-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, MKAxBGutkhh74504OiJmq4uCRE7eaWUScjYRwy2Xs/14hvY3HhGL86gddEKgjvjY pftfCibsM+vSdivxKRLlLg== 0001193125-07-120610.txt : 20070522 0001193125-07-120610.hdr.sgml : 20070522 20070522155754 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-07-120610 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: S-3ASR PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 13 FILED AS OF DATE: 20070522 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20070522 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20070522 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: RAYONIER INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000052827 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798] IRS NUMBER: 132607329 STATE OF INCORPORATION: NC FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-3ASR SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-143150 FILM NUMBER: 07871185 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 50 NORTH LAURA ST STREET 2: SUITE 1900 CITY: JACKSONVILLE STATE: FL ZIP: 32202 BUSINESS PHONE: 9043579100 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 50 NORTH LAURA ST STREET 2: SUITE 1900 CITY: JACKSONVILLE STATE: FL ZIP: 32202 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: ITT RAYONIER INC /CT/ DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19940422 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: ITT RAYONIER INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Rayonier Forest Resources, L.P. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001400057 IRS NUMBER: 061159803 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-3ASR SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-143150-01 FILM NUMBER: 07871186 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 50 N. LAURA STREET, SUITE 1900 CITY: JACKSONVILLE STATE: FL ZIP: 32202 BUSINESS PHONE: 904-357-9100 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 50 N. LAURA STREET, SUITE 1900 CITY: JACKSONVILLE STATE: FL ZIP: 32202 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001400058 IRS NUMBER: 200392883 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-3ASR SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-143150-02 FILM NUMBER: 07871187 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 50 N. LAURA STREET, SUITE 1900 CITY: JACKSONVILLE STATE: FL ZIP: 32202 BUSINESS PHONE: 904-357-9100 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 50 N. LAURA STREET, SUITE 1900 CITY: JACKSONVILLE STATE: FL ZIP: 32202 S-3ASR 1 ds3asr.htm FORM S-3 ASR Form S-3 ASR
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 22, 2007

Registration No. 333-            

 


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 


Rayonier Inc.,

Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc.,

and

Rayonier Forest Resources, L.P.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

North Carolina
Delaware
Delaware
  13-2607329
20-0392883
06-1159803
(State of incorporation)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

50 North Laura Street

Jacksonville, Florida 32202

(904) 357-9100

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

 


Joshua H. DeRienzis, Esq.

Senior Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary

50 North Laura Street

Jacksonville, Florida 32202

(904) 357-9100

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 


copy to:

Mike Rosenwasser

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

666 Fifth Avenue, 26th Floor

New York, NY 10103

 


Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective, as determined by market conditions and other factors.

If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  x

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  x

If this form is a post effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ¨

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of each class of securities

to be registered

   Amount to be
registered(1)(2)
   Proposed maximum
aggregate offering
price per unit(1)(2)
   Proposed maximum
aggregate offering
price(1)(2)(3)
   Amount of
registration fee(4)

Rayonier Inc:

                      

Debt Securities

                   

Guarantees(6)

                   

Common Shares, no par value

                   

Preferred Shares

                   

Warrants(5)

                   

Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc.

                   

Debt Securities

                   

Guarantees (6)

                   

Rayonier Forest Resources, L.P.

                   

Debt Securities

                   

Guarantees(6)

             
 

 

(1) Not applicable pursuant to Form S-3 General Instruction II(E).
(2) An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price or number of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be offered at indeterminate prices. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities or that are issued in units.
(3) Exclusive of accrued interest, distributions and dividends, if any.
(4) In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act, the Registrants are deferring payment of all of the registration fee, except for $19,983 that may be offset pursuant to Rule 457(p) for fees paid with respect to the unsold portion of the $500,000,000 aggregate initial offering price of securities that were previously registered pursuant to Registration Statement No. 333-107213, initially filed on July 22, 2003 that have not been issued and sold. Pursuant to Rule 457(p) under the Securities Act, such unutilized filing fee may be applied to the filing fee payable pursuant to this registration statement.
(5) Represents warrants to purchase preferred stock or common stock which may be issued by Rayonier Inc.
(6) Pursuant to Rule 457(n) under the Securities Act, no separate registration fee will be paid in respect of any such guarantees.


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PROSPECTUS

LOGO

RAYONIER INC.

 


DEBT SECURITIES

GUARANTEES

COMMON SHARES

PREFERRED SHARES

WARRANTS

 


RAYONIER TRS HOLDINGS INC.

 


DEBT SECURITIES

GUARANTEES

 


RAYONIER FOREST RESOURCES, L.P.

 


DEBT SECURITIES

GUARANTEES

 


By this prospectus, we may offer debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, warrants and guarantees of Rayonier Inc., debt securities and guarantees of Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc. and debt securities and guarantees of Rayonier Forest Resources, L.P.

This prospectus describes the general terms of these securities and the general manner in which we will offer the securities. The specific terms of any securities we offer will be included in a supplement to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will also describe the specific manner in which we will offer the securities.

Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RYN.”

INVESTING IN ANY OF OUR SECURITIES INVOLVES RISK. YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER EACH OF THE FACTORS DESCRIBED UNDER “ RISK FACTORS“ WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 3 OF THIS PROSPECTUS, AS WELL AS THE RISKS CONTAINED OR DESCRIBED IN THE APPLICABLE PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED HEREIN OR THEREIN BY REFERENCE BEFORE YOU MAKE AN INVESTMENT IN THE SECURITIES.

NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (THE SEC) NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

 


The date of this prospectus is May 22, 2007.

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

   1

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

   1

THE COMPANY

   2

RISK FACTORS

   3

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

   4

USE OF PROCEEDS

   5

RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

   5

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

   6

Debt Securities May Be Senior or Subordinated

   6

The Senior Debt Indenture and the Subordinated Debt Indenture of Rayonier

   7

The Senior Debt Indenture and the Subordinated Debt Indenture of TRS Holdings

   7

The Senior Debt Indenture and the Subordinated Debt Indenture of Forest Resources

   8

We May Issue Many Series of Debt Securities

   8

Amounts That We May Issue

   9

Principal Amount, Stated Maturity and Maturity

   9

This Section Is Only a Summary

   9

Original Issue Discount Debt Securities

   9

Information in the Prospectus Supplement

   10

Redemption and Repayment

   10

Subordination Provisions

   11

Covenants

   12

Events of Default, Remedies and Notice

   14

Amendments and Waivers

   16

Defeasance and Discharge

   17

Book Entry, Delivery and Form

   18

The Trustee

   19

Governing Law

   20

DESCRIPTION OF RAYONIER, TRS HOLDINGS AND FOREST RESOURCES GUARANTEES

   21

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

   22

Common Shares

   22

Preferred Shares

   22

Anti-Takeover Provisions

   23

Limitation of Liability of Officers and Directors

   24

Transfer Agent and Registrar

   25

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

   26

CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

   28

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

   36

LEGAL MATTERS

   38

EXPERTS

   38

 


You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized any dealer, salesman or any other person to provide you with additional or different information. This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are not an offer to sell or the

 

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solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the securities to which they relate and are not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation in that jurisdiction. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or in any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document containing the information. We will disclose any material changes in our affairs in an amendment to this prospectus, a prospectus supplement or a future filing with the SEC incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

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Unless otherwise indicated or the context requires otherwise, as used in this prospectus and in any accompanying prospectus supplement, references to “we,” “us,” “our,” “the company” and other similar references are to Rayonier Inc. and all of its subsidiaries (including Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc. and Rayonier Forest Resources, L.P.) on a consolidated basis. References to “Rayonier” are to Rayonier Inc., references to “TRS Holdings” are to Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc. and references to “Forest Resources” are to Rayonier Forest Resources, L.P.

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, Rayonier Inc., Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc. and Rayonier Forest Resources, L.P. may, from time to time, sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of the offering and the securities. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Any statement that we make in this prospectus will be modified or superseded by any inconsistent statement made by us in a prospectus supplement. The information in this prospectus is accurate as of May 22, 2007. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some of the information included in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents we incorporate by reference contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements, which may include statements regarding anticipated earnings, revenues, volumes, pricing, costs and other statements relating to Rayonier’s financial and operational performance and business strategies, in some cases are identified by the use of words such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “estimate”, “believe”, “anticipate” and other similar language. The following important factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements contained in this release; changes in global market trends and world events; interest rate and currency movements; changes in key management personnel; fluctuations in demand for, or supply of, cellulose specialty products, absorbent materials, timber, wood products or real estate and entry of new competitors into these markets; adverse weather conditions and natural disasters affecting production, timber availability and sales, or distribution; changes in production costs for wood products or performance fibers, particularly for raw materials such as wood, energy and chemicals; unexpected delays in the entry into or closing of real estate sale transactions; changes in law, policy or political environment that might condition, limit or restrict the development of real estate; the ability of the company to identify and complete timberland and higher-value real estate acquisitions; the company’s ability to continue to qualify as a REIT; the ability of the company to complete like-kind exchanges of real estate; and implementation or revision of governmental policies, laws and regulations affecting the environment, endangered species, timber harvesting, import and export controls or taxes, including changes in tax laws that could reduce the benefits associated with REIT status. For additional factors that could impact future results, please see “Risk Factors.” Rayonier assumes no obligation to update these statements except as may be required by law. You are advised, however, to review any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports to the SEC.

 

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THE COMPANY

We are a leading international forest products company primarily engaged in activities associated with timberland management, the sale and development of real estate, and the production and sale of high value specialty cellulose fibers. We own, lease or manage approximately 2.7 million acres of timberland and real estate located in the United States, New Zealand and Australia. We believe that we are the fifth largest private timberland owner in the U.S. Included in this property is over 200,000 acres of high value real estate located primarily along the coastal corridor from Savannah, Georgia to Daytona Beach, Florida. We often refer to this as the “coastal corridor.” We also own and operate two specialty cellulose mills in the United States. In addition, we manufacture lumber in three sawmills in Georgia and engage in the trading of logs and wood products.

We originated as the Rainier Pulp & Paper Company founded in Shelton, WA in 1926. In 1937, we became “Rayonier Incorporated,” a public company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), until 1968 when we became a wholly-owned subsidiary of ITT Corporation (ITT). On February 28, 1994, Rayonier again became an independent public company after ITT distributed all of Rayonier’s Common Shares to ITT stockholders. Our shares are publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol RYN. Rayonier is a North Carolina corporation with executive offices located at 50 North Laura Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Our telephone number is (904) 357-9100.

Effective January 1, 2004, we restructured the Company as a real estate investment trust (REIT). Under this structure, we are generally not required to pay federal income taxes on our earnings from timber harvest operations and other REIT-qualifying activities contingent upon meeting applicable distribution, income, asset, shareholder and other tests. However, we are subject to corporate taxes on built-in gains (the excess of fair market value over tax basis at January 1, 2004) on taxable sales of property by our REIT during the first ten years following our election to be taxed as a REIT. Our principal businesses are conducted through two entities. Our U.S. timber operations are conducted by our wholly-owned REIT subsidiary, Forest Resources. Our non REIT-qualifying operations, which continue to pay corporate-level tax on earnings, are held under our wholly-owned taxable subsidiary, TRS Holdings. These operations include our Performance Fibers, Wood Products and trading businesses, as well as the sale and development of high value real estate (referred to as higher and better use, or “HBU” properties).

A significant portion of our acreage has become, or is emerging as, more valuable for development, recreational or conservation purposes than for growing timber. To maximize the value of these properties, we expanded our focus from sales of medium and large tracts of land to include more value-added activities such as seeking entitlements alone or in participation with other developers. Our real estate operations are considered a separate operating and reportable business segment.

In 2006, we acquired 228,000 acres of timberland in six states for an aggregate $272 million, which increased our geographic footprint and species mix.

In 2005, we entered into a joint venture (JV) with RREEF Infrastructure, the global infrastructure investing arm of Deutsche Asset Management, under which the JV purchased approximately 354,000 acres of New Zealand timberlands, including 118,000 acres from Rayonier New Zealand Ltd. Our initial investment of approximately $122 million, representing a 49.7 percent equity interest, was made primarily by our REIT. In June 2006, AMP Capital Investors Limited, a subsidiary of the Australian corporation AMP Limited, purchased a total interest in the JV of 35 percent, of which 9.7 percent was from Rayonier New Zealand Ltd. and the remainder from RREEF, thereby reducing our investment in the JV from 49.7 percent to 40 percent. The JV’s timber harvest operations are subject to New Zealand income taxes; however, they are REIT-qualifying and therefore we will generally not be required to pay U.S. federal income taxes on our equity earnings. In addition to having an equity investment in the JV, we manage its timberlands for which we receive a management fee.

Our website address is www.rayonier.com. The information contained on our website is not part of this prospectus unless it is otherwise filed with the SEC.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves a significant degree of risk. In deciding whether to invest in our securities, you should carefully consider those risk factors included in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K as supplemented by our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, each of which is incorporated herein by reference, and those risk factors that may be included in the applicable prospectus supplement, together with all of the other information presented in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, and the documents we have incorporated by reference. Each of these factors could materially adversely affect our operations, financial results and the market price of our securities.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and other reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public via the Internet at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy at prescribed rates any document we file at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C. by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file, which means that we can disclose important information to you without actually including the specific information in this prospectus by referring you to other documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act, until we sell all of the securities or we terminate this offering (other than information in such documents that is deemed not to be filed):

 

   

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 filed February 27, 2007.

 

   

Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2007, filed April 26, 2007.

 

   

Our definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed April 9, 2007.

 

   

Current Report on Form 8-K, filed February 28, 2007.

 

   

Current Report on Form 8-K, filed March 19, 2007.

 

   

Registration of Securities on Form 8-A, filed February 4, 1994.

We make available free of charge on or through our Internet website, www.rayonier.com, our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Any other documents available on our website are not incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

Alternatively, you may request a copy of these filings at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address or telephone number:

Investor Relations Department

Rayonier Inc.

50 North Laura Street

Jacksonville, Florida 32202

(904) 357-9100

You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of those documents.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise provided in a prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of any securities offered by this prospectus and any prospectus supplement for our general corporate purposes, which may include repayment of indebtedness, the financing of capital expenditures, future acquisitions, share repurchases and additions to our working capital.

RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

Our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated is as follows:

 

     Three
Months
Ended
March 31,
2007
   Year Ended December 31,
        2006    2005    2004    2003    2002

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

   4.12    4.80    5.04    3.73    2.26    2.14

We computed the ratios of earnings to fixed charges by dividing earnings by fixed charges. For this purpose, earnings consist of: income from continuing operations before income taxes, plus interest expense and other financial charges and the amortization of capitalized interest. Fixed charges consist of: interest expense, including interest attributable to operating leases and other financial charges, plus capitalized interest.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

Please note that in this section entitled “Description of Debt Securities,” references to “the issuer,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer either to Rayonier, TRS Holdings or Forest Resources, as the case may be, as the issuer of the applicable series of debt securities and not to any subsidiaries unless the context requires otherwise. Also, in this section, references to “holders” mean those who own debt securities registered in their own names on the books that we or the Trustee maintain for this purpose and not those who own beneficial interests in debt securities registered in street name or in debt securities issued in book-entry form through one or more depositaries. Owners of beneficial interests in the debt securities should read the section below entitled “Legal Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance.”

Debt Securities May Be Senior or Subordinated

Rayonier, TRS Holdings and Forest Resources may issue senior or subordinated debt securities. Unless otherwise described in a prospectus supplement, neither the senior debt securities nor the subordinated debt securities will be secured by any property or assets of Rayonier, TRS Holdings, Forest Resources or any of their respective subsidiaries. Thus, by owning a debt security, you are an unsecured creditor of Rayonier, TRS Holdings or Forest Resources, as the case may be.

Neither any limited or general partner of Forest Resources, including Rayonier, nor any principal, shareholder, officer, director, trustee or employee of any limited or general partner of Forest Resources or of any successor of any limited or general partner of Forest Resources will have any obligation for payment of debt securities or for any of Rayonier’s, TRS Holdings’ or Forest Resources’ obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the debt securities or the applicable indenture. Similarly, no principal, shareholder, officer, director, trustee or employee of Rayonier or TRS Holdings will have any obligation for payment of debt securities or for any of each others’ or Forest Resources’ obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the debt securities or applicable indenture. By accepting the debt securities, you waive and release all liability of this kind. This waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of debt securities and will not apply to the liability of Rayonier, TRS Holdings or Forest Resources solely in its capacity of guarantor of any series of debt securities to the extent of any such guarantee.

Any senior debt securities of Rayonier, TRS Holdings and Forest Resources will be issued under the applicable senior debt indenture, as described below, and will rank equally with all of the issuer’s other senior unsecured and unsubordinated debt.

The subordinated debt securities of Rayonier, TRS Holdings and Forest Resources will be issued under the applicable subordinated debt indenture, as described below, and will be subordinate in right of payment to all of the issuer’s “senior indebtedness,” as defined in the applicable subordinated debt indenture. The prospectus supplement for any series of subordinated debt securities or the information incorporated in this prospectus by reference will indicate the approximate amount of senior indebtedness outstanding as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter. As of March 31, 2007, $673 million aggregate principal amount of Rayonier’s, TRS Holdings’ and Forest Resources’ total indebtedness constituted senior indebtedness. None of the indentures limit the issuer’s ability to incur additional senior indebtedness, unless otherwise described in the prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities.

When we refer to “senior debt securities” in this prospectus, we mean the senior debt securities of Rayonier, TRS Holdings and Forest Resources, unless the context requires otherwise. When we refer to “subordinated debt securities” in this prospectus, we mean the subordinated debt securities of Rayonier, TRS Holdings and Forest Resources, unless the context requires otherwise. When we refer to “debt securities” in this prospectus, we mean both the senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities, unless the context requires otherwise.

 

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The Senior Debt Indenture and the Subordinated Debt Indenture of Rayonier

The senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities of Rayonier will each be governed by a document called an indenture—the senior debt indenture, in the case of the senior debt securities, and the subordinated debt indenture, in the case of the subordinated debt securities. Each indenture will be a contract between Rayonier as the issuer of the debt securities, TRS Holdings and Forest Resources, as the case may be, as the guarantors of the debt securities, if applicable, and the Trustee. These indentures governing the debt securities of Rayonier are substantially identical, except for the provisions relating to subordination, which are included only in the subordinated debt indenture and, to the extent any debt is secured, except for provisions relating to security.

TRS Holdings and Forest Resources may, under each of Rayonier’s indentures, guarantee (either fully and unconditionally or in a limited manner) the due and punctual payment of principal of, and interest on, one or more series or debt securities of Rayonier. See “Description of Rayonier, TRS Holdings and Forest Resources Guarantees” below for more information. If such debt securities are so guaranteed, the existence and terms of such guarantee will be set forth in the prospectus supplement for such debt securities.

The Trustee under each indenture has two main roles:

 

   

First, the Trustee can enforce your rights against us if we default. There are some limitations on the extent to which the Trustee acts on your behalf, which we describe later under “Events of Default, Remedies and Notice.”

 

   

Second, the Trustee performs administrative duties for us, such as sending interest payments and notices.

See “The Trustee” below for more information about the Trustee.

When we refer to the indenture, the guarantor or the Trustee with respect to any debt securities of Rayonier, we mean the indenture under which those debt securities are issued, the guarantor of those debt securities, if applicable, and the Trustee under that indenture.

The Senior Debt Indenture and the Subordinated Debt Indenture of TRS Holdings

The senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities of TRS Holdings are each governed by a document called an indenture—the senior debt indenture, in the case of the senior debt securities, and the subordinated debt indenture, in the case of the subordinated debt securities. Each indenture is a contract between TRS Holdings as the issuer of the debt securities, Rayonier or Forest Resources, as the case may be, as the guarantor of the debt securities, if applicable, and the Trustee. These indentures governing the debt securities of TRS Holdings are substantially identical, except for the provisions relating to subordination, which are included only in the subordinated debt indenture.

Rayonier and Forest Resources may, under each indenture, guarantee (either fully and unconditionally or in a limited manner) the due and punctual payment of principal of, and interest on, one or more series or debt securities of TRS Holdings. See “Description of Rayonier, TRS Holdings and Forest Resources Guarantees” below for more information. If such debt securities are so guaranteed, the existence and terms of such guarantee will be set forth in the prospectus supplement for such debt securities.

The Trustee under each indenture has two main roles:

 

   

First, the Trustee can enforce your rights against us if we default. There are some limitations on the extent to which the Trustee acts on your behalf, which we describe later under “Events of Default, Remedies and Notice.”

 

   

Second, the Trustee performs administrative duties for us, such as sending interest payments and notices.

 

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See “The Trustee” below for more information about the Trustee.

When we refer to the indenture, the guarantor or the Trustee with respect to any debt securities of TRS Holdings, we mean the indenture under which those debt securities are issued, the guarantor of those debt securities, if applicable, and the Trustee under that indenture.

The Senior Debt Indenture and the Subordinated Debt Indenture of Forest Resources

The senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities of Forest Resources are each governed by a document called an indenture—the senior debt indenture, in the case of the senior debt securities, and the subordinated debt indenture, in the case of the subordinated debt securities. Each indenture is a contract between Forest Resources as the issuer of the debt securities, Rayonier or TRS Holdings, as the case may be, as the guarantor of the debt securities, if applicable, and the Trustee. These indentures governing the debt securities of Forest Resources are substantially identical, except for the provisions relating to subordination, which are included only in the subordinated debt indenture.

Rayonier and TRS Holdings may, under each indenture, guarantee (either fully and unconditionally or in a limited manner) the due and punctual payment of principal of, and interest on, one or more series or debt securities of Forest Resources See “Description of Rayonier, TRS Holdings and Forest Resources Guarantees” below for more information. If such debt securities are so guaranteed, the existence and terms of such guarantee will be set forth in the prospectus supplement for such debt securities.

The Trustee under each indenture has two main roles:

 

   

First, the Trustee can enforce your rights against us if we default. There are some limitations on the extent to which the Trustee acts on your behalf, which we describe later under “Events of Default, Remedies and Notice.”

 

   

Second, the Trustee performs administrative duties for us, such as sending interest payments and notices.

See “The Trustee” below for more information about the Trustee.

When we refer to the indenture, guarantor or the Trustee with respect to any debt securities of Forest Resources, we mean the indenture under which those debt securities are issued, the guarantor of those debt securities, if applicable, and the Trustee under that indenture.

