation (and any successor thereto, the “Company”), the Guarantors (as defined herein) from time to time party hereto and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee and collateral agent.

 

The Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the 7.500% Senior 1.5 Lien Secured Notes due 2028 (the “Notes”, including the $682,298,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes to be issued on the date hereof (the “Initial Notes”) and any Additional Notes (as defined herein) that may be issued from time to time):

 

ARTICLE 1
Definitions and Incorporation by Reference

 

Section 1.01          Definitions.

 

144A Global Note” means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A 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.

 

Accredited Investor” means an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act, who is not also a QIB.

 

Acquired Debt” means with respect to any specified Person:

 

(1)            Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person was merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person, including Indebtedness Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into or becoming a Subsidiary of such specified Person; and

 

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

 

Additional Notes” means any Notes issued after the Issue Date from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Indenture including the provisions of Sections 2.02, 2.14 and 5.09.

 

Ad Hoc Group” has the meaning given to such term in the Credit Agreement (as in effect on the Issue Date).

 

Adjusted Pre-Tax Income” means, for any Person(s) and any period, income from continuing operations before income taxes of such Person(s) for such period, determined in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis, but excluding, to the extent otherwise included therein, (a) one-time costs solely to the extent consisting of (i) transaction costs, restructuring expenses, expenses associated with sold or discontinued businesses and/or product lines and regulatory and legal charges in an aggregate amount during any four Fiscal Quarter period not to exceed the One Time Expense Cap and (ii) goodwill impairments, (b) non-cash gains or losses arising from the disposition of assets (other than loans and receivables) outside of the ordinary course of business, including gains or losses realized on the disposition of the Flexiti line of business, (c) depreciation and amortization (including amortization of goodwill and other intangibles), (d) equity gains or losses on the Katapult investment, (e) fair value changes, (f) income or loss from equity method investment (for the avoidance of doubt, without duplication of any amounts included in clause (d) of this definition), (g) allowance build or release, (h) interest expense in respect of recourse Indebtedness (other than (x) Indebtedness Incurred by a Receivables Entity in a Qualified Receivables Transaction and (y) any Indebtedness permitted by Section 5.09(b)(xv)) and (i) subject to the Company and its Subsidiaries being in compliance with the Facility Documents (as defined in the Credit Agreement), income (whether positive or negative) attributable to the Flexiti business line of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

AI Global Note” means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A 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 Accredited Investors.

 

Applicable Premium” means with respect to a Note at any redemption date, the greater of (i) 1.00% of the principal amount of such Note and (ii) the excess of (A) the present value at such redemption date of (1) the redemption price of such Note on August 1, 2024 (such redemption price being set forth in subsection (a) of Section 3.07 exclusive of any accrued interest) plus (2) all required remaining scheduled interest payments due on such Note through August 1, 2024 (but excluding accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 0.50%, over (B) the principal amount of such Note on such redemption date.

 

Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any tender, redemption, payment, transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in a Global Note, the rules and procedures of the Depositary, Euroclear and Clearstream that are applicable to such tender, redemption, payment, transfer or exchange.

 

Asset Sale” means:

 

(1)            the Disposition of any assets;

 

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

 

(3)            an Event of Loss.

 

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

 

(i)             a Disposition of assets to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (other than a Receivables Entity and other than Loan SPV); provided that any Disposition by a Company Party to a Subsidiary that is not a Company Party in reliance on this clause (i) shall be for cash and for Fair Market Value;

 

(ii)            an issuance of Equity Interests by a Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or to a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Company;

 

(iii)           a Restricted Payment that is permitted by Section 5.07 or a Permitted Investment;

 

(iv)           the Incurrence of Permitted Liens and, subject to the Intercreditor Agreements, the Disposition of assets subject to such Liens by or on behalf of the Person holding such Liens;

 

(v)            the Disposition of accounts in accordance with industry practice in connection with the compromise or collection thereof;

 

(vi)           any Disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents;

 

(vii)          the lease, assignment or sub-lease of any property in the ordinary course of business;

 

(viii)         any surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release or surrender of contract rights or other litigation claims in the ordinary course of business;

 

(ix)            sales of assets that have become worn out, obsolete or damaged or otherwise unsuitable for use in connection with the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

(x)             the license of patents, trademarks, copyrights, software applications and know-how to Subsidiaries of the Company and to third Persons in the ordinary course of business;

 

(xi)            the Disposition of precious metals in the ordinary course of business;

 

(xii)           Dispositions of motor vehicles securing consumer loans made by the Company and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(xiii)          sales of loans receivable and related assets of the type specified in the definition of “Qualified Receivables Transaction” to a Receivables Entity in connection with a Qualified Receivables Transaction;

 

(xiv)         transfers of loans receivable and related assets of the type specified in the definition of “Qualified Receivables Transaction” by a Receivables Entity in a Qualified Receivables Transaction; and

 

(xv)          [***]

 

Backstop Notes” means the 18.00% Senior Secured Notes issued by the Loan SPV, as in effect on the Issue Date and with such modifications as the holders thereof and Loan SPV may agree, which modifications are immaterial or which reflect corresponding modifications to the loans under the Credit Agreement in accordance with the Credit Agreement.

 

Bankruptcy Law” means any of Title 11 of the United States Code, 11 U.S.C. §§ 101, et seq., the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada) and the Winding-Up and Restructuring Act (Canada), each as now and hereafter in effect, any successors to such statutes and any other applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, winding-up, dissolution, restructuring, receivership, arrangement, liquidation, reorganization or similar law of any jurisdiction providing relief from or otherwise affecting the rights of creditors.

 

Board of Directors” means:

 

(a)            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;

 

(b)            with respect to a partnership, the board of directors or other governing body of the general partner of the partnership;

 

(c)            with respect to a limited liability company, the board of directors, managers or other governing body, and in the absence of the same, the managing member or members or any controlling committee of managing members thereof; and

 

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

 

 4 

 

 

Business Day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York or in the city of the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

Business Plan” means an expenses savings plan of the Company and its Subsidiaries for a period of at least twenty-four (24) months following the Issue Date, which business plan shall include, inter alia, detail as to proposed reductions in selling, general and administrative expenses and operating expenses of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

Canadian Direct Lending Subsidiary” has the meaning specified in clause (1) of the definition of “Permitted Investments”.

 

Canadian Recourse Facility” has the meaning specified in Section 5.09(b)(xv).

 

Canadian Recourse Facility Borrower” has the meaning specified in Section 5.09(b)(xv).

 

Canadian Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary incorporated or organized in Canada or any province or territory thereof.

 

Capital Lease Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under a lease of (or other Indebtedness arrangements conveying the right to use) real or personal property which are required to be classified and accounted for as a capital lease or capitalized on a balance sheet of such Person determined in accordance with GAAP and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof 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 or other arrangement prior to the first date upon which such lease or other arrangement may be terminated by the lessee without payment of a penalty.

 

Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of such Person’s capital stock, including preferred stock, whether now outstanding or issued after the Issue Date.

 

Cash Equivalents” means:

 

(1)            marketable direct obligations issued by, or unconditionally Guaranteed by, the United States or issued by any agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition;

 

(2)            certificates of deposit, time deposits, eurodollar time deposits, overnight bank deposits or banker’s acceptances having maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition issued by any lender to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or by any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof having combined capital and surplus of not less than $1,000,000,000;

 

(3)            commercial paper of an issuer rated at least A-1 by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group (“S&P”) or P-1 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), or carrying an equivalent rating by a nationally recognized rating agency, if both of the two named rating agencies cease publishing ratings of commercial paper issuers generally, and maturing within one year from the date of acquisition;

 

 5 

 

 

(4)            repurchase obligations of any financial institution satisfying the requirements of clause (2) of this definition, having a term of not more than 30 days, with respect to securities issued or fully Guaranteed or insured by the United States government;

 

(5)            securities with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully Guaranteed by any state of the United States, by any political subdivision or taxing authority of any such state or by any foreign government, the securities of which state, political subdivision, taxing authority or foreign government (as the case may be) have one of the two highest rating obtainable from either S&P or Moody’s;

 

(6)            securities with maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition backed by standby letters of credit issued by any financial institution satisfying the requirements of clause (2) of this definition;

 

(7)            money market, mutual or similar funds that invest at least 95% of their assets in assets satisfying the requirements of clauses (1) through (6) of this definition;

 

(8)            money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in SEC Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (ii) are rated AAA by S&P and Aaa by Moody’s and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $1,000,000,000; and

 

(9)            with respect to Foreign Subsidiaries only, any Investments outside of the United States that are functional foreign equivalents in all material respects to the Cash Equivalents described in clauses (1) through (5) above.

 

Cash Management Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, all obligations of such Person in respect of overdrafts and liabilities owed to any other Person that arise from treasury, depositary or cash management services, including in connection with any automated clearing house transfers of funds, or any similar transactions.

 

CFC” means a Subsidiary of the Company that is a controlled foreign corporation within the meaning of Section 957(a) of the Code.

 

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

 

(1)            the direct or indirect Disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation subject to Section 6.01(a)), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

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

 

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(3)            the consummation of any transaction (including any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” or “group” (as defined above) other than the Permitted Holders, becomes the “beneficial owner” (as such term is defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that for purposes of this clause (3) such “person” or “group” shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all shares that such “person” or “group” has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the Company.

 

Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, Luxembourg (or any successor thereto).

 

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

 

Collateral” means, collectively, all of the property (including Equity Interests) in which Liens are purported to be granted pursuant to the Collateral Documents as security for the Indenture Obligations.

 

Collateral Agent” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, in its capacity as Collateral Agent hereunder and under the Collateral Documents, together with its successors in such capacity.

 

Collateral Documents” means the Security Agreement, the Pledge Agreement, the Mortgages and any other agreement, document or instrument pursuant to which a Lien is granted by the Company or a Guarantor to secure any Indenture Obligations or under which rights or remedies with respect to any such Lien are governed, including UCC financing statements and amendments thereto and filings with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the U.S. Copyright Office.

 

Company Party” means each of the Company and Guarantors.

 

Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee” shall be the address of the Trustee specified in Section 12.01 or such other address as to which the Trustee may designate by notice to the Company.

 

Credit Agreement” means the First Lien Credit Agreement, dated as of May 15, 2023, by and among the Company, as borrower, certain subsidiaries of the Company, as guarantors, the lenders from time to time parties thereto (the “Credit Agreement Lenders”) and the Credit Agreement Agent, including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.

 

Credit Agreement Agent” means Alter Domus (US) LLC, as the administrative agent and the collateral agent under the Credit Agreement, or any successor thereto.

 

 7 

 

 

CSO Obligations” means obligations to purchase, or other Guarantees of, consumer loans the making of which were facilitated by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company acting as a credit services organization or other similar service provider.

 

Currency Hedging Obligations” means the obligations of any Person pursuant to an arrangement designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in currency exchange rates.

 

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; provided that any Default that results solely from the taking of an action that would have been permitted but for the continuation of a previous Default shall be deemed to be cured if such previous Default is cured prior to becoming 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, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.

 

Depositary” means a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary for the Notes until a successor Depositary shall have been appointed and become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and, thereafter, “Depositary” shall mean or include such successor Depositary. The Depositary initially is DTC.

 

Designated Non-Cash Consideration” means the Fair Market Value of non-cash consideration received by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-Cash Consideration pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation, less the amount of cash or Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent payment, redemption, retirement, sale or other disposition of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration. A particular item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration will no longer be considered to be outstanding when and to the extent it has been paid, redeemed or otherwise retired or sold or otherwise disposed of in compliance with Section 5.10.

 

Dispose” or “Disposed of” means to convey, sell, lease, sell and leaseback, assign, farm-out, transfer or otherwise dispose of any property, business or asset. The term “Disposition” shall have a correlative meaning to the foregoing.

 

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

 

(1)            matures or is mandatorily redeemable pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise;

 

(2)            is convertible or exchangeable for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock (excluding Capital Stock convertible or exchangeable solely at the option of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company; provided that any such conversion or exchange will be deemed an Incurrence of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock, as applicable);

 

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(3)            is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part; or

 

(4)            provides for scheduled mandatory payments of dividends in cash,

 

in the case of each of clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4), on or prior to the 91st day after the Stated Maturity of the Notes; provided that any Capital Stock that would not constitute Disqualified Stock but for provisions thereof giving holders thereof the right to require such Person to repurchase or redeem such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of an “asset sale” or “change of control” occurring on or prior to the 91st day after the Stated Maturity of the Notes will not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that such Person may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions prior to the Company’s purchase of the Notes as are required to be purchased pursuant to Sections 5.10 and 5.14.

 

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary other than a Foreign Subsidiary.

 

DTC” means The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation.

 

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 sale for cash of either common equity securities or units including or representing common equity securities of the Company (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company).

 

Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System (or any successor thereto).

 

Event of Loss” means, with respect to any property or asset, any (i) loss or destruction of, or damage to, such property or asset or (ii) any condemnation, seizure or taking, by exercise of the power of eminent domain or otherwise, of such property or asset, or confiscation or requisition of the use of such property or asset.

 

Exchange” means the exchange of Existing Notes by certain holders thereof for Notes to occur on the Issue Date.

 

Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, any successor statute thereto, and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Excluded Assets” means:

 

(1)            the voting Capital Stock of any CFC (other than a Canadian Subsidiary) in excess of 65% of all of the outstanding voting Capital Stock of such CFC;

 

 9 

 

 

(2)            motor vehicles covered by certificates of title or ownership to the extent that a security interest cannot be perfected solely by filing a UCC-1 financing statement (or similar instrument);

 

(3)            (x) real property owned by the Company or any of the Guarantors in fee simple that has a Fair Market Value of less than $2.5 million and (y) leasehold interests in real property with respect to which the Company or any Guarantor is a tenant or subtenant;

 

(4)            rights under any contracts that contain a valid and enforceable prohibition on collateral assignment of such rights (other than to the extent that any such prohibition would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Sections 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the Uniform Commercial Code of any relevant jurisdiction or any other applicable law or principles of equity), but only for so long as such prohibition exists and is effective and valid;

 

(5)            Equity Interests in a Receivables Entity only to the extent that terms of the related Qualified Receivables Facility prohibit the pledge thereof to secure the Obligations;

 

(6)            (i) deposit accounts of the Company or any Guarantor and securities accounts held by First Heritage Credit, LLC to the extent (a) exclusively used for payroll, payroll taxes, other trust fund taxes and other employee wage and benefit payments or (b) the terms of a Qualified Receivables Facility (which terms are permitted pursuant to 5.08(b)(xiii)) prohibit the pledge thereof to secure the Obligations, and (ii) each deposit or security account expressly excluded as Collateral pursuant to the Security Agreement;

 

(7)            property or assets owned by any Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Guarantor;

 

(8)            any application for registration of a trademark filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on an intent-to-use basis until such time (if any) as a statement of use or amendment to allege use is accepted by such office, at which time such trademark shall automatically become part of the Collateral and subject to the security interest of the Indenture Documents;

 

(9)            [reserved];

 

(10)          Equity Interests in any joint venture only to the extent and for so long as a pledge thereof to secure the Obligations is not permitted by the terms of the joint venture or other agreement under which such joint venture is organized; and

 

(11)          any segregated deposits that constitute Permitted Liens under clauses (5), (6), (9), (11), (12) and (19) of the definition of Permitted Liens, in each case, that are prohibited from being subject to other Liens;

 

provided, proceeds and products from any and all of the foregoing excluded assets described in clauses (1) through (11) shall not constitute Excluded Assets, unless such proceeds or products would otherwise constitute Excluded Assets if not proceeds or products of the foregoing.

 

 10 

 

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the Company or a Guarantor grants a Lien on any asset or right described in clause (1) through (11) above to secure any First Priority Claims or Existing Notes, such asset or right shall not constitute “Excluded Assets.”

 

Existing First Heritage SPV Facility” means the non-recourse facility established by that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of July 13, 2022, among First Heritage Financing I, LLC, as borrower, First Heritage Credit, LLC, as servicer, the subservicers party thereto, the lenders from time to time party thereto, the agents for the lender groups from time to time party thereto, Credit Suisse AG, New York Branch, as administrative agent and structuring and syndication agent, ComputerShare Trust Company, National Association, as paying agent, image file custodian, backup servicer and collateral agent, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as borrower loan trustee, and as amended, amended and restated, supplemented, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Existing Flexiti Securitization Notes” means the non-recourse notes issued pursuant to that certain Trust Indenture, dated as of December 9, 2021, by and between Flexiti Securitization Limited Partnership, Flexiti Securitization General Partner Inc., as issuer, and Computershare Trust Company, as indenture trustee, as supplemented by that certain Series 2021-1 Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 9, 2021, and that certain Amended and Restated Series 2021-1 Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 29, 2022, and as further amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Existing Flexiti SPV Facility” means the non-recourse facility established by that certain Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2022, among Flexiti Financing SPE Corp., as borrower, Flexiti Financial Inc., as seller and servicer, the lenders from time to time party thereto, Credit Suisse AG, New York Branch, as facility agent, lead arranger, syndication agent and documentation agent, Midtown Madison Management LLC, as class B agent, and TSX Trust Company, as collateral agent and verification agent, and as amended, amended and restated, supplemented, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Existing Heights SPV Facility” means the non-recourse facility established by that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of July 15, 2022, among Heights Financing I, LLC, as borrower, SouthernCo, Inc., as servicer, the subservicers party thereto, the lenders from time to time party thereto, the agents for the lender groups from time to time party thereto, Credit Suisse AG, New York Branch, as administrative agent and structuring and syndication agent, ComputerShare Trust Company, National Association, as paying agent, image file custodian, backup servicer and collateral agent, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as borrower loan trustee, and as amended, amended and restated, supplemented, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Existing Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries outstanding on the Issue Date, other than the Existing Notes, the Credit Agreement, Existing First Heritage SPV Facility, the Existing Flexiti Securitization Notes, the Existing Flexiti SPV Facility, the Existing Heights SPV Facility and the Existing Revolving Canada SPV Facility, until such Indebtedness is repaid.

 

 11 

 

 

Existing Notes” means the Company’s 7.500% Senior Secured Notes due 2028 issued under the Existing Notes Indenture.

 

Existing Notes Collateral Agent” means TMI Trust Company, as Collateral Agent under the Existing Notes Indenture, together with its successors in such capacity.

 

Existing Notes Indenture” means that certain Indenture, dated as of July 30, 2021, entered into by the Company, the guarantors party thereto and the Existing Notes Collateral Agent in connection with the issuance of the Existing Notes, as amended from time to time.

 

Existing Notes Indenture Documents” shall mean the “Indenture Documents” as defined in the Existing Notes Indenture (as in effect as of the Issue Date). “Existing Revolving Canada SPV Facility” means the non-recourse facility established by that certain Second Amended and Restated Asset-Backed Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of November 12, 2021, among Curo Canada Receivables Limited Partnership, as borrower, by its general partner, Curo Canada Receivables GP Inc., the lenders party thereto and Waterfall Asset Management, LLC, as administrative agent, and as amended, amended and restated, supplemented, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

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, as applicable; provided, however, that with respect to any such value less than $2.5 million, only the good faith determination of the Company’s senior management shall be required.

 

Fiscal Quarter” means each fiscal quarter of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

Fiscal Year” means each fiscal year of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

First Priority Agent” means the agent designated as the “First Lien Agent” under the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and shall initially be the Credit Agreement Agent, together with its successors and permitted assigns in such capacity.

 

First Priority Cash Management Obligations” means any Cash Management Obligations secured by any Collateral under the First Priority Collateral Documents.

 

First Priority Claims” means (a) Indebtedness under credit facilities permitted pursuant to clause (i) of the definition of the term “Permitted Debt,” (b) First Priority Cash Management Obligations and First Priority Hedging Obligations and (c) all other Obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under the documents relating to Indebtedness described in clauses (a) and (b) above.

 

First Priority Collateral Documents” means the First Priority Security Agreement, the First Priority Pledge Agreement, the First Priority Mortgages and any other agreement, document or instrument pursuant to which a Lien is granted (or purported to be granted) securing any First Priority Claims or under which rights or remedies with respect to such Liens are governed.

 

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First Priority Hedging Obligations” means any Hedging Obligations that are permitted to be incurred under clause (vii) of the definition of the term “Permitted Debt” and that are secured (or purported to be secured) by any collateral under the First Priority Collateral Documents.

 

First Priority Intercreditor Agreement” means the intercreditor agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, among the First Priority Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Existing Notes Collateral Agent, as it may be amended, restated, supplemented and/or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

First Priority Mortgages” means a collective reference to each mortgage, deed of trust, deed to secure debt and any other document or instrument under which any Lien on real property owned by the Company or any Guarantor is granted to secure any First Priority Claims or under which rights or remedies with respect to any such Liens are governed.

 

First Priority Pledge Agreement” means the Pledge Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Company and certain Subsidiaries of the Company, as assignors, in favor of the Credit Agreement Agent, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.

 

First Priority Security Agreement” means the Security Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Company and certain subsidiaries of the Company, as assignors, in favor of the Credit Agreement Agent, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.

 

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary incorporated or organized in a jurisdiction other than the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

 

Founders” means each of (i) Doug Rippel, (ii) Chad Faulkner, (iii) Mike McKnight, and (iv) any (a) spouse or lineal descendent (whether natural or adopted) of any Person listed in clauses (i) through (v) or (b) trust, corporation, partnership or other entity, the beneficiaries, stockholders, partners, owners or persons beneficially holding an 80% or more controlling interest of which consist of such Person and/or any of the Persons referred to in the immediately preceding clause (a).

 

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, as in effect on the Issue Date, consistently applied.

 

Global Notesmeans, 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 Depositary or its nominee, substantially in the form of Exhibit A 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) or 2.06(d).

 

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

 

 13 

 

 

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

 

Governmental Authorization” means any permit, license, authorization, certification, registration, approval, plan, directive, consent order or consent decree of or from any Governmental Authority.

 

Guarantee” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person:

 

(1)            to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation of such other Person (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); or

 

(2)            entered into for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part); provided that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.

 

The term “Guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

 

Guarantors” means each of the Guarantors listed in the signature pages hereto and each other Subsidiary of the Company that hereafter executes a Notes Guarantee in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

Hedging Obligation” of any Person means (i) any Currency Hedging Obligation designed to protect the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from fluctuations in currency exchange rates and not to speculate on such fluctuations and (ii) any obligations of such Person pursuant to any Interest Rate Protection Agreement.