We May Issue Many Series of Debt Securities

We may issue as many distinct series of debt securities under a debt indenture as we wish. This section of the prospectus summarizes terms of the securities that apply generally to all series. The provisions of each indenture allow us not only to issue debt securities with terms different from those of debt securities previously issued under that indenture, but also to “reopen” a previous issue of a series of debt securities and issue additional debt securities of that series. We will describe most of the financial and other specific terms of a series including any additional terms of any guarantee, if applicable, whether it be a series of the senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities, in the prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus. Those terms may vary from the terms described here.

As you read this section of the prospectus, please remember that the specific terms of your debt security will be described in the accompanying prospectus supplement and, if applicable, that description may modify or replace the general terms described in this section. If there are any differences between the prospectus supplement relating to your debt securities and this prospectus, the prospectus supplement relating to your debt securities will control. Thus, the statements we make in this section may not apply to your debt security.

When we refer to a series of debt securities, we mean a series issued under the applicable indenture. When we refer to your prospectus supplement, we mean the prospectus supplement describing the specific terms of the

 

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debt security you purchase. The terms used in your prospectus supplement have the meanings described in this prospectus, unless otherwise specified.

Amounts That We May Issue

None of the indentures will limit the aggregate amount of debt securities that we may issue or the number of series or the aggregate amount of any particular series. In addition, the indentures and the debt securities will not limit Rayonier’s, TRS Holdings’ or Forest Resources’ ability to incur other indebtedness or to issue other securities, unless otherwise described in the prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities. Also, neither Rayonier, TRS Holdings nor Forest Resources are subject to financial or similar restrictions by the terms of the debt securities, unless otherwise described in the prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities.

Principal Amount, Stated Maturity and Maturity

The principal amount of a debt security means the principal amount payable at its stated maturity, unless that amount is not determinable, in which case the principal amount of a debt security is its face amount. Any debt securities owned by us or any of our affiliates are not deemed to be outstanding for certain determinations under the indenture.

The term “stated maturity” with respect to any debt security means the day on which the principal amount of the debt security is scheduled to become due. The principal may become due sooner, by reason of redemption or acceleration after a default or otherwise in accordance with the terms of the debt security. The day on which the principal actually becomes due, whether at the stated maturity or earlier, is called the “maturity” of the principal.

We also use the terms “stated maturity” and “maturity” to refer to the days when other payments become due. For example, we refer to a regular interest payment date when an installment of interest is scheduled to become due as the “stated maturity” of that installment.

When we refer to the “stated maturity” or the “maturity” of a debt security without specifying a particular payment, we mean the stated maturity or maturity, as the case may be, of the principal.

This Section Is Only a Summary

The indentures and their associated documents, including your debt security, contain the full legal text of the matters described in this section and your prospectus supplement. We have filed forms of the indentures with the SEC as exhibits to our registration statements. See “Where You Can Find More Information” above for information on how to obtain copies of them.

This section and your prospectus supplement summarize all the material terms of the indentures and your debt security. They do not, however, describe every aspect of the indentures and your debt security. For example, in this section and your prospectus supplement, we use terms that have been given special meaning in the indentures, but we describe the meaning for only the more important of those terms.

Original Issue Discount Debt Securities

A fixed rate debt security, a floating rate debt security or an indexed debt security may be an original issue discount debt security. A debt security of this type is issued at a price lower than its principal amount and provides that, upon redemption or acceleration of its maturity, an amount less than its principal amount will be payable. An original issue discount debt security may be a zero coupon debt security. A debt security issued at a discount to its principal may, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, be considered an original issue discount debt security, regardless of the amount payable upon redemption or acceleration of maturity. The U.S. federal income

 

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tax consequences of owning an original issue discount debt security may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Information in the Prospectus Supplement

A prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of a particular series of debt securities, which will include some or all of the following:

 

   

whether the issuer of the debt securities is Rayonier, TRS Holdings or Forest Resources;

 

   

the form and title of the debt securities;

 

   

whether they are senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities and, if they are subordinated debt securities, any changes in the subordination provisions described in this prospectus applicable to those subordinated debt securities;

 

   

the total principal amount of the debt securities;

 

   

the date or dates on which the debt securities may be issued;

 

   

the dates on which the principal and premium, if any, of the debt securities will be payable;

 

   

any right we may have to defer payments of interest by extending the dates payments are due and whether interest on these deferred amounts will be payable;

 

   

the price at which we originally issue the debt securities, expressed as a percentage of the principal amount, and the original issue date;

 

   

any optional redemption provisions;

 

   

the interest rate which the debt securities will bear and the interest payment dates for the debt securities;

 

   

any sinking fund or other provisions that would obligate us to repurchase or otherwise redeem the debt securities;

 

   

the denominations in which the debt securities will be issuable, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000;

 

   

any changes to or additional Events of Default or covenants;

 

   

the terms, if any, upon which the debt securities may be convertible into or exchanged for stock, other debt securities or other securities; and

 

   

any other terms of the debt securities or any applicable guarantee.

Redemption and Repayment

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, a debt security will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund—that is, we will not deposit money on a regular basis into any separate custodial account to repay the debt securities. In addition, we will not be entitled to redeem a debt security before its stated maturity unless the prospectus supplement specifies a redemption commencement date. You will not be entitled to require us to buy a debt security from you before its stated maturity unless your prospectus supplement specifies one or more repayment dates.

If your applicable prospectus supplement specifies a redemption commencement date or a repayment date, it will also specify one or more redemption prices or repayment prices, which may be expressed as a percentage of the principal amount of the debt security. It may also specify one or more redemption periods during which the redemption prices relating to a redemption of debt securities during those periods will apply.

If we redeem less than all the debt securities of any series, we will, at least 60 days before the redemption date set by us or any shorter period that is satisfactory to the Trustee, notify the Trustee of the redemption date,

 

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of the principal amount of debt securities to be redeemed and if applicable, of the term of the debt securities to be redeemed. The Trustee will select from the outstanding securities of the series the particular debt securities to be redeemed not more than 60 days before the redemption date. This procedure will not apply to any redemption of a single debt security.

If your prospectus supplement specifies a redemption commencement date, the debt security will be redeemable at our option at any time on or after that date or at a specified time or times. If we redeem the debt security, we will do so at the specified redemption price, together with interest accrued to the redemption date. If different prices are specified for different redemption periods, the price we pay will be the price that applies to the redemption period during which the debt security is redeemed.

If your prospectus supplement specifies a repayment date, the debt security will be repayable at the holder’s option on the specified repayment date at the specified repayment price, together with interest accrued to the repayment date.

If we exercise an option to redeem any debt security, we will give to the holder written notice of the principal amount of the debt security to be redeemed, not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days before the applicable redemption date. We will give the notice in the manner described below in “Events of Default, Remedies and Notices.”

If a debt security represented by a global debt security is subject to repayment at the holder’s option, the depositary or its nominee, as the holder, will be the only person that can exercise the right to repayment. Any indirect owners who own beneficial interests in the global debt security and wish to exercise a repayment right must give proper and timely instructions to their banks or brokers through which they hold their interests, requesting that they notify the depositary to exercise the repayment right on their behalf. Different firms have different deadlines for accepting instructions from their customers, and you should take care to act promptly enough to ensure that your request is given effect by the depositary before the applicable deadline for exercise.

Street name and other indirect owners should contact their banks or brokers for information about how to exercise a repayment right in a timely manner.

We or our affiliates may purchase debt securities from investors who are willing to sell from time to time, either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. Debt securities that we or they purchase may, at our discretion, be held, resold or canceled.

Subordination Provisions

Holders of subordinated debt securities should recognize that contractual provisions in the subordinated debt indenture may prohibit the issuer of the subordinated debt securities from making payments on those securities. Subordinated debt securities are subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner stated in the subordinated debt indenture or in the provisions of the applicable debt securities, to all of the issuer’s senior debt, as defined in the subordinated debt indenture, including all debt securities the issuer has issued and will issue under the senior debt indenture.

The subordinated debt indenture defines “senior debt” as the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all indebtedness of the issuer, other than the subordinated debt securities, whether outstanding on the date of the indenture or thereafter created, incurred or assumed, which is (a) for money borrowed, (b) evidenced by a note or similar instrument given in connection with the acquisition of any businesses, properties or assets of any kind or (c) obligations the issuer, as lessee under leases required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of the lessee under generally accepted accounting principles or leases of property or assets made as part of any sale and lease-back transaction to which the issuer is a party. For the purpose of this definition, “interest” includes interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the issuer, to the

 

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extent that the claim for post-petition interest is allowed in the proceeding. Also for the purpose of this definition, “indebtedness of the issuer” includes indebtedness of others guaranteed by the issuer and amendments, renewals, extensions, modifications and refundings of any indebtedness or obligation of the kinds described in the first sentence of this paragraph. However, “indebtedness of the issuer” for the purpose of this definition does not include any indebtedness or obligation if the instrument creating or evidencing the indebtedness or obligation, or under which the indebtedness or obligation is outstanding, provides that the indebtedness or obligation is not superior in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities.

The subordinated debt indenture provides that, unless all principal of and any premium or interest on the senior debt has been paid in full, no payment or other distribution may be made in respect of any subordinated debt securities in the following circumstances:

 

   

in the event of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, or any receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar proceeding involving the issuer or its assets;

 

   

in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of the issuer, whether voluntary or involuntary and whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy;

 

   

in the event of any assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of assets and liabilities of the issuer;

 

   

if any subordinated debt securities of issuer have been declared due and payable before their stated maturity; or

 

   

(a) in the event and during the continuation of any default in the payment of principal, premium or interest on any senior debt beyond any applicable grace period or if any event of default with respect to any senior debt of the issuer has occurred and is continuing, permitting the holders of that senior debt of the issuer or the Trustee to accelerate the maturity of that senior debt, unless the event of default has been cured or waived or ceased to exist and any related acceleration has been rescinded, or (b) if any judicial proceeding is pending with respect to a payment default or an event of default described in (a).

If the Trustee under the subordinated debt indenture or any holders of the subordinated debt securities receive any payment or distribution that they know is prohibited under the subordination provisions, then the Trustee or the holders will have to repay that money to the holders of the senior debt.

Even if the subordination provisions prevent us from making any payment when due on the subordinated debt securities of any series, we will be in default on our obligations under that series if we do not make the payment when due. This means that the Trustee under the subordinated debt indenture and the holders of that series can take action against us, but they will not receive any money until the claims of the holders of senior debt have been fully satisfied.

Covenants

The following covenants apply to Rayonier, TRS Holdings or Forest Resources as applicable, with respect to the debt securities of each series it issues unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. As used in this section, “we” refers to Rayonier, TRS Holdings or Forest Resources, as issuer of the applicable debt securities.

Merger, Amalgamation, Consolidation and Sale of Assets

Each of Rayonier, TRS Holdings and Forest Resources is generally permitted to merge or consolidate with another entity. Each of Rayonier, TRS Holdings and Forest Resources is also permitted to sell its assets substantially as an entirety to another entity. With regard to any series of debt securities, however, unless

 

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otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the issuer of the debt securities, whether Rayonier, TRS Holdings or Forest Resources, as the case may be, may not take any of these actions unless all the following conditions are met:

 

   

If the successor entity in the transaction is not the issuer, the successor entity, must be an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or other agency or political subdivision thereof or other entity of any kind, organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and the survivor shall expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Debt Securities according to their tenor;

 

   

Immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of transactions (and treating any debt which becomes an obligation of the successor entity or any subsidiary of the issuer as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the successor entity or such subsidiary at the time of such transaction or series of transactions), no default or event of default would occur or be continuing;

 

   

If the issuer is not the continuing entity, then each Guarantor, unless it has become the successor entity, shall confirm that its Guarantee shall continue to apply to the obligations under the Debt Securities and the applicable indenture; and

 

   

The issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or disposition and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with the applicable indenture.

If the conditions described above are satisfied with respect to the debt securities of any series, Rayonier, TRS Holdings or Forest Resources, as the case may be, as issuer of those debt securities, will not need to obtain the approval of the holders of those debt securities in order to merge or consolidate or to sell its assets. Also, these conditions will apply only if the issuer of those debt securities wishes to merge or consolidate with another entity or sell its assets substantially as an entirety to another entity. The issuer of those debt securities will not need to satisfy these conditions if it enters into other types of transactions, including any transaction in which the issuer acquires the stock or assets of another entity, any transaction that involves a change of control of the issuer but in which the issuer does not merge or consolidate and any transaction in which the issuer sells less than substantially all of its assets.

Any limitation applicable to the ability of Rayonier, TRS Holdings or Forest Resources, as the case may be, in its capacity as guarantor of debt securities of any series of Rayonier, TRS Holdings or Forest Resources to participate in any of the actions described above will be set forth in the supplemental indenture for such series of debt securities.

Reports

So long as any debt securities are outstanding, Rayonier will:

 

   

file with the Trustee, within 15 days after Rayonier files them with the SEC, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports which Rayonier is required to file with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act; and

 

   

if Rayonier is not required to file information with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act, file with the Trustee, within 15 days after Rayonier would have been required to file with the SEC, and provide holders of the debt securities with, annual reports and information, documents and other reports comparable to what Rayonier would have been required to file with the SEC had Rayonier been subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act.

 

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Other Covenants

A series of debt securities may contain additional financial and other covenants applicable to us and our subsidiaries. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain a description of any such covenants that are added to the Indenture specifically for the benefit of holders of a particular series of debt securities.

Additional covenants described in the applicable prospectus supplement may apply to the issues of the debt securities and, if applicable, Rayonier, TRS Holdings or Forest Resources in their capacity as guarantor of the debt securities of Rayonier, TRS Holdings or Forest Resources, as the case may be, with respect to a particular series of debt securities.

Events of Default, Remedies and Notice

Events of Default

Unless otherwise indicated in an accompanying prospectus supplement, each of the following events will be an “Event of Default” under the Indenture with respect to a series of debt securities:

 

   

default in any payment of interest on any debt securities of that series when due that continues for 30 days;

 

   

default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, on any debt securities of that series when due at its stated maturity, upon redemption, upon required repurchase or otherwise;

 

   

default in the payment of any sinking fund payment, if any, on any debt securities of that series when due;

 

   

failure to comply for 60 days (or 180 days in the case of a Reporting Failure) after notice with the other agreements contained in the Indenture, any supplement to the Indenture or any board resolution authorizing the issuance of that series; or

 

   

our bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization.

“Reporting Failure” means Rayonier’s failure to file with the Trustee, within 15 days after Rayonier is required to file the same with the Commission within the time periods specified in the Exchange Act or in the relevant forms thereunder (after giving effect to any grace period specified under Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act), the annual reports, information, documents or other reports which Rayonier may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

Exercise of Remedies

An Event of Default for a particular series of debt securities will not necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any other series of debt securities that may be outstanding under the Indenture. If an Event of Default occurs with respect to a series of debt securities, other than an Event of Default described in the fifth bullet point above, and is continuing, the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the entire principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default described in the fifth bullet point above occurs and is continuing, the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all outstanding debt securities of all series will become immediately due and payable without any declaration of acceleration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any holders.

A default under the fourth bullet point above will not constitute an Event of Default with respect to a series of debt securities until the Trustee or the holders of 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series notify us of the default and such default is not cured within 60 days (or 180 days in the case of a Reporting Failure) after receipt of notice.

 

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The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series may rescind any declaration of acceleration by the Trustee or the holders with respect to the debt securities of that series, but only if:

 

   

rescinding the declaration of acceleration would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction; and

 

   

all existing Events of Default with respect to that series have been cured or waived, other than the nonpayment of principal, premium or interest on the debt securities of that series that have become due solely by the declaration of acceleration.

The Trustee will be under no obligation, except as otherwise provided in the Indenture, to exercise any of the rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders unless such holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity or security against any costs, liability or expense that may be incurred in exercising such rights or powers. No holder of debt securities of any series may pursue any remedy with respect to the Indenture or the debt securities of that series, unless:

 

   

such holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default with respect to that series is continuing;

 

   

holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have requested that the Trustee pursue the remedy;

 

   

such holders have offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity or security against any cost, liability or expense to be incurred in pursuit of the remedy;

 

   

the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of indemnity or security; and

 

   

the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have not given the Trustee a direction that is inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period. This provision does not, however, affect the right of a holder to sue for enforcement of any overdue payment respecting its own debt securities.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series have the right, subject to certain restrictions, to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any right or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to that series of debt securities. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that:

 

   

conflicts with law;

 

   

is inconsistent with any provision of the Indenture;

 

   

the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other holder; or

 

   

would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

Notice of Events of Default

Upon the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default, we are required to give written notice to the Trustee and indicate what action we propose to take to cure it. In addition, we are required to deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a compliance certificate indicating that we have complied with all covenants contained in the Indenture or whether any Default or Event of Default has occurred during the previous year.

If a Default with respect to the debt securities of a particular series occurs and is continuing and is known to the Trustee, the Trustee must mail to each holder of debt securities of that series a notice of the Default within 90

 

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days after the Default occurs. Except in the case of a Default in the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest with respect to the debt securities of any series, the Trustee may withhold such notice, but only if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a committee of directors or responsible officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that withholding such notice is in the interests of the holders of debt securities of that series.

Amendments and Waivers

We may amend the Indenture without the consent of any holder of debt securities to:

 

   

cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

 

   

make any change in respect of any other series of debt securities issued under the Indenture that is not applicable to such series;

 

   

provide for the assumption by a successor of our obligations under the Indenture;

 

   

secure the debt securities;

 

   

add covenants for the protection of the holders or surrender any right or power conferred upon us;

 

   

make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder;

 

   

add or appoint a successor or separate Trustee;

 

   

comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; or

 

   

establish the form or terms of debt securities of any series to be issued under the Indenture.

In addition, we may amend the Indenture if the holders of a majority in principal amount of all debt securities of each series that would be affected then outstanding under the Indenture consent to it. We may not, however, without the consent of each holder of any outstanding debt securities that would be affected, amend the Indenture to:

 

   

reduce the percentage in principal amount of debt securities of any series whose holders must consent to an amendment;

 

   

reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any debt securities;

 

   

reduce the principal of or extend the stated maturity of any debt securities;

 

   

reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of any debt securities or change the time at which any debt securities may or shall be redeemed;

 

   

make any debt securities payable in other than U.S. dollars;

 

   

impair the right of any holder to receive payment of premium, if any, principal or interest with respect to such holder’s debt securities on or after the applicable due date;

 

   

impair the right of any holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment with respect to such holder’s debt securities;

 

   

make any change to an amendment provision which requires each holder’s consent;

 

   

make any change in the waiver provisions; or

 

   

modify or affect in any adverse manner the terms and conditions of the obligations of Rayonier, TRS Holdings or Forest Resources, as applicable, in respect of its guarantee, if any, of the due and punctual payment of principal of, or any premium or interest on, or any sinking fund or additional amounts with respect to any guaranteed debt security of Rayonier, TRS Holdings or Forest Resources as the case may be.

 

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The consent of the holders is not necessary under the Indenture to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment. It is sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment. After an amendment under the Indenture becomes effective, we are required to mail to all holders of debt securities of an affected series a notice briefly describing the amendment. The failure to give, or any defect in, such notice, however, will not impair or affect the validity of the amendment.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each affected series may, on behalf of all holders of debt securities of that series, waive any past Default or Event of Default with respect to that series, except one in respect of:

 

   

the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any debt securities of that series; or

 

   

a provision of the Indenture that cannot be amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected.

Neither Rayonier nor TRS Holdings nor Forest Resources may amend the subordinated debt indenture governing the subordinated debt securities it has issued to alter the subordination of any outstanding subordinated debt securities it has issued without the written consent of each holder of senior debt then outstanding who would be adversely affected. In addition, neither Rayonier nor TRS Holdings nor Forest Resources may modify the subordination provisions of the subordinated debt indenture governing the subordinated debt securities it has issued in a manner that would adversely affect in any material respect the outstanding subordinated debt securities it has issued of any one or more series, without the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all affected series, voting together as one class.

Defeasance and Discharge

At any time, we may terminate all our obligations under the Indenture as they relate to a particular series of debt securities, which we call a “legal defeasance.” If we decide to make a legal defeasance, however, we may not terminate some of our obligations under the Indenture, including our obligations:

 

   

relating to the defeasance trust, including the rights of holders to receive payments from the trust;

 

   

to register the transfer or exchange of the debt securities of that series;

 

   

to replace mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities of that series; or

 

   

to maintain a registrar and paying agent in respect of the debt securities of that series.

At any time we may also effect a “covenant defeasance,” which means we have elected to terminate our obligations under or the operation of:

 

   

some of the covenants applicable to a series of debt securities, including any covenant that is added specifically for such series and is described in a prospectus supplement; and

 

   

any Event of Default that is added specifically for such series and described in a prospectus supplement.

We may exercise our legal defeasance option notwithstanding our prior exercise of our covenant defeasance option. If we exercise our legal defeasance option, payment of the defeased series of debt securities may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default with respect to that series. If we exercise our covenant defeasance option, payment of the defeased series of debt securities may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default that is added specifically for such series and described in a prospectus supplement.

In order to exercise either defeasance option, we must:

 

   

irrevocably deposit in trust with the Trustee money or U.S. government obligations for the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the series of debt securities to redemption or stated maturity, as the case may be;

 

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comply with certain other conditions, including that no Default with respect to that series has occurred and is continuing after the deposit in trust; and

 

   

deliver to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that holders of the series of debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred. In the case of legal defeasance only, such opinion of counsel must be based on a ruling of the IRS or other change in applicable federal income tax law.

In the event of any legal defeasance, holders of the debt securities of the defeased series would be entitled to look only to the trust fund for payment of principal of and any premium and interest on their debt securities through maturity.

Although the amount of money and U.S. government obligations on deposit with the Trustee would be intended to be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of a defeased series at the time of their stated maturity, if we exercise our covenant defeasance option for the debt securities of any series and the debt securities are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of that series at the time of the acceleration resulting from such Event of Default. We would remain liable for such payments, however.

In addition, we may discharge all our obligations under the Indenture with respect to debt securities of a particular series, other than our obligation to register the transfer of and exchange such debt securities, provided that we either:

 

   

deliver all outstanding debt securities of such series to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

   

all such debt securities not so delivered for cancellation have either become due and payable or will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year or are called for redemption within one year, and in the case of this bullet point, we have deposited with the Trustee in trust an amount of cash sufficient to pay the entire indebtedness of such debt securities, including interest to the stated maturity or applicable redemption date.

Book Entry, Delivery and Form

We may issue debt securities of a series in the form of one or more global certificates deposited with a depositary. We expect that DTC will act as depositary. If we issue debt securities of a series in book-entry form, we will issue one or more global certificates that will be registered in the name of DTC’s nominee, Cede & Co., and deposited with or on behalf of DTC, and we will not issue physical certificates to any holder. A global security may not be transferred unless it is exchanged in whole or in part for a certificated security, except that DTC, its nominees and their successors may transfer a global security as a whole to one another.

DTC will keep a computerized record of its participants, such as a broker, whose clients have purchased the debt securities. The participants will then keep records of their clients who purchased the debt securities.

Beneficial interests in global securities will be shown on, and transfers of beneficial interests in global securities will be made only through, records maintained by DTC and its participants.

DTC advises us that it is:

 

   

a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law;

 

   

a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law;

 

   

a member of the United States Federal Reserve System;

 

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a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code; and

 

   

a “clearing agency” registered under the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act.

DTC is owned by a number of its participants and by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., The American Stock Exchange, Inc. and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. The rules that apply to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

DTC holds securities that its participants deposit with DTC. DTC also records the settlement among participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through computerized records for participants’ accounts. This eliminates the need to exchange certificates. Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other organizations.

We will wire principal, premium, if any, and interest payments due on the global securities to DTC’s nominee. We, the Trustee and any paying agent will treat DTC’s nominee as the owner of the global securities for all purposes. Accordingly, we, the Trustee and any paying agent will have no direct responsibility or liability to pay amounts due on the global securities to owners of beneficial interests in the global securities.

It is DTC’s current practice, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, to credit participants’ accounts on the payment date according to their respective holdings of beneficial interests in the global securities as shown on DTC’s records. In addition, it is DTC’s current practice to assign any consenting or voting rights to participants, whose accounts are credited with debt securities on a record date, by using an omnibus proxy.

Payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the global securities, as well as voting by participants, will be governed by the customary practices between the participants and the owners of beneficial interests, as is the case with debt securities held for the account of customers registered in “street name.”

Payments to holders of beneficial interests are the responsibility of the participants and not of DTC, the Trustee or us.

Beneficial interests in global securities will be exchangeable for certificated securities with the same terms in authorized denominations only if:

 

   

DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or if DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and in any case a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days; or

 

   

we determine not to require all of the debt securities of a series to be represented by a global security and notify the Trustee of our decision.

The Trustee

The prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities will identify the Trustee.

The Indenture limits the right of the Trustee, if it becomes our creditor, to obtain payment of claims in some cases, or to realize for its own account on property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The Trustee is permitted to engage in some other transactions. However, if it acquires any conflicting interest after a Default has occurred under the Indenture and is continuing, it must eliminate the conflict or resign as Trustee.

If an Event of Default occurs and is not cured or waived, the Trustee is required to exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by the Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a

 

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prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs. Subject to such provisions, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request of any of the holders of debt securities unless they have offered to the Trustee reasonable security and indemnity against the costs and liabilities that it may incur.

The Trustee may be a depositary for funds of, may make loans to and may perform other routine banking services for us and our affiliates in the normal course of business.

Governing Law

The Indenture and the debt securities will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF RAYONIER, TRS HOLDINGS AND FOREST RESOURCES GUARANTEES

Rayonier may guarantee (either fully and unconditionally or in a limited manner) the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and any premium and interest on, one or more series of debt securities of TRS Holdings or Forest Resources, as applicable, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption, repayment or otherwise, in accordance with the terms of such guarantee and the applicable indenture. In case of the failure of TRS Holdings or Forest Resources punctually to pay any principal, premium or interest on any guaranteed debt security, Rayonier will cause any such payment to be made as it becomes due and payable, whether at maturity, upon acceleration, redemption, repayment or otherwise, and as if such payment were made by Rayonier. The particular terms of the guarantee, if any, will be set forth in a prospectus supplement relating to the guaranteed debt securities. Any guarantee by Rayonier will be of payment only and not of collection.

TRS Holdings may guarantee (either fully and unconditionally or in a limited manner) the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and any premium and interest on, one or more series of debt securities of Rayonier or Forest Resources, as applicable, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption, repayment or otherwise, in accordance with the terms of such guarantee and the applicable indenture. In case of the failure of Rayonier or Forest Resources punctually to pay any principal, premium or interest on any guaranteed debt security, TRS Holdings will cause any such payment to be made as it becomes due and payable, whether at maturity, upon acceleration, redemption, repayment or otherwise, and as if such payment were made by TRS Holdings. The particular terms of the guarantee, if any, will be set forth in a prospectus supplement relating to the guaranteed debt securities. Any guarantee by TRS Holdings will be of payment only and not of collection.

Forest Resources may guarantee (either fully and unconditionally or in a limited manner) the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and any premium and interest on, one or more series of debt securities of Rayonier or TRS Holdings, as applicable, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption, repayment or otherwise, in accordance with the terms of such guarantee and the applicable indenture. In case of the failure of Rayonier or TRS Holdings punctually to pay any principal, premium or interest on any guaranteed debt security, Forest Resources will cause any such payment to be made as it becomes due and payable, whether at maturity, upon acceleration, redemption, repayment or otherwise, and as if such payment were made by Forest Resources. The particular terms of the guarantee, if any, will be set forth in a prospectus supplement relating to the guaranteed debt securities. Any guarantee by Forest Resources will be of payment only and not of collection.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

In this section, references to “we,” “our” and “us” refer to Rayonier Inc. and not to any subsidiaries.

As of May 22, 2007 our authorized capital stock was 135,000,000 shares. Those shares consisted of: (a) 15,000,000 preferred shares, none of which were outstanding; and (b) 120,000,000 common shares, no par value. As of April 20, 2007, 77,406,510 common shares were issued and outstanding.

Common Shares

Listing

Our outstanding common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RYN.” Any additional common shares we issue also will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Dividends

Subject to the rights of any series of preferred shares that we may issue, the holders of common shares may receive dividends when and as declared by the board of directors. Dividends may be paid in cash, shares or other form out of legally available funds.

Fully Paid

All outstanding common shares are fully paid and non-assessable. Any additional common shares we issue will also be fully paid and non-assessable.

Voting Rights

Subject to any special voting rights of any series of preferred shares that we may issue in the future, the holders of common shares may vote one vote for each share held in the election of directors and on all other matters voted upon by our shareholders. Holders of common shares may not cumulate their votes in the election of directors.

Other Rights

We will notify common shareholders of any shareholders’ meetings according to applicable law. If we liquidate, dissolve or wind-up our business, either voluntarily or not, common shareholders will share equally in the assets remaining after we pay our creditors and preferred shareholders, if any. The holders of common shares have no preemptive rights. Common shares are not subject to any redemption provisions and are not convertible into any other securities.

Preferred Shares

The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of our authorized preferred shares. If we offer preferred shares, the specific designations and rights will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the preferred shares offered, including the following terms:

 

   

the title of the preferred shares;

 

   

the series, the number of shares offered and the liquidation value of the preferred shares;

 

   

the price at which the preferred shares will be issued;

 

   

the dividend rate, the dates on which the dividends will be payable and other terms relating to the payment of dividends on the preferred shares;

 

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the liquidation preference of the preferred shares;

 

   

the voting rights of the preferred shares;

 

   

whether the preferred shares are redeemable or subject to a sinking fund, and the terms of any such redemption or sinking fund;

 

   

whether the preferred share are convertible or exchangeable for any other securities, and the terms of any such conversion;

 

   

any listing of the preferred shares on any securities exchange;

 

   

the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred shares as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation and dissolution or winding up; and

 

   

any additional rights, preferences, qualifications, limitations and restrictions of the preferred shares.

Our articles of incorporation limit the amount any holder of preferred shares is entitled to receive upon an involuntary liquidation of Rayonier to $100 per preferred share. The description of the terms of the preferred shares to be set forth in an applicable prospectus supplement will not be complete and will be subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the articles of amendment relating to the applicable series of preferred shares. The registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part will include the articles of amendment as an exhibit or incorporate it by reference.

Our board of directors can, without approval of shareholders, issue one or more series of preferred shares. Subject to the provisions of our articles of incorporation and limitations prescribed by North Carolina law, our board of directors may adopt resolutions to determine the number of shares of each series and the rights, preferences and limitations of each series, including the dividend rights, voting rights, conversion rights, redemption rights and any liquidation preferences of any wholly unissued series of preferred shares, the number of shares constituting each series and the terms and conditions of issue. Under certain circumstances, preferred shares could restrict dividend payments to holders of our common shares.

Undesignated preferred shares may enable our board of directors to render more difficult or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a tender offer, proxy contest, merger or otherwise, and to thereby protect the continuity of our management. The issuance of preferred shares may adversely affect the rights of the holders of our common shares. For example, any preferred shares issued may rank prior to our common shares as to dividend rights, liquidation preference or both, may have full or limited voting rights and may be convertible into common shares. As a result, the issuance of preferred shares may discourage bids for our common shares or may otherwise adversely affect the market price of our common shares or any existing preferred shares.

The preferred shares will, when issued, be fully paid and non-assessable.

Anti-Takeover Provisions

Certain provisions in our articles of incorporation and bylaws may encourage persons considering unsolicited tender offers or other unilateral takeover proposals to negotiate with the board of directors rather than pursue non-negotiated takeover attempts.

Classified board of directors and limitations on removal of directors

Our articles of incorporation provide that the board of directors is divided into three classes as nearly equal in number as possible. The directors of each class are elected for three-year terms, and the terms of the three classes are staggered so that directors from a single class are elected at each annual meeting of shareholders. Directors can be removed only for cause. A staggered board makes it more difficult for shareholders to change the majority of the directors and instead promotes a continuity of existing management.

 

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Blank check preferred shares

Our articles of incorporation authorize the issuance of blank check preferred shares. The board of directors can set the voting rights, redemption rights, conversion rights and other rights relating to such preferred shares and could issue such shares in either private or public transactions. In some circumstances, the blank check preferred shares could be issued and have the effect of preventing a merger, tender offer or other takeover attempt that the board of directors opposes.

Amendment to our bylaws

Our bylaws may be amended or repealed by our board of directors, including any bylaw adopted, amended or repealed by our shareholders.

North Carolina Shareholder Protection Act

The North Carolina Shareholder Protection Act generally requires the affirmative vote of 95% of a public corporation’s voting shares to approve a “business combination” with any person that a majority of continuing directors determines beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, more than 20% of the voting shares of the corporation (or ever owned more than 20% and is still an “affiliate” of the corporation) unless the fair price provisions and the procedural provisions of the act are satisfied.

“Business combination” is defined by the statute as (i) any merger, consolidation or conversion of a corporation with or into any other entity, (ii) any sale or lease of all or any substantial part of the corporation’s assets to any other entity, or (iii) any purchase or lease from any other entity of assets having a value of more than $5,000,000 in exchange for securities of the corporation.

The act contains provisions that allowed a corporation to “opt out” of the applicability of the act’s voting provisions within specified time periods that generally have expired. The act applies to Rayonier since we did not opt out within these time periods.

Special Meetings of Shareholders

Neither our articles of incorporation nor our bylaws give shareholders the right to call a special meeting of shareholders. Our bylaws provide that special meetings of shareholders may be called only by our board of directors.

Requirements for Qualification as a REIT

In order to maintain our qualification as a REIT, we must abide by certain provisions in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, including rules restricting concentration of ownership. For more information, please see “Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences—Organizational and Ownership Requirements.”

Limitation of Liability of Officers and Directors

Our articles of incorporation limit the liability of our directors to us and our shareholders to the fullest extent permitted by North Carolina law. Specifically, our directors will not be personally liable for monetary damages for breach of a director’s duty in such capacity, except for liability:

 

   

for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

   

for unlawful distributions as provided in Section 55-8-33 of the North Carolina Business Corporation Act; or

 

   

for any transaction from which the officer or director derived an improper personal benefit.

 

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Our articles of incorporation also provide indemnification to our directors and officers to the maximum extent allowed by North Carolina law as it exists now or may hereafter be amended. Our directors and officers generally are entitled to indemnity against all liabilities and expenses in any suit or preceding, including a derivative suit, arising out of their status or activities as directors or officers, unless the actions taken by the individual to be indemnified were at the time taken known or believed by him to be clearly in conflict with our best interests.

The inclusion of these provisions in our articles of incorporation may reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against our directors, and may discourage or deter shareholders or management from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their duties, even though such an action, if successful, might have otherwise benefited us and our shareholders. These provisions do not alter the liability of directors under federal securities laws and do not affect the right to sue (nor to recover monetary damages) under federal securities laws for violations thereof.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Our transfer agent and registrar of the common shares is The Bank of New York.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

Rayonier may issue warrants for the purchase of preferred stock or common stock.

The warrants will be issued under warrant agreements to be entered into between Rayonier and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all to be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any or all warrants in respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered. Copies of the form of agreement for each warrant, including the forms of certificates representing the warrants reflecting the provisions to be included in such agreements that will be entered into with respect to the particular offerings of each type of warrant are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the warrants to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of the warrants to which any prospectus supplement may relate and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may apply to the warrants so offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following summary of certain provisions of the warrants, warrant agreements and warrant certificates does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by express reference to, all the provisions of the warrant agreements and warrant certificates, including the definitions therein of certain terms.

General

Reference is made to the applicable prospectus supplement for the terms of warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, the warrant agreement relating to such warrants and the warrant certificates representing such warrants, including the following:

 

   

the type and number of shares of preferred stock or common stock purchasable upon exercise of such warrants and the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of such warrants;

 

   

the date, if any, on and after which such warrants and related offered securities will be separately tradable;

 

   

the offering price of such warrants, if any;

 

   

the initial price at which such shares may be purchased upon exercise of warrants and any provision with respect to the adjustment thereof;

 

   

the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire;

 

   

a discussion of the material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the ownership or exercise of such warrants;

 

   

call provisions of such warrants, if any;

 

   

any other terms of such warrants;

 

   

anti-dilution provisions of such warrants, if any; and

 

   

information relating to any preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of such warrants.

The warrant certificates will be exchangeable for new warrant certificates of different denominations and warrants may be exercised at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Prior to the exercise of their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of shares of capital stock purchasable upon such exercise, and will not be entitled to any dividend payments on such capital stock purchasable upon such exercise.

 

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Exercise of Warrants

Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase for cash such number of shares of preferred stock or common stock, as the case may be, at such exercise price as shall, in each case, be set forth in, or be determinable as set forth in, the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the warrants offered thereby. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, warrants may be exercised at any time up to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.

Warrants may be exercised as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating thereto. Upon receipt of payment and the warrant certificates properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, Rayonier will, as soon as practicable, forward a certificate representing the number of shares of capital stock purchasable upon such exercise. If less than all of the warrants represented by such warrant certificate are exercised, a new warrant certificate will be issued for the remaining amount of stock warrants.

 

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CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

The following discussion summarizes certain material United States federal income tax considerations to our taxation and qualification as a REIT. The information in this discussion is based on current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), final and temporary Treasury Regulations thereunder, existing administrative interpretations and practices of the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and judicial decisions, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. No assurance can be given that future legislation, Treasury Regulations, administrative interpretations or judicial decisions will not significantly change the current law or adversely affect existing interpretations of current law. In addition, no assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to any of the conclusions or positions described in the discussion set forth below. Except as otherwise indicated, no advance ruling from the IRS or opinion of counsel has been or will be sought regarding any matter discussed in this prospectus.

Taxation of Rayonier

General

Under federal income tax law, if certain detailed conditions imposed by the Code and related Treasury Regulations are satisfied, an entity that invests principally in real estate and that would otherwise be subject to tax as a corporation may elect to be treated as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. These conditions relate, in part, to the nature of the entity’s assets and income. Provided we qualify to be subject to tax as a REIT, we will generally not be subject to federal corporate income tax on taxable income that we distribute to our shareholders each year. This treatment substantially eliminates the “double taxation” that ordinarily applies to regular corporations that are subject to taxation once at the corporate level, when income is earned, and again at the shareholder level, when that income is distributed.

We have elected to be treated for federal income tax purposes as a REIT commencing with our taxable year ending December 31, 2004. Although no assurance can be given, we believe that we were organized and have operated in such a manner as to qualify for taxation as a REIT, and we intend to continue to operate in such a manner. In addition, as described more fully under “Income Tests” below, we have received a private letter ruling from the IRS substantially to the effect that our timberlands, including our timberlands that are subject to certain timber cutting contracts, will be considered qualifying real estate assets or interests in real property for purposes of the REIT asset tests discussed below and that the gains we derive from these timber cutting contracts will be from the sale of real property for purposes of the REIT gross income tests.

We believe, commencing with the taxable period ending December 31, 2004, that we have been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT, and we expect that our proposed method of operation will enable us to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT. However, our future qualification and taxation as a REIT will depend on our ability to meet on an ongoing basis (through actual annual operating results, asset base, distribution levels and diversity of share ownership) the various qualification tests imposed under the Code discussed below. Thus, while we intend to operate so that we will continue to qualify as a REIT, given the highly complex nature of the rules governing REITs, the ongoing importance of factual determinations, and the possibility of future changes in law or our circumstances, no assurance can be given that we will so qualify for any particular year. In addition, no assurance can be given that the IRS will not challenge the conclusions and tax positions described in this discussion. Further, the anticipated income tax treatment described in this prospectus may be changed, perhaps retroactively, by legislative, administrative or judicial action at any time. See “Failure to Qualify as a REIT.”

Provided we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we will generally not be subject to federal corporate income taxes on that portion of our ordinary income or capital gain that we distribute to our shareholders. The REIT provisions of the Code generally allow a REIT to deduct dividends paid to its shareholders. This deduction for

 

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dividends paid substantially eliminates the “double taxation” at the corporate and shareholder levels that generally results from investment in a regular corporation. Tax legislation enacted in 2003 generally lowers the rate at which shareholders who are individuals are subject to tax on corporate dividends, from a maximum of 35% (as ordinary income) to a maximum of 15% (the same as long-term capital gains), for the 2003 through 2010 tax years, thereby substantially reducing, though not completely eliminating, the double taxation that has historically applied to corporate dividends. With limited exceptions, however, dividends received by our shareholders from us or from other entities that are subject to tax as REITs may continue to be subject to tax at rates applicable to ordinary income, which, under current law, will be as high as 35% through 2010. Nevertheless, our dividends have generally consisted of a portion that constitutes a return of capital, which would not be subject to tax, and a portion that qualifies as a capital gain dividend, which would be subject to tax at a maximum rate of 15%. We will, nonetheless, be subject to federal tax under certain circumstances, including the following:

 

   

We will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on any undistributed REIT taxable income, including undistributed net capital gains. See, however, “Annual Distribution Requirements” with respect to our ability to elect to treat as having been distributed to shareholders certain of our capital gains upon which we have paid taxes, in which event the taxes that we have paid with respect to such income would be available as a credit or refund to shareholders.

 

   

If in a taxable transaction we dispose of an asset held at the REIT level that we owned at the time of our REIT conversion which had a fair market value on the conversion date in excess of its tax basis, referred to as “built-in gain,” we will be subject to tax on the built-in gain at the highest regular corporate rate applicable if the disposition of that asset occurs during the ten year period following our REIT conversion. In addition, if we acquire an asset from a corporation that is subject to corporate-level tax under subchapter C of the Code in a transaction in which our basis in the asset is determined by reference to the transferor’s basis (a “carryover basis transaction”), we will similarly be subject to tax at the highest regular corporate rate applicable if we recognize gain on a disposition of the asset during the ten year period following our acquisition of the asset. Income derived from the harvesting and sale of timber pursuant to certain timber cutting contracts (as opposed to gain derived from the sale of timberlands) is not subject to this built-in gains tax. Thus, we will not be subject to the built-in gains tax on the income we derive from the harvesting and sale of timber from timberlands we held at the time of our REIT conversion or from timberlands we acquire in the future in a carryover basis transaction from a corporation subject to tax under subchapter C if sold pursuant to such timber cutting contracts.

 

   

We will be required to pay a 100% tax on any net income from prohibited transactions. In general, prohibited transactions are sales or other taxable dispositions of property, other than foreclosure property, held for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business.

 

   

If we fail to satisfy the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test as discussed below but have otherwise maintained our qualification as a REIT because certain other requirements have been met, we will be subject to a 100% tax on an amount equal to (1) the gross income attributable to the greater of the amount by which we fail the 75% or 95% gross income test multiplied by (2) a fraction intended to reflect our profitability.

 

   

If we should fail to satisfy the asset or other requirements applicable to REITs, as described below, yet nonetheless maintain our qualification as a REIT because there is reasonable cause for the failure and other applicable requirements are met, we may be subject to an excise tax. In that case, the amount of the tax will be at least $50,000 per failure, and, in the case of certain asset test failures, will be determined as the amount of net income generated by the assets in question multiplied by the highest corporate tax rate (currently 35%) if that amount exceeds $50,000 per failure.

 

   

We will be required to pay a 4% excise tax on the amount by which our annual distributions to shareholders are less than the sum of (1) 85% of our ordinary income for the year, (2) 95% of our REIT

 

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capital gain net income for the year, other than capital gain income we elect to retain and pay tax on and (3) any undistributed taxable income from prior periods, other than capital gains from such years which we elect to retain and pay tax on.

 

   

A 100% excise tax may be imposed on some items of income and expense that are directly or constructively paid between a REIT and a TRS if and to the extent that the IRS successfully adjusts the reported amounts of these items.

In addition, we, including our subsidiaries and affiliated entities, may be subject to a variety of taxes, including payroll taxes and state, local and foreign income, property and other taxes on our assets and operations.

Requirements for Qualification

We elected to be treated as a REIT beginning with our taxable year ended December 31, 2004. In order to continue to qualify as a REIT, we must meet the requirements discussed below relating to our organization, sources of income, nature of assets and distributions of income.

Organizational and Ownership Requirements

A REIT is a corporation, trust or association:

 

  (1) that is managed by one or more trustees or directors;

 

  (2) the beneficial ownership of which is evidenced by transferable shares, or by transferable certificates of beneficial interest;

 

  (3) that would be taxable as a domestic corporation but for the special Code provisions applicable to REITs;

 

  (4) that is neither a financial institution nor an insurance company subject to specific provisions of the Code;

 

  (5) the beneficial ownership of which is held by 100 or more persons;

 

  (6) in which, during the last half of each taxable year, not more than 50% in value of the outstanding shares are owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer “individuals” (as defined in the Code to include specified entities); and

 

  (7) which meets other tests described below, including with respect to the nature of its income and assets.

Conditions (1) through (4) must be met during the entire taxable year, and condition (5) must be met during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. Though our charter does not provide restrictions regarding transfers of our shares, we anticipate that the current diversity of our shareholder base will continue and that we will satisfy the share ownership requirements described in conditions (5) and (6) above.