 

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

 

 14 

 

 

Incur” means, with respect to any Indebtedness or other obligation of any Person, to create, issue, incur (by conversion, exchange or otherwise), assume (pursuant to a merger, consolidation, acquisition or other transaction), Guarantee or otherwise become liable in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation or the recording, as required pursuant to GAAP or otherwise, of any such Indebtedness or other obligation on the balance sheet of such Person (and “Incurrence” and “Incurred” shall have meanings correlative to the foregoing); provided, however, that a change in GAAP that results in an obligation of such Person that exists at such time becoming Indebtedness shall not be deemed an Incurrence of such Indebtedness. Indebtedness otherwise Incurred by a Person before it becomes a Subsidiary of the Company shall be deemed to have been Incurred at the time it becomes such a Subsidiary.

 

Indebtedness” means (without duplication), with respect to any Person, whether recourse is to all or a portion of the assets of such Person and whether or not contingent:

 

(1)            obligations of such Person in respect of principal for money borrowed;

 

(2)            obligations of such Person in respect of principal evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments;

 

(3)            every reimbursement obligation of such Person with respect to letters of credit, banker’s acceptances or similar facilities issued for the account of such Person, other than obligations with respect to letters of credit securing obligations, other than obligations referred to in clauses (1), (2) and (5) of this definition, entered into in the ordinary course of business of such Person to the extent such letters of credit are not drawn upon or, if and to the extent drawn upon, such drawing is reimbursed no later than the 10th day following payment on the letter of credit;

 

(4)            every obligation of such Person for the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding any trade payables and other accrued current liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business which are not overdue by more than 30 days or which are being contested in good faith);

 

(5)            every Capital Lease Obligation of such Person;

 

(6)            the maximum fixed redemption or repurchase price of Disqualified Stock of such Person at the time of determination plus accrued but unpaid dividends;

 

(7)            every net payment obligation of such Person under interest rate swap, cap, collar or similar agreements or foreign currency hedge, exchange or similar agreements of such Person (collectively, “Hedging Obligations”);

 

(8)            every obligation of the type referred to in clauses (1) through (7) of this definition of another Person the payment of which, in either case, such Person has Guaranteed or is liable, directly or indirectly, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, to the extent of such Guarantee or other liability; and

 

 15 

 

 

  

(9)            all obligations referred to in clauses (1) through (8) above of other Persons, the payment of which is secured by (or for which the holder of such obligations has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien upon or in property (including, without limitation, accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, even though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such obligations; provided that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of (A) the Fair Market Value of such property at such date of determination and (B) the amount of such Indebtedness.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall not include CSO Obligations. The term “Indebtedness” shall not include any lease, concession or license of property (or guarantee thereof) which would be considered an operating lease under GAAP as in effect on the Issue Date, any prepayments of deposits received from clients or customers in the ordinary course of business, or obligations under any license, permit or other approval (or guarantees given in respect of such obligations) incurred in the ordinary course of business.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, the calculation of Indebtedness shall be made, without giving effect to any election under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities,” or any successor thereto (including pursuant to the Accounting Standards Codification), to value any Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary at “fair value,” as defined therein. For the avoidance of doubt, Indebtedness does not include any liability for United States federal, state, local, foreign or other taxes owed or owing by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

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

 

Indenture Documents” means the Notes, this Indenture, the Notes Guarantees, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements.

 

Indenture Obligations” means all Obligations in respect of the Notes or arising under the Indenture Documents, including the fees and expenses (including, without limitation, fees, expenses and disbursements of agents, counsel and professional advisors) of the Trustee and Collateral Agent. Indenture Obligations shall include all interest accrued (or which would, absent the commencement of an insolvency or liquidation proceeding, accrue) after the commencement of an insolvency or liquidation proceeding in accordance with and at the rate specified in the relevant Indenture Document whether or not the claim for such interest is allowed as a claim in such insolvency or liquidation proceeding.

 

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

 

Intercreditor Agreements” means the First Priority Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Interest Rate Protection Agreement” means any interest rate protection agreement, interest rate future agreement, interest rate option agreement, interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, interest rate hedge agreement, option or future contract or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect the Company or any of its Subsidiaries against fluctuations in interest rates or for the purpose of fixing, hedging or swapping interest rates.

 

 16 

 

 

Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of direct or indirect loans (including Guarantees of Indebtedness or other obligations), advances or capital contributions (excluding commissions, 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; provided that an acquisition of assets, Equity Interests or other securities by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company for consideration consisting of common equity securities of the Company shall not be deemed to be an Investment. If the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company such that after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company, the Company shall be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition equal to the Fair Market Value of the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary not sold or disposed of.

 

The amount of any Investment outstanding at any time shall be the original cost of such Investment, reduced by any dividend, distribution, interest payment, return of capital, repayment or other amount received in cash by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company in respect of such Investment.

 

Issue Date” means the date on which the Notes were initially issued.

 

Issue Date SPV Amendments” means waivers or amendments with respect to each of the Existing First Heritage SPV Facility, the Existing Flexiti Securitization Notes, the Existing Flexiti SPV Facility, the Existing Heights SPV Facility and the Existing Revolving Canada SPV Facility, each dated and effective as of the Issue Date.

 

Junior Intercreditor Agreement” means the intercreditor agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, between the Collateral Agent and the Existing Notes Collateral Agent, as it may be amended, restated, supplemented and/or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Law” means all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law.

 

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest, encumbrance or hypothecation of any kind in respect of that 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 other agreement to give a security interest in and any filing of any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction).

 

 17 

 

 

Liquidity” means Unrestricted Cash of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

Loan SPV” means CURO SPV, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

Maximum Operating Expense to Asset Ratio” means, for each Fiscal Quarter set forth below, a ratio of (i) Operating Expenses for the four-Fiscal-Quarter period ending on the last day of such Fiscal Quarter to (ii) to the average amount of gross loans receivable (as shown on the balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP) as of the last day of each Fiscal Quarter in the five-Fiscal-Quarter period ending on the last day of such Fiscal Quarter of no greater than the applicable amount set forth below with to such Fiscal Quarter:

 

Fiscal Quarter ended: Operating Expense to Asset Ratio
March 31, 2024 [***]
June 30, 2024 [***]
September 30, 2024 [***]
December 31, 2024 [***]
March 31, 2025 [***]
June 30, 2025 [***]
September 30, 2025 [***]
December 31, 2025 [***]
March 31, 2026 [***]
June 30, 2026 [***]
September 30, 2026 [***]
December 31, 2026 [***]
March 31, 2027 [***]
June 30, 2027 [***]
September 30, 2027 [***]
December 31, 2027, and thereafter [***]

 

 18 

 

 

Minimum Adjusted Pre-Tax Income” means, for each Fiscal Quarter set forth below, Adjusted Pre-Tax Income of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the four-Fiscal-Quarter period ending on the last day of such Fiscal Quarter of no less than the applicable amount set forth below with respect to such Fiscal Quarter:

 

Fiscal Quarter ended: Minimum Adjusted Pre-Tax Income
March 31, 2024 [***]
June 30, 2024 [***]
September 30, 2024 [***]
December 31, 2024 [***]
March 31, 2025 [***]
June 30, 2025 [***]
September 30, 2025 [***]
December 31, 2025 [***]
March 31, 2026 [***]
June 30, 2026 [***]
September 30, 2026 [***]
December 31, 2026 [***]
March 31, 2027 [***]
June 30, 2027 [***]
September 30, 2027 [***]
December 31, 2027, and thereafter [***]

 

Mortgages” means a collective reference to each mortgage, deed of trust, deed to secure debt and any other document or instrument under which any Lien on real property owned by the Company or any Guarantor is granted to secure any Indenture Obligations or under which rights or remedies with respect to any such Liens are governed.

 

Net Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of (i) the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale (including legal, accounting and investment banking fees and sales commissions), (ii) any relocation expenses Incurred as a result thereof, (iii) taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements), (iv) amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the asset or assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale which Lien is senior in priority to the Liens on such asset or assets securing the Notes granted by the Collateral Documents, if any, and (v) any reserve for adjustment in respect of the sale price of such asset or assets established in accordance with GAAP.

 

 19 

 

 

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

 

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

 

Notes Guarantee” means, collectively, the Guarantees of the Guarantors set forth in Article 11.

 

Notes Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Collateral Agent, the Trustee and the Holders.

 

Obligations” means any principal, interest (including, with respect to the Notes, interest that accrues after the commencement of an insolvency or bankruptcy case, regardless of whether such interest is an allowed claim under such case), penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

 

Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the chairman of the board, chief executive officer, chief financial officer, president, any executive vice president, senior vice president or vice president, the treasurer, principal accounting officer or the secretary of such Person.

 

Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President, a Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Secretary or the Assistant Secretary of the Company.

 

One Time Expense Cap“ means $[***] million; provided, that the One Time Expense Cap shall be increased by an amount equal to the amount of any cost-savings set forth in the Business Plan and realized by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the period covered by the Business Plan included in the applicable period of four Fiscal Quarters; provided, further, that under no circumstances will the One Time Expense Cap exceed $[***] million.

 

Operating Expenses” means, with respect to any Person(s) for any period, the operating expenses of such Person(s) for such period, determined in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis, excluding, to the extent otherwise included in Operating Expenses, (a) one-time costs solely to the extent consisting of (i) transaction costs, restructuring expenses, expenses associated with sold or discontinued businesses and/or product lines and regulatory and legal charges in an aggregate amount during any period of four Fiscal Quarters not to exceed the One Time Expense Cap and (ii) goodwill impairments, (b) non-cash gains or losses arising from the disposition of assets (other than loans and receivables) outside of the ordinary course of business, including gains or losses realized on the disposition of the Flexiti line of business, and (c) depreciation and amortization (including amortization of goodwill and other intangibles).

 

 20 

 

 

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

 

Participant” means, with respect to the Depositary, a Person who has an account with the Depositary.

 

Pension Plan” shall have the meaning given to such term in the Credit Agreement as in effect on the Issue Date.

 

Permitted Equity Issuance” means any issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) by the Company permitted under this Agreement.

 

Permitted Holders” means the Founders.

 

Permitted Investments” means:

 

(1)            (x) any Investment in the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (other than a Receivables Entity and other than Loan SPV); provided that the Fair Market Value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value) of all Investments by the Company Parties in Subsidiaries of the Company other than Company Parties pursuant to this clause (x) of paragraph (1), together with all Investments pursuant to paragraph (3) below outstanding at such time, shall not exceed $10 million and (y) any Investment in any Canadian Subsidiary (other than a Receivables Entity) in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents made in the ordinary course of business, provided that the assets held by such Canadian Subsidiary in which an Investment is made pursuant to this clause (y) of paragraph (1) consist entirely of assets comprising the Canadian direct-lending line of business (other than de minimis assets) (any Subsidiary described in this clause (y), a “Canadian Direct Lending Subsidiary”);

 

(2)            any Investment in cash or Cash Equivalents or the Notes;

 

(3)            any Investment by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in a Person, if as a result of such Investment (A) such Person becomes a of the Company (other than a Receivables Entity and other than Loan SPV) or (B) such Person is merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company (other than a Receivables Entity and other than Loan SPV); provided that the Fair Market Value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value) of all Investments pursuant to this paragraph (3), together with all Investments by Company Parties in Subsidiaries of the Company other than Company Parties pursuant to clause (x) of paragraph (1) above outstanding at such time, shall not exceed $10 million;

 

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

 

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(5)            any Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 5.10;

 

(6)            Hedging Obligations that are Incurred by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the purpose of fixing or hedging (A) interest rate risk with respect to any floating rate Indebtedness that is permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be outstanding or (B) currency exchange risk in connection with existing financial obligations and not for purposes of speculation;

 

(7)            Investments in prepaid expenses, negotiable instruments held for collection and lease, utility and workers’ compensation, performance and other similar deposits;

 

(8)            loans and advances to officers, directors and employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business not to exceed $2.5 million in the aggregate at any one time outstanding;

 

(9)            any Investment consisting of a Guarantee permitted by Section 5.09;

 

(10)          (a) the issuance of loans under the Credit Agreement on the Issue Date in an aggregate initial principal amount equal to $[***] to Loan SPV and (b) any redemption or repurchase of the Backstop Notes by Loan SPV in accordance with the terms thereof;

 

(11)          Investments received in settlement of bona fide disputes or as distributions in bankruptcy, insolvency, foreclosure or similar proceedings, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(12)          advances to customers or suppliers in the ordinary course of business;

 

(13)          Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of supplies, materials and equipment or purchases or contract rights or licenses of intellectual property, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(14)          receivables owing to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries if created or acquired in the ordinary course of business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with customary trade terms;

 

(15)          CSO Obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(16)          Investments consisting of obligations of officers and employees to the Company or its Subsidiaries in connection with such Officer’s and employees’ acquisition of Equity Interests in the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) so long as no cash is actually advanced by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the acquisition of such obligations); or

 

(17)          Investments in a Receivables Entity, or any Investment by a Receivables Entity in any other Person, in each case, in connection with a Qualified Receivables Transaction, including Investments of funds held in accounts permitted or required by the arrangements governing such Qualified Receivables Transaction or any related Indebtedness; provided, however, that any Investment in a Receivables Entity is in the form of a purchase money note, contribution or sale of receivables or an equity interest.

 

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Permitted Liens” means:

 

(1)            subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements, Liens on the Collateral securing Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 5.09(b)(i) and permitted Guarantees thereof (which (a) in the case of Liens securing obligations under the Credit Agreement and permitted Guarantees thereof, shall be senior in priority to the Liens securing the Indenture Obligations and the Guarantees thereof and (b) in the case of Liens securing obligations under the Existing Notes and permitted Guarantees thereof, shall be junior in priority to the Liens securing the Indenture Obligations and the Guarantees thereof), in each case in accordance with the applicable Intercreditor Agreement;

 

(2)            Liens in favor of the Company or a Guarantor;

 

(3)            Liens on the loans under the Credit Agreement held by Loan SPV, the proceeds of such loans and the other assets of Loan SPV, in each case securing the Backstop Notes;

 

(4)            [reserved;]

 

(5)            Liens to secure the performance of statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds, performance bonds, workmen’s compensation or unemployment obligations or other obligations of a like nature, or to secure letters of credit issued with respect to such obligations, Incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(6)            Liens consisting of deposits in connection with leases or other similar obligations, or securing letters of credit issued in lieu of such deposits, incurred in the ordinary course of business, and cash deposits in connection with acquisitions otherwise permitted under this Indenture;

 

(7)            [reserved];

 

(8)            Liens existing on the Issue Date and replacement Liens that do not encumber additional assets or secure increased obligations, unless such encumbrance is otherwise permitted;

 

(9)            Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims that are not yet delinquent for more than 30 days or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted, provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision as shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made therefor;

 

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(10)           Liens securing Permitted Refinancing Debt other than Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 5.09(b)(i), provided that the obligor under such Indebtedness was permitted to Incur such Liens with respect to the Indebtedness so refinanced under this Indenture and:

 

(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);

 

(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 Debt; and (y) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such renewal, refunding, refinancing, replacement, defeasance or discharge; and

 

(c)              if the original Lien is on any portion of the Collateral and junior in priority to the Liens securing the Notes and the Notes Guarantees, the new Lien shall be junior in priority to the Liens securing the Notes and the Notes Guarantees;

 

(11)          statutory and common law Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, suppliers, materialmen, repairmen or other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business with respect to amounts that are not yet delinquent for more than 30 days or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted, provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision as shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made therefor;

 

(12)          Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review, provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision as shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made therefor;

 

(13)          Liens arising from filings of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements or similar documents regarding leases or otherwise for precautionary purposes relating to arrangements not constituting Indebtedness;

 

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

 

(15)          Liens securing Indenture Obligations or any Guarantees thereof;

 

(16)          [reserved];

 

(17)          [reserved];

 

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(18)          encumbrances or exceptions expressly permitted pursuant to the Mortgages;

 

(19)          Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security, including Liens securing letters of credit issued in the ordinary course of business in connection therewith;

 

(20)          [reserved];

 

(21)          Liens on the property or assets of the Canadian Recourse Facility Borrower securing the Canadian Recourse Facility; and

 

(22)          any Lien on (a) loans receivable and related assets of the types specified in the definition of “Qualified Receivables Transaction” transferred to a Receivables Entity or on assets of a Receivables Entity or (b) Servicer Accounts, in each case under clauses (a) or (b), granted in connection with (and as security for) a Qualified Receivables Transaction.

 

For purposes of this definition, the term “Indebtedness” shall be deemed to include interest in connection with or in respect of any referenced Indebtedness.

 

Permitted Refinancing Debt” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net cash proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance (including through the issuance of debt securities), renew, replace (whether or not upon termination and whether with the original lenders, institutional investors or otherwise), defease or refund other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in whole or in part; provided that:

 

(1)            the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Debt does not exceed the principal amount and premium, if any, plus accrued interest (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded (plus the amount of any fees and expenses Incurred in connection therewith);

 

(2)            such Permitted Refinancing Debt has a final scheduled maturity date later than the final scheduled maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded;

 

(3)            if the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded is (i) subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Notes Guarantees, such Permitted Refinancing Debt is subordinated in right of payment to, the Notes or any Notes Guarantees on terms at least as favorable to the holders of Notes as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded, (ii) secured by Liens on any of the Collateral junior in priority to the Liens securing the Notes or the Notes Guarantees, such Permitted Refinancing Debt is either unsecured or secured by Liens on any of the Collateral junior in priority to the Liens securing the Notes or the Notes Guarantees on terms at least as favorable to the holders of Notes as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded or (iii) unsecured, such Permitted Refinancing Debt is unsecured; and

 

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(4)            such Indebtedness is incurred either by the Company or by the Subsidiary of the Company that is the obligor on the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded or would otherwise be permitted to Incur such Indebtedness.

 

Person” means any individual, partnership, corporation (including a business trust), limited liability company, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, association, estate, organization, joint venture or other entity, or a government or any agency or political subdivision or agency thereof.

 

Pledge Agreement” means the Pledge Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Company and the Guarantors in favor of the Collateral Agent, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.

 

Preferred Stock” as applied to the Capital Stock of any Person, means Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) which is preferred as to the payment of dividends or distributions, or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such Person, over shares of Capital Stock of any other class of such Person.

 

Private Placement Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(1).

 

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

 

Qualified Receivables Facility” means any Indebtedness incurred in connection with a Qualified Receivables Transaction. Each of the Existing First Heritage SPV Facility, the Existing Flexiti Securitization Notes, the Existing Flexiti SPV Facility, the Existing Heights SPV Facility and the Existing Revolving Canada SPV Facility, as in effect on the Issue Date, shall constitute a Qualified Receivables Facility.

 

Qualified Receivables Transaction” means any transaction or series of transactions that may be entered into by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries pursuant to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries may sell, convey or otherwise transfer to:

 

(1)            a Receivables Entity (in the case of a transfer by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries); or

 

(2)            any other Person (in the case of a transfer by a Receivables Entity),

 

or may grant a security interest in, any loans receivable (whether now existing or arising in the future) of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, and any assets related thereto, including all collateral securing such loans receivable, all contracts and all Guarantees or other obligations in respect of such loans receivable, proceeds of such loans receivable and other assets which are customarily transferred or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted in connection with asset securitization transactions involving loans receivable or refinancings thereof; provided, however, that the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof shall be market terms (as determined in good faith by the chief financial officer of the Company).

 

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For the avoidance of doubt, each of the transactions contemplated by each of the Existing Heights SPV Facility, the Existing First Heritage SPV Facility, the Existing Revolving Canada SPV Facility, the Existing Flexiti Securitization Notes and the Existing Flexiti SPV Facility (each as in effect on the Issue Date (after giving effect to the Issue Date SPV Amendments)) is a “Qualified Receivables Transaction.”

 

Receivables Entity” means (a) a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Company or (b) another Person engaging in a Qualified Receivables Transaction with the Company, in each case, that engages in no activities other than in connection with the financing of loans receivables and is designated by the Board of Directors of the Company (as provided below) as a Receivables Entity, and in either of clause (a) or (b):

 

(1)            no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise) of such entity:

 

(A)             is Guaranteed by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (excluding Guarantees of obligations (other than the principal of, and interest on, Indebtedness) pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings),

 

(B)             is recourse to or obligates the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in any way (other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings), or

 

(C)             subjects any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof (other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings);

 

(2)            the entity is not an Affiliate of the Company or is an entity with which neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of the Company has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding other than on terms that the Company reasonably believes to be not materially less favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of the Company; and

 

(3)            is an entity to which neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of the Company has any obligation to maintain or preserve such entity’s financial condition or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operating results.

 

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

 

Each of Heights Financing I, LLC, First Heritage Financing I, LLC, CURO Canada Receivables GP, Inc., CURO Canada Receivables Limited Partnership, Flexiti Securitization General Partner, Inc., Flexiti Securitization Limited Partnership and Flexiti Financing SPE Corp. is deemed to have been designated as a Receivables Entity as of the Issue Date.

 

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

 

Regulation S Global Note” means a Global Note in the form of Exhibit A bearing the Global Note Legend and the Restricted Security Legend and deposited with or on behalf of the Depositary 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.

 

Required Ad Hoc Group Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders (under, and as defined in, the Credit Agreement) in the Ad Hoc Group holding more than 50% of the sum of the aggregate Exposure (under, and as defined in, the Credit Agreement) of all such Lenders in the Ad Hoc Group.

 

Required Term Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Credit Agreement Lenders holding more than 50% of the sum of the aggregate Exposure (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of all Credit Agreement Lenders; provided that “Required Lenders” shall always include at least two Credit Agreement Lenders if there are two or more Credit Agreement Lenders.

 

Responsible Officer” when used with respect to the Trustee or Collateral Agent, means any officer or employee within the Corporate Trust Office 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, and who shall, in each case, have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Restricted Period” means the 40-day distribution compliance period as defined in Regulation S.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any successor agency thereto.

 

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

 

Security Agreement” means the Security Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Company and the Guarantors in favor of the Collateral Agent, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.

 

Servicer Account” means any deposit account or securities account used as a collection account for loans receivable contributed or sold to the applicable Receivables Entity that is periodically swept to a zero balance or subject to a requirement to transfer collections therefrom on a periodic basis.

 

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

 

Similar Business” means any business conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries on the Issue Date or any business that is similar, reasonably related, incidental, complementary or ancillary thereto, or a reasonable extension or expansion thereof.

 

Standard Securitization Undertakings” means representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities entered into by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company that, taken as a whole, are customary for a non-recourse loans receivable financing transaction.

 

Stated Maturity” when used with respect to any security or any installment of interest thereon, means the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the principal of such security or such installment of interest is due and payable.

 

Subsidiary” of any Person means:

 

(1)            any corporation of which more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Capital Stock having ordinary voting power for the election of directors is owned directly or indirectly by such Person; and

 

(2)            any partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, business trust or other entity in which such Person, directly or indirectly, has at least a majority ownership interest entitled to vote at the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof (or other person performing similar functions).