To monitor compliance with the share ownership requirements, we are generally required to maintain records regarding the actual ownership of our shares. To do so, we must request written statements each year from the record holders of significant percentages of our shares in which the record holders are to disclose the persons required to include in gross income the dividends paid by us. A list of those persons failing or refusing to comply with this request must be maintained as part of our records. Our failure to comply with these record keeping requirements could subject us to monetary penalties. A shareholder that fails or refuses to comply with the request is required by applicable Treasury Regulations to submit a statement with its tax return disclosing its actual ownership of the shares and other information.

 

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Disregarded Subsidiaries

If a REIT owns a corporate subsidiary that is a “qualified REIT subsidiary,” that subsidiary is disregarded for federal income tax purposes, and all assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of the subsidiary are treated as assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of the REIT itself, including for purposes of the gross income and asset tests applicable to REITs as summarized below. A qualified REIT subsidiary is any corporation, other than a TRS, that is wholly-owned by a REIT, or by other disregarded subsidiaries, or by a combination of the two. Other entities that are wholly-owned by a REIT, including single member limited liability companies, are also generally disregarded as separate entities for federal income tax purposes, including for purposes of the REIT income and asset tests. Disregarded subsidiaries and disregarded entities are sometimes referred to herein as “pass-through subsidiaries.”

Taxable REIT Subsidiaries

A REIT, in general, may jointly elect with a subsidiary corporation, whether or not wholly-owned, to treat the subsidiary corporation as a TRS. The separate existence of a TRS or other taxable corporation, unlike a disregarded subsidiary as discussed above, is not ignored for federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, such an entity would generally be subject to corporate income tax on its taxable income.

A REIT is not treated as holding the assets of a TRS or as receiving directly any income that a TRS earns. Rather, the shares of a TRS are an asset in the hands of the REIT, and the REIT recognizes as income any dividends that it receives from a TRS. This treatment can affect the income and asset test calculations that apply to the REIT, as described below.

Partnerships

A REIT that is a partner in a partnership will be deemed to own its proportionate share of the assets of the partnership and will be deemed to earn its proportionate share of the partnership’s income. The assets and gross income of the partnership retain the same character in the hands of the REIT for purposes of the gross income and asset tests applicable to REITs, described below.

Income Tests

In order to maintain qualification as a REIT, we must annually satisfy two gross income requirements. First, for each taxable year we must derive, directly or indirectly, at least 75% of our gross income (excluding gross income from “prohibited transactions”) from investments relating to real property or mortgages on real property (including “rents from real property” and “gain from the sale or other disposition of real property”) other than property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business or from certain types of temporary investments. Second, for each taxable year we must derive, directly or indirectly, at least 95% of our gross income (excluding gross income from “prohibited transactions”) from real property investments that satisfy the 75% test, dividends, interest and gain from the sale or disposition of shares or securities (or from any combination of the foregoing).

In addition, if we should realize any taxable income from the sale or other disposition of property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business (including our share of any such gain realized by any partnership in which we are a partner) then such income would be treated as income from a “prohibited transaction” and would not count for purposes of applying the 95% and 75% gross income tests. Such income would, however, be subject to a 100% penalty tax. We attempt to conduct any activities that could give rise to a prohibited transaction through our taxable REIT subsidiaries. For example, the manufacture and sale of wood products, certain types of timberland sales and sales of logs are conducted through our taxable REIT subsidiaries. Under existing law, whether property is held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business is a question of fact that depends on all the facts and circumstances with respect to the particular

 

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transaction. However, sales of timberlands that satisfy certain requirements specified in the Code do not constitute prohibited transactions. The principal requirements that have to be satisfied are that (i) the timberlands sold during a tax year can not have an aggregate tax basis that exceeds 10 percent of the aggregate tax bases of all of our assets as of the beginning of the relevant tax year and (ii) our development expenses with respect to such timberlands for the four years prior to the sale and our non-timber related expenses with respect to such sales can not exceed certain specified limits. We intend to conduct our activities so that our sales of timberlands (other than those undertaken by our taxable REIT subsidiaries) qualify for this safe harbor.

Rents that we receive will qualify as “rents from real property” in satisfying the gross income requirements for a REIT described above only if several conditions are met. Substantially all of the rental income that we have received in the past and anticipate to receive in the future is derived from hunting leases, beekeeping leases, leases for the use of real property to erect and maintain billboards on property adjacent to certain public thoroughfares and the rental of rights of way through certain properties. It is anticipated that any income we receive from such leases and other property interests will constitute “rents from real property” under the applicable rules. While it is not expected that we will receive a substantial amount of rental income, we will take steps to ensure that any such rental income will qualify as “rents from real property” for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests.

In addition, we have received a private letter ruling from the IRS substantially to the effect that our timberlands, including those timberlands that are subject to certain timber cutting contracts, will be considered qualifying real estate assets or interests in real property for purposes of the REIT asset tests, and that our gains derived from these timber cutting contracts will be from the sale of real property for purposes of the REIT gross income tests. In reaching these conclusions, the IRS expressly relied upon a representation from us that our disposal of timber pursuant to these timber cutting contracts will qualify as disposal of timber under Section 631(b) of the Code.

If we fail to satisfy one or both of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, we may nevertheless qualify as a REIT for such year if we are entitled to relief under applicable provisions of the Code. These relief provisions will generally be available if our failure to meet these tests is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, we attach to our tax return a schedule of the sources of our income, and any incorrect information on the schedule is not due to fraud with intent to evade tax. It is not possible to state whether we would be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions in all circumstances. As discussed above under “General,” even if these relief provisions apply, a tax would be imposed with respect to the excess gross income.

Asset Tests

At the close of each calendar quarter, we must satisfy the following tests relating to the nature of our assets:

 

   

First, at least 75% of the value of our total assets must consist of:

 

  interests in real property (such as timberlands), including leaseholds and options to acquire real property and leaseholds;

 

  cash or cash items, including certain receivables;

 

  government securities;

 

  interests in mortgages on real property;

 

  shares in other REITs; and

 

  investments in shares or debt instruments during the one-year period following the receipt of new capital raised through equity offerings or offerings of debt with at least a five-year term.

 

   

Second, of our investments not included in the 75% asset class, the value of our interest in any one issuer’s securities may not exceed 5% of the value of our total assets.

 

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Third, we may not own more than 10% of the voting power or value of any one issuer’s outstanding securities.

 

   

Fourth, no more than 20% of the value of our total assets may consist of the securities of one or more TRSs.

For purposes of the second and third asset tests, the term “securities” does not include shares in another REIT, equity or debt securities of a qualified REIT subsidiary or a TRS, or equity interests in a partnership. The 10% value test does not take into account “straight debt” issued by an individual or any entity if we hold no other securities issued by such entity, or by a partnership if we own at least a 20% profits interest in the partnership.

As of the date of this prospectus, more than 75% of the fair market value of our assets consist of timberlands owned in fee or held under long-term leases, and we expect that, at all times after the date of this prospectus, more than 75% of our assets owned directly and indirectly will consist of fee ownership and leasehold interests in timberland. Accordingly, we believe that we have met and will continue to be able to meet the 75% test described above.

The board of directors will determine the value of Rayonier’s assets for the purpose of ascertaining compliance with the REIT asset tests. Such a determination is binding upon the IRS so long as our board of directors acts in good faith. It is not known whether our board of directors will rely upon third parties in making its determinations as to the value of our various assets.

If we fail to satisfy the asset tests at the end of a calendar quarter, such a failure would not cause us to lose our REIT status if (1) we satisfy all of the asset tests at the close of the preceding calendar quarter and (2) the discrepancy between the value of our assets and the asset test requirements arises from changes in the market values of our assets and is not wholly or partly caused by our acquisition of one or more non-qualifying assets. If we do not satisfy the condition described in clause (2) of the preceding sentence, we still can avoid disqualification as a REIT by eliminating any discrepancy within 30 days after the close of the calendar quarter in which the discrepancy arises.

Legislation enacted in 2004 contains a number of provisions applicable to REITs, including relief provisions that make it easier for REITs to satisfy the asset requirements, or to maintain REIT qualification notwithstanding certain violations of the asset and other requirements. These provisions are generally effective beginning with the 2005 tax year, except as otherwise noted below.

One such provision allows a REIT which fails one or more of the asset requirements to nevertheless maintain its REIT qualification if (a) it provides the IRS with a description of each asset causing the failure, (b) the failure is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, (c) the REIT pays a tax equal to the greater of (i) $50,000 per failure, and (ii) the product of the net income generated by the assets that caused the failure multiplied by the highest applicable corporate tax rate (currently 35%), and (d) the REIT either disposes of the assets causing the failure within 6 months after the last day of the quarter in which it identifies the failure, or otherwise satisfies the relevant asset tests within that time frame.

A second relief provision applies to de minimis violations of the 10% and 5% asset tests. Specifically, a REIT may maintain its qualification despite a violation of such requirements if (a) the value of the assets causing the violation do not exceed the lesser of 1% of the REIT’s total assets or $10,000,000 and (b) the REIT either disposes of the assets causing the failure within 6 months after the last day of the quarter in which it identifies the failure or the relevant tests are otherwise satisfied within that time frame.

Annual Distribution Requirements

In order to qualify as a REIT, we are required to make distributions (other than capital gain dividends) to our shareholders in an amount at least equal to (1) the sum of (a) 90% of our “REIT taxable income” (computed

 

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without regard to the dividends paid deduction and our net capital gain) and (b) 90% of the net income (after tax), if any, from foreclosure property, minus (2) the sum of certain items of non-cash income. These distributions must be paid in the taxable year to which they relate, or in the following taxable year if declared before we timely file our tax return for such year and if paid on or before the first regular dividend payment date after such declaration. To the extent that we do not distribute (or we are not treated as having distributed) all of our capital gain or we distribute (or we are treated as having distributed) at least 90%, but less than 100%, of our “REIT taxable income,” as adjusted, we will be subject to tax on the undistributed income at regular corporate tax rates. If we should fail to distribute during a calendar year at least the sum of (1) 85% of our REIT ordinary income for such year, (2) 95% of our REIT capital gain income for such year (other than capital gain income that we elect to retain and pay tax on as provided for below) and (3) any undistributed taxable income from prior periods (other than capital gains from such years which we elected to retain and pay tax on), we will be subject to a 4% excise tax on the excess of the required distribution over the amounts actually distributed.

We may elect to retain rather than distribute our net long-term capital gains. The effect of this election is that:

 

   

we would be required to pay the tax on such gains at regular corporate tax rates;

 

   

our shareholders, although required to include their proportionate share of the undistributed long-term capital gain in income, would receive a credit or refund for their share of the tax paid by us; and

 

   

the basis of a shareholder’s stock would be increased by the amount of the undistributed long-term capital gains (minus the amount of the tax on capital gains paid by us which was included in income by the shareholder).

It is possible that we, from time to time, may not have sufficient cash or other liquid assets to meet the annual distribution requirements described above due to timing or other differences between (1) the actual receipt of income and actual payment of deductible expenses and (2) the inclusion of such income and deduction of such expenses in arriving at its taxable income. If we encounter this situation, we may elect to retain the capital gain and pay the tax on the gain. Nevertheless, in order to pay such tax or otherwise meet the distribution requirements, we may find it necessary to arrange for short or possibly long-term borrowings, issue equity, or sell assets.

Under certain circumstances, we may be able to rectify a failure to meet the distribution requirement for a year by paying “deficiency dividends” to our shareholders in a later year, which may be included in our deduction for dividends paid for the earlier year. Thus, we may be able to avoid being taxed on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends; however, we will be required to pay interest based on the amount of any deduction taken for deficiency dividends.

Distribution of C corporation Earnings and Profits

In order to qualify as a REIT, we cannot have at the end of any taxable year any undistributed tax earnings and profits (“E&P”) that is attributable to a C corporation taxable year (“C corporation E&P”). We believe that we distributed all of our C corporation E&P on or prior to December 31, 2003. The calculation of such E&P, however, is a complex factual and legal determination. We may have had less than complete information at the time we undertook our analysis or may have interpreted the applicable law differently than the IRS. There can be no assurances that the IRS will agree with our determination of our C corporation E&P, and there are uncertainties regarding the amount of such E&P. These uncertainties include the possibility that the IRS could, upon audit, increase our taxable income, which would increase our C corporation E&P.

Failure to Qualify as a REIT

If we fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT in any taxable year and if the relief provisions do not apply, we will be subject to tax (including any applicable alternative minimum tax) on our taxable income at regular

 

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corporate rates. Distributions to shareholders in any year in which we fail to qualify as a REIT will not be deductible by us and, in fact, would not be required to be made. In such event, all distributions to shareholders would be subject to tax as ordinary income (and, through the 2010 tax year, as qualified dividend income to individual U.S. shareholders), to the extent of our current and accumulated E&P. Subject to certain limitations, corporate U.S. shareholders may be eligible for the dividends received deduction. If having qualified as a REIT, we later fail to so qualify, unless entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, we will be disqualified from being eligible to be subject to tax as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which our REIT qualification was lost.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell or distribute the securities included in this prospectus (the “Securities”) through underwriters, through agents, to dealers, in private transactions, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices.

In addition, we may sell some or all of the Securities included in this prospectus through:

 

   

a block trade in which a broker-dealer may resell a portion of the block, as principal, in order to facilitate the transaction;

 

   

purchases by a broker-dealer, as principal, and resale by the broker-dealer for its account; or

 

   

ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which a broker solicits purchasers.

In addition, we may enter into option or other types of transactions that require us to deliver Securities to a broker-dealer, who will then resell or transfer the Securities under this prospectus. We may enter into hedging transactions with respect to our Securities. For example, we may:

 

   

enter into transactions involving short sales of the Securities by broker-dealers;

 

   

sell Securities short themselves and deliver the shares to close out short positions;

 

   

enter into option or other types of transactions that require us to deliver Securities to a broker-dealer, who will then resell or transfer the Securities under this prospectus; or

 

   

loan or pledge the Securities to a broker-dealer, who may sell the loaned shares or, in the event of default, sell the pledged shares.

We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell Securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell Securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use Securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use Securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment). In addition, we may otherwise loan or pledge Securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the Securities short using this prospectus. Such financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our Securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other Securities.

Any broker-dealers or other persons acting on our behalf that participate with us in the distribution of the shares may be deemed to be underwriters and any commissions received or profit realized by them on the resale of the shares may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. As of the date of this prospectus, we are not a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding between any broker or dealer and us with respect to the offer or sale of the Securities pursuant to this prospectus.

We may have agreements with agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms, and their affiliates, may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business. This includes commercial banking and investment banking transactions.

At the time that any particular offering of Securities is made, to the extent required by the Securities Act, a prospectus supplement will be distributed, setting forth the terms of the offering, including the aggregate number

 

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of Securities being offered, the purchase price of the Securities, the initial offering price of the Securities, the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, any discounts, commissions and other items constituting compensation from us and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.

Underwriters or agents could make sales in privately negotiated transactions and/or any other method permitted by law, including sales deemed to be an “at the market” offering as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, which includes sales made directly on or through The New York Stock Exchange, the existing trading market for our Securities, or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange.

We will bear costs relating to all of the Securities being registered under this registration statement.

Pursuant to a requirement by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or NASD, the maximum commission or discount to be received by any NASD member or independent broker/dealer may not be greater than eight percent (8%) of the gross proceeds received by us for the sale of any Securities being registered pursuant to Commission Rule 415 under the Securities Act.

If more than 10% of the net proceeds of any offering of Securities made under this prospectus will be received by NASD members participating in the offering or affiliates or associated persons of such NASD members, the offering will be conducted in accordance with NASD Conduct Rule 2710(h).

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal and tax matters will be passed upon for us by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., New York, New York and Houston, Texas. Certain legal matters relating to North Carolina law will be passed upon for us by our North Carolina counsel, Alston & Bird LLP, Charlotte, North Carolina. Any underwriters will be advised about other issues relating to any offering by their own legal counsel.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements. the related financial statement schedules, and management’s report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting incorporated in this Registration Statement by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference, and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth the estimated expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities covered by this Registration Statement, other than underwriting discounts and commissions. All of the expenses will be borne by us except as otherwise indicated.

 

SEC Registration Fee

   $ *  

Printing and Engraving Expenses

     50,000 **

Legal Fees and Expenses

     75,000 **

Accountants’ Fees and Expenses

     75,000 **

Listing Fees

     ***  

Fees and Expenses of Trustees

     20,000 **

Miscellaneous Costs

     10,000 **
        

Total

   $ 230,000 **
        

* Under Commission Rule 456(b) and 457(r), the Commission registration fee will be paid at the time of any particular offering of securities under the registration statement, and is therefore not currently determinable.
** Because an indeterminate amount of securities is covered by this registration statement, the expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities are not currently determinable. The amounts shown are estimates of expenses for the amount of securities which the registrant is currently authorized to issue, but do not limit the amount of securities that may be offered.
*** The listing fee is based upon the principal amount of securities listed, if any, and is therefore not currently determinable.

 

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Sections 55-8-50 through 55-8-58 of the North Carolina Business Corporation Act contain specific provisions relating to indemnification of directors and officers of North Carolina corporations. In general, the statutes provide that (1) a corporation must indemnify a director or officer who is wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in his defense of a proceeding or a threatened proceeding to which he is a party or a threatened party because of his status as such, except to the extent limited or eliminated in the corporation’s articles of incorporation, and (2) a corporation may, but is not required to, indemnify a director or officer if he is not wholly successful in such defense, if it is determined that the director or officer meets certain standards of conduct, provided, however, when a director or officer is liable to the corporation or is adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by him, the corporation may not indemnify him. A director or officer of a corporation who is a party to a proceeding may also apply to the courts for indemnification, unless the articles of incorporation provide otherwise, and the court may order indemnification in certain circumstances set forth in the statute. A corporation may, in its articles of incorporation or bylaws or by contract or resolution, provide indemnification in addition to that provided by statute, subject to certain conditions.

Our articles of incorporation obligate us, to the maximum extent permitted by North Carolina law, to indemnify our directors and officers against all liabilities and expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees) incurred in connection with any suit or proceeding. This right to indemnification includes the right of a director or officer to be paid expenses in advance of the final disposition of any proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking to repay such amount. Our articles of incorporation also provide that, to the full extent permitted by law, a director shall not be personally liable for monetary damages for breach of any duty as a director.

Reference is made to Article VI and Article VII of our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation filed as an exhibit to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed for the quarter ended June 30, 2004.

 

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We have in effect insurance policies indemnifying our directors and officers and those of our subsidiaries, against civil liabilities of such directors and officers.

In addition, we have indemnification agreements in effect between us and each of our directors.

Any underwriters, dealers or agents who execute any of the underwriting agreements referred to in Exhibit 1 to this Registration Statement will agree to indemnify our directors and our officers who signed the Registration Statement against certain liabilities which might arise under the Securities Act, from information furnished to us by or on behalf of any such indemnifying party.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

 

Item 16. Exhibits.

 

  (1) See the Exhibit Index on the page immediately preceding the exhibits for a list of exhibits filed as part of this registration statement on Form S-3, which Exhibit Index is incorporated herein by reference.

 

  (2) Financial Statement Schedules

Not Applicable.

 

Item 17. Undertakings.

 

  (1) The undersigned registrants hereby undertake:

 

  (a) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement;

 

  (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

  (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

  (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(i), (a)(ii) and (a)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrants pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

 

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  (b) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

  (c) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

  (d) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

 

  (i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

 

  (ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x), for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date it is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or the prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

 

  (e) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

The undersigned registrants undertake that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrants pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrants will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer to sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

  (i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrants relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

  (ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of either of the undersigned registrants or used or referred to by either of the undersigned registrants;

 

  (iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrants or their securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrants; and

 

  (iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrants to the purchaser.

 

  (2)

Each undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of such registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or

 

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Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein by such registrant, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

  (3) Each undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supplement the prospectus, after the expiration of the subscription period, to set forth the results of the subscription offer, the transactions by the underwriters during the subscription period, the amount of unsubscribed securities to be purchased by the underwriters, and the terms of any subsequent reoffering thereof. If any public offering by the underwriters is to be made on terms differing from those set forth on the cover page of the prospectus, a post-effective amendment will be filed to set forth the terms of such offering.

 

  (4) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrants pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrants have been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrants will, unless in the opinion of their counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by them is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

  (5) Each undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under Section 305(b)(2) of the Act.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Jacksonville, State of Florida on the 18th day of May, 2007.

 

RAYONIER INC.
By:   /s/ Lee M. Thomas
 

Name: Lee M. Thomas

Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

RAYONIER TRS HOLDINGS INC.
By:   /s/ Lee M. Thomas
 

Name: Lee M. Thomas

Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

RAYONIER FOREST RESOURCES, L.P.
By:  

RAYONIER TIMBERLANDS MANAGEMENT, LLC

its General Partner

By:   /s/ Lee M. Thomas
 

Name: Lee M. Thomas

Title: President

 

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Table of Contents

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Hans E. Vanden Noort and Carl E. Kraus and each of them, any of whom may act without the joinder of the other, as his lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments or post-effective amendments to this registration statement, or any registration statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with exhibits hereto and other documents in connection therewith or in connection with the registration of the securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary in connection with such matters and hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorneys-in-fact and agents or his substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 18, 2007.

 

Signature

  

Title

/s/    W. L. Nutter        

W. L. Nutter

   Chairman

/s/    Lee M. Thomas        

Lee M. Thomas

(Principal Executive Officer)

   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

/s/    Hans E. Vanden Noort        

Hans E. Vanden Noort

(Principal Accounting Officer)

   Senior Vice President and
Chief Accounting Officer

/s/    Carl E. Kraus        

Carl E. Kraus

(Principal Financial Officer)

   Senior Vice President, Finance

/s/    C. David Brown, II        

C. David Brown, II

   Director

/s/    James H. Hance, Jr.        

James H. Hance, Jr.

   Director

/s/    Richard D. Kincaid        

Richard D. Kincaid

   Director

/s/    Paul G. Kirk, Jr.        

Paul G. Kirk, Jr.

   Director

/s/    Thomas I. Morgan        

Thomas I. Morgan

   Director

/s/    Carl S. Sloane        

Carl S. Sloane

   Director

/s/    Ronald Townsend        

Ronald Townsend

   Director

 

II-6


Table of Contents

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number
  

Description

1.1*      Form of Underwriting Agreement—Debt Securities
1.2*      Form of Underwriting Agreement—Equity Securities
4.1*      Specimen of Share Certificate of Rayonier Inc.
4.2        Form of Senior Indenture—Rayonier Inc.
4.3        Form of Subordinated Indenture—Rayonier Inc.
4.4        Form of Senior Indenture—Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc.
4.5        Form of Subordinated Indenture—Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc.
4.6        Form of Senior Indenture—Rayonier Forest Resources, L.P.
4.7        Form of Subordinated Indenture—Rayonier Forest Resources, L.P.
4.8*      From of Preferred Stock Certificate for Rayonier Inc.
4.9*      Form of Stock Warrant Agreement (including form of Warrant Receipt) for Rayonier Inc.
5.1        Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP, as to the validity of the securities being issued
8.1        Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., with respect to certain tax matters
23.1        Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
23.2        Consent of Alston & Bird LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
23.3        Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 8.1)
24.1        Powers of Attorney (included in signature page)
25.1**    Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 respecting the Senior Indenture
25.2**    Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 respecting the Subordinated Indenture

* To be filed either as an amendment or as an exhibit to a report filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 of the Registrant and incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement.
** To be filed in accordance with the requirements of Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Rule 5b-3 thereunder.

 

II-7

EX-4.2 2 dex42.htm FORM OF SENIOR INDENTURE - RAYONIER, INC. Form of Senior Indenture - Rayonier, Inc.

Exhibit 4.2

[Form of Senior Indenture]


RAYONIER INC.,

AS ISSUER,

any Guarantors party hereto,

and

[                                                                         ],

as Trustee

INDENTURE

Dated as of                             

Debt Securities

 



CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

TIA Section

   Indenture Section

310

   (a)    7.10
   (b)    7.10
   (c)    N.A.

311

   (a)    7.11
   (b)    7.11
   (c)    N.A.

312

   (a)    5.1
   (b)    5.2
   (c)    5.2

313

   (a)    5.3
   (b)    5.3
   (c)    13.3
   (d)    5.3

314

   (a)    4.5
   (b)    N.A.
   (c)(1)    13.5
   (c)(2)    13.5
   (c)(3)    N.A.
   (d)    N.A.
   (e)    13.5
   (f)    N.A.

315

   (a)    7.1
   (b)    6.7 & 13.3
   (c)    7.1
   (d)    7.1
   (e)    6.8

316

   (a) (last sentence)    1.1
   (a)(1)(A)    6.6
   (a)(1)(B)    6.6
   (a)(2)    9.1(d)
   (b)    6.4
   (c)    5.4

317

   (a)(1)    6.2
   (a)(2)    6.2
   (b)    4.4

318

   (a)    13.7

N.A. means Not Applicable

NOTE: This Cross-Reference table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed part of this Indenture.

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Section 1.1

  Definitions    1

Section 1.2

  Other Definitions    6

Section 1.3

  Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act    6

Section 1.4

  Rules of Construction    7
ARTICLE II
DEBT SECURITIES

Section 2.1

  Forms Generally    7

Section 2.2

  Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication    8

Section 2.3

  Principal Amount; Issuable in Series    8

Section 2.4

  Execution of Debt Securities    10

Section 2.5

  Authentication and Delivery of Debt Securities    11

Section 2.6

  Denomination of Debt Securities    12

Section 2.7

  Registration of Transfer and Exchange    12

Section 2.8

  Temporary Debt Securities    14

Section 2.9

  Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debt Securities    14

Section 2.10

  Cancellation of Surrendered Debt Securities    15

Section 2.11

  Provisions of the Indenture and Debt Securities for the Sole Benefit of the Parties and the Holders    15

Section 2.12

  Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved    16

Section 2.13

  Securities Denominated in Dollars    16

Section 2.14

  Wire Transfers    16

Section 2.15

  Securities Issuable in the Form of a Global Security    16

Section 2.16

  Medium Term Securities    19

Section 2.17

  Defaulted Interest    19

Section 2.18

  CUSIP Numbers    20
ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

Section 3.1

  Applicability of Article    20

Section 3.2

  Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debt Securities    21

Section 3.3

  Payment of Debt Securities Called for Redemption    22

Section 3.4

  Mandatory and Optional Sinking Funds    23

Section 3.5

  Redemption of Debt Securities for Sinking Fund    23

 

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ARTICLE IV
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

Section 4.1

  Payment of Principal of, and Premium, If Any, and Interest on, Debt Securities    24

Section 4.2

  Maintenance of Offices or Agencies for Registration of Transfer, Exchange and Payment of Debt Securities    25

Section 4.3

  Appointment to Fill a Vacancy in the Office of Trustee    25

Section 4.4

  Duties of Paying Agents, etc    25

Section 4.5

  SEC Reports; Financial Statements    26

Section 4.6

  Compliance Certificate    27

Section 4.7

  Further Instruments and Acts    27

Section 4.8

  Waiver of Certain Covenants    27
ARTICLE V
HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE

Section 5.1

  Company to Furnish Trustee Information as to Names and Addresses of Holders; Preservation of Information    27

Section 5.2

  Communications to Holders    28

Section 5.3

  Reports by Trustee    28

Section 5.4

  Record Dates for Action by Holders    28
ARTICLE VI
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND HOLDERS IN EVENT OF DEFAULT

Section 6.1

  Events of Default    29

Section 6.2

  Collection of Debt by Trustee, etc    31

Section 6.3

  Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee    32

Section 6.4

  Limitation on Suits by Holders    33

Section 6.5

  Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission in Exercise of Rights Not a Waiver of Default    34

Section 6.6

  Rights of Holders of Majority in Principal Amount of Debt Securities to Direct Trustee and to Waive Default    34

Section 6.7

  Trustee to Give Notice of Events of Defaults Known to It, but May Withhold Such Notice in Certain Circumstances    34

Section 6.8

  Requirement of an Undertaking to Pay Costs in Certain Suits under the Indenture or Against the Trustee    35
ARTICLE VII
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

Section 7.1

  Certain Duties and Responsibilities    35

 

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Section 7.2

  Certain Rights of Trustee    36

Section 7.3

  Trustee Not Liable for Recitals in Indenture or in Debt Securities    37

Section 7.4

  Trustee, Paying Agent or Registrar May Own Debt Securities    38

Section 7.5

  Moneys Received by Trustee to Be Held in Trust    38

Section 7.6

  Compensation and Reimbursement    38

Section 7.7

  Right of Trustee to Rely on an Officers’ Certificate Where No Other Evidence Specifically Prescribed    39

Section 7.8

  Separate Trustee; Replacement of Trustee    39

Section 7.9

  Successor Trustee by Merger    40

Section 7.10

  Eligibility; Disqualification    40

Section 7.11

  Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company    41

Section 7.12

  Compliance with Tax Laws    41
ARTICLE VIII
CONCERNING THE HOLDERS

Section 8.1

  Evidence of Action by Holders    41

Section 8.2

  Proof of Execution of Instruments and of Holding of Debt Securities    41

Section 8.3

  Who May Be Deemed Owner of Debt Securities    41

Section 8.4

  Instruments Executed by Holders Bind Future Holders    42
ARTICLE IX
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 9.1

  Purposes for Which Supplemental Indenture May Be Entered into Without Consent of Holders    42

Section 9.2

  Modification of Indenture with Consent of Holders of Debt Securities    44

Section 9.3

  Effect of Supplemental Indentures    45

Section 9.4

  Debt Securities May Bear Notation of Changes by Supplemental Indentures    45
ARTICLE X
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE

Section 10.1

  Consolidations and Mergers of the Company    46

Section 10.2

  Rights and Duties of Successor Company    46
ARTICLE XI

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF

INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS

Section 11.1

  Applicability of Article    47

Section 11.2

  Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance    47

Section 11.3

  Conditions of Defeasance    48

 

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Section 11.4

  Application of Trust Money    49

Section 11.5

  Repayment to Company    49

Section 11.6

  Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations    49

Section 11.7

  Reinstatement    50
ARTICLE XII
[RESERVED]
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 13.1

  Successors and Assigns of Company Bound by Indenture    50

Section 13.2

  Acts of Board, Committee or Officer of Successor Company Valid    50

Section 13.3

  Required Notices or Demands    50

Section 13.4

  Indenture and Debt Securities to Be Construed in Accordance with the Laws of the State of New York    51

Section 13.5

  Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to Be Furnished upon Application or Demand by the Company    51

Section 13.6

  Payments Due on Legal Holidays    52

Section 13.7

  Provisions Required by TIA to Control    52

Section 13.8

  Computation of Interest on Debt Securities    52

Section 13.9

  Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar    52

Section 13.10

  No Recourse Against Others    52

Section 13.11

  Severability    52

Section 13.12

  Effect of Headings    53

Section 13.13

  Indenture May Be Executed in Counterparts    53
ARTICLE XIV
GUARANTEE

Section 14.1

  Unconditional Guarantee    53

Section 14.2

  Execution and Delivery of Guarantee    55

Section 14.3

  Limitation on Guarantors’ Liability    55

Section 14.4

  Release of Guarantors from Guarantee    55

Section 14.5

  Guarantor Contribution    56

Notation of Guarantee        Annex A

 

v


THIS INDENTURE dated as of                              is among Rayonier Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the “Company”), any Guarantors (as defined herein) party hereto, and [                                    ], as trustee (the “Trustee”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY AND ANY GUARANTORS

The Company and any Guarantors have duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of the Company’s debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness to be issued in one or more series unlimited as to principal amount (herein called the “Debt Securities”), which Debt Securities may be guaranteed by each of the Guarantors, as in this Indenture provided.

All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company and any Guarantors, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH

That in order to declare the terms and conditions upon which the Debt Securities are authenticated, issued and delivered, and in consideration of the premises, and of the purchase and acceptance of the Debt Securities by the Holders thereof, the Company, any Guarantor and the Trustee covenant and agree with each other, for the benefit of the respective Holders from time to time of the Debt Securities or any series thereof, as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Section 1.1 Definitions.

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the 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 the Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise. The Trustee may request and may conclusively rely upon an Officers’ Certificate to determine whether any Person is an Affiliate of any specified Person.

“Agent” means any Registrar or paying agent.

“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors, or the law of any other jurisdiction relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, winding up, liquidation, reorganization or relief of debtors.

“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Company.


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

“Capital Stock” of any Person means and includes any and all shares, rights to purchase, warrants or options (whether or not currently exercisable), participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) the equity (which includes, but is not limited to, common stock, preferred stock and Company and joint venture interests) of such Person (excluding any debt securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable for, such equity).

“Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.

“Company Request” and “Company Order” mean, respectively, a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by the President, the Chief Executive Officer or any Vice President of the Company, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, an Assistant Controller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.

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

“Debt” of any Person at any date means any obligation created or assumed by such Person for the repayment of borrowed money and any guarantee thereof.

“Debt Security” or “Debt Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any debt security or debt securities, as the case may be, of any series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

“Default” means any event, act or condition that is, or after notice or the passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

“Depositary” means, unless otherwise specified by the Company pursuant to either Section 2.3 or 2.15, with respect to Debt Securities of any series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, or any successor thereto registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute or regulations.

“Dollar” or “$” means such currency of the United States as at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any successor statute.

“Floating Rate Security” means a Debt Security that provides for the payment of interest at a variable rate determined periodically by reference to an interest rate index specified pursuant to Section 2.3.

 

2


“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, as in effect from time to time.

“Global Security” means with respect to any series of Debt Securities issued hereunder, a Debt Security which is executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance with this Indenture and any Indentures supplemental hereto, or resolution of the Board of Directors and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee and which shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, all the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series or any portion thereof, in either case having the same terms, including, without limitation, the same original issue date, date or dates on which principal is due and interest rate or method of determining interest.

“Guarantee” means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Debt or other obligation of any other Person and any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Debt or other obligation of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of company or partnership arrangements, or by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise) or (b) entered into for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Debt or other obligation of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part); provided, however, 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 any Subsidiary of the Company and any other Affiliate of the Company who may execute this Indenture, or a supplement hereto, for the purpose of providing a Guarantee of Debt Securities pursuant to this Indenture until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Guarantors” shall mean such successor Person.

“Holder,” “Holder of Debt Securities” or other similar terms means, a Person in whose name a Debt Security is registered in the Debt Security Register (as defined in Section 2.7(a)).

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed, or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented and shall include the form and terms of particular series of Debt Securities as contemplated hereunder, whether or not a supplemental Indenture is entered into with respect thereto.

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

 

3


“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, security interest, pledge, charge or other encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law.

“Officer” means, with respect to a Person, the President, the Chief Executive Officer, any Vice President (whether unmodified or prefaced by “Senior,” “Assistant” or any other designation), the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, Controller, Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of such Person.

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by two officers of the Company, one of whom must be the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or Chief Accounting Officer.

“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 or the Trustee.

“Original Issue Discount Debt Security” means any Debt Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.1.

“Outstanding,” when used with respect to any series of Debt Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Debt Securities of that series theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

 

  (a)   Debt Securities of that series theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

  (b)   Debt Securities of that series for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any paying agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying agent) for the Holders of such Debt Securities; provided, that, if such Debt Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made; and

 

  (c)   Debt Securities of that series which have been paid pursuant to Section 2.9 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Debt Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Debt Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Debt Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Debt Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Debt Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand,

 

4


authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Debt Securities which a Trust Officer actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Debt Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Debt Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities or an Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor. In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Debt Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Debt Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.1.

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

“Redemption Date,” when used with respect to any Debt Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

“Reporting Failure” means the failure of the Company or a Guarantor, as applicable, to file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company or a Guarantor is required to file the same with the SEC within the time periods specified in the Exchange Act or in the relevant forms thereunder (after giving effect to any grace period specified under Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act), the annual reports, information, documents or other reports that the Company or the Guarantor is required to file with the commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor statute.

“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision (but excluding any provision providing for the repurchase of such security at the option of the holder thereof upon the happening of any contingency beyond the control of the issuer unless such contingency has occurred).

“Subsidiary” of any Person means:

 

  (1)   any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of equity interests entitled, without regard to the occurrence of any contingency, to vote in the election of directors, managers, trustees or equivalent Persons thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person or combination thereof; or

 

5


  (2)   in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the partners’ equity interests, considering all partners’ equity interests as a single class, is at such time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person or combination thereof.

“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§77aaa-77bbbb), as in effect on the date of this Indenture as originally executed and, to the extent required by law, as amended.

“Trustee” initially means [                            ] and any other Person or Persons appointed as such from time to time pursuant to Section 7.8, and, subject to the provisions of Article VII, includes its or their successors and assigns. If at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Debt Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of that series.

“Trust Officer” means any officer or assistant officer of the Trustee assigned by the Trustee to administer its corporate trust matters.

“United States” means the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.

“U.S. Government Obligations” means direct obligations of the United States of America, obligations on which the payment of principal and interest is fully guaranteed by the United States of America or obligations or guarantees for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged.

“Yield to Maturity” means the yield to maturity, calculated at the time of issuance of a series of Debt Securities, or, if applicable, at the most recent redetermination of interest on such series and calculated in accordance with accepted financial practice.

Section 1.2 Other Definitions.

 

Term

   Defined in Section

“Debt Security Register”

     2.7

“Defaulted Interest”

       2.17

“Event of Default”

     6.1

“Funding Guarantor”

   14.5

“Guarantee”

   14.1

“Place of Payment”

     2.3

“Registrar”

     2.7

“Successor Company”

   10.1

Section 1.3 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.

All terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA have the meanings so assigned to them.

 

6


Section 1.4 Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires:

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

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

(c) “or” is not exclusive;

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

(e) all references in this instrument to “Articles,” “Sections” and other subdivisions are to the designated Articles, Sections and subdivisions of this instrument as originally executed;

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

(g) “including” means “including without limitation;”

(h) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

(i) the principal amount of any noninterest bearing or other discount security at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP.

ARTICLE II

DEBT SECURITIES

Section 2.1 Forms Generally. The Debt Securities of each series shall be in substantially the form established without the approval of any Holder by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or in one or more Indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate (and, if not contained in a supplemental Indenture entered into in accordance with Article IX, as are not prohibited by the provisions of this Indenture) or as may be required or appropriate to comply with any law or with any rules made pursuant thereto or with any rules of any securities exchange on which such series of Debt Securities may be listed, or to conform to general usage, or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Debt Securities as evidenced by their execution of the Debt Securities.

 

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The definitive Debt Securities of each series shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Debt Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Debt Securities.

Section 2.2 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication. The Trustee’s certificate of authentication on all Debt Securities authenticated by the Trustee shall be in substantially the following form:

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Debt Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

[                                                         ],
As Trustee

 

By:

 

 

  Authorized Signatory

Section 2.3 Principal Amount; Issuable in Series. The aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities which may be issued, executed, authenticated, delivered and outstanding under this Indenture is unlimited.

The Debt Securities may be issued in one or more series in fully registered form. There shall be established, without the approval of any Holders, in or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more Indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Debt Securities of any series any or all of the following:

(a) the title of the Debt Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Debt Securities of the series from all other Debt Securities);

(b) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Debt Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Debt Securities of the series pursuant to this Article II);

(c) the date or dates on which the principal of and premium, if any, on the Debt Securities of the series are payable;

(d) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which the Debt Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method of determining such rate or rates, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the interest payment dates on which such interest shall be payable, or the method by which such date will be determined, the record dates for the determination of Holders thereof to whom such interest is payable; and the basis upon which interest will be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve thirty-day months;

 

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(e) the place or places, if any, in addition to or instead of the corporate trust office of the Trustee, where the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, Debt Securities of the series shall be payable (“Place of Payment”);

(f) the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which Debt Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company or otherwise;

(g) whether Debt Securities of the series are entitled to the benefits of any Guarantee of any Guarantors pursuant to this Indenture;

(h) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, purchase or repay Debt Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof, and the price or prices at which and the period or periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which Debt Securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligations;

(i) the terms, if any, upon which the Debt Securities of the series may be convertible into or exchanged for capital stock (which may be represented by depositary shares), other Debt Securities or warrants for capital stock or Debt or other securities of any kind of the Company or any other obligor and the terms and conditions upon which such conversion or exchange shall be effected, including the initial conversion or exchange price or rate, the conversion or exchange period and any other provision in addition to or in lieu of those described herein;

(j) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which Debt Securities of the series shall be issuable;

(k) if the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on Debt Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts will be determined;

(l) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of Debt Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to such Stated Maturity, the amount which will be deemed to be such principal amount as of any such date for any purpose, including the principal amount thereof which will be due and payable upon any maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which will be deemed to be Outstanding as of any such date (or, in any such case, the manner in which such deemed principal amount is to be determined);

(m) any changes or additions to Article XI, including the addition of additional covenants that may be subject to the covenant defeasance option pursuant to Section 11.2(b);

(n) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Debt Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.1 or provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 6.2;

(o) the terms, if any, of the transfer, mortgage, pledge or assignment as security for the Debt Securities of the series of any properties, assets, moneys, proceeds, securities or other collateral, including whether certain provisions of the TIA are applicable and any corresponding changes to provisions of this Indenture as currently in effect;

 

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(p) any addition to or change in the Events of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the Holders to declare the principal of, and premium and interest on, such Debt Securities due and payable;

(q) if the Debt Securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security or Securities, the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such Global Security or Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual Debt Securities in definitive registered form; and the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities and the form of any legend or legends to be borne by any such Global Security or Securities in addition to or in lieu of the legend referred to in Section 2.15(a);

(r) any trustees, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars;

(s) the applicability of, and any addition to or change in the covenants and definitions currently set forth in this Indenture or in the terms currently set forth in Article X, including conditioning any merger, conveyance, transfer or lease permitted by Article X upon the satisfaction of any Debt coverage standard by the Company and Successor Company (as defined in Article X);

(t) with regard to Debt Securities of the series that do not bear interest, the dates for certain required reports to the Trustee; and

(u) any other terms of the Debt Securities of the series (which terms shall not be prohibited by the provisions of this Indenture).

All Debt Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such resolution of the Board of Directors and as set forth in such Officers’ Certificate or in any such Indenture supplemental hereto.

Section 2.4 Execution of Debt Securities. The Debt Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Company by the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President of the Company and, if the seal of the Company is reproduced thereon, it shall be attested by its Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, a Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer. Such signatures upon the Debt Securities may be the manual or facsimile signatures of the present or any future such authorized officers and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Debt Securities. The seal of the Company, if any, may be in the form of a facsimile thereof and may be impressed, affixed, imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Debt Securities.

Only such Debt Securities as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form hereinbefore recited, signed manually by the Trustee, shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate by the Trustee upon any Debt Security executed by the Company on behalf of the Company shall be conclusive evidence that the Debt Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.

 

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In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Debt Securities shall cease to be such officer before the Debt Securities so signed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, or disposed of by the Company, such Debt Securities nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the Person who signed such Debt Securities had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Debt Security may be signed on behalf of the Company by such Persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Debt Security, shall be the proper officers of the Company, although at the date of such Debt Security or of the execution of this Indenture any such Person was not such officer.

Section 2.5 Authentication and Delivery of Debt Securities. At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver to the Trustee for authentication Debt Securities of any series executed by the Company, and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver said Debt Securities to or upon a Company Order. In authenticating such Debt Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Debt Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon:

(a) a copy of any resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, authorizing the terms of issuance of any series of Debt Securities;

(b) an executed supplemental Indenture, if any;

(c) an Officers’ Certificate; and

(d) an Opinion of Counsel prepared in accordance with Section 13.5 which shall also state:

(i) that the form of such Debt Securities has been established by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or by a supplemental Indenture as permitted by Section 2.1 in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(ii) that the terms of such Debt Securities have been established by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or by a supplemental Indenture as permitted by Section 2.3 in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(iii) that such Debt Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and rights of acceleration and the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability;

(iv) that the Company has the power to issue such Debt Securities and has duly taken all necessary action with respect to such issuance;

 

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(v) that the issuance of such Debt Securities will not contravene the organizational documents of the Company or result in any material violation of any of the terms or provisions of any law or regulation or of any material indenture, mortgage or other agreement known to such counsel by which the Company is bound;

(vi) that authentication and delivery of such Debt Securities and the execution and delivery of any supplemental Indenture will not violate the terms of this Indenture; and

(vii) such other matters as the Trustee may reasonably request.

Such Opinion of Counsel need express no opinion as to whether a court in the United States would render a money judgment in a currency other than that of the United States.

The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Debt Securities under this Section 2.5 if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee or a trust committee of directors, trustees or Officers (or any combination thereof) shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to existing Holders.