 

Except as otherwise indicated herein, references to Subsidiaries shall refer to Subsidiaries of the Company.

 

TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C §§ 77aaa-77bbbb), as in force on the Issue Date; provided, however, that in the event that the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “TIA” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

 

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Treasury Rate” means, at any redemption date, the yield to maturity as of such redemption date of constant maturity United States Treasury securities (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H. 15 (519) that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to such redemption date (or, if such statistical release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from such redemption date to August 1, 2024; provided, however, that if no published maturity exactly corresponds with such date, then the Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated on a straight-line basis from the arithmetic mean of the yields for the next shortest and next longest published maturities; provided further, however, that if the period from such redemption date to August 1, 2024, 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 U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, in its capacity as Trustee, until a successor or assign replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor or assign 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.

 

Unrestricted Cash” means, with respect to any Person(s), cash or Cash Equivalents of such Person(s) that would not appear as “restricted” on a consolidated balance sheet of such Person(s).

 

U.S. Government Obligation” means:

 

(1)            any security which is: a direct obligation of the United States of America the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged or an obligation of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally Guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation of the United States of America, which, in either case, is not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof; and

 

(2)            any depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any U.S. Government Obligation and held by such bank for the account of the holder of such depository receipt, or with respect to any specific payment of principal of or interest on any U.S. Government Obligation which is so specified and held, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal or interest evidenced by such depository receipt.

 

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

 

Voting Stock” of a Person means all classes of Capital Stock or other interests (including partnership interests) of such Person then outstanding and normally entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person all of the outstanding Capital Stock of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares and nominal amounts required to be held by local nationals) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof).

 

Section 1.02     Other Definitions.

 

Term Defined in Section
Action 13.10
Affiliate Transaction 5.11
Asset Sale Offer 5.10
Authentication Order 2.02
Change of Control Offer 5.14
Change of Control Payment 5.14
Change of Control Payment Date 5.14
Company Recitals
Covenant Defeasance 9.03
Custodian 7.01
Event of Default 7.01
Excess Proceeds 5.10
Initial Notes Recitals
Legal Defeasance 9.02
Moody’s Definition of Cash Equivalents
New Guarantor 11.02
Notes Recitals

 

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Offer Amount 3.09
Offer Period 3.09
Paying Agent 2.03
Payment Default 7.01
Permitted Debt 5.09
“Platform 5.04
Premises 5.21
Purchase Date 3.09
Registrar 2.03
Restricted Payments 5.07
S&P Definition of Cash Equivalents

 

Section 1.03     Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. Except as expressly provided herein, the provisions of the TIA shall not apply hereto. All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by the TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA have the meanings so assigned to them.

 

Section 1.04     Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires:

 

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

 

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

 

(3)             or” is not exclusive;

 

(4)             including” means including without limitation;

 

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

 

(6)             provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

 

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

 

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

 

(9)             references to any statute, law or regulation shall be deemed to refer to the same as from time to time amended and in effect and to any successor statute, law or regulation;

 

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(10)           references to the date the Notes were originally issued shall refer to the Issue Date;

 

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

 

(12)           all references to Articles, Sections or subdivisions refer to Articles, Sections or subdivisions of this Indenture unless otherwise indicated.

 

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 Exhibit A 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 minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Notes shall bear interest and be payable upon the terms as set forth in Exhibit A.

 

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 Exhibit A hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Notes issued in definitive form will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A 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 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.

 

(c)            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 Global Note that are held by Participants through Euroclear or Clearstream.

 

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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 the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.

 

The Trustee will, upon receipt of a written order of the Company signed by an Officer of the Company (an “Authentication Order”), authenticate Notes for original issue up to the aggregate principal amount of the Notes that may be validly issued under this Indenture including (i) Initial Notes for original issuance in an aggregate principal amount of $682,298,000 and (ii) subject to compliance with Sections 2.14 and 5.09, any Additional Notes for original issuance from time to time after the date hereof.

 

All Notes issued under this Indenture (including Additional Notes) shall be treated as a single class of securities under this Indenture, including for purposes of any vote, consent, waiver or other act of Holders.

 

The Trustee may appoint an 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 agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or an Affiliate of the Company.

 

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. Until the Trustee receives notice of the Company’s appointment of another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee will act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

The Company initially appoints DTC to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.

 

The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar and Paying Agent and to act as Note Custodian.

 

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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, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, and will notify the Trustee 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. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) will have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company 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.

 

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. Any Global Note will be exchanged by the Company for Definitive Notes if:

 

(1)            the Depositary (a) notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the Global Note or (b) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor depositary within 90 days thereafter;

 

(2)            the Company, at its option, notifies the Trustee in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of Definitive Notes; or

 

(3)            there has occurred and is continuing a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes and the Depositary has requested that Definitive Notes be issued.

 

Upon the occurrence of any of the preceding events described in subparagraphs (1), (2) or (3) 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. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or Section 2.07 or 2.10, 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) or (c).

 

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(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 prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers of beneficial interests in the 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), 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

 

(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.

 

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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 will adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.06(h).

 

(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 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 AI 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) and the Registrar receives the following:

 

(A)            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

 

(B)            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;

 

and, 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.

 

If any such transfer is effected pursuant to this clause (4) 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, the Trustee will authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred pursuant to this clause (4).

 

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Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note.

 

(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 the occurrence of any of the events described in paragraph (1), (2) or (3) of Section 2.06(a) and 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 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 or any of its 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,

 

the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h), and the Company will execute and the Trustee will, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, 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 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 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.

 

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(2)             [Reserved].

 

(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 upon the occurrence of any of the events described in paragraph (1), (2) or (3) of Section 2.06(a) and only if the Registrar receives the following:

 

(A)            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

 

(B)            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, 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 the occurrence of any of the events described in paragraph (1), (2) or (3) of Section 2.06(a) and satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.06(b)(2), the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Unrestricted Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h), and the Company will execute and the Trustee will, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, 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 pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(4) 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)(4) will not bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

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(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 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 or any of its 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, and in all other cases, the AI 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:

 

(A)            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

 

(B)            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 set forth in this clause (2), 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 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 clause (2) above or this clause (3) 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, 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:

 

(A)            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

 

(B)            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, 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:

 

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

 

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT), (B) IT IS A NON-U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS APPLICABLE TO SUCH PURCHASER IN THE JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH PURCHASE IS MADE, OR (C) IT IS AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (2) AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE APPLICABLE HOLDING PERIOD WITH RESPECT TO RESTRICTED SECURITIES SET FORTH IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHICH NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (C) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS APPLICABLE TO IT IN THE JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH PURCHASE IS MADE, (D) TO AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THE SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S, OR REGISTRAR’S, AS APPLICABLE, RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM, AND IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS SECURITY COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE OR REGISTRAR. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE APPLICABLE HOLDING PERIOD WITH RESPECT TO RESTRICTED SECURITIES SET FORTH IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.”

 

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(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) or (e)(3) 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 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.”

 

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(h)             Cancellation 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. 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 or at the Registrar’s request.

 

(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, 5.10, 5.14, and 10.04).

 

(3)             Neither the Trustee nor the Registrar will 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, the Trustee 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 10 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 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.

 

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(6)            Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, the Registrar, 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, the Registrar, any Agent or the Company will 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.

 

(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.

 

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

 

(10)         Neither the Trustee, any Agent nor any agent of the Trustee will have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.

 

(11)         Neither the Trustee nor any Agent will have responsibility or obligation to any Participant or Indirect Participant or any other Person with respect to the accuracy of the books or records, or the acts or omissions, of the Depositary or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Notes or with respect to the delivery to any Participant or Indirect Participant or other Person (other than the Depositary) of any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Notes. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders under the Notes shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holders (which shall be the Depositary or its nominee in the case of a Global Note). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Note shall be exercised only through the Depositary subject to the Applicable Procedures. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depositary with respect to its Participants or Indirect Participants.

 

Section 2.07           Replacement Notes.

 

If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company or if the Trustee receives credible evidence 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 standard requirements are met. If required by the Trustee or the Company, an indemnity bond or other indemnity or security must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee determined for itself and the Company determined for itself 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, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note.

 

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

 

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

 

If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary of the Company or an Affiliate 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 by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company, will be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee will be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee knows are so owned will be so disregarded. Upon request of the Trustee, the Company will furnish to the Trustee promptly an Officer’s Certificate listing and identifying all Notes, if any, known by the Company to be owned or held by or for the account of any of the above described Persons, and the Trustee will be entitled to accept and rely upon such Officer’s Certificate as conclusive evidence of the facts therein set forth and of the fact that all Notes not listed therein are outstanding for the purpose of any determination.

 

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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, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, 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 transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and will dispose of canceled Notes in accordance with the Trustee’s standard procedures (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act and the Trustee’s customary procedures). Certification of such disposal of all canceled Notes will be delivered to the Company upon request. 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 5.01. 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 send or cause to be sent to Holders a notice prepared by the Company that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

 

Section 2.13           CUSIP Numbers.

 

The Company in issuing the Notes may use CUSIP, ISIN or other numbers, if then generally in use, and thereafter the Company and the Trustee may use such numbers in any notice issued pursuant to this Indenture, including any notice of redemption, 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 other notice and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such notice or notice of redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP, ISIN or other numbers.

 

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Section 2.14           Issuance of Additional Notes.

 

The Company will be entitled, from time to time, subject to its compliance with Section 5.09, without consent of the Holders, to issue Additional Notes under this Indenture with identical terms as the Initial Notes other than with respect to (i) the date of issuance, (ii) the issue price, (iii) the amount of interest payable on the first interest payment date and (iv) any adjustments in order to conform to and ensure compliance with the Securities Act (or other applicable securities laws) or to reflect differences with respect to original issue discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

With respect to any Additional Notes, the Company will set forth in an Officer’s Certificate pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company, copies of which shall be delivered to the Trustee, the following information:

 

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

 

(ii)           the issue price, the issue date and the CUSIP number of such Additional Notes and the date on which interest on such Additional Notes shall begin to accrue.

 

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, it shall furnish to the Trustee, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, and prior to sending the notice pursuant to Section 3.03, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth (i) the subsection of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price. If the redemption price is not known at the time such notice is to be given, the actual redemption price, calculated as described in this Indenture or the terms of the Notes to be redeemed, will be set forth in an additional Officer’s Certificate of the Company delivered to the Trustee no later than two Business Days prior to the redemption date.

 

Section 3.02     Selection of Notes to be Redeemed. If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, selection of Notes for redemption shall be made in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed, or, if the Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot to the extent practicable or by such other method in accordance with the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary; provided that no Notes of $2,000 or less shall be redeemed in part. In the event of partial redemption by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed shall be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 10 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption.

 

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In the case of Definitive Notes, the Trustee will promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Notes and portions of Notes selected shall be in minimum 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, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed. A new Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof shall be issued (or book-entry notation made) in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note. On and after the redemption date, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest shall cease to accrue on the principal amount of the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption and for which funds have been set aside for payment. Except as provided in this Section 3.02, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.

 

Section 3.03     Notice of Redemption. Subject to the provisions of Sections 3.09 and 5.14, at least 10 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date, the Company will send or caused to be sent, by first class mail or other electronic means reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be mailed or sent 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.

 

The notice shall be prepared by the Company, shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:

 

(a)            the redemption date;

 

(b)            the redemption price;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(h)            if such redemption is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall describe each such condition, and if applicable, such notice shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the redemption date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied or waived, and shall state that such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the redemption date, or by the redemption date so delayed; and

 

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(i)             the CUSIP number; provided 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 written request, the Trustee will give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense; provided, however, that the Company will have delivered to the Trustee, at least five days prior to the redemption date, 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 (or such shorter period reasonably acceptable to the Trustee).

 

If any of the Notes to be redeemed are in the form of a Global Note, then the Company may modify such notice to the extent necessary to comply with the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary.

 

Section 3.04           Effect of Notice of Redemption. Once notice of redemption is sent in accordance with Section 3.03, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price unless such redemption is subject to the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent as described in the immediately succeeding sentence. Notice of any redemption upon any Equity Offering or other securities offering or financing, or in connection with a transaction (or series of related transactions) that constitute a Change of Control, may, in the Company’s discretion, be given prior to the completion thereof and be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of the related Equity Offering, securities offering, financing or Change of Control. In addition, the Company may provide in such notice that payment of the redemption price and performance of the Company’s obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person.

 

Section 3.05           Deposit of Redemption Price. Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the redemption date, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price and accrued interest on all Notes to be redeemed on that date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price and accrued interest on all Notes to be redeemed.

 

If the Company complies with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption. If a Note is redeemed on or after 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 shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption because of the failure of the Company to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal from the redemption date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 5.01.

 

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Section 3.06           Notes Redeemed in Part. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption sent pursuant to Section 3.03 that relates to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount of that Note to be redeemed. Upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee will (i) cancel the original Note and (ii) authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Company a new Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Note in the name of the Holder thereof, or in the case of a Global Note make such notation on its books and records.

 

Section 3.07           Optional Redemption. (a) On and after August 1, 2024, the Company may on one or more occasions redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon notice pursuant to Section 3.03, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on August 1 of each of the years set forth below.

 

Year  Percentage 
2024   103.750%
2025   101.875%
2026 and thereafter   100.000%

 

(b)           Prior to August 1, 2024, the Company may, upon notice pursuant to Section 3.03, redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including Additional Notes) issued under this Indenture at a redemption price of 107.500% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date) if:

 

(1)            such redemption is made with the proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings;

 

(2)            at least 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including Additional Notes) issued under this Indenture remain outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption (excluding Notes held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries); and

 

(3)            the redemption occurs within 180 days of such Equity Offering.

 

(c)            Prior to August 1, 2024, the Company may, upon notice pursuant to Section 3.03, redeem up to 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including Additional Notes) issued under the Indenture during each 12-month period following the Issue Date at a redemption price of 103% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date (subject to the right of holders of the Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).

 

(d)            Prior to August 1, 2024, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon notice pursuant to Section 3.03, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest to, the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).

 

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(e)            Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with any tender offer for the Notes, including a Change of Control Offer or an Asset Sale Offer, if Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in such tender offer and the Company, or any third party making such tender offer in lieu of the Company as described above, repurchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Company or such third party will have the right, upon notice pursuant to Section 3.03 (provided that such notice is given not more than 30 days following such repurchase), to redeem all notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a price equal to the price paid to each other Holder in such tender offer (which may be less than par) plus accrued and unpaid interest on the notes redeemed, to the applicable redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on any relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).

 

(f)            Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 or the last paragraph of Section 5.14 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01 through 3.06.

 

Section 3.08     Mandatory Redemption. Except as set forth in Sections 5.10 and 5.14, the Company will not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments or offers to purchase with respect to the Notes.

 

Section 3.09     Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds. In the event that, pursuant to Section 5.10, the Company will be required to commence an Asset Sale Offer, it shall follow the procedures specified in this Section 3.09.

 

The Asset Sale Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 Business Days following its commencement and no longer, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “Offer Period”). No later than five Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the “Purchase Date”), the Company will purchase the principal amount of Notes required to be purchased pursuant to Section 5.10 (the “Offer Amount”). Payment for any Notes so purchased shall be made in the same manner as interest payments are made.

 

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 shall be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such record date, and no additional interest shall be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer.

 

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

 

(a)            that the Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.09 and Section 5.10 and the length of time the Asset Sale Offer shall remain open;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(e)           that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer may only elect to have Notes in minimum denominations of $2,000, or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof (unless such amount represents the entire principal amount of Notes held by such Holder), purchased;

 

(f)            that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to any Asset Sale Offer shall be required to surrender the Notes, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Note completed, to the Paying Agent or the Depositary, as applicable, at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Purchase Date, subject to the Applicable Procedures;

 

(g)           that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent or the Depositary, as applicable, receives, not later than the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Purchase Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have such Note purchased, subject to the Applicable Procedures;

 

(h)           that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders exceeds the Offer Amount, the Trustee will select the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in minimum denominations of $2,000, or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, shall be purchased), subject to the Applicable Procedures; and

 

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

 

If any of the Notes subject to the Asset Sale Offer are in the form of a Global Note, then the Company may modify such notice to the extent necessary to comply with the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary.

 

On or before the Purchase Date, subject to the Applicable Procedures and the Intercreditor Agreements, 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 validly tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer (and not withdrawn), or, if less than the Offer Amount has been validly tendered, all Notes tendered (and not withdrawn), and shall deliver to the Trustee 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 Paying Agent shall promptly (but in any case not later than five Business Days after the Purchase Date) send or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount received from the Company equal to the purchase price of the Notes validly tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Company for purchase, and the Company will promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate and send (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 sent (or caused to be transferred by book-entry) by the Company to the Holder thereof. The Company will publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer promptly after the Purchase Date.

 

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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.

 

Section 3.10           [Reserved]

 

Section 3.11           Company May Acquire Notes. The Company or its Affiliates (or any Person acting on behalf of the Company or its Affiliates) may at any time and from time to time acquire the Notes by means other than redemption, including by tender offer, open market purchases, negotiated transactions or otherwise, so long as such acquisition is not prohibited by applicable securities laws or regulations or the terms of this Indenture. In accordance with, and subject to, Section 2.11, the Company may deliver such acquired Notes to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

ARTICLE 4
Satisfaction and Discharge

 

Section 4.01          Satisfaction and Discharge. This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all outstanding Notes issued hereunder (except Sections 2.06, 2.07, 2.08, 8.01, 8.02, 8.07, 12.07, 12.15 and 13.11), and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture if:

 

(a)            either:

 

(i)            the Company will have paid or caused to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest as and when the same shall have become due and payable;

 

(ii)           all outstanding Notes (other than Notes which have been lost, stolen or destroyed and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.07) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(iii)          all Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (i) have become due and payable by reason of the sending of a notice of redemption or (ii) (A) shall become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one (1) year or (B) are to be called for redemption within one (1) year under arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, and the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee funds in trust of cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes to the date of Stated Maturity or such redemption, as the case may be;

 

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(b)            the Company has paid all other sums payable by it under the Indenture Documents; and

 

(c)            the Company has delivered an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which opinion of counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions) stating that all conditions for the satisfaction and discharge have been met.

 

Section 4.02          Application of Trust Money. Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 9.05, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.01 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), to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such funds need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

ARTICLE 5
Covenants

 

Section 5.01           Payment of Notes. The Company will pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 10:00 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 and installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the rate equal to 1% per annum in excess of the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful.

 

The Company will be responsible for making calculations called for under the Notes, including, but not limited to, determination of redemption price, premium, if any, and other amounts payable on the Notes, if any. The Company will make the calculations in good faith and, absent manifest error, its calculations will be final and binding on the Holders. The Company will provide a schedule of its calculations to the Trustee when applicable, and the Trustee is entitled to rely conclusively on the accuracy of the Company’s calculations without independent verification.

 

Section 5.02           Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company will maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Company 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 will fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

 

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

 

Section 5.03           Reports. So long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company will furnish to the Holders or cause the Trustee to furnish to the Holders:

 

(1)            within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, all annual financial statements of the Company for such fiscal year that would be required to be contained in a filing with the SEC on Form 10 K if the Company were required to file such Form, including a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” that describes the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries and a report on the annual financial statements by the Company’s certified independent accountants;

 

(2)            within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Company, all quarterly financial statements that would be required to be contained in a filing with the SEC on Form 10 Q if the Company were required to file such Form, including a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” that describes the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries; and

 

(3)            within the time periods required for filing such current reports and form as specified in the SEC’s rule and regulations, 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.

 

Documents filed by the Company with the SEC via the EDGAR system will be deemed to be furnished to the registered holders at the time such documents are filed.

 

To the extent any such information is not so filed or furnished, as applicable, within the time periods specified above and such information is subsequently filed or furnished, as applicable, the Company will be deemed to have satisfied its obligations with respect thereto at such time and any Default with respect thereto shall be deemed to have been cured; provided that such cure shall not be permissible following an acceleration in accordance with Section 7.02 hereof and such acceleration shall not have been rescinded or cancelled prior to such cure.

 

In addition, the Company agrees that, for so long as any Notes remain outstanding, it will use commercially reasonable efforts to hold and participate in quarterly conference calls with holders of Notes, beneficial owners of the Notes and securities analysts to discuss such financial information no later than ten business days after distribution of such financial information (it being understood that such quarterly conference calls may be the same conference calls as with the Company’s equity investors and analysts).

 

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Furthermore, the Company agrees that, at any time it is not subject to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, for so long as any Notes remain outstanding, it will furnish to the holders of Notes, any beneficial owner of the Notes, securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their request, the information and reports described above and any other information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act. The Trustee shall have no liability or responsibility for the filing, timeliness or content of any report delivered hereunder and the Trustee shall have no duty to participate in or monitor any investor calls or similar events.

 

Section 5.04           Compliance Certificate. (a) The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, an Officer’s Certificate that need not comply with Section 12.03 or 12.04, one signer of which shall be the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, or principal accounting officer of the Company, stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Affiliates during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officer with a view to determining whether the Company and the Guarantors have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled their obligations under the Indenture Documents, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge each of the Company and each Guarantor during the preceding fiscal year has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in the Indenture Documents and is not in Default at the date of such certificate in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Indenture Documents (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company or Guarantor is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto).

 

(b)           The Company will, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, within ten Business Days of 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.

 

Section 5.05           Taxes. The Company will pay, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments and governmental levies, except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders.

 

Section 5.06           Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. Each of the Company and the Guarantors covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of the Indenture Documents; and each of the Company and the Guarantors (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

 

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Section 5.07           Restricted Payments. (a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

 

(i)            declare or pay any dividend on, or make any other payment or distribution in respect of, its Equity Interests (including any dividend or distribution payable in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company) or similar payment to the direct or indirect holders thereof in their capacity as such (other than any dividends or distributions payable solely in its Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) and dividends or distributions payable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (and, if such Subsidiary has stockholders other than the Company or other Subsidiaries, to its other stockholders on no more than a pro rata basis));

 

(ii)           purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Company held by any Person or any Equity Interests of any Subsidiary of the Company held by any Affiliate of the Company (in each case other than held by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company), including in connection with any merger or consolidation and including the exercise of any option to exchange any Equity Interests (other than into Equity Interests of the Company that are not Disqualified Stock);

 

(iii)          make any purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value, prior to the scheduled maturity, scheduled repayment or scheduled sinking fund payment of any Indebtedness that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to any of the Notes or any Notes Guarantee, any Indebtedness that is secured by Liens on any of the Collateral junior in priority to the Liens securing the Notes or any Notes Guarantee (including for the avoidance of doubt, the Existing Notes) or any unsecured Indebtedness (other than the payment of interest and other than the purchase, repurchase or other acquisition of such Indebtedness purchased in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within ninety days of the date of such purchase, repurchase or other acquisition); provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, this clause (iii) shall not prohibit the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Qualified Receivables Facility by the applicable Receivables Entity or of the Backstop Notes by Loan SPV in accordance with the terms thereof; or

 

(iv)            make any Restricted Investment.