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

Unless otherwise provided in the form of Debt Security for any series, each Debt Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

Section 2.6 Denomination of Debt Securities. Unless otherwise provided in the form of Debt Security for any series, the Debt Securities of each series shall be issuable only as fully registered Debt Securities in such Dollar denominations as shall be specified or contemplated by Section 2.3. In the absence of any such specification with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, the Debt Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

Section 2.7 Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

(a) The Company shall keep or cause to be kept a register for each series of Debt Securities issued hereunder (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Debt Security Register”), in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of all Debt Securities and the transfer of Debt Securities as in this Article II provided. At all reasonable times the Debt Security Register shall be open for inspection by the Trustee. Subject to Section 2.15, upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debt Security at any office or agency to be maintained by the Company in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.2, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall

 

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authenticate and deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Debt Security or Debt Securities of authorized denominations for a like aggregate principal amount. In no event may Debt Securities be issued as, or exchanged for, bearer securities.

Unless and until otherwise determined by the Company by resolution of the Board of Directors, the Debt Security Register shall be kept at the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee and, for this purpose, the Trustee shall be designated “Registrar.”

Debt Securities of any series (other than a Global Security, except as set forth below) may be exchanged for a like aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities of the same series of other authorized denominations. Subject to Section 2.15, Debt Securities to be exchanged shall be surrendered at the office or agency to be maintained by the Company as provided in Section 4.2, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor the Debt Security or Debt Securities which the Holder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive.

(b) All Debt Securities presented or surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange or payment shall (if so required by the Company, the Trustee or the Registrar) be duly endorsed or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company, the Trustee and the Registrar, duly executed by the Holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

All Debt Securities issued in exchange for or upon transfer of Debt Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Debt Securities surrendered for such exchange or transfer.

No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Debt Securities (except as provided by Section 2.9), but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee, assessment or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto, other than those expressly provided in this Indenture to be made at the Company’s own expense or without expense or without charge to the Holders.

The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Debt Securities for a period of 15 days next preceding any mailing of notice of redemption of Debt Securities of such series or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Debt Securities selected, called or being called for redemption.

Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Debt Security, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, any paying agent or any Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name a Debt Security is registered as the absolute owner of such Debt Security for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.12) interest on, such Debt Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Debt Security is overdue, and none of the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, any paying agent or any Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

None of the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, any agent of the Trustee, any paying agent or any Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records

 

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relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

Section 2.8 Temporary Debt Securities. Pending the preparation of definitive Debt Securities of any series, the Company may execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver temporary Debt Securities (printed, lithographed, photocopied, typewritten or otherwise produced) of any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the definitive Debt Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Debt Securities, all as may be determined by the Company with the concurrence of the Trustee. Temporary Debt Securities may contain such reference to any provisions of this Indenture as may be appropriate. Every temporary Debt Security shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive Debt Securities.

If temporary Debt Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Debt Securities of such series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Debt Securities of such series, the temporary Debt Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Debt Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Debt Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company at a Place of Payment for such series, without charge to the Holder thereof, except as provided in Section 2.7 in connection with a transfer. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Debt Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Debt Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor. Until so exchanged, temporary Debt Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Debt Securities of such series.

Upon any exchange of a portion of a temporary Global Security for a definitive Global Security or for the individual Debt Securities represented thereby pursuant to Section 2.7 or this Section 2.8, the temporary Global Security shall be endorsed by the Trustee to reflect the reduction of the principal amount evidenced thereby, whereupon the principal amount of such temporary Global Security shall be reduced for all purposes by the amount to be exchanged and endorsed.

Section 2.9 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debt Securities. If (a) any mutilated Debt Security is surrendered to the Trustee at its corporate trust office or (b) the Company and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Debt Security, and there is delivered to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any paying agent harmless, and neither the Company nor the Trustee receives notice that such Debt Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, then the Company shall execute and, upon a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security, a new Debt Security of the same series of like tenor, form, terms and principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously Outstanding. Upon the issuance of any substituted Debt Security, the Company or the Trustee may require the payment of a sum

 

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sufficient to cover any tax, fee, assessment or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses connected therewith. In case any Debt Security which has matured or is about to mature or which has been called for redemption shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substituted Debt Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Debt Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish the Company and the Trustee with such security or indemnity as either may require to save it harmless from all risk, however remote, and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to the satisfaction of the Company and the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Debt Security and of the ownership thereof.

Every substituted Debt Security of any series issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.9 by virtue of the fact that any Debt Security is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security shall be found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Debt Securities of that series duly issued hereunder. All Debt Securities shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Securities, and shall preclude any and all other rights or remedies, notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.

Section 2.10 Cancellation of Surrendered Debt Securities. All Debt Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any paying agent or a Registrar, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation by it, or if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be canceled by it, and no Debt Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. All canceled Debt Securities held by the Trustee shall be destroyed (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act) and certification of their destruction delivered to the Company, unless otherwise directed. On request of the Company, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company canceled Debt Securities held by the Trustee. If the Company shall acquire any of the Debt Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the Debt represented thereby unless and until the same are delivered or surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation. The Company may not issue new Debt Securities to replace Debt Securities it has redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 2.11 Provisions of the Indenture and Debt Securities for the Sole Benefit of the Parties and the Holders. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities, expressed or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, the Holders or any Registrar or paying agent, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Indenture, or under any covenant, condition or provision herein contained; all its covenants, conditions and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto, the Holders and any Registrar and paying agents.

 

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Section 2.12 Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

(a) Interest on any Debt Security that is payable and is punctually paid or duly provided for on any interest payment date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Debt Security is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest notwithstanding the cancellation of such Debt Security upon any transfer or exchange subsequent to the regular record date. Payment of interest on Debt Securities shall be made at the corporate trust office of the Trustee (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.3), or at the option of the Company, by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Debt Security Register or, if provided pursuant to Section 2.3 and in accordance with arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee, at the option of the Holder by wire transfer to an account designated by the Holder.

(b) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.12 and Section 2.17, each Debt Security of a particular series delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Debt Security of the same series shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Debt Security.

Section 2.13 Securities Denominated in Dollars. Except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.3 for Debt Securities of any series, payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, Debt Securities of such series will be made in Dollars.

Section 2.14 Wire Transfers. Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary in this Indenture, the Company may make any payment of moneys required to be deposited with the Trustee on account of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities (whether pursuant to optional or mandatory redemption payments, interest payments or otherwise) by wire transfer in immediately available funds to an account designated by the Trustee before 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date such moneys are to be paid to the Holders of the Debt Securities in accordance with the terms hereof.

Section 2.15 Securities Issuable in the Form of a Global Security.

(a) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.3 that the Debt Securities of a particular series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee or its agent shall, in accordance with Section 2.5, authenticate and deliver, such Global Security or Securities, which shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series to be represented by such Global Security or Securities, or such portion thereof as the Company shall specify in an Officers’ Certificate, shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or its nominee, shall be delivered by the Trustee or its agent to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction and shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect:

“UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT

 

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FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

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

or such other legend as may then be required by the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.15 or of Section 2.7 to the contrary, and subject to the provisions of paragraph (c) below, unless the terms of a Global Security expressly permit such Global Security to be exchanged in whole or in part for definitive Debt Securities in registered form, a Global Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part and in the manner provided in Section 2.7, only by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary for such Global Security, or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary to a successor Depositary for such Global Security selected or approved by the Company, or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.

(c) (i) If at any time the Depositary for a Global Security or Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or if at any time the Depositary for the Debt Securities for such series shall no longer be eligible or in good standing under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute, rule or regulation, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to such Global Security or Securities. If a successor Depositary for such Global Security or Securities is not appointed by the Company within 120 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee or its agent, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such individual Debt Securities of such series in exchange for such Global Security or Securities, will authenticate and deliver, individual Debt Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security or Securities in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.

(ii) If an Event of Default occurs and the Depositary for a Global Security or Securities notifies the Trustee of its decision to require that the Debt Securities of any series or portion thereof issued or issuable in the form of one or more

 

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Global Securities shall no longer be represented by such Global Security or Securities, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to such Global Security or Securities. In such event the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of individual Debt Securities of such series in exchange in whole or in part for such Global Security or Securities, will authenticate and deliver individual Debt Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such series or portion thereof in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.

(iii) If specified by the Company pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.3 with respect to Debt Securities issued or issuable in the form of a Global Security, the Depositary for such Global Security may surrender such Global Security in exchange in whole or in part for individual Debt Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form on such terms as are acceptable to the Company, the Trustee and such Depositary. Thereupon the Company shall execute, and the Trustee or its agent upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Debt Securities of such series shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge, to each Person specified by such Depositary a new Debt Security or Securities of the same series of like tenor and terms and of any authorized denomination as requested by such Person in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person’s beneficial interest in the Global Security; and to such Depositary a new Global Security of like tenor and terms and in an authorized denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities delivered to Holders thereof.

(iv) In any exchange provided for in any of the preceding three paragraphs, the Company will execute and the Trustee or its agent will authenticate and deliver individual Debt Securities. Upon the exchange of the entire principal amount of a Global Security for individual Debt Securities, such Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee or its agent. Except as provided in the preceding paragraph, Debt Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security pursuant to this Section 2.15 shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Global Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee or the Registrar. The Trustee or the Registrar shall deliver such Debt Securities to the Persons in whose names such Debt Securities are so registered.

(v) Payments in respect of the principal of and interest on any Debt Securities registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee will be payable to the Depositary or such nominee in its capacity as the registered owner of such Global Security. The Company, any Guarantors and the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name the Debt Securities, including the Global Security, are registered as the owner thereof for the purpose of receiving such payments and for any and all other purposes whatsoever. None of the Company, any Guarantors, the Trustee, any Registrar, the paying agent or any agent of the Company, any Guarantors or the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of the beneficial ownership interests of the Global Security by the Depositary or its nominee or any of the Depositary’s direct or indirect participants, or for maintaining,

 

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supervising or reviewing any records of the Depositary, its nominee or any of its direct or indirect participants relating to the beneficial ownership interests of the Global Security, the payments to the beneficial owners of the Global Security of amounts paid to the Depositary or its nominee, or any other matter relating to the actions and practices of the Depositary, its nominee or any of its direct or indirect participants. None of the Company, any Guarantors, the Trustee or any such agent will be liable for any delay by the Depositary, its nominee, or any of its direct or indirect participants in identifying the beneficial owners of the Debt Securities, and the Company, any Guarantors and the Trustee may conclusively rely on, and will be protected in relying on, instructions from the Depositary or its nominee for all purposes (including with respect to the registration and delivery, and the respective principal amounts, of the Debt Securities to be issued).

Section 2.16 Medium Term Securities. Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein, if all Debt Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary for the Company to deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate, resolutions of the Board of Directors, supplemental Indenture, Opinion of Counsel or written order or any other document otherwise required pursuant to Section 2.1, 2.3, 2.5 or 13.5 at or prior to the time of authentication of each Debt Security of such series if such documents are delivered to the Trustee or its agent at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first such Debt Security of such series to be issued; provided, that any subsequent request by the Company to the Trustee to authenticate Debt Securities of such series upon original issuance shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Company that, as of the date of such request, the statements made in the Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.5 or 13.5 shall be true and correct as if made on such date and that the Opinion of Counsel delivered at or prior to such time of authentication of an original issuance of Debt Securities shall specifically state that it shall relate to all subsequent issuances of Debt Securities of such series that are identical to the Debt Securities issued in the first issuance of Debt Securities of such series.

A Company Order delivered by the Company to the Trustee in the circumstances set forth in the preceding paragraph, may provide that Debt Securities which are the subject thereof will be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or its agent on original issue from time to time upon the telephonic or written order of Persons designated in such written order (any such telephonic instructions to be promptly confirmed in writing by such Person) and that such Persons are authorized to determine, consistent with the Officers’ Certificate, supplemental Indenture or resolution of the Board of Directors relating to such written order, such terms and conditions of such Debt Securities as are specified in such Officers’ Certificate, supplemental Indenture or such resolution.

Section 2.17 Defaulted Interest. Any interest on any Debt Security of a particular series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on the dates and in the manner provided in the Debt Securities of such series and in this Indenture (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder thereof on the relevant record date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (i) or (ii) below:

(i) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Debt Securities of such series are registered at

 

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the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Debt Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such special record date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be mailed, first class postage pre-paid, to each Holder thereof at its address as it appears in the Debt Security Register, not less than 15 days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Debt Securities of such series are registered at the close of business on such special record date.

(ii) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Debt Securities of such series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Debt Securities of such series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

Section 2.18 CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing the Debt Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Debt Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Debt Securities, and any such 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” numbers.

ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

Section 3.1 Applicability of Article. The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to the Debt Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.3 for Debt Securities of such series.

 

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Section 3.2 Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debt Securities. In case the Company shall desire to exercise the right to redeem all or, as the case may be, any part of the Debt Securities of any series in accordance with their terms, by resolution of the Board of Directors or a supplemental Indenture, the Company shall fix a date for redemption and shall give notice of such redemption at least 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption to the Holders of Debt Securities of such series so to be redeemed as a whole or in part, in the manner provided in Section 13.3. The notice if given in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Debt Security of a series designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Debt Security of such series.

Each such notice of redemption shall specify (i) the date fixed for redemption, (ii) the redemption price at which Debt Securities of such series are to be redeemed (or the method of calculating such redemption price), (iii) the Place or Places of Payment that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Debt Securities, (iv) that any interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, (v) that the redemption is for a sinking fund payment (if applicable), (vi) that, unless otherwise specified in such notice, if the Company defaults in making such redemption payment, (vii) that on and after said date any interest thereon or on the portions thereof to be redeemed will cease to accrue, (viii) that in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities original issue discount accrued after the date fixed for redemption will cease to accrue, (ix) the terms of the Debt Securities of that series pursuant to which the Debt Securities of that series are being redeemed and (x) 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 Debt Securities of that series. If less than all the Debt Securities of a series are to be redeemed the notice of redemption shall specify the certificate numbers of any Debt Securities of that series to be redeemed that are not in global form. In case any Debt Security of a series is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that on and after the date fixed for redemption, upon surrender of such Debt Security, a new Debt Security or Debt Securities of that series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof, will be issued.

At least five days before the giving of any notice of redemption, unless the Trustee consents to a shorter period, the Company shall give written notice to the Trustee of the Redemption Date, the principal amount of Debt Securities to be redeemed and the series and terms of the Debt Securities pursuant to which such redemption will occur. Such notice shall be accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel from the Company to the effect that such redemption will comply with the conditions herein, and such notice may be revoked at any time prior to the giving of a notice of redemption to the Holders pursuant to this Section 3.2. If fewer than all the Debt Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the record date relating to such redemption shall be selected by the Company and given in writing to the Trustee, which record date shall be not less than three days after the date of notice to the Trustee.

By 11 a.m., New York City time, on the Redemption Date for any Debt Securities, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a paying agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own paying agent, segregate and hold in trust) an amount of money in Dollars (except as provided pursuant to Section 2.3) sufficient to pay the redemption price of such Debt Securities or any portions thereof that are to be redeemed on that date, together with any interest accrued to the Redemption Date.

 

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If less than all the Debt Securities of like tenor and terms of a series are to be redeemed (other than pursuant to mandatory sinking fund redemptions), the Trustee shall select, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as in its sole discretion it shall deem appropriate and fair, the Debt Securities of that series or portions thereof (in multiples of $1,000) to be redeemed. In any case where more than one Debt Security of such series is registered in the same name, the Trustee in its discretion may treat the aggregate principal amount so registered as if it were represented by one Debt Security of such series. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Debt Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Debt Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. If any Debt Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof on such Redemption Date, the principal, premium, if any, and interest shall bear interest until paid from the Redemption Date at the rate borne by the Debt Securities of that series. If less than all the Debt Securities of unlike tenor and terms of a series are to be redeemed, the particular Debt Securities to be redeemed shall be selected by the Company. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Debt Securities called for redemption also apply to portions of Debt Securities called for redemption.

Section 3.3 Payment of Debt Securities Called for Redemption. If notice of redemption has been given as provided in Section 3.2, the Debt Securities or portions of Debt Securities of the series with respect to which such notice has been given shall become due and payable on the date and at the Place or Places of Payment stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with any interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption, and on and after said date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Debt Securities at the applicable redemption price, together with any interest accrued to said date) any interest on the Debt Securities or portions of Debt Securities of any series so called for redemption shall cease to accrue, and any original issue discount in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities shall cease to accrue. On presentation and surrender of such Debt Securities at the Place or Places of Payment in said notice specified, the said Debt Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable redemption price, together with any interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption.

Any Debt Security that is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at the Place of Payment with, if the Company, the Registrar or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, the Registrar and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Debt Security without service charge, a new Debt Security or Debt Securities of the same series, of like tenor and form, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Debt Security so surrendered; except that if a Global Security is so surrendered, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Depositary for such Global Security, without service charge, a new Global Security in a denomination equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Global Security so surrendered. In the case of a Debt Security providing appropriate space for such notation, at the option of the

 

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Holder thereof, the Trustee, in lieu of delivering a new Debt Security or Debt Securities as aforesaid, may make a notation on such Debt Security of the payment of the redeemed portion thereof.

Section 3.4 Mandatory and Optional Sinking Funds. The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Debt Securities of any series, resolution of the Board of Directors or a supplemental Indenture is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Debt Securities of any series, resolution of the Board of Directors or a supplemental Indenture is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.”

In lieu of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to any Debt Securities of a series in cash, the Company may at its option (a) deliver to the Trustee Debt Securities of that series theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company or (b) receive credit for the principal amount of Debt Securities of that series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Debt Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Debt Securities, resolution or supplemental Indenture; provided, that such Debt Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Debt Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption price specified in such Debt Securities, resolution or supplemental Indenture for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such mandatory sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

Section 3.5 Redemption of Debt Securities for Sinking Fund. Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Debt Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, any resolution or supplemental Indenture, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Debt Securities of that series pursuant to Section 3.4 (which Debt Securities, if not previously redeemed, will accompany such certificate) and whether the Company intends to exercise its right to make any permitted optional sinking fund payment with respect to such series. Such certificate shall also state that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to such series. Such certificate shall be irrevocable and upon its delivery the Company shall be obligated to make the cash payment or payments therein referred to, if any, by 11 a.m., New York City time, on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date. Failure of the Company to deliver such certificate (or to deliver the Debt Securities specified in this paragraph) shall not constitute a Default, but such failure shall require that the sinking fund payment due on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date for that series shall be paid entirely in cash and shall be sufficient to redeem the principal amount of such Debt Securities subject to a mandatory sinking fund payment without the option to deliver or credit Debt Securities as provided in Section 3.4 and without the right to make any optional sinking fund payment, if any, with respect to such series.

Any sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional) made in cash plus any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made in cash which shall equal or exceed $100,000 (or a lesser sum if the Company shall so request) with respect to the Debt Securities of any particular series shall be applied by the Trustee on the sinking fund payment

 

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date on which such payment is made (or, if such payment is made before a sinking fund payment date, on the sinking fund payment date following the date of such payment) to the redemption of such Debt Securities at the redemption price specified in such Debt Securities, resolution or supplemental Indenture for operation of the sinking fund together with any accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption. Any sinking fund moneys not so applied or allocated by the Trustee to the redemption of Debt Securities shall be added to the next cash sinking fund payment received by the Trustee for such series and, together with such payment, shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.5. Any and all sinking fund moneys with respect to the Debt Securities of any particular series held by the Trustee on the last sinking fund payment date with respect to Debt Securities of such series and not held for the payment or redemption of particular Debt Securities shall be applied by the Trustee, together with other moneys, if necessary, to be deposited sufficient for the purpose, to the payment of the principal of the Debt Securities of that series at its Stated Maturity.

The Trustee shall select the Debt Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in the last paragraph of Section 3.2 and the Company shall cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the manner provided in Section 3.2 except that the notice of redemption shall also state that the Debt Securities are being redeemed by operation of the sinking fund. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Debt Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 3.3.

The Trustee shall not redeem any Debt Securities of a series with sinking fund moneys or mail any notice of redemption of such Debt Securities by operation of the sinking fund for such series during the continuance of a Default in payment of interest on such Debt Securities or of any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default occurring as a consequence of this paragraph) with respect to such Debt Securities, except that if the notice of redemption of any such Debt Securities shall theretofore have been mailed in accordance with the provisions hereof, the Trustee shall redeem such Debt Securities if cash sufficient for that purpose shall be deposited with the Trustee for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Article III. Except as aforesaid, any moneys in the sinking fund for such series at the time when any such Default or Event of Default shall occur and any moneys thereafter paid into such sinking fund shall, during the continuance of such Default or Event of Default, be held as security for the payment of such Debt Securities; provided, however, that in case such Default or Event of Default shall have been cured or waived as provided herein, such moneys shall thereafter be applied on the next sinking fund payment date for such Debt Securities on which such moneys may be applied pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3.5.

ARTICLE IV

PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

Section 4.1 Payment of Principal of, and Premium, If Any, and Interest on, Debt Securities. The Company, for the benefit of each series of Debt Securities, will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, each of the Debt Securities at the place, at the respective times and in the manner provided herein or in the Debt Securities. Each installment of interest on any Debt Securities not in global form may

 

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at the Company’s option be paid by mailing checks for such interest payable to the Person entitled thereto pursuant to Section 2.7(a) to the address of such Person as it appears on the Debt Security Register.

Principal of and premium and interest on Debt Securities of any series shall be considered paid on the date due if, by 11 a.m., New York City time, on such date the Trustee or any paying agent holds in accordance with this Indenture money sufficient to pay all principal, premium and interest then due.

The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal or premium, if any, at the rate specified therefor in the Debt Securities, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.

Section 4.2 Maintenance of Offices or Agencies for Registration of Transfer, Exchange and Payment of Debt Securities. The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Debt Securities an office or agency where Debt Securities of such series may be presented or surrendered for payment, and it shall also maintain (in or outside such Place of Payment) an office or agency where Debt Securities of such series may be surrendered for transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Debt Securities of such series 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 shall 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 office of the Trustee where its corporate trust business is principally administered in the United States, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

The Company may also from time to time designate different or additional offices or agencies to be maintained for such purposes (in or outside of such Place of Payment), and may from time to time rescind any such designation; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligations described in the preceding paragraph. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such additional designation or rescission of designation and any change in the location of any such different or additional office or agency.

Section 4.3 Appointment to Fill a Vacancy in the Office of Trustee. The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.8, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder with respect to each series of Debt Securities.

Section 4.4 Duties of Paying Agents, etc.

(a) The Company shall cause each paying agent, if any, other than the Trustee, to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 4.4,

(i) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities of any series

 

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(whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor on the Debt Securities of such series) in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series;

(ii) that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor on the Debt Securities of such series) to make any payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities of such series when the same shall be due and payable; and

(iii) that it will at any time during the continuance of an Event of Default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held by it as such agent.