 

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

 

(b)            The foregoing provisions will not prohibit:

 

(i)            the payment of any dividend or other distribution or the consummation of any irrevocable redemption within 60 days after the date of declaration of the dividend or other distribution or giving of the irrevocable redemption notice, so long as said date is after the Issue Date, if at said date of declaration or notice, such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

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(ii)           any Restricted Payment made in exchange for, or with the net cash proceeds from, the substantially concurrent sale of Equity Interests of the Company (other than any Disqualified Stock and other than Equity Interests issued or sold to a Subsidiary of the Company) or a substantially concurrent cash capital contribution received by the Company from its shareholders;

 

(iii)          the defeasance, redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or to any Notes Guarantee, Indebtedness that is secured by Liens on any of the Collateral junior in priority to the Liens securing the Notes or any Notes Guarantees or unsecured Indebtedness in exchange for, or with the net cash proceeds from, an Incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Debt with respect to such Indebtedness;

 

(iv)          the redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition for value of any Equity Interests of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company held by current or former employees, officers, directors or consultants of the Company (or any of its Subsidiaries), in each case solely upon such Person’s death, disability, retirement or termination of employment or under the terms of any Pension Plan or other agreement under which such Equity Interests were issued; provided that the aggregate amount of such repurchases and other acquisitions (excluding amounts representing cancellation of Indebtedness) shall not exceed $1.0 million in any Fiscal Year;

 

(v)           payments of dividends on Disqualified Stock issued pursuant to Section 5.09;

 

(vi)          repurchases of Capital Stock deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options if such Capital Stock represents a portion of the exercise price of such options;

 

(vii)         cash payments in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares in connection with the exercise of warrants, options or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock of the Company; provided, however, that any such cash payment shall not be for the purpose of evading the limitations of this Section 5.07;

 

(viii)        so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby, payments of intercompany subordinated Indebtedness, the Incurrence of which was permitted under clause (iv) of Section 5.09(b); or

 

(ix)           the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to any of the Notes or to any of the Notes Guarantees, any Indebtedness that is secured by Liens on any of the Collateral junior in priority to the Liens securing the Notes or any Notes Guarantees or any unsecured Indebtedness upon the occurrence of an Asset Sale or Change of Control; provided that no such repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any such Indebtedness shall be permitted until, (i) in the event of a Change of Control, all Notes tendered by each of the holders in connection with a Change of Control Offer have been repurchased, redeemed or acquired for value and (ii) in the event of an Asset Sale, all Notes tendered by holders in connection with any Asset Sale Offer required under Section 5.10(d) shall have been repurchased, redeemed or acquired for value and such repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any such Indebtedness shall be paid solely with any remaining Net Proceeds of such Asset Sale; and

 

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(x)           the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value, prior to the scheduled maturity, scheduled repayment or scheduled sinking fund payment of any Indebtedness with respect to a Qualified Receivables Facility.

 

The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the Fair Market Value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the assets proposed to be transferred by the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section 5.07, no Company Party shall make any Restricted Payment to, or Investment in, any Subsidiary (other than another Company Party) consisting of any intellectual property or any other assets (other than cash and Cash Equivalents) material to the operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

 

Section 5.08           Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries. (a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any Subsidiary of the Company to:

 

(i)            pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to its Capital Stock or any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits;

 

(ii)           pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

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

 

(iv)          sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(b)           However, the foregoing restrictions will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

 

(i)            any agreements in effect or entered into on the Issue Date, including agreements governing Existing Indebtedness as in effect on the Issue Date, and any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings thereof (in each case, regardless of whether such replacement or refinancing is consummated at the same time or later than the termination or repayment of the Indebtedness being refinanced or replaced), in whole or in part; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, 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 the agreements governing such Indebtedness as in effect on the Issue Date;

 

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(ii)           the Credit Agreement, the Existing Notes Indenture Documents and the Backstop Notes, in each case, in effect as of the Issue Date, and any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings thereof (in each case, regardless of whether such replacement or refinancing is consummated at the same time or later than the termination or repayment of the Indebtedness being refinanced or replaced) and any additional credit facilities permitted under this Indenture; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements, refinancings or additional credit facilities are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, with respect to such dividend and other payment restrictions than those contained in the Credit Agreement as in effect on the Issue Date;

 

(iii)          the Indenture Documents;

 

(iv)          applicable law and any applicable rule, regulation or order;

 

(v)           customary non-assignment provisions in leases, licenses or other agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(vi)          purchase money obligations and Capital Lease Obligations that impose restrictions of the nature described in clause (iv) of Section 5.08(a) on the property so acquired;

 

(vii)         any agreement for the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Capital Stock or assets of a Subsidiary of the Company that restricts distributions by that Subsidiary pending its sale or other disposition thereof;

 

(viii)        any agreement or other instrument of a Person acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in existence at the time of such acquisition (but not created in contemplation thereof), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person and its Subsidiaries, or the property or assets of the Person and its Subsidiaries, so acquired;

 

(ix)           Liens that limit the right of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to dispose of the asset or assets subject to such Lien;

 

(x)            customary provisions limiting the disposition or distribution of assets or property in partnership, joint venture, asset sale agreements, stock sale agreements and other similar agreements, which limitation is applicable only to the assets that are the subject of such agreements;

 

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

 

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(xii)          any such encumbrance or restriction with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to an agreement governing Indebtedness incurred by such Foreign Subsidiary, (a) if the encumbrances and restrictions contained in any such agreement or instrument taken as a whole are not materially more restrictive to the Company and its Subsidiaries than the encumbrances and restrictions contained in the agreements described in clauses (i) and (ii) above (as determined in good faith by the Company), or (b) if such encumbrance or restriction is not materially more restrictive to the Company and its Subsidiaries than is customary in comparable financings (as determined in good faith by the Company) and either (x) the Company determines in good faith that such encumbrance or restriction will not materially affect the Company’s ability to make the principal or interest payments on the Notes or (y) such encumbrance or restriction applies only if a default occurs in respect of a payment or financial covenant relating to such Indebtedness;

 

(xiii)         any encumbrance or restriction existing under or by reason of contractual requirements of a Receivables Entity in connection with a Qualified Receivables Transaction; provided that such restrictions apply only to such Receivables Entity or any Subsidiary acting as servicer or sub-servicer for such Qualified Receivables Transaction; provided that any such encumbrance or restriction applicable to a Subsidiary acting as servicer or sub-servicer for such Qualified Receivables Transaction shall apply only to Servicer Accounts;

 

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

 

(xv)         any encumbrance or restriction applicable only to Loan SPV existing under or by reason of the organizational documents of Loan SPV or the Backstop Notes, in each case as in existence on the Issue Date.

 

Section 5.09     Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock. (a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, Incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) and the Company will not issue any Disqualified Stock and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to issue any shares of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock.

 

(b)            The foregoing provisions will not prohibit the Incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness (collectively, “Permitted Debt”):

 

(i)            the Incurrence by (1) the Company of loans outstanding under the Credit Agreement on the Issue Date in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $165,000,000 (including fees that are paid in kind and capitalized on the Issue Date) and Guarantees thereof by the Guarantors, (2) the Company of Existing Notes outstanding on the Issue Date (after giving effect to the Exchange) and Guarantees thereof by the Guarantors in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $317,702,000, and (3) Permitted Refinancing Debt in exchange for, or the net cash proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund (in each case, whether or not upon termination and whether with the original lenders, institutional investors or otherwise, including through the issuance of debt securities), in whole or in part, the Existing Notes outstanding on the Issue Date (after giving effect to the Exchange);

 

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(ii)           the Incurrence by the Company and the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by the Notes (other than Additional Notes) and the related Notes Guarantees;

 

(iii)          [reserved;]

 

(iv)          the Incurrence by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Debt in exchange for, or the net cash proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund (in each case, whether or not upon termination and whether with the original lenders, institutional investors or otherwise, including through the issuance of debt securities), in whole or in part, Indebtedness that was Incurred pursuant to subsection (a) above or pursuant to clauses (ii), (iv) or (viii) of this Section 5.09(b);

 

(v)           the Incurrence of intercompany Indebtedness of the Company, a Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Company (other than a Receivables Entity and other than Loan SPV) for so long as such Indebtedness is not prohibited by Section 5.07; provided that (i) such Indebtedness shall be unsecured and if owing by the Company or any Guarantor, contractually subordinated in all respects to the Notes and any Notes Guarantee, and (ii) if as of any date any Person other than the Company or a Subsidiary owns or holds any such Indebtedness or holds a Lien in respect of such Indebtedness (other than Permitted Liens of the type described in clause (1) or (15) of the definition thereof or any permitted refinancing Lien in respect thereof), such date shall be deemed the incurrence of Indebtedness not permitted under this clause (v);

 

(vi)          Guarantees by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company of Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (other than a Receivables Entity and other than Loan SPV) otherwise permitted hereunder so long as the Person giving such Guarantee could have Incurred the Indebtedness that is being Guaranteed; provided that if the Indebtedness being guaranteed (x) is subordinated to the Notes or a Notes Guarantee, then the Guarantee must be subordinated to the same extent as the Indebtedness being guaranteed or (y) is owed by any Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Guarantor, such Guarantee shall be subordinated to the prior payment in full of the Notes in the case of the Company or the Notes Guarantees in the case of a Guarantor;

 

(vii)         the Incurrence by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of Hedging Obligations that are Incurred for the purpose of fixing or hedging (A) interest rate risk with respect to any floating rate Indebtedness that is permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be outstanding or (B) currency exchange risk in connection with existing financial obligations in the ordinary course of business and not for purposes of speculation;

 

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(viii)        the Incurrence on or prior to the Issue Date of Existing Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness described in clauses (i), (ii) or (v) of this Section 5.09(b));

 

(ix)           the Incurrence of obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees, performance, bid and surety bonds and completion guarantees provided by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

(x)            the Incurrence by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently (except in the case of daylight overdrafts) drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business; provided, however, that such Indebtedness is extinguished within four Business Days of its Incurrence;

 

(xi)           [reserved;]

 

(xii)          Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company consisting of the financing of insurance premiums in the ordinary course of business;

 

(xiii)         Indebtedness consisting of promissory notes or similar Indebtedness issued by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company to current, future or former officers, directors and employees thereof, or to their respective estates, spouses or former spouses, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company to the extent described in clause (iv) of Section 5.07(b);

 

(xiv)         Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, incurred in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or Subsidiary, other than guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition; provided that the maximum aggregate liability in respect of all such Indebtedness shall at no time exceed the gross proceeds actually received by the Company or such Subsidiary in connection with such disposition;

 

(xv)          Indebtedness Incurred by a Canadian Direct Lending Subsidiary (the borrower in respect of such Indebtedness, the “Canadian Recourse Facility Borrower”) (and any unsecured Guarantee thereof by the Company) with respect to one or more single-pay recourse facilities (and Permitted Refinancing Debt in respect thereof) in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any one time not in excess of $25.0 million (the “Canadian Recourse Facility”);

 

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(xvi)         Indebtedness Incurred by a Receivables Entity (and Guarantees thereof by the Company or any Subsidiary that constitute Standard Securitization Undertakings) in a Qualified Receivables Transaction either (A) consisting of the Existing First Heritage SPV Facility, the Existing Flexiti Securitization Notes, the Existing Flexiti SPV Facility, the Existing Heights SPV Facility and the Existing Revolving Canada SPV Facility in each case in effect as of the Issue Date (after giving effect to the Issue Date SPV Amendments) or as amended or otherwise modified, provided no such amendment or modification directly affecting the rights or obligations of the Company (it being understood that the rights of the Company shall include the capacity and availability (including, without limitation, as a result of any “borrowing base” or similar concept) under such Qualified Receivables Facility) shall be materially adverse to the Company or (B) having terms (including as to advance rates, minimum liquidity, restricted cash and pay-down provisions) either substantially consistent with the terms of the Indebtedness described in subclause (A) of this clause (xvi) or otherwise acceptable to the Required Term Lenders or the Required Ad Hoc Group Lenders (provided that the Required Ad Hoc Group Lenders shall be deemed to have provided such approval unless the Required Ad Hoc Group Lenders shall object thereto by written notice to the Credit Agreement Agent within four (4) Business Days after having received notice thereof); and

 

(xvii)        Indebtedness of Loan SPV consisting of Backstop Notes in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $[***] and the Guarantee thereof by the Company, provided that such Guarantee shall be unsecured and contractually subordinated in right of payment to the payment in full of the Obligations of the Company under the Credit Agreement.

 

(c)            For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 5.09, in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Indebtedness described in clauses (i) through (xvii) of paragraph (b) above, the Company will, in its sole discretion, divide and classify such item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this Section 5.09 and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one of such clauses, and may re-classify any such item of Indebtedness from time to time among such clauses, so long as such item meets the applicable criteria for such category. For the avoidance of doubt, Indebtedness may be classified as Incurred in part pursuant to one of the clauses (i) through (xvii) above, and in part under one or more other clauses. Indebtedness outstanding on the Issue Date under each of the Existing First Heritage SPV Facility, the Existing Flexiti Securitization Notes, the Existing Flexiti SPV Facility, the Existing Heights SPV Facility and the Existing Revolving Canada SPV Facility shall be treated as Incurred pursuant to clause (xvi) of paragraph (b) above.

 

(d)            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 calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit debt; provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced.

 

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(e)            The principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such respective Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.

 

(f)            Accrual of interest and dividends, accretion of accreted value, issuance of securities paid-in-kind, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness, the payment of dividends in the form of additional shares of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock, the reclassification of commitments or obligations not treated as Indebtedness due to a change in GAAP, changes to amounts outstanding in respect of Hedging Obligations solely as a result of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates or interest rates or by reason of fees, indemnities and compensation payable thereunder shall not be deemed to be an Incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 5.09.

 

(g)           The Company will not incur, and will not permit any Guarantor to incur, any Indebtedness 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 Notes 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 solely by virtue of being unsecured or by virtue of being secured on a junior Lien priority basis.

 

(h)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or otherwise, the Company will not Incur, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to Incur, any Indebtedness, any proceeds of which are used, directly or indirectly, to repay, prepay, refinance or replace in any way the obligations under the Credit Agreement.

 

Section 5.10     Asset Sales. (a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, make any Asset Sale (except with respect to an Event of Loss) or any Disposition excluded from the definition of “Asset Sale” pursuant to clause (xv)(A) of such definition unless:

 

(i)            the Company or the Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of; and

 

(ii)            at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Company or such Subsidiary is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents;

 

provided that the amount of:

 

(1)            any liabilities (as shown on the Company’s or such Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet) of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or any Notes Guarantee) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets and with respect to which the Company or such Subsidiary is unconditionally released from further liability;

 

(2)            any notes or other obligations or other securities received by the Company or such Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Company or such Subsidiary into cash or Cash Equivalents within 45 days after receipt thereof (to the extent of the cash or Cash Equivalents received in that conversion); and

 

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(3)            any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received by the Company or any such Subsidiary in such Asset Sale; provided that at the time of receipt of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration, the aggregate Fair Market Value of all 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), less the amount of Net Proceeds previously realized in cash or Cash Equivalents from the sale of previously received Designated Non-Cash Consideration is less than $25.0 million,

 

will be deemed to be cash for purposes of this Section 5.10.

 

(b)            Subject to the Intercreditor Agreements, within 90 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company, the Company or such Subsidiary may apply such Net Proceeds, at its option, to (i) permanently reduce Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement (and, to the extent applicable, to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto) and (ii) after all Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement is repaid in full pursuant to the preceding clause (i), use any remaining Net Proceeds to make an Asset Sale Offer (as defined below) to all holders of Notes to purchase from such holders on a ratable basis the maximum principal amount of Notes that may be purchased out of such remaining Net Proceeds pursuant to the terms of this Section 5.10 or to elect to redeem the Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 3.07.

 

(c)            Subject to the Intercreditor Agreements, pending the final application of any such Net Proceeds, the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company may temporarily invest such Net Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture.

 

(d)            Subject to the Intercreditor Agreements, any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied (by election or as a result of the passage of time) as provided in the first sentence of the preceding paragraph will be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds.” When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $10 million, the Company will be required to make an offer (an “Asset Sale Offer”) to all holders of Notes to purchase from such holders on a ratable basis the maximum principal amount of Notes that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds. The offer price for such Asset Sale Offer shall be an amount in cash equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company and its Subsidiaries may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by holders thereof exceeds the amount of the Excess Proceeds, the Trustee will select the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis based upon the principal amount of Notes tendered (subject to adjustments so that no Notes in an unauthorized denomination are repurchased in part). Upon completion of such offer to purchase, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero. Notes (or portions thereof) purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer will be cancelled and may not be reissued.

 

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(e)            The Company will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of, and Rule 14e-1 under, the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of an Asset Sale. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Indenture (including Section 3.09), the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Indenture by virtue of its compliance with such securities laws or regulations.

 

(f)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 5.10, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not consummate Asset Sales (other than Events of Loss) to persons other than the Company and its Subsidiaries of assets with an aggregate Fair Market Value since the Issue Date in excess of $5 million without the prior written consent of the Required Ad Hoc Group Lenders.

 

Section 5.11           Transactions with Affiliates. The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, make any payment to, or sell, lease, exchange, 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 contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or Guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate (each of the foregoing, an “Affiliate Transaction”) involving aggregate consideration in excess of $1.0 million, unless:

 

(a)            such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the Company or the relevant Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction at the time in an arm’s-length transaction with a person who was not an Affiliate; and

 

(b)            if such Affiliate Transaction involves an amount in excess of $2 million, the terms of the Affiliate Transaction are set forth in writing and a majority of the non-employee directors of the Company disinterested with respect to such Affiliate Transaction has determined in good faith that the criteria set forth in clause (a) of this Section 5.11 are satisfied and has approved the relevant Affiliate Transaction as evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company set forth in an Officer’s Certificate.

 

The foregoing provisions will not apply to the following:

 

(i)            any employment agreement or compensation plan or arrangement and other benefits (including retirement, health, stock option and other benefit plans) entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business of the Company or such Subsidiary;

 

(ii)            transactions exclusively between or among the Company Parties; provided that such transactions are not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture Documents;

 

(iii)          any agreement existing on the Issue Date, as in effect on the Issue Date, or as modified, amended or amended and restated by any modification, amendment or amendment and restatement (x) that, taken as a whole, is not more disadvantageous to the holders of the Notes in any material respect than such agreement as it was in effect on the Issue Date or (y) made in compliance with the applicable provisions of clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 5.11;

 

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(iv)          reasonable compensation of, and indemnity arrangements in favor of, directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

 

(v)           the issuance or sale of any Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company and any contribution to the common equity of the Company;

 

(vi)          the issuance of loans under the Credit Agreement on the Issue Date in an aggregate initial principal amount equal to $[***] to Loan SPV and the guarantee thereof by the Company; provided that such guarantee shall be unsecured and contractually subordinated in right of payment to the payment in full of the Indenture Obligations of the Company;

 

(vii)         transactions with customers, clients, lessors, landlords, suppliers, contractors, or purchasers or sellers of goods or services that are Affiliates, in each case, in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture that are fair to the Company and its Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors of the Company;

 

(viii)        sales or other transfers or dispositions of accounts receivable and other related assets customarily transferred in an asset securitization transaction involving accounts receivable to a Receivables Entity in a Qualified Receivables Transaction, and acquisitions of Permitted Investments in connection with, and any other customary transactions effected as a part of, a Qualified Receivables Transaction; and

 

(ix)           Restricted Payments that are permitted by Section 5.07 and Permitted Investments.

 

Section 5.12           Liens. The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien of any kind on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired, except Permitted Liens.

 

Section 5.13           Corporate Existence; Maintenance of Property and Insurance. Subject to Section 5.10 and Article 6, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect (i) its corporate existence and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each of its Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Company or any such Subsidiary and (ii) the material rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company will not be required to preserve any such material right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of a Subsidiary of the Company, if the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders.

 

The Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep all property material to the operation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in good working order and condition in all material respects, ordinary wear and tear and casualty loss excepted; provided, that the Company will not be obligated to comply with this paragraph to the extent that the failure to do so is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders.

 

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The Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain or cause to be maintained, with financially sound and reputable insurers of national standing, such public liability insurance, third party property damage insurance, business interruption insurance, casualty insurance with respect to liabilities, losses or damage in respect of the assets, properties and businesses of the Company Parties and their Subsidiaries and insurance against other risks, in each case as may customarily be carried or maintained under similar circumstances by Persons of established reputation engaged in similar businesses, in each case, in such amounts (giving effect to self-insurance), with such deductibles, covering such risks and otherwise on such terms and conditions as are customary for such Persons. Each such policy of insurance shall (1) name the Notes Secured Parties as additional insureds thereunder as their interests may appear and (2) in the case of each property insurance policy, contain a customary lender loss payable and/or additional insured clause or endorsement, reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Collateral Agent.

 

Section 5.14          Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control. Subject to the Intercreditor Agreements, (a) upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, unless the Company has previously or concurrently sent a redemption notice with respect to all of the outstanding Notes as provided by Section 3.07, each Holder shall have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of such Holder’s Notes pursuant to the offer described below at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase (the “Change of Control Payment”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control, unless the Company has previously or concurrently sent a redemption notice with respect to all of the outstanding Notes as provided by Section 3.07, the Company will send a notice to each Holder with a copy to the Trustee (the “Change of Control Offer”) stating:

 

(i)            that a Change of Control has occurred and that, subject to the Intercreditor Agreements, such holder has the right to require the Company to purchase such holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof on the date of purchase, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date);

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(vi)          that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer shall be required to surrender the Notes, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Notes completed, to the Paying Agent or Depositary, as applicable, 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, subject to the Applicable Procedures;

 

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(vii)         that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent or Depositary, as applicable, receives, not later than the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of Notes delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have the Notes purchased, subject to the Applicable Procedures;

 

(viii)        that Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer), which unpurchased portion must be equal to $2,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof; and

 

(ix)           the instructions, as determined by the Company, consistent with this Section 5.14, that a Holder must follow in order to have its Notes purchased.