(b) If the Company shall act as its own paying agent, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities of any series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series a sum sufficient to pay such principal, premium, if any, or interest so becoming due. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure by the Company to take such action or the failure by any other obligor on such Debt Securities to make any payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, such Debt Securities when the same shall be due and payable.

(c) Anything in this Section 4.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, or for any other reason, pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee all sums held in trust by it or any paying agent, as required by this Section 4.4, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such paying agent.

(d) Whenever the Company shall have one or more paying agents with respect to any series of Debt Securities, it will, prior to each due date of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, any Debt Securities of such series, deposit with any such paying agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal, premium or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto, and (unless any such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

(e) Anything in this Section 4.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section 4.4 is subject to the provisions of Section 11.5.

Section 4.5 SEC Reports; Financial Statements.

The Company shall file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company or any Guarantor is required to file the same with the SEC, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents, and other reports that the Company or such Guarantor is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s and any Guarantor’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

 

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Section 4.6 Compliance Certificate. The Company shall, so long as any of the Debt Securities are Outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, on or before January 31 in each year, a brief certificate from the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Company as to his or her knowledge of the Company’s compliance with all conditions and covenants under the Indenture (such compliance to be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under the Indenture).

Section 4.7 Further Instruments and Acts. The Company will, upon request of the Trustee, execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may reasonably be necessary or proper to carry out more effectually the purposes of this Indenture.

Section 4.8 Waiver of Certain Covenants. The Company and the Guarantors may, with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any covenant made applicable to such Debt Securities pursuant to Section 2.3, if, before or after the time for such compliance, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected, waive such compliance in such instance with such covenant, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such covenant except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the Guarantors and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such covenant shall remain in full force and effect.

ARTICLE V

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE

Section 5.1 Company to Furnish Trustee Information as to Names and Addresses of Holders; Preservation of Information. The Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of each series:

(a) not more than 10 days after each record date with respect to the payment of interest, if any, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders as of such record date, and

(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and contents as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished;

provided, however, that so long as the Trustee shall be the Registrar, such lists shall not be required to be furnished.

The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the Holders (i) contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in this Section 5.1 or (ii) received by it in the capacity of paying agent or Registrar (if so acting) hereunder.

 

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The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in this Section 5.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

Section 5.2 Communications to Holders. Holders may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the TIA with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Debt Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the TIA.

Section 5.3 Reports by Trustee. Within 60 days after each January 31, beginning with the first January 31 following the date of this Indenture, and in any event on or before April 1 in each year, the Trustee shall mail to Holders a brief report dated as of such January 31 that complies with TIA Section 313(a); provided, however, that if no event described in TIA Section 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted. The Trustee also shall comply with TIA Section 313(b).

Reports pursuant to this Section 5.3 shall be transmitted by mail:

(a) to all Holders, as the names and addresses of such Holders appear in the Debt Security Register; and

(b) except in the cases of reports under Section 313(b)(2) of the TIA, to each Holder of a Debt Security of any series whose name and address appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 5.1.

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Holders shall be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and each stock exchange (if any) on which the Debt Securities of any series are listed. The Company agrees to notify promptly the Trustee whenever the Debt Securities of any series become listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.

Section 5.4 Record Dates for Action by Holders. If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of Debt Securities of any series any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any direction, notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the Company may, at its option, by resolution of the Board of Directors, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders of Debt Securities entitled to take such action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. Any such record date shall be fixed at the Company’s discretion. If such a record date is fixed, such action may be sought or given before or after the record date, but only the Holders of Debt Securities of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders of Debt Securities for the purpose of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Debt Securities of such series Outstanding have authorized or agreed or consented to such action, and for that purpose the Debt Securities of such series Outstanding shall be computed as of such record date.

 

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ARTICLE VI

REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND HOLDERS IN EVENT OF DEFAULT

Section 6.1 Events of Default. “Event of Default” with respect to the Debt Securities of any series means each one of the following events which shall have occurred and be continuing:

(a) default in the payment of any installment of interest upon any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

(b) default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable, whether at Stated Maturity, upon redemption, by declaration, upon required repurchase or otherwise; or

(c) default in the payment of any sinking fund payment with respect to any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable; or

(d) failure on the part of the Company or, if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of a Guarantee by a Guarantor, any of the Guarantors, duly to observe or perform any other of the covenants or agreements on the part of the Company, or if applicable, any of the Guarantors, in the Debt Securities of that series, in any resolution of the Board of Directors authorizing the issuance of that series of Debt Securities, in this Indenture with respect to such series or in any supplemental Indenture with respect to such series (other than a covenant a default in the performance of which is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with), continuing for a period of 60 days (or 180 days in the case of a Reporting Failure) after the date on which written notice specifying such failure and requiring the Company, or if applicable, the Guarantors, to remedy the same and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder shall have been given to the Company and if applicable, the Guarantors, by the Trustee or to the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors, and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series at the time Outstanding; or

(e) the Company or, if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee by a Guarantor, any of the Guarantors, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law,

(i) commences a voluntary case,

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

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

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

 

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

(i) is for relief against the Company or, if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee by a Guarantor, any of the Guarantors, as debtor in an involuntary case,

(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company or, if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee by a Guarantor, any of the Guarantors, or a Custodian for all or substantially all of the property of the Company, or if applicable, any of the Guarantors, or

(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company or, if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee by a Guarantor, any of the Guarantors,

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

(g) if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee by a Guarantor, the Guarantee of any of the Guarantors ceases to be in full force and effect with respect to Debt Securities of that series (except as otherwise provided in this Indenture) or is declared null and void in a judicial proceeding or any of the Guarantors denies or disaffirms its obligations under this Indenture or such Guarantee; or

(h) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Debt Securities of that series;

(i) provided, however, that the occurrence of any of the events described in the foregoing clause (d) shall not constitute an Event of Default if such occurrence is the result of changes in generally accepted accounting principles as recognized by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants at the date as of which this Indenture is executed and a certificate to such effect is delivered to the Trustee by the Company’s independent public accountants.

(j) If an Event of Default described in clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (g), or (h) with respect to Debt Securities of that series at the time Outstanding occurs with respect to the Company or any Guarantor and is continuing, unless the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Debt Securities of that series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company and the Guarantor (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), may declare the principal of (or, if the Debt Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Debt Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series), premium, if any, and interest on all the Debt Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable, anything in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities of that series contained to the contrary notwithstanding. If an Event of Default described in clause (e) or (f) occurs with respect to the Company, then and in each and every such case, unless the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Debt Securities shall have become due and payable, the principal of (or, if the

 

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Debt Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Debt Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms thereof), premium, if any, and interest on all the Debt Securities then Outstanding hereunder shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders, anything in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of a particular series by written notice to the Trustee may rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction already rendered and if all existing Events of Default with respect to that series have been cured or waived except nonpayment of principal, premium, if any, or interest that has become due solely because of acceleration. Upon any such rescission, the parties hereto shall be restored respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the parties hereto shall continue as though no such proceeding had been taken.

Section 6.2 Collection of Debt by Trustee, etc. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid or enforce the performance of any provision of the Debt Securities of the affected series or this Indenture, and may prosecute any such action or proceedings to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against any of the Guarantors or the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of such series (and collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of any of the Guarantors or the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of such series wherever situated the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable).

In case there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for the reorganization of any of the Guarantors or the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of any series under any Bankruptcy Law, or in case a Custodian shall have been appointed for its property, or in case of any other similar judicial proceedings relative to any of the Guarantors or the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of any series, its creditors or its property, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of Debt Securities of any series shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6.2, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise, to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal, premium, if any, and interest (or, if the Debt Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Debt Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) owing and unpaid in respect of the Debt Securities of such series, and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and for reimbursement of all expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee except as a result of its negligence or bad faith) and of the Holders thereof allowed in any such judicial proceedings relative to any of the Guarantors or the Company, or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of such series, its creditors or its property, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute all amounts

 

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received with respect to the claims of such Holders and of the Trustee on their behalf, and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of such Holders to make payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of payments directly to such Holders, to pay to the Trustee such amount as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other reasonable expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee except as a result of its negligence or bad faith.

All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Debt Securities of any series, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any such Debt Securities, or the production thereof in any trial or other proceedings relative thereto, and any such action or proceedings instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment (except for any amounts payable to the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.6) shall be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of all the Debt Securities in respect of which such action was taken.

In case of an Event of Default hereunder the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.

Section 6.3 Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee. Any moneys or other property collected by the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.2 with respect to Debt Securities of any series shall be applied, in the order following, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys or other property, upon presentation of the several Debt Securities of such series in respect of which moneys or other property have been collected, and the notation thereon of the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

FIRST: To the payment of all money due the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.6;

SECOND: In case the principal of the Outstanding Debt Securities in respect of which such moneys have been collected shall not have become due, to the payment of interest on the Debt Securities of such series in the order of the maturity of the installments of such interest, with interest (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon the overdue installments of interest at the rate or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Debt Securities) borne by the Debt Securities of such series, such payments to be made ratably to the Persons entitled thereto, without discrimination or preference;

THIRD: In case the principal of the Outstanding Debt Securities in respect of which such moneys have been collected shall have become due, by declaration or otherwise, to the payment of the whole amount then owing and unpaid upon the Debt Securities of such series for principal and premium, if any, and interest, with interest on the overdue principal and premium, if any, and (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon overdue installments of interest at the rate or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Debt Securities)

 

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borne by the Debt Securities of such series; and, in case such moneys shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amount so due and unpaid upon the Debt Securities of such series, then to the payment of such principal and premium, if any, and interest, without preference or priority of principal and premium, if any, over interest, or of interest over principal and premium, if any, or of any installment of interest over any other installment of interest, or of any Debt Security of such series over any Debt Security of such series, ratably to the aggregate of such principal and premium, if any, and interest; and

FOURTH: The remainder, if any, shall be paid to the Guarantors or the Company, as applicable, its successors or assigns, or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.3. At least 15 days before such record date, the Company shall mail to each Holder and the Trustee a notice that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.

Section 6.4 Limitation on Suits by Holders. No Holder of any Debt Security of any series shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any action or proceeding at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, upon or under or with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless such Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default with respect to Debt Securities of that same series and of the continuance thereof and unless the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action or proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder and shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity or security as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, and the Trustee, for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity or security shall have failed to institute any such action or proceedings and no direction inconsistent with such written request shall have been given to the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.6; it being understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by the Holder of every Debt Security with every other Holder and the Trustee, that no one or more Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any Holders, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such Holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all such Holders. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section 6.4, each and every Holder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, however, the right of any Holder of any Debt Security to receive payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.12) interest on, such Debt Security, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Debt Security, and to institute 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.

 

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Section 6.5 Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission in Exercise of Rights Not a Waiver of Default. All powers and remedies given by this Article VI to the Trustee or to the Holders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any thereof or of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the Holders, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture, and no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid, shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such Default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.4, every power and remedy given by this Article VI or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders.

Section 6.6 Rights of Holders of Majority in Principal Amount of Debt Securities to Direct Trustee and to Waive Default. The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series at the time Outstanding shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or of exercising any right, trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Debt Securities of such series; provided, however, that such direction shall not be otherwise than in accordance with law and the provisions of this Indenture, and that subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee being advised by counsel shall determine that the action so directed may not lawfully be taken or is inconsistent with any provision of this Indenture, or if the Trustee shall by a responsible officer or officers determine that the action so directed would involve it in personal liability or would be unduly prejudicial to Holders of Debt Securities of such series not taking part in such direction; and provided, further, however, that nothing in this Indenture contained shall impair the right of the Trustee to take any action deemed proper by the Trustee and which is not inconsistent with such direction by such Holders. The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series at the time Outstanding may on behalf of the Holders of all the Debt Securities of that series waive any past Default or Event of Default and its consequences for that series, except a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, any of the Debt Securities and a Default or Event of Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.2 cannot be amended without the consent of each Holder affected thereby. In case of any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture, and the Guarantors, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Debt Securities of that series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 6.7 Trustee to Give Notice of Events of Defaults Known to It, but May Withhold Such Notice in Certain Circumstances. The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of an Event of Default, or if later, within 30 days after the Trustee obtains actual knowledge of the Event of Default, with respect to a series of Debt Securities give to the Holders thereof, in the manner provided in Section 13.3, notice of all Events of Default with respect to such series known to the Trustee, unless such Events of Default shall have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice; provided, that, except in the case of an Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any of the Debt Securities of such

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series or in the making of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a committee of directors or responsible officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders thereof.

Section 6.8 Requirement of an Undertaking to Pay Costs in Certain Suits under the Indenture or Against the Trustee. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Debt Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit in the manner and to the extent provided in the TIA, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 6.8 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 25 percent in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any Debt Security on or after the due date for such payment expressed in such Debt Security.

ARTICLE VII

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

Section 7.1 Certain Duties and Responsibilities. The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture. In case an Event of Default has occurred (which has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, its own bad faith or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(a) this paragraph shall not be construed to limit the effect of the first paragraph of this Section 7.1;

(b) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of a series and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default with respect to such series which may have occurred:

(i) the duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect to Debt Securities of any series shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties

 

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and obligations with respect to such series as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to such series shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee;

(ii) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture; but the Trustee shall examine the evidence furnished to it pursuant to Sections 4.5 and 4.6 to determine whether or not such evidence conforms to the requirement of this Indenture;

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable for an error of judgment made in good faith by a responsible officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

(iv) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it with respect to Debt Securities of any series in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to Debt Securities of such series.

None of the provisions of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

Section 7.2 Certain Rights of Trustee. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.1:

(a) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note or other paper or document (whether in its original or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

(b) any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Order (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company;

 

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(c) 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 in respect of any action taken or suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;

(d) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders of Debt Securities of any series pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby;

(e) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;

(f) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing of all Events of Default which may have occurred, the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, approval or other paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Debt Securities of a series affected by such matter; provided, however, that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is not, in the opinion of the Trustee, reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require reasonable indemnity against such costs, expenses or liabilities as a condition to so proceeding, and the reasonable expense of every such investigation shall be paid by the Company or, if paid by the Trustee, shall be repaid by the Company upon demand;

(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed by it with due care hereunder; and

(h) if any property other than cash shall at any time be subject to a Lien in favor of the Holders, the Trustee, if and to the extent authorized by a receivership or bankruptcy court of competent jurisdiction or by the supplemental instrument subjecting such property to such Lien, shall be entitled to make advances for the purpose of preserving such property or of discharging tax Liens or other prior Liens or encumbrances thereon.

Section 7.3 Trustee Not Liable for Recitals in Indenture or in Debt Securities. The recitals contained herein and in the Debt Securities (except the Trustee’s certificate of authentication) shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the

 

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validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Debt Securities of any series, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Debt Securities and perform its obligations hereunder, and that the statements made by it or to be made by it in a Statement of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1 supplied to the Company are true and accurate. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any of the Debt Securities or of the proceeds thereof.

Section 7.4 Trustee, Paying Agent or Registrar May Own Debt Securities. The Trustee or any paying agent or Registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Debt Securities and subject to the provisions of the TIA relating to conflicts of interest and preferential claims may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, paying agent or Registrar.

Section 7.5 Moneys Received by Trustee to Be Held in Trust. Subject to the provisions of Section 11.5, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder. So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, all interest allowed on any such moneys shall be paid from time to time to the Company upon a Company Order.

Section 7.6 Compensation and Reimbursement. The Company covenants and agrees to pay in Dollars to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust), and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Company will pay or reimburse in Dollars the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents, attorneys and counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ), including without limitation, Section 6.2, except any such expense, disbursement or advances as may arise from its negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Company also covenants to indemnify in Dollars the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust or trusts hereunder, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.6 to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional Debt hereunder and shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture. The Company and the Holders agree that such additional Debt shall be secured by a Lien prior to that of the Debt Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee, as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, particular Debt Securities.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(e) or (f) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

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Section 7.7 Right of Trustee to Rely on an Officers’ Certificate Where No Other Evidence Specifically Prescribed. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.1, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering or omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

Section 7.8 Separate Trustee; Replacement of Trustee. The Company may, but need not, appoint a separate Trustee for any one or more series of Debt Securities. The Trustee may resign with respect to one or more or all series of Debt Securities at any time by giving notice to the Company. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debt Securities of a particular series may remove the Trustee for such series and only such series by so notifying the Trustee and may appoint a successor Trustee. The Company shall remove the Trustee if:

 

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

 

  (b)   the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

 

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

 

  (d)   the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.

If the Trustee resigns, is removed by the Company or by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debt Securities of a particular series and such Holders do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of this Section 7.8.

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders of Debt Securities of each applicable series. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.6.

If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee gives notice of resignation or is removed, the retiring Trustee or the Holders of 25% in principal amount of the Debt Securities of any applicable series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee for the Debt Securities of such series.

 

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

Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.8, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.6 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

In the case of the appointment hereunder of a separate or successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more series, the Company, any retiring Trustee and each successor or separate Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of any applicable series shall execute and deliver an Indenture supplemental hereto (i) which shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of any retiring Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of any series as to which any such retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in such retiring Trustee and (ii) that shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental Indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such separate, retiring or successor Trustee shall be Trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee.

Section 7.9 Successor Trustee by Merger. If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation or banking association without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

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

Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification. The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of Section 310(a) of the TIA. The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. No obligor upon the Debt Securities of a particular series or Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such obligor shall serve as Trustee for the Debt Securities of such series. The Trustee shall comply with Section 310(b) of the TIA; provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA this Indenture or any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Company are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA are met.

 

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Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company. The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the TIA, excluding any creditor relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the TIA. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the TIA to the extent indicated therein.

Section 7.12 Compliance with Tax Laws. The Trustee hereby agrees to comply with all U.S. Federal income tax information reporting and withholding requirements applicable to it with respect to payments of premium (if any) and interest on the Debt Securities, whether acting as Trustee, Registrar, paying agent or otherwise with respect to the Debt Securities.

ARTICLE VIII

CONCERNING THE HOLDERS

Section 8.1 Evidence of Action by Holders. Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any or all series may take action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any direction, notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action) the fact that at the time of taking any such action the Holders of such specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced (a) by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by Holders in Person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, (b) by the record of the Holders voting in favor thereof at any meeting of Holders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.2, (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of Holders or (d) in the case of Debt Securities evidenced by a Global Security, by any electronic transmission or other message, whether or not in written format, that complies with the Depositary’s applicable procedures.

Section 8.2 Proof of Execution of Instruments and of Holding of Debt Securities. Subject to the provisions of Sections 7.1, 7.2 and 13.9, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Holder or his agent or proxy shall be sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. The ownership of Debt Securities of any series shall be proved by the Debt Security Register or by a certificate of the Registrar for such series. The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section 8.2 as it shall deem necessary.

Section 8.3 Who May Be Deemed Owner of Debt Securities. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debt Security, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, any paying agent and any Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Debt Security shall be registered upon the books of the Company as the absolute owner of such Debt Security (whether or not such Debt Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.12) interest on such Debt Security and for all other purposes, and none of the Company, the Guarantors or the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary; and all such payments so made to any such Holder for the time being, or upon his order, shall be valid and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Debt Security.

 

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None of the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, any paying agent or any Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

Section 8.4 Instruments Executed by Holders Bind Future Holders. At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 8.1, of the taking of any action by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action and subject to the following paragraph, any Holder of a Debt Security which is shown by the evidence to be included in the Debt Securities the Holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at its corporate trust office and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.2, revoke such action so far as concerns such Debt Security. Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the Holder of any Debt Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of such Debt Security and of any Debt Security issued upon transfer thereof or in exchange or substitution therefor, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Debt Security or such other Debt Securities. Any action taken by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders of all the Debt Securities of such series.

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Debt Securities entitled to give their consent or take any other action required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders of Debt Securities at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders of Debt Securities after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date unless the consent of the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of such series specified in this Indenture shall have been received within such 120-day period.

ARTICLE IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 9.1 Purposes for Which Supplemental Indenture May Be Entered into Without Consent of Holders. The Company and any Guarantors, when authorized by resolutions of the Board of Directors, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time, without the consent of Holders, enter into an Indenture or Indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the TIA as in force at the date of the execution thereof) for one or more of the following purposes:

(a) to evidence the succession pursuant to Article X of another Person to the Company, or successive successions, and the assumption by the Successor Company (as defined in Section 10.1) of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company in this Indenture and in the Debt Securities;

 

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(b) to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company or the Guarantors, to add to the covenants of the Company or the Guarantors such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the protection of the Holders of all or any series of Debt Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Debt Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) as the Board of Directors shall consider to be for the protection of the Holders of such Debt Securities, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a Default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions a Default or an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in this Indenture; provided, that in respect of any such additional covenant, restriction, condition or provision such supplemental Indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after Default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other Defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such Default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such Default or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of any or all series of Debt Securities to waive such Default;

(c) to cure any ambiguity or omission or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein, in any supplemental Indenture or in any Debt Securities of any series that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein, in any supplemental Indenture or in the Debt Securities of such series; to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to or with the Trustee, or to make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under this Indenture as shall not adversely affect the interests of any Holders of Debt Securities of any series;

(d) to permit the qualification of this Indenture or any Indenture supplemental hereto under the TIA as then in effect, except that nothing herein contained shall permit or authorize the inclusion in any Indenture supplemental hereto of the provisions referred to in Section 316(a)(2) of the TIA;

(e) to permit or facilitate the issuance of Debt Securities of any series in uncertificated form;

(f) to reflect the release of any Guarantor in accordance with Article XIV;

(g) to add Guarantors with respect to any or all of the Debt Securities or to secure any or all of the Debt Securities or the Guarantee;

(h) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights hereunder of any Holder;

 

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(i) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Debt Securities; provided, however, that any such addition, change or elimination not otherwise permitted under this Section 9.1 shall neither apply to any Debt Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental Indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor modify the rights of the Holder of any such Debt Security with respect to such provision or shall become effective only when there is no such Debt Security Outstanding;

(j) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor or separate Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee; and

(k) to establish the form or terms of Debt Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 2.1 and 2.3.

The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of any such supplemental Indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer, assignment, mortgage or pledge of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental Indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Any supplemental Indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 9.1 may be executed by the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any of the Debt Securities at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.2.