 

(b)           On a date that is at least 30 but no more than 60 days from the date on which the Company sends notice of the Change of Control (the “Change of Control Payment Date”), the Company will, to the extent lawful and subject to the Intercreditor Agreements, (i) accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, (ii) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof so tendered, and (iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an Officer’s Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions thereof being purchased by the Company. The Paying Agent shall promptly send to each Holder of Notes so tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee will, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, promptly authenticate and send (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each such new Note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. 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. Notes (or portions thereof) purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be cancelled and may not be reissued. A Change of Control Offer may be made at the same time as consents are solicited with respect to an amendment, supplement or waiver of the provisions of this Indenture, the Notes and/or the Guarantees; provided that such Change of Control Offer shall not include the delivery of such consents as a condition precedent.

 

(c)            The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if a third-party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.

 

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

 

The Company will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(c) of, and Rule 14e-1 under, the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Indenture, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Indenture by virtue of its compliance with such securities laws or regulations.

 

Section 5.15           [Reserved].

 

Section 5.16           [Reserved].

 

Section 5.17           Additional Subsidiary Guarantees. If (i) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall acquire or create another Domestic Subsidiary after the Issue Date (other than a Receivables Entity and other than Loan SPV) or (ii) any Foreign Subsidiary of the Company Guarantees (or otherwise becomes liable for) Indebtedness of the Company or a Guarantor, then the Company will cause such Subsidiary to become a Guarantor and:

 

(1)           execute a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit E attached hereto, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, pursuant to which such Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee, on a senior secured basis, all of the Company’s Obligations under the Indenture Documents on the terms set forth in this Indenture;

 

(2)           execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent such amendments or supplements to the Collateral Documents necessary in order to grant to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties, a perfected security interest in the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary, subject to Permitted Liens and the Intercreditor Agreements, which are owned by the Company or a Guarantor and are required to be pledged pursuant to the Collateral Documents;

 

(3)           take such actions as are necessary to grant to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties a perfected security interest in the assets of such Subsidiary, other than Excluded Assets and subject to Permitted Liens and the Intercreditor Agreements, including the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements, in each case as may be required by the Collateral Documents;

 

(4)           take such further action and execute and deliver such other documents specified in the Indenture Documents or as otherwise may be reasonably requested by the Trustee or Collateral Agent to give effect to the foregoing; and

 

(5)           deliver to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent an Opinion of Counsel that (i) such supplemental indenture and any other documents required to be delivered have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Subsidiary and constitute legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations of such Subsidiary and (ii) the Collateral Documents to which such Subsidiary is a party create a valid perfected Lien on the Collateral covered thereby.

 

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Section 5.18           Business Activities. The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage in any business other than Similar Businesses.

 

Section 5.19           [Reserved].

 

Section 5.20           [Reserved].

 

Section 5.21           Mortgages. With respect to any fee interest in any real property that (a) is acquired by the Company or a Guarantor after the Issue Date that does not constitute an Excluded Asset set forth in clause (3) of the definition thereof or (b) whether owned by the Company or a Guarantor as of the Issue Date or subsequently acquired by the Company or a Guarantor, ceases to constitute an Excluded Asset as set forth in clause (3) of the definition thereof (such real property referred to individually and collectively as the “Premises”), within 120 days of such acquisition or cessation (as applicable), the Company will or will cause the applicable Guarantor, as the case may be, to:

 

(1)           deliver to the Collateral Agent, as mortgagee, for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties, fully executed Mortgages, duly executed by the Company or the applicable Guarantor, as the case may be, together with evidence of the completion (or satisfactory arrangements for the completion), or all recordings and filings of such Mortgage as may be necessary to create a valid, perfected Lien, subject to Permitted Liens and the Intercreditor Agreements, against the Premises purported to be covered thereby;

 

(2)           deliver to the Collateral Agent, a mortgagee’s title insurance policy in favor of the Collateral Agent in an amount equal to 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Premises purported to be covered by the related Mortgage, insuring that the interests created by the Mortgage constitute valid Liens thereon free and clear of all Liens, defects and encumbrances other than Permitted Liens and any other exceptions disclosed in such policy, and such policy shall also include, to the extent available and issued at ordinary rates, customary endorsements and shall be accompanied by evidence of the payment in full (or satisfactory arrangements for the payment) of all premiums thereon;

 

(3)           deliver to the Collateral Agent, the most recent survey of such Premises, together with either (i) an updated survey certification in favor of the Collateral Agent from the applicable surveyor stating that, based on a visual inspection of the property and the knowledge of the surveyor, there has been no change in the facts depicted in the survey or (ii) an affidavit and/or indemnity from the Company or the applicable Guarantor, as the case may be, stating that to its knowledge there has been no change in the facts depicted in the survey, other than, in each case, changes that do not materially adversely affect the use by the Company or Guarantor, as applicable, of such Premises for the Company or such Guarantor’s business as so conducted, or intended to be conducted, at such Premises and in each case, in form sufficient for the title insurer issuing the title policy to remove the standard survey exception from such policy and issue a survey endorsement to such policy; and

 

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(4)           deliver an Opinion of Counsel to the Collateral Agent that such Mortgage has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company or such Guarantor, constitutes a legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligation of the Company or such Guarantor and creates a valid perfected Lien in the Premises purported to be covered thereby.

 

Section 5.22           Further Assurances. The Company will, and will cause each Guarantor to, at their sole cost and expense, (i) execute and deliver all such agreements and instruments as may be necessary and as the Collateral Agent shall reasonably request to more fully or accurately describe the property intended to be Collateral or the obligations intended to be secured by the Collateral Documents and (ii) file any such notice filings or other agreements or instruments as may be reasonably necessary under applicable law to perfect (and maintain the perfection and priority of) the Liens created by the Collateral Documents, subject to Permitted Liens, at such times and at such places as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, in each case subject to the terms of the Collateral Documents.

 

Section 5.23           Loan SPV. The Company shall not permit Loan SPV (A) to Incur any Indebtedness other than Backstop Notes Incurred on the Issue Date in aggregate initial principal amount not to exceed $[***], plus accrued interest and any interest that is paid in kind and capitalized following the Issue Date in accordance with the terms of the Backstop Notes, (B) to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien of any kind on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, other than Liens to secure the obligations under the Backstop Notes, (C) to Dispose of any assets, business or property, other than the making of interest, premium and principal payments to the holders of the Backstop Notes in connection with the satisfaction of any of the Loan SPV’s obligations under the Backstop Notes in accordance with their terms, (D) to make or hold any Investment other than the loans issued pursuant to the Credit Agreement and cash or Cash Equivalents, (E) to make any Restricted Payment, other than in the form of cash dividends to its parent to the extent consistent with its obligations in respect of the Backstop Notes, (F) to, directly or indirectly, merge into, amalgamate with or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into, amalgamate with or consolidate with it, other than a merger or other consolidation with and into the Company or any Subsidiary in connection with the satisfaction in full of the Backstop Notes, (G) to acquire any assets, business or property other than the Loans on the Issue Date and any cash or Cash Equivalents, (H) breach or violate any of its organizational documents or the Backstop Notes, or (I) engage in any business or activity other than (1) the making on the Issue Date, and ownership of, Loans in an aggregate initial principal amount not to exceed $[***], (2) maintaining its corporate existence, (3) participating in tax, accounting and other administrative activities, (4) execution and delivery of the Backstop Notes and any other security and other documentation incidental there to which it is a party and the performance of its obligations thereunder, (5) receiving and holding cash and Cash Equivalents in deposit accounts and securities accounts, and (6) activities incidental to the businesses or activities described in clauses (1) through (5) of this Section 5.23. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement or otherwise, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall (i) repay, prepay, purchase, repurchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Backstop Notes (except (A) payments by Loan SPV and (B) subject to the such Guarantee being contractually subordinated in right of payment to the payment in full of the Obligations of the Company, payments under the guarantee of the Backstop Notes by the Company) or (ii) make any Investment in, or Dispose of any assets or properties to Loan SPV (other than (i) holding Equity Interests of Loan SPV issued to the Borrower or its applicable Subsidiary prior to the Issue Date and (ii) making payments on the loans under the Credit Agreement held by Loan SPV in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement and the other Facility Documents (as defined in the Credit Agreement)).

 

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Section 5.24           Minimum Liquidity. The Company shall, at all times, maintain Liquidity as of the last day of each calendar month, beginning May 31, 2023, of (a) prior to September 30, 2024, equal to or greater than $[***] and (b) on and after September 30, 2024, equal to or greater than $[***].

 

Section 5.25           Minimum Adjusted Pre-Tax Income. The Company shall, at all times, maintain the Adjusted Pre-Tax Income of itself and its Subsidiaries for each four-Fiscal-Quarter period, beginning with such period ending on March 31, 2024, of at least the Minimum Adjusted Pre-Tax Income.

 

Section 5.26           Operating Covenants. The Company shall:

 

(a)            Deliver a Business Plan reasonably satisfactory to the Required Ad Hoc Group Lenders no later than August 31, 2023; provided that if no such Business Plan reasonably satisfactory to the Required Ad Hoc Group Lenders is delivered by such date, the Company shall retain by no later than September 30, 2023, a nationally recognized consulting firm, whose selection and compensation shall be subject to the reasonable consent of the Required Ad Hoc Group Lenders to advise on, inter alia, selling, general and administrative expenses and operating expenses of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided further that, following such retention, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall promptly consider such consulting firm’s recommendations in good faith and promptly implement such recommendations to the extent appropriate in the business judgment of management of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

(b)            [Reserved].

 

(c)            As of the last day of each Fiscal Quarter, beginning on March 31, 2024, maintain a ratio of (i) Operating Expenses for the four-Fiscal-Quarter period ending on the last day of such Fiscal Quarter to (ii) to the average amount of gross loans receivable for the five-Fiscal-Quarter period ending on the last day of such Fiscal Quarter (as shown on the balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP), which shall be calculated as the average of the gross loans receivable balance as of the last day of each Fiscal Quarter in the five-Fiscal-Quarter period ending on the last day of such Fiscal Quarter, not greater than the Maximum Operating Expense to Asset Ratio for such Fiscal Quarter.

 

(d)            As of the last day of each Fiscal Quarter beginning on December 31, 2023, cause:

 

(i)            the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness with respect to Qualified Receivables Facilities related to the United States direct lending business line of the Company and its Subsidiaries not to exceed [***]% of the amount of the aggregate commitments under such Qualified Receivables Facilities; and

 

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(ii)            the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness with respect to all Qualified Receivables Facilities related to the Canada direct lending business line of the Company and its Subsidiaries not to exceed [***]% of the amount of the aggregate commitments under such Qualified Receivables Facilities.

(e)            In the event that any covenant set forth in clauses (a) through (d) above fails to be satisfied, the Company shall promptly (and, in no event, later than ninety (90) days following the date such failure occurs) appoint to the Board of Directors of the Company a new independent director (reasonably satisfactory to the Required Ad Hoc Group Lenders) who possesses expertise in the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries. For the avoidance of doubt, appointment of such independent director shall not cure or waive any such breach (or any resulting Default or Event of Default).

(f)            For purposes of determining compliance with Section 5.26(d), the net proceeds of any Permitted Equity Issuance by the Company after the last day of any Fiscal Quarter and on or prior to the day that is ten (10) days thereafter shall, at the written request of the Company, solely for purposes of calculating compliance with Section 5.26(d) be subtracted from the outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness with respect to a single Qualified Receivables Facility at the end of such Fiscal Quarter; provided, that:

(i)            the net proceeds of such Permitted Equity Issuance shall be in an amount at least equal to the minimum amount necessary for the Company to be in compliance with Section 5.26(d) with respect to such Qualified Receivables Facility; and

(ii)            the net proceeds of a Permitted Equity Issuance may not be applied as set forth in this Section 5.26(f) (A) more than two (2) times per Fiscal Year, (B) more than three (3) times during the term of this Indenture and (C) with respect to more than two (2) consecutive Fiscal Quarters.

The parties hereby acknowledge, notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein or otherwise, that this Section 5.26(f) (and any Permitted Equity Issuance given effect hereunder) may not be relied on for purposes of calculating any other financial ratios and shall not result in any adjustment other than for purposes of compliance with Section 5.26(d) (and not, for avoidance of doubt, for purposes of determining any basket sizes, the permissibility of any transaction or for any other purposes of this Indenture).

Section 5.27     Post-Issuance Obligations. The Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, complete all undertakings set forth on Schedule I attached hereto in the time periods specified therein.

ARTICLE 6
Successors

Section 6.01     Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets.

(a)            The Company. The Company may not, in any transaction or series of related transactions, consolidate or amalgamate with or merge with or into (whether or not the Company survives), or sell, assign, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (or cause or permit any Subsidiary of the Company to sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of) all or substantially all of its property and assets whether as an entirety or substantially as an entirety, to any Person, unless:

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(i)            either:

(A)            if the transaction or series of transactions is a consolidation of the Company with or a merger of the Company with or into any other Person, the Company will be the surviving Person of such merger or consolidation; or

(B)            the Person formed by any consolidation or merger with or into the Company or to which all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are sold, assigned, conveyed, transferred, leased or otherwise disposed of shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and such Person shall expressly assume by (i) a supplemental indenture executed and delivered to the Trustee, all of the obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture, and this Indenture, as so supplemented, shall remain in full force and effect and (ii) an amendment, supplement or other instrument, executed and delivered to the Trustee, all obligations of the Company under the Collateral Documents, and in connection therewith will cause such instruments to be filed and recorded in such jurisdictions and take such other actions as may be required by applicable law to perfect or continue the perfection of the Lien created under the Collateral Documents on the Collateral owned by or transferred to the surviving entity; and

(ii)            immediately before and after giving effect to such transaction or series of transactions on a pro forma basis (including any Indebtedness Incurred or anticipated to be Incurred in connection with or in respect of such transaction or series of transactions), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

The foregoing requirements shall not apply to any transaction or series of transactions involving the sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition of any properties or assets by any Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or any Guarantor, the consolidation or merger of any Subsidiary of the Company with or into any Guarantor or the Company or, for the avoidance of doubt, the consolidation or merger of any Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Guarantor with or into any other Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Guarantor.

In connection with any consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition contemplated by the foregoing provisions, the Company will deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition and the supplemental indenture in respect thereof comply with the requirements of this Indenture and an Opinion of Counsel. Each such Officer’s Certificate shall set forth the manner of determination of the Company’s compliance with clause (iii) of this subsection (a).

  

(b)            The Guarantors. Subject to Section 11.03, each Subsidiary of the Company that is a Guarantor will not, in any transaction or series of related transactions merge or consolidate or amalgamate with or into (whether or not such Guarantor survives), or sell, assign, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties and assets to, any Person, unless either:

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(i)              either:

(A)            if the transaction or series of transactions is a consolidation of such Guarantor with or a merger of such Guarantor with or into any other Person, such Guarantor shall be the surviving Person of such consolidation or merger; or

(B)            the Person formed by any consolidation or merger with or into such Guarantor, or to which all or substantially all of the properties and assets of such Guarantor and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as the case may be, are sold, assigned, conveyed, transferred, leased or otherwise disposed of shall be a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or trust organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and shall expressly assume by (i) a supplemental indenture executed and delivered to the Trustee, all of the obligations of such Guarantor under its Notes Guarantee and this Indenture, and this Indenture, as so supplemented, shall remain in full force and effect and (ii) an amendment, supplement or other instrument, executed and delivered to the Trustee, all obligations of such Guarantor under the Collateral Documents, and in connection therewith will cause such instruments to be filed and recorded in such jurisdictions and take such other actions as may be required by applicable law to perfect or continue the perfection of the Lien created under the Collateral Documents on the Collateral owned by or transferred to the surviving entity; or

(ii)            the transaction is made in compliance with Section 5.10.

The foregoing requirements shall not apply to any transaction or series of transactions involving the sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition of any properties or assets by any Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or any Guarantor, or the consolidation or merger of any Subsidiary of the Company with or into the Company or any Guarantor, or, for the avoidance of doubt, the consolidation or merger of any Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Guarantor with or into any other Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Guarantor.

In connection with any consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition contemplated by Section 6.01(b)(i), such Guarantor shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition and the supplemental indenture in respect thereof comply with the requirements of this Indenture and an Opinion of Counsel.

Section 6.02     Successor Entity Substituted. Upon any consolidation or merger of the Company or any Guarantor, or any sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or such Guarantor in accordance with the foregoing, in which the Company or such Guarantor is not the continuing obligor under the Notes or its Notes Guarantee, the surviving entity formed by such consolidation or into which the Company or such Guarantor is merged or to which the sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company or such Guarantor under the Indenture Documents with the same effect as if such surviving entity had been named herein and therein as the Company or such Guarantor and, except in the case of a lease, the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall be released from the obligation to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes or in respect of its Notes Guarantee, as the case may be, and all of the Company’s or such Guarantor’s other obligations and covenants under the Indenture Documents, if applicable.

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ARTICLE 7
Defaults and Remedies

Section 7.01     Events of Default. Each of the following shall be an “Event of Default”:

(a)            default for five (5) Business Days in the payment when due of interest on the Notes;

(b)            default in payment when due of the principal, or premium, if any, of any Note when due at maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required purchase, upon acceleration or otherwise;

(c)            (i) failure by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to comply with its obligations under Sections 5.07, 5.09, 5.10, 5.11, 5.12, 5.13, 5.14, 5.23, 5.24, 5.25, 5.26(c), 5.26(e) or Article 6 or (ii) failure by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to comply with its obligations under Sections 5.08, 5.17, 5.26(a), 5.26(d) or the Credit Agreement Side Letter (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and such failure continues for 10 days;

(d)            failure to perform any other covenant or agreement of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under the Indenture Documents for 30 days after written 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 (with a copy to the Trustee);

(e)            (A) default under any Indebtedness (other than the Notes or any Qualified Receivables Facility) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is Guaranteed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) whether such Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists, or is created after the Issue Date, which default (1) is caused by a failure to pay principal when due (whether by final stated maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise) after giving effect to all applicable grace periods provided in such Indebtedness (a “Payment Default”), or (2) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its final stated maturity or in the requirement for the Company to offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness prior to its final stated maturity, provided that this clause (A)(2) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, if such sale or transfer is permitted hereunder and under the documents providing for such Indebtedness and such Indebtedness is repaid when required under the documents providing for such Indebtedness and, further provided that in each case under clauses (A)(1) and (A)(2), either (I) such Indebtedness consists of the Credit Agreement or the Existing Notes Indenture or (II) the principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or there has been such a default, aggregates in excess of $10.0 million (or its foreign currency equivalent); or (B) the occurrence of an “Event of Default” or other similar event or circumstance under the Existing First Heritage SPV Facility, the Existing Flexiti Securitization Notes, the Existing Flexiti SPV Facility, the Existing Heights SPV Facility and the Existing Revolving Canada SPV Facility or any other Qualified Receivables Facility, in each case, after giving effect to any grace period therein, that either (A) results in the acceleration of all or any portion of such Indebtedness prior to its final stated maturity or (B) has not been remedied (by amendment, cure, waiver or otherwise) thereunder within thirty (30) days after the related lenders thereunder received notice of the occurrence of such “Event of Default” (or other similar event or circumstance);

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(f)            failure by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to pay final judgments which are non-appealable aggregating in excess of $10.0 million (or its foreign currency equivalent) (not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which liability has not been denied by such insurance carrier), which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 30 days following such judgment becoming final, and in the event such judgment is covered by insurance, any enforcement proceeding has been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or decree which is not promptly stayed;

(g)            (i) any security interest created by any Collateral Document ceases to be in full force and effect (except as permitted by the terms of this Indenture or the Collateral Documents); provided that, such cessation, individually or in the aggregate, results in Collateral having a Fair Market Value in excess of $10,000,000 not being subject to a valid, perfected security interest or (ii) (A) any Company Party shall deny its obligations under any Indenture Document (to which it is a party) or (B) any material provision of any Indenture Document, after delivery thereof in accordance with the terms thereof, shall for any reason cease to be valid and binding upon, or enforceable against, any Company Party;

(h)           except as permitted by this Indenture, any Notes Guarantee shall be held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, shall deny or disaffirm its obligations under its Notes Guarantee;

(i)             the Company, or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company, pursuant to or within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law:

(i)             commences a voluntary case or proceeding,

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

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

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

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

(i)            is for relief against the Company, or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company, in an involuntary case;

(ii)           appoints a Custodian of the Company, or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company, or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company, or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company; or

(iii)          orders the liquidation of the Company, or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company;

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

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

In the event of any Event of Default specified under subsection (e) above, such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding any resulting payment default, other than as a result of acceleration of the Notes) shall be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the holders of Notes, if within 20 days after such Event of Default arose the Company delivers an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee stating that:

(a)            the Indebtedness or guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged; or

(b)            holders thereof have rescinded or waived the acceleration, notice or action (as the case may be) giving rise to such Event of Default;

(c)            the annulment of the acceleration of the Notes would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction; and

(d)            all existing Events of Default, except nonpayment of principal, premium or interest on the Notes that became due solely because of the acceleration of the Notes, have been cured or waived.

Section 7.02     Acceleration. If any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in subsection (i) or (j) of Section 7.01) occurs and is continuing and has not been waived by the Holders, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in subsection (i) or (j) of Section 7.01 occurs, all outstanding Notes shall be due and payable immediately without further action or notice. The Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may on behalf of all of the Holders rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (except nonpayment of principal, premium, if any, or interest that has become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived and all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements, and advances of the Trustee and its agents and counsel have been paid or deposited with the Trustee or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made.

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Section 7.03     Other Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, if directed pursuant to Section 7.05, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Indenture Documents.

If directed pursuant to Section 7.05, the Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

Section 7.04     Waiver of Past Defaults. The Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive (including in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes) any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under this Indenture (including any acceleration of the Notes), except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes (including in connection with an offer to purchase); provided, however, that the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (except nonpayment of principal, premium, if any, or interest that has become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived. 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 7.05     Control by Majority. Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders (it being understood that the Trustee will have no duty to ascertain whether such actions or forbearances are unduly prejudicial to such other Holders) or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability. The Trustee will be entitled to security and indemnification satisfactory to it prior to taking any action (or refraining from acting). The Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.

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Section 7.06     Limitation on Suits. A Holder may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes only if:

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

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

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

(d)            the Trustee does not comply with the request within 30 days after receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of security or indemnity; and

(e)            during such 30-day period the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.

A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not any uses are unduly prejudicial to such Holders) or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders. The Trustee will send to all Holders any notice it receives from Holders under this Section 7.06.

Section 7.07     Rights of Holders To Receive Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the contractual right of any Holder to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on any Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in any such 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 7.08     Collection Suit By Trustee. If an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01(a) or (b) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of principal of, premium, if any, or 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.

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Section 7.09     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 allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company or any of the Guarantors (or any other obligor upon the Notes) or their respective creditors or 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 will 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 hereunder. 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 hereunder 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; provided, however, that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors’ or other similar committee.