Section 9.2 Modification of Indenture with Consent of Holders of Debt Securities. Without notice to any Holder but with the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 8.1) of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected by such supplemental Indenture (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for any such series of Debt Securities), the Company and the Guarantors, when authorized by resolutions of the Board of Directors, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an Indenture or Indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the TIA as in force at the date of execution thereof) for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series; provided, that no such supplemental Indenture, without the consent of the Holders of each Debt Security so affected, shall: reduce the percentage in principal amount of Debt Securities of any series whose Holders must consent to an amendment; reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any Debt Security; reduce the principal of or extend the Stated Maturity of any Debt Security; reduce any premium payable upon the redemption of any Debt Security or change the time at which any Debt Security may or shall be redeemed in accordance with Article III; make any Debt Security payable in currency other than the Dollar; impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of premium, if any, principal of and interest on such Holder’s Debt

 

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Securities on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Debt Securities; release any security that may have been granted in respect of the Debt Securities, other than in accordance with this Indenture; make any change in Section 6.6 or this Section 9.2; or, except as provided in Section 11.2(b) or Section 14.4, release the Guarantors other than as provided in this Indenture or modify the Guarantee in any manner adverse to the Holders.

A supplemental Indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has been expressly included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Debt Securities or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Debt Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Debt Securities of any other series.

Upon the request of the Company and the Guarantors, accompanied by a copy of resolutions of the Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such supplemental Indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Holders as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental Indenture unless such supplemental Indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion but shall not be obligated to enter into such supplemental Indenture.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental Indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.

After an amendment under this Section 9.2 requiring the consent of the Holders of any series of Debt Securities becomes effective, the Company shall mail to Holders of that series of Debt Securities of each series affected thereby a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to any such Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.2 with respect to other Holders.

Section 9.3 Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of any supplemental Indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company, the Guarantors and the Holders shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental Indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 7.1and 7.2, may receive an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such supplemental Indenture complies with the provisions of this Article IX.

Section 9.4 Debt Securities May Bear Notation of Changes by Supplemental Indentures. Debt Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental Indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX may, and shall if required by

 

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the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental Indenture. New Debt Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental Indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Debt Securities of such series then Outstanding. Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Debt Security of such series shall not affect the validity of such amendment.

ARTICLE X

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE

Section 10.1 Consolidations and Mergers of the Company. The Company shall not consolidate or amalgamate with or merge with or into any Person, or sell, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all its assets to any Person, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, unless: (a) either (i) the Company shall be the surviving Person in the case of a merger or (ii) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person if other than the Company (the “Successor Company”), shall be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and the Successor Company shall expressly assume, by an Indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Debt Securities according to their tenor; (b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of transactions (and treating any Debt which becomes an obligation of the Successor Company or any Subsidiary of the Company as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the Successor Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction or series of transactions), no Default or Event of Default would occur or be continuing; (c) if the Company is not the continuing Person, then each Guarantor, unless it has become the Successor Company, shall confirm that its Guarantee shall continue to apply to the obligations under the Debt Securities and this Indenture; and (d) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or disposition and such supplemental Indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture.

Section 10.2 Rights and Duties of Successor Company. In case of any consolidation, amalgamation or merger where the Company is not the continuing Person, or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 10.1, the Successor Company shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the respective party to this Indenture, and the predecessor entity shall be released from all liabilities and obligations under this Indenture and the Debt Securities, except that no such release will occur in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets. The Successor Company thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of the Company, any or all the Debt Securities issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by or on behalf of the Company and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of the Successor Company, instead of the Company, and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall deliver any Debt Securities which previously shall have been signed and

 

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delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and any Debt Securities which the Successor Company thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee for that purpose. All the Debt Securities so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Debt Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all such Debt Securities had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

In case of any such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, sale or disposition such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Debt Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.

ARTICLE XI

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF

INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS

Section 11.1 Applicability of Article. The provisions of this Article XI relating to discharge or defeasance of Debt Securities shall be applicable to each series of Debt Securities except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.3 for Debt Securities of such series.

Section 11.2 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance.

(a) If at any time the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all Debt Securities of any series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than any Debt Securities of such series which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.9 and Debt Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Company as provided in Section 11.5) or all Debt Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Company shall deposit with the Trustee as trust funds the entire amount in cash sufficient to pay at final maturity or upon redemption all Debt Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal and premium, if any, and interest due or to become due on such date of maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be, and if in either case the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company, then this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of such Debt Securities herein expressly provided for) with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, and the Trustee, on demand of the Company accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel and at the cost and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of such series.

(b) Subject to Sections 11.2(c), 11.3 and 11.7, the Company at any time may terminate, with respect to Debt Securities of a particular series, all its obligations under the Debt Securities of such series and this Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of such series

 

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(“legal defeasance option”) or the operation of (x) any covenant made applicable to such Debt Securities pursuant to Section 2.3, (y) Sections 6.1(d), (g) and (h) and (z) as they relate to the Guarantors only, Sections 6.1(e) and (f) (“covenant defeasance option”). If the Company exercises either its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option with respect to Debt Securities of a particular series that are entitled to the benefit of the Guarantee, the Guarantee will terminate with respect to that series of Debt Securities. The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option.

If the Company exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of the Debt Securities of the defeased series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If the Company exercises its covenant defeasance option, payment of the Debt Securities of the defeased series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.1(d), (g) and (h) and, with respect to the Guarantors only, Sections 6.1(e) and (f).

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

(c) Notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, the Company’s obligations in Sections 2.7, 2.9, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 5.1, 7.6, 11.5, 11.6 and 11.7 shall survive until the Debt Securities of the defeased series have been paid in full. Thereafter, the Company’s obligations in Sections 7.6, 11.5 and 11.6 shall survive.

Section 11.3 Conditions of Defeasance. The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option with respect to Debt Securities of a particular series only if:

(a) the Company irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Debt Securities of such series to final maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

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

(c) 91 days pass after the deposit is made and during the 91-day period no Default specified in Section 6.1(e) or (f) with respect to the Company occurs which is continuing at the end of the period;

(d) no Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit and after giving effect thereto;

(e) the deposit does not constitute a default under any other agreement binding on the Company;

 

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(f) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the trust resulting from the deposit does not constitute, or is qualified as, a regulated investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940;

(g) in the event of the legal defeasance option, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that the Company has received from the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of Debt Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such 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 defeasance had not occurred;

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

(i) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance and discharge of the Debt Securities of such series as contemplated by this Article XI have been complied with.

Before or after a deposit, the Company may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Debt Securities of such series at a future date in accordance with Article III.

Section 11.4 Application of Trust Money. The Trustee shall hold in trust money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to this Article XI. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from U.S. Government Obligations through any paying agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Debt Securities of the defeased series.

Section 11.5 Repayment to Company. The Trustee and any paying agent shall promptly turn over to the Company upon request any excess money or securities held by them at any time.

Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and any paying agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal, premium or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, and, thereafter, Holders entitled to such money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors.

Section 11.6 Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations. The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee and the Holders against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against deposited U.S. Government Obligations or the principal and interest received on such U.S. Government Obligations.

 

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Section 11.7 Reinstatement. If the Trustee or any paying agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article XI by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or government authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Debt Securities of the defeased series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article XI until such time as the Trustee or any paying agent is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article XI.

ARTICLE XII

[RESERVED]

ARTICLE XIII

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 13.1 Successors and Assigns of Company Bound by Indenture. All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained by or in behalf of the Company, the Guarantors or the Trustee shall bind their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

Section 13.2 Acts of Board, Committee or Officer of Successor Company Valid. Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the like board, committee or officer of any Successor Company.

Section 13.3 Required Notices or Demands. Any notice or communication by the Company, the Guarantors or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in Person or mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the other’s address:

If to the Company or any Guarantor:

Rayonier Inc.

50 North Laura Street

Jacksonville, FL 32202

Attn: Chief Financial Officer

Telephone No.: (904) 357-9100

If to the Trustee:

[                                    ]

 

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

All notices and communications 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; on the first Business Day on or after being sent, if telecopied and the sender receives confirmation of successful transmission; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

Any notice required or permitted to a Holder by the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture shall be deemed to be properly mailed by being deposited postage prepaid in a post office letter box in the United States addressed to such Holder at the address of such Holder as shown on the Debt Security Register. Any report pursuant to Section 313 of the TIA shall be transmitted in compliance with subsection (c) therein.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any notice to Holders of Floating Rate Securities regarding the determination of a periodic rate of interest, if such notice is required pursuant to Section 2.3, shall be sufficiently given if given in the manner specified pursuant to Section 2.3.

In the event of suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give notice by mail, then such notification as shall be given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice for every purpose hereunder.

In the event it shall be impracticable to give notice by publication, then such notification as shall be given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice for every purpose hereunder.

Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it or any defect in any notice by publication as to a Holder shall not affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. If a notice or communication is mailed or published in the manner provided above, it is conclusively presumed duly given.

Section 13.4 Indenture and Debt Securities to Be Construed in Accordance with the Laws of the State of New York. THIS INDENTURE, EACH DEBT SECURITY AND THE GUARANTEE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE NEW YORK CONTRACTS, AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF SAID STATE.

Section 13.5 Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to Be Furnished upon Application or Demand by the Company. Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or demand as to which the furnishing of such document is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

 

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Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include (a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition, (b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based, (c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he 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.

Section 13.6 Payments Due on Legal Holidays. In any case where the date of maturity of interest on or principal of and premium, if any, on the Debt Securities of a series or the date fixed for redemption or repayment of any Debt Security or the making of any sinking fund payment shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment for the Debt Securities of such series, then payment of interest or principal and premium, if any, or the making of such sinking fund payment need not be made on such date at such Place of Payment, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the date of maturity or the date fixed for redemption, and no interest shall accrue for the period after such date. If a record date is not a Business Day, the record date shall not be affected.

Section 13.7 Provisions Required by TIA to Control. If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision included in this Indenture which is required to be included in this Indenture by any of Sections 310 to 318, inclusive, of the TIA, such required provision shall control.

Section 13.8 Computation of Interest on Debt Securities. Interest, if any, on the Debt Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to Section 2.3.

Section 13.9 Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Holders. The Registrar and any paying agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.

Section 13.10 No Recourse Against Others. The Company and its directors, officers, employees, incorporators and capital stockholders, as such, shall have no liability for any obligations of the Guarantors or the Company under the Debt Securities, this Indenture or the Guarantee or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Debt Security, each Holder shall be deemed to have waived and released all such liability. The waiver and release shall be part of the consideration for the issue of the Debt Securities.

Section 13.11 Severability. In case any provision in this Indenture or the Debt Securities 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 13.12 Effect of Headings. The article and section headings herein and in the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

Section 13.13 Indenture May Be Executed in Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original; but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

ARTICLE XIV

GUARANTEE

Section 14.1 Unconditional Guarantee.

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Article XIV to the contrary, the provisions of this Article XIV shall be applicable only to, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Debt Securities of any series designated, pursuant to Section 2.3, as entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee of each of the Guarantors.

(b) For value received, each of the Guarantors hereby fully, unconditionally and absolutely guarantees (the “Guarantee”) to the Holders and to the Trustee the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Debt Securities and all other amounts due and payable under this Indenture and the Debt Securities by the Company, when and as such principal, premium, if any, and interest shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, according to the terms of the Debt Securities and this Indenture, subject to (i) the limitations set forth in Section 14.3.

(c) Failing payment when due of any amount guaranteed pursuant to the Guarantee, for whatever reason, each of the Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. The Guarantee hereunder is intended to be a general, unsecured, senior obligation of each of the Guarantors and will rank pari passu in right of payment with all Debt of each Guarantor that is not, by its terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee. Each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be full, unconditional and absolute, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Debt Securities, the Guarantee (including the Guarantee of any other Guarantor) or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Debt Securities with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company or any other Guarantor, or any action to enforce the same or any other circumstances which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of any of the Guarantors. Each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that in the event of a default in payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Debt Securities, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, legal proceedings may be instituted by the Trustee on behalf of the Holders or, subject to Section 6.4, by the Holders, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Indenture, directly against such Guarantor to enforce the Guarantee without first proceeding against the Company or any other Guarantor.

 

53


(d) The obligations of each of the Guarantors under this Article XIV shall be as aforesaid full, unconditional and absolute and shall not be impaired, modified, released or limited by any occurrence or condition whatsoever, including, without limitation, (A) any compromise, settlement, release, waiver, renewal, extension, indulgence or modification of, or any change in, any of the obligations and liabilities of the Company or any of the Guarantors contained in the Debt Securities or this Indenture, (B) any impairment, modification, release or limitation of the liability of the Company, any of the Guarantors or any of their estates in bankruptcy, or any remedy for the enforcement thereof, resulting from the operation of any present or future provision of any applicable Bankruptcy Law, as amended, or other statute or from the decision of any court, (C) the assertion or exercise by the Company, any of the Guarantors or the Trustee of any rights or remedies under the Debt Securities or this Indenture or their delay in or failure to assert or exercise any such rights or remedies, (D) the assignment or the purported assignment of any property as security for the Debt Securities, including all or any part of the rights of the Company or any of the Guarantors under this Indenture, (E) the extension of the time for payment by the Company or any of the Guarantors of any payments or other sums or any part thereof owing or payable under any of the terms and provisions of the Debt Securities or this Indenture or of the time for performance by the Company or any of the Guarantors of any other obligations under or arising out of any such terms and provisions or the extension or the renewal of any thereof, (F) the modification or amendment (whether material or otherwise) of any duty, agreement or obligation of the Company or any of the Guarantors set forth in this Indenture, (G) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets, marshaling of assets and liabilities, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of, or other similar proceeding affecting, the Company or any of the Guarantors or any of their respective assets, or the disaffirmance of the Debt Securities, the Guarantee or this Indenture in any such proceeding, (H) the release or discharge of the Company or any of the Guarantors from the performance or observance of any agreement, covenant, term or condition contained in any of such instruments by operation of law, (I) the unenforceability of the Debt Securities, the Guarantee or this Indenture or (J) any other circumstances (other than payment in full or discharge of all amounts guaranteed pursuant to the Guarantee) which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a surety or guarantor.

(e) Each of the Guarantors hereby (A) waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of the merger, insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company or any of the Guarantors, and all demands whatsoever, (B) acknowledges that any agreement, instrument or document evidencing the Guarantee may be transferred and that the benefit of its obligations hereunder shall extend to each holder of any agreement, instrument or document evidencing the Guarantee without notice to it and (C) covenants that the Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the Guarantee. Each of the Guarantors further agrees that if at any time all or any part of any payment theretofore applied by any Person to the Guarantee is, or must be, rescinded or returned for any reason whatsoever, including without limitation, the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or any of the Guarantors, the Guarantee shall, to the extent that such payment is or must be rescinded or returned, be deemed to have continued in existence notwithstanding such application, and the Guarantee shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, as though such application had not been made.

 

54


(f) Each of the Guarantors shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holders and the Trustee against the Company in respect of any amounts paid by such Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, provided, however, that such Guarantor, shall not be entitled to enforce or to receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all of the Debt Securities and the Guarantee shall have been paid in full or discharged.

Section 14.2 Execution and Delivery of Guarantee. To further evidence the Guarantee set forth in Section 14.1, each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that a notation relating to such Guarantee, substantially in the form attached hereto as Annex A, shall be endorsed on each Debt Security entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and executed by either manual or facsimile signature of an officer of such Guarantor, or in the case of a Guarantor that is a limited partnership, an officer of the general partner of each Guarantor. Each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that the Guarantee set forth in Section 14.1 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Debt Security a notation relating to the Guarantee. If any officer of any Guarantor, or in the case of a Guarantor that is a limited partnership, any officer of the general partner of the Guarantor, whose signature is on this Indenture or a Debt Security no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates such Debt Security or at any time thereafter, the Guarantee of such Debt Security shall be valid nevertheless. The delivery of any Debt Security by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.

The Trustee hereby accepts the trusts in this Indenture upon the terms and conditions herein set forth.

Section 14.3 Limitation on Guarantors’ Liability. Each Guarantor and by its acceptance hereof each Holder of a Debt Security entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee hereby confirm that it is the intention of all such parties that the guarantee by such Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of any Federal or state law. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Holders of a Debt Security entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each Guarantor under the Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor and to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under the Guarantee, not result in the obligations of such Guarantor under the Guarantee constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under Federal or state law.

Section 14.4 Release of Guarantors from Guarantee.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Guarantee of any Guarantor may be released upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 11.2(b) and in this Section 14.4. Provided that no Default shall have occurred and shall be continuing under this Indenture, the Guarantee incurred by a Guarantor pursuant to this Article XIV shall be unconditionally released and discharged (i) automatically upon (A) any sale, exchange or transfer, whether by way of merger or otherwise, to any Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company, of all of the Company’s direct or indirect limited partnership or other equity interests in such Guarantor (provided such sale, exchange or transfer is not prohibited by

 

55


this Indenture) or (B) the merger of such Guarantor into the Company or any other Guarantor or the liquidation and dissolution of such Guarantor (in each case to the extent not prohibited by this Indenture) or (ii) following delivery of a written notice of such release or discharge by the Company to the Trustee, upon the release or discharge of all guarantees by such Guarantor of any Debt of the Company other than obligations arising under this Indenture and any Debt Securities issued hereunder, except a discharge or release by or as a result of payment under such guarantees.

(b) The Trustee shall deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing any release of a Guarantor from the Guarantee upon receipt of a written request of the Company accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Guarantor is entitled to such release in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture. Any Guarantor not so released shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debt Securities entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee as provided in this Indenture, subject to the limitations of Section 14.3.

Section 14.5 Guarantor Contribution. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution among the Guarantors, the Guarantors hereby agree, inter se, that in the event any payment or distribution is made by any Guarantor (a “Funding Guarantor”) under the Guarantee, such Funding Guarantor shall be entitled to a contribution from each other Guarantor (if any) in a pro rata amount based on the net assets of each Guarantor (including the Funding Guarantor) for all payments, damages and expenses incurred by that Funding Guarantor in discharging the Company’s obligations with respect to the Debt Securities or any other Guarantor’s obligations with respect to the Guarantee.

[Remainder of This Page Intentionally Left Blank.]

 

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

 

  RAYONIER INC.  
  By:  

 

 
   

 

 
   

 

 
  [NAME OF GUARANTOR(S)]
  By:  

 

 
  Name:  

 

 
  Title:  

 

 
  [                                                     ], as Trustee
  By:  

 

 
  Name:  

 

 
  Title:  

 

 

 

57


ANNEX A

NOTATION OF GUARANTEE

Each of the Guarantors (which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture), has fully, unconditionally and absolutely guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Debt Securities and all other amounts due and payable under the Indenture and the Debt Securities by the Company.

The obligations of the Guarantors to the Holders of Debt Securities and to the Trustee pursuant to the Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article XIV of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Guarantee.

 

[NAME OF GUARANTOR(S)]

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

A-1

EX-4.3 3 dex43.htm FORM OF SUBORDINATED INDENTURE - RAYONIER INC. Form of Subordinated Indenture - Rayonier Inc.

Exhibit 4.3

[Form of Subordinated Indenture]


RAYONIER INC.,

AS ISSUER,

any Guarantors party hereto,

and

[                                                 ],

as Trustee

INDENTURE

Dated as of                     

Debt Securities

 



CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

TIA Section

   Indenture Section

310

  (a)    7.10
  (b)    7.10
  (c)    N.A.

311

  (a)    7.11
  (b)    7.11
  (c)    N.A.

312

  (a)    5.1
  (b)    5.2
  (c)    5.2

313

  (a)    5.3
  (b)    5.3
  (c)    13.3
  (d)    5.3

314

  (a)    4.5
  (b)    N.A.
  (c)(1)    13.5
  (c)(2)    13.5
  (c)(3)    N.A.
  (d)    N.A.
  (e)    13.5
  (f)    N.A.

315

  (a)    7.1
  (b)    6.7 & 13.3
  (c)    7.1
  (d)    7.1
  (e)    6.8

316

  (a) (last sentence)    1.1
  (a)(1)(A)    6.6
  (a)(1)(B)    6.6
  (a)(2)    9.1(d)
  (b)    6.4
  (c)    5.4

317

  (a)(1)    6.2
  (a)(2)    6.2
  (b)    4.4

318

  (a)    13.7

N.A. means Not Applicable

NOTE: This Cross-Reference table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed part of this Indenture.

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Section 1.1

  Definitions    1

Section 1.2

  Other Definitions    7

Section 1.3

  Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act    7

Section 1.4

  Rules of Construction    7
ARTICLE II
DEBT SECURITIES

Section 2.1

  Forms Generally    8

Section 2.2

  Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication    8

Section 2.3

  Principal Amount; Issuable in Series    8

Section 2.4

  Execution of Debt Securities    11

Section 2.5

  Authentication and Delivery of Debt Securities    11

Section 2.6

  Denomination of Debt Securities    13

Section 2.7

  Registration of Transfer and Exchange    13

Section 2.8

  Temporary Debt Securities    14

Section 2.9

  Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debt Securities    15

Section 2.10

  Cancellation of Surrendered Debt Securities    16

Section 2.11

  Provisions of the Indenture and Debt Securities for the Sole Benefit of the Parties and the Holders    16

Section 2.12

  Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved    16

Section 2.13

  Securities Denominated in Dollars    16

Section 2.14

  Wire Transfers    17

Section 2.15

  Securities Issuable in the Form of a Global Security    17

Section 2.16

  Medium Term Securities    19

Section 2.17

  Defaulted Interest    20

Section 2.18

  CUSIP Numbers    21
ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

Section 3.1

  Applicability of Article    21

Section 3.2

  Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debt Securities    21

Section 3.3

  Payment of Debt Securities Called for Redemption    23

Section 3.4

  Mandatory and Optional Sinking Funds    23

Section 3.5

  Redemption of Debt Securities for Sinking Fund    24

 

ii


ARTICLE IV
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

Section 4.1

  Payment of Principal of, and Premium, If Any, and Interest on, Debt Securities    25

Section 4.2

  Maintenance of Offices or Agencies for Registration of Transfer, Exchange and Payment of Debt Securities    25

Section 4.3

  Appointment to Fill a Vacancy in the Office of Trustee    26

Section 4.4

  Duties of Paying Agents, etc    26

Section 4.5

  SEC Reports; Financial Statements    27

Section 4.6

  Compliance Certificate    27

Section 4.7

  Further Instruments and Acts    27

Section 4.8

  Waiver of Certain Covenants    27
ARTICLE V
HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE

Section 5.1

  Company to Furnish Trustee Information as to Names and Addresses of Holders; Preservation of Information    28

Section 5.2

  Communications to Holders    28