Section 7.10     Priorities. Subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements, any money collected by the Trustee hereunder or in connection herewith or by the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Collateral Documents, or any money or other property distributable in respect of the Company’s or the Guarantors’ obligations under the Indenture Documents after an Event of Default, shall be applied in the following order:

First: to the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and their respective agents, reasonably retained professional advisors, and attorneys for amounts due or reasonably anticipated to become due under Section 8.07, including payment of all reasonable compensation, expense and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the Collateral Agent and the costs and expenses of collection;

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

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

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

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 7.10.

Section 7.11     Undertaking For Costs. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 7.07 or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

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Section 7.12     Rights and Remedies Cumulative. No right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy are, to the extent permitted by law, cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

Section 7.13     Delay or Omission Not Waiver. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

ARTICLE 8
Trustee

Section 8.01     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, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

(b)            Prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Defaults that may have occurred:

(i)            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

(ii)           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 are in a form that conforms to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate, and may rely exclusively upon, the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts, statements, opinions or conclusions stated therein).

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

(i)            this paragraph does not limit the effect of subsection (b) of this Section 8.01;

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

(iii)          the Trustee will not be liable, in any event, 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 7.05, or a direction from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes concerning the exercise of any right, trust or power conferred upon the Trustee; and

(iv)          No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability.

(d)            Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this Section 8.01.

(e)            The Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at the request or direction of any Holders, unless such Holder shall have offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

(f)            The Trustee 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.

(g)            The Trustee is hereby authorized and directed to execute and deliver each Indenture Document or Collateral Document to which it is a party.

Section 8.02     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 and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon. The Trustee may act and rely and shall be protected in acting and relying in good faith on the opinion or advice of, or information obtained from, any accountant, appraiser or other expert or adviser, whether retained or employed by the Company or by the Trustee, in relation to any matter arising in the administration of the trusts hereof.

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(c)            The Trustee may employ or retain such counsel, accountants, appraisers or other experts or advisers as it may reasonably require for the purpose of determining and discharging its rights and duties hereunder and shall not be responsible for any misconduct on the part of any of them. The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the acts or omissions of any agent or attorney appointed with due care, and the Trustee will not be responsible for the supervision of officers and employees of such agents or attorneys or the application of any money by any Agent other than the Trustee.

(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 rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, its right to be compensated, reimbursed, provided security and indemnified, and its right to resign, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder or in any Indenture Document or Collateral Document, including but not limited to its capacities as Collateral Agent, Note Custodian, Paying Agent and Registrar, and to each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder or in any Indenture Document or Collateral Document.

(g)            In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including strikes, pandemics, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee will use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

(h)            The Trustee will not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee with responsibility over matters concerning the Notes and this Indenture has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a Default or Event of Default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture and is provided by the Company or any Holder of the Notes and is identified as a “Notice of Default.”

(i)            The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in any document delivered to it, but the Trustee, in its discretion or if directed to do so, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters, and, if the Trustee will determine in good faith or if directed to do so to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled upon reasonable notice during normal business hours to examine the books, records and premises of the Company and the Guarantors, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Company and the Guarantors and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation. The Trustee shall have no duty to perform any calculation hereunder or under the Notes, nor have any liability or responsibility for any calculation or any information used in any such calculations.

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

(k)            The Trustee may, from time to time, request that the Company and the Guarantors 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 Documents, which Officer’s Certificate may be signed by any Person authorized to sign an Officer’s Certificate, including any Person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.

(l)             No permissive or discretionary power or authority available to the Trustee will be construed to be a duty of the Trustee.

(m)           The Company will provide prompt written notice to the Trustee of any change to its fiscal year.

(n)            Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting with respect to any matter requiring the consent of the First Priority Agent, the Required Ad Hoc Group Lenders or the Required Term Lenders, as applicable, it may require an Officer’s Certificate confirming that the Company has received the consent of the First Priority Agent, the Required Ad Hoc Group Lenders or the Required Term Lenders, as applicable. The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such certificate.

Section 8.03     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 and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any rights as a holder or pledge of Notes. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest as defined by the TIA it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 8.10 and 8.11.

Section 8.04     Trustee’s Disclaimer. The Trustee will not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of any of the Indenture Documents or the Collateral. The Trustee will 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 shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.

Section 8.05     Notice of Defaults. If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee will send to Holders, with a copy to the Company, a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs or if known to the Trustee later than 90 days after it occurs, as soon as practicable, unless such Default or Event of Default shall have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as the Trustee in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders.

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Section 8.06     [Reserved].

Section 8.07     Compensation and Indemnity. The Company will pay to the Trustee from time to time compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder as the Trustee and the Company will have agreed in writing. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company will reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable and documented disbursements, advances and out-of-pocket expenses incurred or made by it in connection with the Trustee’s duties under this Indenture and the Indenture Documents, including the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents, reasonably retained professional advisors, and counsel.

The Company will indemnify and hold harmless the Trustee against any and all claims, demands, causes of action, losses, liabilities, damages, fines, penalties, costs, fees, charges or expenses including taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by income of the Trustee) incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company (including this Section 8.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company or any Holder or any other person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability or expense may be attributable to its gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable order. 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 of its obligations hereunder. The Company will defend the claim and the Trustee will cooperate in the defense. In the event the Trustee is advised by counsel that a conflict of interest exists, the Trustee may have its own separate counsel, which, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company, and the Company will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The obligations of the Company under this Section 8.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of the Notes, the termination for any reason of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, 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, premium, if any, and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01(i) or (j) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the reasonable fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

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At all times, there shall be only one Trustee hereunder.

The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its rights to be secured and indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder and under the Indenture Documents and the Collateral Agent, each agent, custodian or other Person employed to act hereunder or in connection with the other Indenture Documents.

Section 8.08     Replacement of Trustee. 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.

The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Company in writing no later than 30 days prior to the date of the proposed resignation. The Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company may remove the Trustee if:

(a)            the Trustee fails to comply with Section 8.10;

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

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

(d)            the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

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

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

If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a Holder for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 8.10, such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

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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 other than those designated as continuing notwithstanding the Trustee’s resignation or removal and those that otherwise are personal to the Trustee in its individual capacity. The successor Trustee will send 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 that all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 8.07. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 8.08, the Company’s obligations and the Trustee’s rights and remedies under Section 8.07 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

Section 8.09     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 entity, the successor entity without any further act or filings of any papers shall be the successor Trustee; provided such successor entity shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article 8.

Section 8.10     Eligibility, Disqualification. There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has trust assets under administration of not less than $100,000,000.

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

No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Trustee to perform any act or acts, receive or obtain any interest in property or exercise any interest in property, or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Trustee will be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts, to receive or obtain any such interest in property or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation; and no permissive or discretionary power or authority available to the Trustee will be construed to be a duty.

Section 8.11     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 9
Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

Section 9.01     Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. The Company may, at its option, elect to have either Section 9.02 or 9.03 be applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 9.

Section 9.02     Legal Defeasance and Discharge. Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 9.01 of the option applicable to this Section 9.02, the Company and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 9.04, be deemed to have been discharged from their respective obligations under the Indenture Documents with respect to all outstanding Notes on and after the date all the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 9.05 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of this Section 9.02 below, and the Company and the Guarantors to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Notes and the Indenture Documents (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 shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

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(a)            the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive solely from the trust fund described in Section 9.04, and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Notes when such payments are due;

(b)            the Company’s obligations with respect to such Notes under Article 2;

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

(d)            this Article 9.

Subject to compliance with this Article 9, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 9.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 9.03.

Section 9.03     Covenant Defeasance. Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 9.01 of the option applicable to this Section 9.03, the Company and the Company’s Subsidiaries shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 9.04, be released from the obligations under the covenants contained in Sections5.03, 5.04, 5.07, 5.08, 5.09, 5.10, 5.11, 5.12, 5.13 (except as such Section relates to the Company preserving its corporate existence), 5.14, 5.15, 5.17, 5.18, 5.21, 5.22, 5.23, 5.24, 5.25 and 5.26 with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date all the conditions set forth in Section 9.04 are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes, the Company and its Subsidiaries may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 7.01, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company’s exercise under Section 9.01 of the option applicable to this Section 9.03, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 9.04, Sections 7.01(c) through Section 7.01(h) shall not constitute Events of Default.

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Section 9.04     Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance. The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section 9.02 or 9.03 to the outstanding Notes:

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:

(a)            the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in United States dollars, non-callable U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the outstanding Notes on the Stated Maturity or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, which sufficiency, in the case of deposits made fully or partially in non-callable U.S. Obligations, shall be certified in an opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants, and the Company must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to Stated Maturity or to a particular redemption date;

(b)            in the case of an election under Section 9.02, the Company will have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the Issue Date, there has been a change in the applicable United States 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 United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

(c)            in the case of an election under Section 9.03, the Company will have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

(d)            such deposit, defeasance and discharge or deposit and defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;

(e)            the Company will have delivered 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 the Notes over the other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of the Company or others; and

(f)            the Company will have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent contained in this Indenture relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been satisfied.

Section 9.05     Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions. Subject to Section 9.06, all money and non-callable U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 9.05, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 9.04 in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

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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 U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 9.04 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

Anything in this Article 9 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee will deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the written request of the Company and within five Business Days following the receipt of such request any money or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 9.04 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants selected by the Trustee expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 9.04(a)), 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 9.06     Repayment to Company. Subject to Section 8.07, 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, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter, as an unsecured creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in the New York Times or The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining shall be repaid to the Company or as required by applicable abandoned property law.

Section 9.07     Reinstatement. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States dollars or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 9.02 or 9.03, 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 the Indenture Documents shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 9.02 or 9.03 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 9.02 or 9.03, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest 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.

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ARTICLE 10
Amendment, Supplement and Waiver

Section 10.01     Without Consent of Holders. Notwithstanding Section 10.02, the Company, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent may amend, supplement or waive any provision of the Indenture Documents without the consent of any Holder to:

(a)            cure any ambiguity, defect, mistake or inconsistency or to make a modification of a formal, minor or technical nature or to correct a manifest error;

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

(c)            comply with Article 6;

(d)            provide for the assumption of the Company’s or any Guarantor’s obligations to Holders in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s or such Guarantor’s assets;

(e)            add Guarantees with respect to the Notes or to secure the Notes;

(f)            add to the covenants of the Company or any Guarantor for the benefit of the holders of the Notes or surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company or any Guarantor;

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

(h)            if it becomes necessary to qualify this Indenture under the TIA, comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA;

(i)            (i) enter into additional or supplemental Collateral Documents, (ii) release Collateral or Guarantors in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Collateral Documents, (iii) enter into any replacement intercreditor agreements substantially in the form of the Intercreditor Agreements entered into on the Issue Date or any other additional or supplemental intercreditor agreements in connection with the incurrence of any additional Indebtedness permitted under this Indenture, in form and substance approved by the Company as evidenced by the Company’s execution thereof and the Collateral Agent as evidenced by the Collateral Agent’s execution thereof;

(j)            evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment under this Indenture of a successor trustee pursuant to the requirements hereof;

(k)           make any amendment to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Notes as permitted by this Indenture, including to facilitate the issuance and administration of the Notes or to comply with the rules of any applicable securities depository; provided, however, that (i) compliance with this Indenture as so amended would not result in Notes being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable securities law and (ii) such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Notes;

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(l)            [reserved]; or

(m)          provide for or confirm the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 10.01 becomes effective, the Company will send to Holders a notice briefly describing such amendment, supplement or waiver. However, the failure to give such notice to all Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of the amendment, supplement or waiver.

Upon the request of the Company and upon receipt by the Trustee and the Collateral Agent of the documents described in Section 10.05 hereof, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture or such other Indenture Document 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 and the Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental indenture or such other Indenture Document that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Section 10.02     With Consent of Holders. Except as provided below in this Section 10.02, the Indenture Documents may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes), and any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture Documents may be waived with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including consents obtained in connection with purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, the Notes), in each case without notice to any other Holder, but subject to Section 5.20.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 10.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver of any Indenture Document, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. A consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver of any Indenture Document under this Indenture by any Holder of the Notes given in connection with a tender or exchange of such Holder’s Notes will not be rendered invalid by such tender or exchange.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Sections 5.24, 5.25 and 5.26 of this Indenture (including, in each case, any definitions used therein or related definitions) shall be automatically deemed to have been amended, modified, supplemented or waived, as applicable, to match the corresponding provision in the Credit Agreement (as amended, modified, supplemented or waived) without further action of any other Person (including, without limitation, the Holders of the Notes), if (i) the Required Term Lenders consent to an amendment, modification, supplement or waiver of the corresponding provision in the Credit Agreement and (ii) the Company deliver an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee certifying that such amendments have occurred under the Credit Agreement and attaching a copy of such amendment, modification, supplement or waiver.

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After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 10.02 becomes effective, the Company will send to the Holders affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company to send such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver. Subject to Sections 7.04 and 7.07, the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Company and the Company’s Subsidiaries with any provision of any Indenture Document. However, without the consent (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes) of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

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

(b)            reduce or forgive the principal of, premium, if any, or extend the fixed maturity of any Note or alter the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Notes (other than the provisions of Sections 3.09, 5.10 and 5.14 prior to the time at which an obligation to make such an offer has arisen);

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

(d)            waive a Default in the payment of principal of, premium, 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 the then outstanding Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

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

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

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

(h)            make any change to paragraphs (a) to (h) of this Section 10.02;

Additionally, without the consent (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes) of the Holders of at least 90% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, an amendment, supplement or waiver may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

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(a)            release all or substantially all of the value of the Notes Guarantees or release all or substantially all of the Collateral; or

(b)            subordinate the Notes or any Notes Guarantees to any other Indebtedness or subordinate the Liens of the Notes Secured Parties on the Collateral to Liens securing other Indebtedness, other than the subordination of the Liens of the Notes Secured Parties to (i) Liens that are expressly permitted by this Indenture as in effect prior to such amendment to be senior in priority to the Notes Secured Parties’ Liens on the Collateral, (ii) Liens securing Indebtedness for borrowed money (and not, for the avoidance of doubt, Indebtedness incurred in exchange for existing Indebtedness, including the Notes) or (iii) Liens securing Indebtedness which was offered to Holders ratably in accordance with the principal amount of their Notes; provided that this clause (b) will not apply to any transaction during the pendency of any case or proceeding of the Company under any Bankruptcy Law.

Section 10.03     Revocation and Effect of Consents. Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee and the Company receive written notice of revocation before the date the waiver, supplement or amendment becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver, which record date shall be, at the Company’s election, either (a) at least 30 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or (b) the date of the most recent list furnished to the Trustee under Section 2.05. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the second to last sentence of the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date.

A consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver under any Indenture Document by any Holder given in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, such Holder’s Notes shall not be rendered invalid by such purchase, tender or exchange.

After an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder unless it makes a change described in Section 10.02 which cannot be made without the consent of each Holder affected, in which case, the amendment, supplement or waiver shall bind only each Holder who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note; provided that any such waiver shall not impair or affect the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on a Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Note, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates without the consent of such Holder.

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Section 10.04     Notation On or Exchange of Notes. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee will authenticate new Notes that reflect any amendment, supplement or waiver.

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

Section 10.05     Trustee or Collateral Agent to Sign Amendments, Etc.. The Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article 10 if the amendment, supplement or waiver does not affect the rights, duties, liabilities, indemnities or immunities of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be. The Company may not sign an amendment or supplemental indenture until its Board of Directors approves it. In executing any amendment, supplement or waiver, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 8.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment, supplement or waiver is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amendment, supplement or waiver is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company and any Guarantors party thereto, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with the provisions hereof.

ARTICLE 11
Guarantees

Section 11.01     Guarantees. Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 11.04, the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally Guarantee to each Holder of Notes and to the Trustee and their respective successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the Obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that: (a) the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes shall be promptly paid in full when due, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, redemption, required purchase or repurchase or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest on premium, if any, and interest, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder shall be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that the same shall be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, redemption, required purchase or repurchase or otherwise. In the event the Company fails to make payment when due, subject to any applicable grace period, of any amount so Guaranteed or any performance so Guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. The Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company or any Guarantor, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor (other than the payment in full of the amounts Guaranteed). 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 or another Guarantor, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenant that the Notes Guarantees shall not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Indenture Documents. If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company or any of the Guarantors, or any Custodian or other similar official acting in relation to either the Company or any of the Guarantors, any amount paid either to the Trustee or to such Holder, the Notes Guarantees, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect. Each Guarantor agrees that it shall 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, (x) the maturity of the obligations Guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 7 for the purposes of the Notes Guarantees, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations Guaranteed hereby and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article 7, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of the Notes Guarantees. The Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Trustee or the Holders under the Notes Guarantees.

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Section 11.02     Additional Guarantors. To the extent not a party to this Indenture on the date hereof, each Guarantor shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto, pursuant to which it shall become a Guarantor under this Article 11 (a “New Guarantor”) and shall Guarantee the obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Notes. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture, such New Guarantor shall deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel that the foregoing have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such New Guarantor and that such New Guarantor’s Guarantee is a valid and legally binding obligation of such New Guarantor, enforceable against such New Guarantor in accordance with its terms, subject to customary limitations, qualifications, exceptions and assumptions.

The Notes Guarantee of any Guarantor shall be evidenced solely by its execution and delivery of this Indenture (or, in the case of any New Guarantor, a supplemental indenture thereto) and not by an endorsement on, or attachment to, any Note of any Notes Guarantee or notation thereof.

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Notes Guarantee set forth in Section 11.01 shall be and remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on any Note a notation of such Notes Guarantee.

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

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

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Section 11.03     Releases of Guarantees. In the event of:

(a)            the Company exercising its Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance option with respect to the Notes in accordance with Article 9 or the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture in accordance with Section 4.01; or

(b)            a sale, issuance or other disposition of Capital Stock of a Guarantor to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) a Subsidiary of the Company, if the sale, issuance or other disposition complies with Section 5.10 and the Guarantor ceases to be a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company as a result of such sale, issuance or other disposition (other than upon the basis of such Subsidiary ceasing to be a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company as a result of any transaction with a primary purpose to evade the requirement of such Subsidiary being or becoming a Guarantor under this Indenture) and so long as such Guarantor ceases to guarantee the Credit Agreement;

such Guarantor (and any of its Subsidiaries that are Guarantors) shall be automatically and unconditionally released and relieved of any obligations under its Notes Guarantee and the Indenture Documents. Upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such defeasance, discharge, sale, issuance, disposition or designation, as applicable, was made by the Company in compliance with all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture for such action, then the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall execute any documents reasonably required in order to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its obligations under its Notes Guarantee and the Indenture Documents.

Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Notes Guarantee shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and for the other obligations of any Guarantor under the Indenture Documents as provided in this Article 11.

Section 11.04     Limitation on Guarantor Liability. For purposes hereof, each Guarantor’s liability shall be that amount from time to time equal to the aggregate liability of such Guarantor under its Notes Guarantee, but shall be limited to the lesser of (a) the aggregate amount of the obligations of the Company under the Indenture Documents and (b) the amount, if any, which would not have (A) rendered such Guarantor “insolvent” (as such term is defined in the federal Bankruptcy Law and in the Debtor and Creditor Law of the State of New York), (B) left it with unreasonably small capital at the time its Notes Guarantee was entered into, or at the time such Guarantor Incurred liability thereunder, after giving effect to the Incurrence of Existing Indebtedness immediately prior to such time or (C) left such Guarantor with debts beyond such Guarantor’s ability to pay as such debts mature; provided that, it shall be a presumption in any lawsuit or other proceeding in which such Guarantor is a party that the amount Guaranteed pursuant to its Notes Guarantee is the amount set forth in subsection (a) above unless any creditor, or representative of creditors of such Guarantor, or debtor in possession or trustee in bankruptcy of such Guarantor, otherwise proves in such a lawsuit or other proceeding that the aggregate liability of such Guarantor is limited to the amount set forth in subsection (b). In making any determination as to the solvency or sufficiency of capital of a Guarantor in accordance with the previous sentence, the right of such Guarantor to contribution from other Guarantors and any other rights such Guarantor may have, contractual or otherwise, shall be taken into account.

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Section 11.05     “Trustee” to Include Paying Agent. In case at any time any Paying Agent other than the Trustee will have been appointed by the Company and be then acting hereunder, the term “Trustee” as used in this Article 11 shall in such case (unless the context shall otherwise require) be construed as extending to and including such Paying Agent within its meaning as fully and for all intents and purposes as if such Paying Agent were named in this Article 11 in place of the Trustee.

ARTICLE 12
Miscellaneous

Section 12.01     Notices. Any notice or communication by the Company, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or sent by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier, overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery or other electronic means, to the others’ addresses:

If to the Company or any Guarantor:

CURO Group Holdings Corp.

200 W. Hubbard Street, 8th Flr

Chicago IL 60654

Attention: Legal Department

Electronic Mailing Address: [***]

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

KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP

2049 Century Park East, Suite 3700, Los Angeles, CA 90067

Electronic Mailing Address: [***]

Attention: [***]

If to the Trustee:

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee

100 Wall Street, Suite 600

New York, NY 1005

Attention: Administrator, CURO Group Holdings Corp.

If to the Collateral Agent:

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Collateral agent

100 Wall Street, Suite 600

New York, NY 1005

Attention: Administrator, CURO Group Holdings Corp.

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

Any notice to any Guarantor may be sent to the Guarantor in care of the Company as set forth above.

All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery; and at the time sent, if sent by e-mail, provided that notice to the Trustee will be effective only upon receipt.

Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be sent by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery or other electronic means reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Failure to send a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

If a notice or communication is sent in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it, provided that notice to the Trustee will be effective only upon receipt.

If the Company sends a notice or communication to Holders, it shall send a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

The Trustee will have the right, but shall not be required, to rely upon and comply with instructions and directions sent by e-mail, facsimile and other similar unsecured electronic methods by persons believed by the Trustee to be authorized to give instructions and directions on behalf of the Company or any Person. The Trustee will have no duty or obligation to verify or confirm that the Person who sent such instructions or directions is, in fact, a Person authorized to give instructions or directions on behalf of the Company or Guarantors; and the Trustee will have no liability for any losses, liabilities, costs or expenses incurred or sustained by the Company or Guarantors as a result of such reliance upon or compliance with such instructions or directions. The Company or Guarantors agree to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions to the Trustee, including, without limitation, the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.

Where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to a Holder of a Global Note, such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary for such Note (or its designee), pursuant to its Applicable Procedures, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice.

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Section 12.02     [Reserved].

Section 12.03     Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by the Company or any Guarantor to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, to take any action under the Indenture Documents, the Company will furnish to the Trustee:

(a)            an Officer’s Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.04) 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 complied with; and

(b)            an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.04) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been complied with.

Section 12.04     Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture and shall include:

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

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

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

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

In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of any Person may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or opinion of, or representation by, counsel or any Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon certificates of public officials or upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company or any Guarantor (including an Officer’s Certificate) stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company or such Guarantor unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

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Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

Section 12.05     Rules by Trustee and Agents. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

Section 12.06     No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders. No director, officer, employee or stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Guarantor under the Indenture Documents 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. Such waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the United States federal securities laws or other corporate laws, and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.

Section 12.07     Governing Law. THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE.

Section 12.08     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 the Company’s Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture and the Notes Guarantees.

Section 12.09     Successors. All agreements of the Company and each Guarantor in the Indenture Documents shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent in this Indenture shall bind their respective successors.

Section 12.10     Severability. In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

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Section 12.11     Counterpart Originals. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture (including by electronic transmission). Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. Facsimile, documents executed, scanned and transmitted electronically and electronic signatures, including those created or transmitted through a software platform or application, shall be deemed original signatures for purposes of this Indenture and all matters and agreements related thereto, with such facsimile, scanned and electronic signatures having the same legal effect as original signatures. The parties agree that this Indenture or any instrument, agreement or document necessary for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Indenture or related hereto or thereto (including, without limitation, addendums, amendments, notices, instructions, communications with respect to the delivery of securities or the wire transfer of funds or other communications) (the “Executed Documentation”) may be accepted, executed or agreed to through the use of an electronic signature in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations in effect from time to time applicable to the effectiveness and enforceability of electronic signatures. Any Executed Documentation accepted, executed or agreed to in conformity with such laws, rules and regulations will be binding on all parties hereto to the same extent as if it were physically executed and each party hereby consents to the use of any third party electronic signature capture service providers as may be reasonably chosen by a signatory hereto or thereto. When the Trustee acts on any Executed Documentation sent by electronic transmission, the Trustee will not be responsible or liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from its reliance upon and compliance with such Executed Documentation, notwithstanding that such Executed Documentation (a) may not be an authorized or authentic communication of the party involved or in the form such party sent or intended to send (whether due to fraud, distortion or otherwise) or (b) may conflict with, or be inconsistent with, a subsequent written instruction or communication; it being understood and agreed that the Trustee shall conclusively presume that Executed Documentation that purports to have been sent by an authorized officer of a Person has been sent by an authorized officer of such Person. The party providing Executed Documentation through electronic transmission or otherwise with electronic signatures agrees to assume all risks arising out of such electronic methods, including, without limitation, the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.

 

Section 12.12     Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.. The table of contents, cross-reference table and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

Section 12.13     Intercreditor Agreements. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the lien and security interest granted pursuant to the Indenture Documents and the exercise of any right or remedy thereunder are subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements. In the event of any conflict between the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Indenture Documents, the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements shall govern and control. If any conflict or inconsistency exists between this Indenture and any Collateral Document (other than the Intercreditor Agreements), this Indenture shall govern.

 

Section 12.14     Payments Due on Non-Business Days. In any case where any interest payment date, redemption date, Purchase Date, Stated Maturity of the Notes or any other date upon which any payment is due on the Notes shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Notes) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the interest payment date, redemption date, Purchase Date, at the Stated Maturity or any other date upon which any payment is due on the Notes, provided that no interest will accrue for the period from and after such interest payment date, redemption date, Purchase Date, Stated Maturity or other payment date, as the case may be.

 

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Section 12.15     Waiver of Jury Trial(a)     . THE COMPANY, EACH GUARANTOR, THE TRUSTEE AND THE COLLATERAL AGENT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES, ANY OTHER INDENTURE DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).

 

ARTICLE 13
Collateral and Security

 

Section 13.01     Collateral Documents. The due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and amounts due hereunder and under the Notes Guarantees when and as the same shall be due and payable, subject to any applicable grace period, whether on an interest payment date, by acceleration, purchase, repurchase, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of, premium, if any, and interest to the extent permitted by law, on the Notes and the performance of all other Obligations of the Company and the Guarantors to the Holders, the Collateral Agent or the Trustee under the Indenture Documents are and shall be secured by the Collateral Documents. The Collateral Documents shall provide for the grant by the Company and the Guarantors party thereto to the Collateral Agent of security interests in the Collateral subject to Permitted Liens and the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements.

 

Section 13.02     Recording and Opinions.

 

(a)            The Company will, and will cause each of the Guarantors to, at their sole cost and expense, take or cause to be taken such actions as may be required by the Collateral Documents and as the Collateral Agent shall reasonably request, to perfect, maintain (with the priority required under the Collateral Documents and Intercreditor Agreements), preserve and protect the valid and enforceable, perfected (except as expressly provided to the contrary herein or therein) security interests in and on all the Collateral granted by the Collateral Documents in favor of the Collateral Agent as security for the Obligations contained in this Indenture, the Notes, the Notes Guarantees and the Collateral Documents, superior to and prior to the rights of all third Persons (other than as set forth in the Intercreditor Agreements), and subject to no other Liens (other than Permitted Liens), including, without limitation, (i) the preparation and filing of financing statements, amendments and continuation statements, collateral assignments and any instruments of further assurance, in such manner and in such places as may be required by law to preserve and protect fully the rights of the Holders, the Collateral Agent, and the Trustee under this Indenture and the Collateral Documents to all property comprising the Collateral, and (ii) subject to the Intercreditor Agreements, the delivery of the certificates evidencing the securities pledged under the Collateral Documents, duly endorsed in blank or accompanied by undated stock powers or other instruments of transfer executed in blank, it being understood that concurrently with the execution of this Indenture, the Company and the Guarantors have submitted duly prepared financing statements to a reputable filing service for prompt filing in the appropriate filing offices. The Company will from time to time promptly pay all financing and continuation statement recording and/or filing fees, charges and recording, stamp, intangibles and similar taxes relating to this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and any amendments hereto or thereto and any other instruments of further assurance required pursuant hereto or thereto.

 

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Section 13.03     Release of Collateral.

 

(a)            The Collateral Agent shall not at any time release all or any portion of the Collateral from the Liens created by the Collateral Documents unless such release is in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the applicable Collateral Documents.

 

(b)            The release of any Collateral from the Liens created by the Collateral Documents shall not be deemed to impair the security under this Indenture in contravention of the provisions hereof if and to the extent the Collateral is released pursuant to this Indenture and the Collateral Documents.

 

Section 13.04     Specified Releases of Collateral.

 

(a)            Collateral shall be released from the Liens created by the Collateral Documents at any time or from time to time in accordance with the provisions of the Collateral Documents or as provided in this Indenture. The Liens securing the Collateral shall be automatically released without the need for any further action by any Person under any one or more of the following circumstances:

 

(i)            to enable the Company or a Guarantor to consummate asset dispositions permitted or not prohibited under Section 5.10;

 

(ii)           if any Guarantor is released from its Notes Guarantee in accordance with the terms of this Indenture (including by virtue of such Guarantor ceasing to be a Subsidiary of the Company), that Guarantor’s assets will also be released from the Liens securing its Notes Guarantee and the other Indenture Obligations;

 

(iii)          if required in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements;

 

(iv)          as described under Section 13.05; or

 

(v)          with the consent of the Holders in accordance with Section 10.02.

 

(b)            Upon the written request of the Company accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel confirming that all conditions precedent hereunder and under the Collateral Documents and Intercreditor Agreements have been met, and any necessary or proper instruments of termination, satisfaction or release prepared by the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, the Collateral Agent, without the consent of any Holder or the Trustee and at the expense of the Company or the Guarantors, shall execute, deliver or acknowledge such instruments or releases to evidence the release from the Liens created by the Collateral Documents of any Collateral permitted to be released pursuant to this Indenture or the Collateral Documents.

 

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Section 13.05     Release upon Satisfaction or Defeasance of all Outstanding Obligations.

 

(a)            The Liens on all Collateral that secure the Notes and the Notes Guarantees shall be automatically terminated and released without the need for further action by any Person:

 

(i)            if the Company exercise Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance as described under Article 9;

 

(ii)           upon satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as described under Section 4.01; or

 

(iii)          upon payment in full in immediately available funds of the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes and all other Obligations under this Indenture and the Collateral Documents that are then due and payable (other than contingent indemnification obligations for which no claim has been asserted).

 

(b)            Upon receipt of an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel confirming that all conditions precedent hereunder and under the Collateral Documents have been satisfied and any necessary or proper instruments of termination, satisfaction or release prepared by the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, the Collateral Agent, without the consent of any Holder or the Trustee and at the expense of the Company or the Guarantors, shall execute, deliver or acknowledge such instruments or releases to evidence the release from the Liens created by the Collateral Documents of any Collateral permitted to be released pursuant to this Indenture and the Collateral Documents.

 

Section 13.06     Form and Sufficiency of Release and Subordination. In the event that the Company or any Guarantor has sold, exchanged, or otherwise disposed of or proposes to sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of any portion of the Collateral that may be sold, exchanged or otherwise disposed of by the Company or such Guarantor to any Person other than the Company or a Guarantor, and the Company or such Guarantor requests that the Trustee or Collateral Agent furnish a written disclaimer, release or quit-claim of any interest in such property under this Indenture and the Collateral Documents as accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel confirming that all conditions precedent hereunder and under the Collateral Documents and Intercreditor Agreements have been met in connection with such action, or, to the extent applicable to such Collateral, take all action that is necessary or reasonably requested by the Company (in each case at the expense of the Company) to release and reconvey to the Company or such Guarantor, without recourse, such Collateral or deliver such Collateral in its possession to the Company or such Guarantor, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall upon receipt of an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel confirming that all conditions precedent hereunder and under the Collateral Documents and Intercreditor Agreements have been met in connection with such action, execute, acknowledge (without any recourse, representation and warranty) and deliver to the Company or such Guarantor (in the form prepared by the Company at the Company’s sole expense) such an instrument promptly or take such other action so requested after satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein for delivery of any such release. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, all purchasers and grantees of any property or rights purporting to be released herefrom shall be entitled to rely upon any release executed by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, as sufficient for the purpose of this Indenture and as constituting a good and valid release of the property therein described from the Lien of this Indenture or of the Collateral Documents but shall have no recourse or claims against the Trustee or the Collateral Agent in respect of any such release. In addition to the foregoing, in the event that the Company or any Guarantor has any Collateral or intends to have any Collateral subject to a Permitted Lien of the type described in clause (7) of the definition thereof, and the Company or such Guarantor requests that the Trustee or Collateral Agent enter into a subordination agreement with the holder of such Permitted Lien in order to subordinate the Lien of the Collateral Agent in such Collateral to the Lien of such holder in such Collateral, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall, upon receipt of an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel confirming that all conditions precedent hereunder and under the Collateral Documents and Intercreditor Agreements have been met in connection with such action, execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company or such Guarantor or the holder of such Permitted Lien such an instrument (in the form prepared by the Company, or the holder of such Permitted Lien, at the Company’s sole expense) promptly after such request.

 

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Section 13.07     Purchaser Protected. No purchaser or grantee of any property or rights purported to have been released from the Lien of this Indenture or of the Collateral Documents shall be bound to ascertain the authority of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, to execute the release or to inquire as to the existence of any conditions herein prescribed for the exercise of such authority; nor shall any purchaser or grantee of any property or rights permitted by this Indenture to be sold or otherwise disposed of by the Company be under any obligation to ascertain or inquire into the authority of the Company to make such sale or other disposition.

 

Section 13.08     Authorization of Actions to be Taken by the Collateral Agent Under the Collateral Documents.

 

(a)            Each Holder, by acceptance of the Notes, consents to the terms of, directs and agrees that the Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver the Intercreditor Agreements and Collateral Documents to which it is a party, and all agreements, documents and instruments incidental thereto, and act in accordance with the terms thereof and hereby appoints the Collateral Agent as its agent hereunder and under the Intercreditor Agreements and Collateral Documents and hereby irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and Collateral Documents and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to the Collateral Agent by the terms of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Collateral Documents. For the avoidance of doubt, the Collateral Agent shall have no discretion under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the Collateral Documents and shall not be required to make or give any determination, consent, approval, request or direction without the written direction of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, the Trustee or the Company, as applicable. The provisions of this Section 13.08 are solely for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and none of the Trustee, any of the Holders nor the Company or any of the Guarantors shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary of any of the provisions contained herein other than as expressly provided herein. Each Holder agrees that any action taken by the Collateral Agent in accordance with the provision of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Collateral Documents, and the exercise by the Collateral Agent of any rights or remedies set forth herein and therein shall be authorized and binding upon all Holders. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, the duties of the Collateral Agent shall be ministerial and administrative in nature, and the Collateral Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein and in the other documents to which the Collateral Agent is a party, nor shall the Collateral Agent have or be deemed to have any trust or other fiduciary relationship with the Trustee, any Holder, the Company or any Guarantor, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements or otherwise exist against the Collateral Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term “agent” in this Indenture with reference to the Collateral Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties.

 

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(b)            So long as an Event of Default is not continuing, the Company may direct the Collateral Agent in connection with any action required or permitted by this Indenture, the Collateral Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements. During the continuance of an Event of Default, the Trustee may direct the Collateral Agent in connection with any action required or permitted by this Indenture, the Collateral Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements.

 

(c)            No provision of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or any Collateral Document shall require the Collateral Agent (or the Trustee) to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or thereunder or exercise any of its rights and powers at the request or direction of Holders (or the Trustee in the case of the Collateral Agent) if it shall not have received security or indemnity satisfactory to the Collateral Agent in its sole discretion against potential costs and liabilities incurred by the Collateral Agent relating thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the Collateral Documents, in the event the Collateral Agent is entitled or required to commence an action to foreclose or otherwise exercise its remedies to acquire control or possession of the Collateral, the Collateral Agent shall not be required to commence any such action or exercise any remedy or to inspect or conduct any studies of any property under the mortgages or take any such other action if the Collateral Agent has determined that the Collateral Agent may incur personal liability as a result of the presence at, or release on or from, the Collateral or such property, of any hazardous substances unless the Collateral Agent has received security or indemnity from the Holders in an amount and in a form all satisfactory to the Collateral Agent in its sole discretion, protecting the Collateral Agent from all such liability. The Collateral Agent shall at any time be entitled to cease taking any action described above if it no longer reasonably deems any indemnity, security or undertaking from the Company or the Holders to be sufficient.

 

(d)            The Collateral Agent (i) shall not be responsible or liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in connection with this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Collateral Documents or instrument referred to herein or therein, except to the extent that any of the foregoing result from its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, non-appealable judgment, (ii) shall not be responsible or liable for any failure of the Company or any party to this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement or the Collateral Documents to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder, (iii) shall not be responsible or liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Collateral Agent may agree in writing with the Company (and money held in trust by the Collateral Agent need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law) and (iv) may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice or opinion of such counsel as to matters of law shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel. The grant of permissive rights or powers to the Collateral Agent shall not be construed to impose duties to act.

 

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(e)            The Collateral Agent may perform any of its duties under this Indenture, the Collateral Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements by or through receivers, agents, employees, attorneys, attorneys-in-fact, other experts or advisors or through its affiliates and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties, and shall be entitled to act upon, and shall be fully protected in taking action in reliance upon any advice or opinion given by legal counsel, including counsel that is an employee of or counsel for the Company. The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or willful misconduct of any receivers, agents, employees, attorneys, attorneys-in-fact, other experts or advisors or through its affiliates receiver, agent, employee, attorney, attorney-in-fact, expert, advisor or affiliates that it selects.

 

Section 13.09     Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee Under the Collateral Documents.

 

The Collateral Agent is authorized to receive any funds for the benefit of itself, the Trustee and the Holders distributed under the Collateral Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements and, to the extent not prohibited under the Intercreditor Agreements, to make further distributions of such funds to itself, the Trustee and the Holders in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.10 and the other provisions of this Indenture. Such funds shall be held on deposit by the Trustee without investment, and the Trustee will have no liability for interest or other compensation thereon.

 

Section 13.10     Action by the Collateral Agent.

 

In each case that the Collateral Agent may or is required hereunder or under any Collateral Document to take any action (an “Action”), including to make any determination, to give consents, to exercise rights, powers or remedies, to release or sell Collateral or otherwise to act hereunder or under any Collateral Document, the Collateral Agent may seek direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes; provided that all Actions so taken shall, at all times, be in compliance with the requirements of the Intercreditor Agreements. The Collateral Agent shall not be liable with respect to any Action taken or omitted to be taken by it in accordance with the direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes. If the Collateral Agent shall request direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes with respect to any Action, the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to refrain from such Action unless and until the Collateral Agent shall have received direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and security or an indemnification satisfactory to the Collateral Agent in its sole discretion, and the Collateral Agent shall not incur liability to any Person by reason of so refraining.

 

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Before the Collateral Agent acts or refrains from acting in each case at the request or direction of the Company, it may require an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel. The Collateral Agent shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such certificate or opinion.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or any Collateral Document, in no event shall the Collateral Agent be responsible for, or have any duty or obligation with respect to, the recording, filing, registering, perfection, protection or maintenance of the security interests or Liens intended to be created by this Indenture or the Collateral Documents (including the preparation, filing or continuation of any Uniform Commercial Code financing or continuation statements or similar documents or instruments), nor shall the Collateral Agent be responsible for, and the Collateral Agent makes no representation regarding, the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or priority of any of the Collateral Documents or the security interests or Liens intended to be created thereby.

 

Section 13.11     Compensation and Indemnity.

 

(a)            The Company will pay to the Collateral Agent from time to time compensation as shall be agreed to in writing by the Company and the Collateral Agent for its acceptance of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements, the Collateral Documents and services hereunder. The Company will reimburse the Collateral Agent promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and out-of-pocket expenses incurred or made by it in connection with the Collateral Agent’s duties under the Indenture Documents, including the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Collateral Agent’s agents, reasonably retained professional advisors, and counsel, except any disbursement, advance or expense as may be attributable to the Collateral Agent’s willful misconduct or gross negligence.

 

(b)            The Company and the Guarantors shall, jointly and severally, indemnify the Collateral Agent against any and all claims, demands, causes of action, losses, liabilities, damages, fines, penalties, costs, fees, charges or expenses including taxes (other than taxes based on, measured by or determined by income of the Collateral Agent) incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Collateral Documents, including (i) any claim relating to the grant to the Collateral Agent of any Lien in any property or assets of the Company or the Guarantors and (ii) the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Collateral Documents against the Company and the Guarantors (including this Section 13.11) 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 or thereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability or expense may be attributable to its gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct. The Collateral Agent shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Collateral Agent to so notify the Company will not relieve the Company or the Guarantors of their obligations hereunder, except to the extent the Company is materially prejudiced thereby. The Company or such Guarantor shall defend such claim and the Collateral Agent shall cooperate in the defense. In the event the Collateral Agent is advised by counsel that a conflict of interest exists, the Collateral Agent may have its own 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 shall not be unreasonably withheld. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Company need not reimburse the Collateral Agent for any cost or expense or indemnify it against any loss or liability incurred by the Collateral Agent through its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct. The Collateral Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Collateral Agent shall have received written notice from the Trustee or the Company referring to this Indenture describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default.” The Collateral Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as may be requested by the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture or the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

 114 

 

 

(c)            The obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under this Section 13.11 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the resignation, removal or replacement of the Collateral Agent.

 

Section 13.12     Co-Collateral Agent; Separate Collateral Agent.

 

(a)            If at any time or times it shall be necessary in order to conform to any applicable law of any jurisdiction in which any of the Collateral shall be located, or to avoid any violation of applicable law or imposition on the Collateral Agent of taxes by such jurisdiction not otherwise imposed on the Collateral Agent, or the Collateral Agent shall be advised by counsel, satisfactory to it, that it is necessary in the interests of the Notes Secured Parties, or the Collateral Agent shall deem it desirable for its own protection in the performance of its duties hereunder or under any Collateral Document, the Collateral Agent and the Company and the Guarantors may (and in the case of conforming to any applicable law or avoiding the violation of any applicable law, shall) execute and deliver all instruments and agreements necessary or proper to constitute another bank or trust company, or one or more persons approved by the Collateral Agent and the Company, either to act as co-collateral agent or co-collateral agents of all or any of the Collateral under this Indenture or under any of the Collateral Documents, jointly with the Collateral Agent originally named herein or therein or any successor Collateral Agent, or to act as separate agent or agents of any of the Collateral. If (x) the Company and the Guarantors shall not have joined in the execution of such instruments and agreements within 10 days after they receive a written request from the Collateral Agent to do so, and (y) the execution of such instruments and agreements is being undertaken in order to conform to any applicable law of any jurisdiction in which any of the Collateral shall be located, or to avoid any violation of applicable law, then the Collateral Agent acting as directed by a majority of Holders shall act under the foregoing provisions of this Section 13.12 without the concurrence of the Company and the Guarantors and execute and deliver such instruments and agreements on behalf of the Company and the Guarantors and any such act shall be binding on the Company and the Guarantors as if executed by the Company and the Guarantors. Each of the Company and each Guarantor hereby appoint the Collateral Agent as its agent and attorney to act for it under the foregoing provisions of this Section 13.12 in either of such contingencies.

 

 115 

 

 

(b)            Every separate collateral agent and every co-collateral agent, other than any successor Collateral Agent appointed pursuant to this Article, shall, to the extent permitted by law, be appointed and act and be such, subject to the following provisions and conditions:

 

(1)            all rights, powers, duties and obligations conferred upon the Collateral Agent in respect of the custody, control and management of moneys, papers or securities shall be exercised solely by the Collateral Agent or any agent appointed by the Collateral Agent;

 

(2)            all rights, powers, duties and obligations conferred or imposed upon the Collateral Agent hereunder and under the relevant Collateral Documents shall be conferred or imposed and exercised or performed by the Collateral Agent and such separate collateral agent or separate collateral agents or co-collateral agent or co-collateral agents, jointly, as shall be provided in the instrument appointing such separate collateral agents or co-collateral agent or co-collateral agents, except to the extent that under any law of any jurisdiction in which any particular act or acts are to be performed the Collateral Agent shall be incompetent or unqualified to perform such act or acts, or unless the performance of such act or acts would result in the imposition of any tax on the Collateral Agent which would not be imposed absent such joint act or acts, in which event such rights, powers, duties and obligations shall be exercised and performed by such separate collateral agent or collateral agents or co-collateral agent or co-collateral agents;

 

(3)            no power given hereby or by the relevant Collateral Documents to, or which it is provided herein or therein may be exercised by, any such co-collateral agent or co-collateral agents or separate collateral agent or collateral agents shall be exercised hereunder or thereunder by such co-collateral agent or co-collateral agents or separate collateral agent or collateral agents except jointly with, or with the consent in writing of, the Collateral Agent, anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding; and

 

(4)            no collateral agent hereunder shall be personally liable by reason of any act or omission of any other collateral agent hereunder.

 

[Signatures on following pages]

 

 116 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

  CURO group Holdings CORP.
   
  By: /s/ Douglas D. Clark
  Name: Douglas D. Clark
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
   
  GUARANTORS: 
   
  CURO FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGIES CORP. 
  CURO INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS CORP. 
  CURO MANAGEMENT LLC 
  FIRST HERITAGE CREDIT, LLC 
  FIRST HERITAGE CREDIT OF ALABAMA, LLC 
  FIRST HERITAGE CREDIT OF LOUISIANA, LLC 
  FIRST HERITAGE CREDIT OF MISSISSIPPI, LLC 
  FIRST HERITAGE CREDIT OF SOUTH CAROLINA, LLC 
  FIRST HERITAGE CREDIT OF TENNESSEE, LLC 
  SOUTHERNCO, INC.
   
  By: /s/ Douglas D. Clark 
  Name:  Douglas D. Clark 
  Title: President
   
  ATTAIN FINANCE, LLC 
  AD ASTRA RECOVERY SERVICES, INC. 
  CURO VENTURES, LLC 
  CURO COLLATERAL SUB, LLC 
  CURO CREDIT, LLC 
  HEIGHTS FINANCING HOLDING CO. 
  SOUTHERN FINANCE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, INC. 
  SOUTHERN FINANCE OF TENNESSEE, INC. 
  COVINGTON CREDIT OF ALABAMA, INC. 
  QUICK CREDIT CORPORATION 
  COVINGTON CREDIT, INC. 
  COVINGTON CREDIT OF GEORGIA, INC. 
  COVINGTON CREDIT OF TEXAS, INC. 
  HEIGHTS FINANCE CORPORATION 
  HEIGHTS FINANCE CORPORATION
   
  By: /s/ Gary L. Fulk 
  Name:  Gary L. Fulk

 

 

 

  U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, As trustee AND COLLATERAL AGENT
   
  By: /s/ Christopher J. Grell
  Name: Christopher J. Grell
  Title: Vice President

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

[Form of Face of Note]

 

[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]

 

 A-1 

 

 

CURO group Holdings CORP. 

7.500% SENIOR 1.5 LIEN SECURED NOTE DUE 2028

 

CUSIP [__________]

 

No. [__________]$[__________]

 

CURO Group Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company,” which term includes any successor entity), for value received promises to pay to [_______________] or its registered assigns, the principal sum of [_____________________] (or such principal amount as may be set forth in the records of the Trustee hereinafter referred to in accordance with the Indenture) on August 1, 2028, and to pay interest thereon as hereinafter set forth.

 

Interest Payment Dates: February 1 and August 1, commencing August 1, 2023

 

Record Dates: January 15 and July 15

 

Dated: May 15, 2023

 

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

 

 A-2 

 

 

IN WITNESS HEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

  CURO Group Holdings CORP.
   
  By:  
    Name:     
    Title:

 

 A-3 

 

 

 

Trustee Certificate of Authentication

 

This Note is one of the 7.500% Senior 1.5 Lien Secured Notes due 2028 referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

  U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
   
  By:  
    Name:     
    Title:
     
Dated:        

 

 A-4 

 

 

[Form of Back of Note]
7.500% Senior 1.5 Lien Secured Notes due 2028

 

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

 

1.            Interest. CURO Group Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 7.500% per annum from February 1, 2023 (being the most recent interest payment date in respect of the Existing Notes in exchange for which the Notes were issued and interest from such date through the Issue Date being paid in consideration for accrued and unpaid interest on the exchanged Existing Notes through the date of such exchange) until maturity. The Company will pay interest semi-annually in arrears every February 1 and August 1 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period (each, an “Interest Payment Date”). Interest on the Notes shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from February 1, 2023; provided, that if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided, further, that the first Interest Payment Date shall be August 1, 2023. The Company will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to 1% per annum in excess of the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at such increased rate to the extent lawful. Interest shall 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 at the close of business on January 15 or July 15 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are cancelled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes shall be payable as to principal, premium, if any, and interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose, or, at the option of the Company, by check mailed to the Holders at their respective 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, 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. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Holders must surrender the Notes to the Company, the Registrar or the Paying Agent to collect payments of principal on the Notes.

 

3.            Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

 

 A-5 

 

 

4.            Indenture. The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture, dated as of May 15, 2023 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Indenture”), among the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of notes of the Company designated as its 7.500% Senior 1.5 Lien Secured Notes due 2028. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by express reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) (the “TIA”). The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the TIA for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

 

5.            Optional Redemption.

 

(a)            On and after August 1, 2024, the Company may on one or more occasions redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon notice pursuant to Section 7, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on August 1 of each of the years set forth below.

 

Year  Percentage 
2024   103.750%
2025   101.875%
2026 and thereafter   100.000%

 

(b)            Prior to August 1, 2024, the Company may, upon notice pursuant to Section 7, redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including Additional Notes) issued under the Indenture at a redemption price of 107.500% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date) if:

 

(1)            such redemption is made with the proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings;

 

(2)            at least 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including any Additional Notes) issued under the Indenture remain outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption (excluding Notes held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries); and

 

(3)            the redemption occurs within 180 days of such Equity Offering.

 

(c)            Prior to August 1, 2024, upon notice pursuant to Section 7, the Company may redeem up to 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including Additional Notes) issued under the Indenture during each 12-month period following the Issue Date at a redemption price of 103% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date (subject to the right of holders of the Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).

 

 A-6 

 

 

(d)            Prior to August 1, 2024, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon notice pursuant to Section 7, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest to, the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).

 

(e)            Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with any tender offer for the Notes, including a Change of Control Offer or an Asset Sale Offer, if holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in such tender offer and the Company (or any third party making such tender offer in lieu of the Company as described above) purchases all of the Notes held by such holders, the Company will have the right, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following the purchase pursuant to the tender offer described above, to redeem all of the Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a redemption price equal to the price paid to each other holder in such tender offer (which may be less than par) plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes that remain outstanding, to the applicable date of redemption, subject to the rights of holders on the relevant regular record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date that is on or prior to the applicable redemption date.

 

(f)            Any redemption pursuant to this Section 5 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01 through 3.06 of the Indenture.

 

6.            Mandatory Redemption. Except as set forth in Sections 5.10 and 5.14 of the Indenture, the Company is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments or offers to purchase with respect to the Notes.

 

7.            Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption will be sent by first-class mail or other electronic means reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be sent 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. Notes in denominations larger than $2,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed. Notice of any redemption upon any Equity Offering or other securities offering or financing, or in connection with a transaction (or series of related transactions) that constitute a Change of Control, may, in the Company’s discretion, be given prior to the completion thereof and be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of the related Equity Offering, securities offering, financing or Change of Control. If such redemption is so subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall describe each such condition, and if applicable, such notice shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the redemption date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied or waived, and shall state that such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the redemption date, or by the redemption date so delayed. In addition, the Company may provide in such notice that payment of the redemption price and performance of the Company’s obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person. On and after the redemption date, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the principal amount of the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption, and for which funds have been set aside for payment.

 

 A-7 

 

 

8.            Offer to Purchase. Sections 5.10 and 5.14 of the Indenture provide that after certain Asset Sales or upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, subject to further limitations contained therein, the Company will make an offer to purchase Notes in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture.

 

9.            Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess 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. None of the Trustee, the Registrar or the Company is required to transfer or exchange any Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of the Note being redeemed in part. Also, none of the Registrar, the Trustee or the Company is required to transfer or exchange any Note for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed.

 

10.            Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes. Only registered Holders shall have rights under the Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Collateral Documents.

 

11.            Unclaimed Money. If 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, if any, or interest on any Note remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent will pay the money back to the Company at its request or, if then held by the Company, will be discharged from such trust. After any such payment, any Holder of a Note entitled to the money must look, as an unsecured creditor, only to the Company and not the Trustee or Paying Agent for payment, 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.

 

12.            Discharge and Defeasance. Subject to the conditions set forth in the Indenture, the Company and the Guarantors at any time shall be entitled to terminate some or all of their obligations under the Indenture and the Notes or the Notes Guarantees, as applicable, if the Company deposits with the Trustee cash in U.S. dollars or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes to redemption or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.

 

 A-8 

 

 

13.            Amendment, Supplement and Waiver. Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture Documents may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, the Notes), and any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture Documents may be waived with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including consents obtained in connection with the purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, the Notes), in each case without notice to any other Holder, but subject to Section 5.20 of the Indenture. Without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder): (1) reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver; (2) reduce or forgive the principal of, premium, if any, or extend the fixed maturity of any Note or alter the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Notes (other than the provisions of Sections 3.09, 5.10 and 5.14 of the Indenture prior to the time at which an obligation to make such an offer has arisen); (3) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest, including default interest, on any Note; (4) waive a Default in the payment of principal of, premium, 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 the 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 the Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders to receive payments of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes; (7) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Notes Guarantee or the Indenture, except in accordance with the terms of the Indenture; or (8) make any change to paragraphs (a) to (h) of Section 10.02 of the Indenture. Without the consent (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes) of Holders of at least 90% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, an amendment, supplement or waiver may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder): (1) release all or substantially all of the value of the Notes Guarantees or release all or substantially all of the Collateral; or (2) subordinate the Notes or any Notes Guarantees to any other Indebtedness or subordinate the Liens of the Notes Secured Parties on the Collateral to Liens securing other Indebtedness, other than the subordination of the Liens of the Notes Secured Parties to (i) Liens that are expressly permitted by the Indenture as in effect prior to such amendment to be senior in priority to the Notes Secured Parties’ Liens on the Collateral, (ii) Liens securing Indebtedness for borrowed money (and not, for the avoidance of doubt, Indebtedness incurred in exchange for existing Indebtedness, including the Notes) or (iii) Liens securing Indebtedness which was offered to Holders ratably in accordance with the principal amount of their Notes; provided that this clause (2) will not apply to any transaction during the pendency of any case or proceeding of the Company under any Bankruptcy Law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of any Holder, the Company, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent may amend, supplement or waive any provision of the Indenture Documents to: (1) cure any ambiguity, defect, mistake or inconsistency or to make a modification of a formal, minor or technical nature or to correct a manifest error, (2) provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, (3) comply with the covenant relating to mergers, consolidations and sales of assets; (4) provide for the assumption of the Company’s or any Guarantor’s obligations to Holders in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s or such Guarantor’s assets, (5) add Guarantees with respect to the Notes or to secure the Notes, (6) add to the covenants of the Company or any Guarantor for the benefit of the Holders or surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company or any Guarantor, (7) make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture Documents of any such Holder, (8) if it becomes necessary to qualify the Indenture under the TIA, comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the TIA, (9) (i) enter into additional or supplemental Collateral Documents, (ii) release Collateral or Guarantors in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Collateral Documents or (iii) enter into any replacement intercreditor agreements substantially in the form of the Intercreditor Agreements entered into on the Issue Date or any other additional or supplemental intercreditor agreements in connection with the incurrence of any additional Indebtedness permitted under the Indenture, in form and substance approved by the Company as evidenced by the Company’s execution thereof and the Collateral Agent as evidenced by the Collateral Agent’s execution thereof, (10) evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment under the Indenture of a successor trustee pursuant to the requirements thereof, (11) make any amendment to the provisions of the Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Notes as permitted by the Indenture, including to facilitate the issuance and administration of the Notes or to comply with the rules of any applicable securities depository; provided, however, that (i) compliance with the Indenture as so amended would not result in Notes being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable securities law and (ii) such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Notes or (12) provide for or confirm the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the terms of the Indenture. The consent of Holders is not necessary under the Indenture to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver. It is sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. After an amendment, supplement or waiver under the Indenture becomes effective, the Company is required to send to Holders a notice briefly describing such amendment, supplement or waiver. However, the failure to give such notice to all Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of the amendment, supplement or waiver. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Sections 5.24, 5.25 and 5.26 of the Indenture (including, in each case, any definitions used therein or related definitions) shall be automatically deemed to have been amended, modified, supplemented or waived, as applicable, to match the corresponding provision in the Credit Agreement (as amended, modified, supplemented or waived) without further action of any other Person (including, without limitation, the Holders of the Notes), if (i) the Required Term Lenders consent to an amendment, modification, supplement or waiver of the corresponding provision in the Credit Agreement and (ii) the Company deliver an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee certifying that such amendments have occurred under the Credit Agreement and attaching a copy of such amendment, modification, supplement or waiver.

 

 A-9 

 

 

14.            Defaults and Remedies.

 

(a)            Under the Indenture, “Events of Default” include: (i) default for 5 Business Days in the payment when due of interest on the Notes; (ii) default in payment when due of the principal, or premium, if any, of any Note when due at maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required purchase, upon acceleration or otherwise; (iii) (a) failure by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to comply with its obligations under Sections 5.07, 5.09, 5.10, 5.11, 5.12, 5.13, 5.14, 5.23, 5.24, 5.25, 5.26(c), 5.26(e) or Article 6 of the Indenture or (b) failure by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to comply with its obligations under Section 5.08, 5.17, 5.26(a), or 5.26(d) of the Indenture or the Credit Agreement Side Letter (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and such failure continues for 10 days; (iv) failure to perform any other covenant or agreement of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under the Indenture Documents for 30 days after written 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 (with a copy to the Trustee); (v) (A) default under any Indebtedness (other than the Notes or any Qualified Receivables Facility) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is Guaranteed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) whether such Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists, or is created after the Issue Date, which default (1) is a Payment Default, or (2) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its final stated maturity or in the requirement for the Company to offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness prior to its final stated maturity, provided that this clause (A)(2) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, if such sale or transfer is permitted hereunder and under the documents providing for such Indebtedness and such Indebtedness is repaid when required under the documents providing for such Indebtedness and, further provided that in each case under clauses (A)(1) and (A)(2), either (I) such Indebtedness consists of the Credit Agreement or the Existing Notes Indenture or (II) the principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or there has been such a default, aggregates in excess of $10.0 million (or its foreign currency equivalent); or (B) the occurrence of an “Event of Default” or other similar event or circumstance under the Existing First Heritage SPV Facility, the Existing Flexiti Securitization Notes, the Existing Flexiti SPV Facility, the Existing Heights SPV Facility and the Existing Revolving Canada SPV Facility or any other Qualified Receivables Facility, in each case, after giving effect to any grace period therein, that either (A) results in the acceleration of all or any portion of such Indebtedness prior to its final stated maturity or (B) has not been remedied (by amendment, cure, waiver or otherwise) thereunder within thirty (30) days after the related lenders thereunder received notice of the occurrence of such “Event of Default” (or other similar event or circumstance); (vi) failure by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to pay final judgments which are non-appealable aggregating in excess of $10.0 million (or its foreign currency equivalent) (not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which liability has not been denied by such insurance carrier), which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 30 days following such judgment becoming final, and in the event such judgment is covered by insurance, any enforcement proceeding has been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or decree which is not promptly stayed; (vii) (A) any security interest created by any Collateral Document ceases to be in full force and effect (except as permitted by the terms of the Indenture or the Collateral Documents); provided that, such cessation, individually or in the aggregate, results in Collateral having a Fair Market Value in excess of $10,000,000 not being subject to a valid, perfected security interest or (B) (1) any Company Party shall deny its obligations under any Indenture Document (to which it is a party) or (2) any material provision of any Indenture Document, after delivery thereof in accordance with the terms thereof, shall for any reason cease to be valid and binding upon, or enforceable against, any Company Party; (viii) except as permitted by the Indenture, any Notes Guarantee shall be held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, shall deny or disaffirm its obligations under its Notes Guarantee; and (ix) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company, or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company.

 

 A-10 

 

 

(b)            If any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in subsection (i) or (j) of Section 7.01 of the Indenture occurs and is continuing and has not been waived by the Holders, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in subsection (i) or (j) of Section 7.01 of the Indenture occurs, all outstanding Notes shall be due and payable immediately without further action or notice. The Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may on behalf of all of the Holders rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (except nonpayment of principal, premium, if any, or interest that has become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived and all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee under the Indenture and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements, and advances of the Trustee and its agents and counsel have been paid or deposited with the Trustee or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders 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.

 

(c)            The Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal, premium, 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 the then outstanding Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration).

 

 A-11 

 

 

(d)            In the event of any Event of Default specified in clause (a)(v) above, such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding any resulting payment default, other than as a result of acceleration of the Notes) shall be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the Holders, if within 20 days after such Event of Default arose the Company delivers an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee stating that:

 

(i)            the Indebtedness or guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged; or

 

(ii)            holders thereof have rescinded or waived the acceleration, notice or action (as the case may be) giving rise to such Event of Default;

 

(iii)           the annulment of the acceleration of the Notes would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction; and

 

(iv)           all existing Events of Default, except nonpayment of principal, premium or interest on the Notes that became due solely because of the acceleration of the Notes, have been cured or waived.

 

(e)            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 and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

15.            No Recourse Against Others. No past, present or future director, officer, employee or stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Guarantor under the Indenture Documents 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. Such waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the United States federal securities laws or other corporate laws, and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.

 

 A-12 

 

 

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

 

17.            Trustee Dealings with the Company. 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 as defined by the TIA it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 8.10 and 8.11 of the Indenture.

 

18.            Governing Law. THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS NOTE AND THE INDENTURE.

 

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

 

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 correctness or 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.            Guarantees. The payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes, is unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by the Guarantors to the extent set forth in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture.

 

22.            Security. Subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements, the Obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under the Notes and the Notes Guarantees are secured by Liens on the Collateral pursuant to the terms of the Collateral Documents. The actions of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the Holders and the application of proceeds from the enforcement of any remedies with respect to such Collateral are limited pursuant to the terms of the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements.

 

 A-13 

 

 

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements. Requests may be made to the Company at the following address:

 

 

CURO Group Holdings Corp.

 

200 West Hubbard Street, 8th Floor

Chicago, Il, 60654
Attention: Chief Legal Officer

 

 A-14 

 

 

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 it.

 

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).

 

 A-15 

 

 

Option of Holder to Elect Purchase

 

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 5.10 or 5.14 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:

 

¨ Section 5.10                       ¨ Section 5.14

 

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 5.10 or 5.14 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).

 

 A-16 

 

 

Schedule of Exchanges of Interests

in the Global Note*

 

The initial outstanding principal amount of this Global Note is $____________. 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 or
Custodian
             
             
             

 

* This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

 A-17 

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

Form of Certificate of Transfer

 

CURO Group Holdings Corp. 

200 West Hubbard Street, 8th Floor 

Chicago, Il, 60654
Attention: Chief Legal Officer

 

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee and Registrar 

[ ] 

Attention: [ ] 

Telephone No.: [ ]

 

Re:     7.500% Senior 1.5 Lien Secured Notes due 2028

 

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of May 15, 2023 (the “Indenture”), among CURO Group Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the Guarantors and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee and as Collateral Agent. 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 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, (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. 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 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 AI 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 or a Subsidiary thereof;

 

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 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 beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the AI Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

 B-2 

 

 

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.

 

 B-3 

 

 

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-4 

 

 

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)          ¨ AI 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)          ¨ AI 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.

 

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

Form of Certificate of Exchange

 

CURO Group Holdings Corp. 

200 West Hubbard Street, 8th Floor 

Chicago, Il, 60654
Attention: Chief Legal Officer

 

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee and Registrar 

[ ] 

Attention: [ ] 

Telephone No.: [ ]

 

Re:     7.500% Senior 1.5 Lien Secured Notes due 2028

 

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of May 15, 2023 (the “Indenture”), among CURO Group Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the Guarantors and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee and as Collateral Agent. 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 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-1

 

 

(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, ¨ AI 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 Owner]
   
By:
  Name:
  Title:

  

Dated: _______________

 

C-3

 

 

EXHIBIT D

 

Form of Certificate From
Acquiring Accredited Investor

 

CURO Group Holdings Corp. 

200 West Hubbard Street, 8th Floor 

Chicago, Il, 60654
Attention: Chief Legal Officer

 

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee and Registrar 

[ ] 

Attention: [ ] 

Telephone No.: [ ]

 

Re:     7.500% Senior 1.5 Lien Secured Notes due 2028

 

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of May 15, 2023 (the “Indenture”), among CURO Group Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the Guarantors and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee and as Collateral Agent. 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 or any subsidiary thereof, (B) in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined therein), (C) to an “accredited investor” (as defined below) that, prior to such transfer, furnishes (or has furnished on its behalf by a U.S. broker-dealer) to you and to the Company a signed letter substantially in the form of this letter and an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Company to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act, (D) outside the United States in accordance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (E) pursuant to the provisions of Rule 144 under the Securities Act 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.

 

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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 “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a) 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 “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:_____________

 

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EXHIBIT E

 

[Form of Supplemental Indenture]

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of [_________], among CURO Group Holdings Corp. (the “Company”), [_________] (the “New Guarantor”) and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee (the “Trustee”).

 

W I T N E S E T H

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Guarantors have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of May 15, 2023, providing for the issuance of 7.500% Senior 1.5 Lien Secured Notes due 2028 (the “Notes”).

 

WHEREAS, Section 5.17 of the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Company is required to cause the New Guarantor to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the New Guarantor shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Company’s obligations under the Indenture Documents pursuant to a Notes Guarantee on the terms and conditions set forth herein;

 

WHEREAS, Section 10.01(e) of the Indenture provides, among other things, that the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture Documents without the consent of any Holder to add Guarantees with respect to the Notes; and

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the New Guarantor and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:

 

1.            CAPITALIZED TERMS. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

2.            AGREEMENT TO GUARANTEE. The New Guarantor hereby agrees, jointly and severally with all other Guarantors, to Guarantee the Company’s obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article 11 of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture.

 

3.            EFFECTIVENESS. This Supplemental Indenture shall be effective upon execution by the parties hereto.

 

4.            RECITALS. The recitals contained herein shall be taken as the statements of the Company and the New Guarantor and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

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5.            GOVERNING LAW. THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE.

 

6.            COUNTERPART ORIGINALS. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture (including by electronic transmission). Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

 

7.            EFFECT OF HEADINGS. The section headings in this Supplemental Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Supplemental Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

[Signatures on following pages]

 

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Strictly Confidential

 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

  CURO group Holdings CORP.
   
  By:  
    Name:     
    Title:
   
  [New GUARANTOR]
   
  By:  
    Name:     
    Title:

 

 

 

  U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, As trustee
   
  By:  
    Name:     
    Title: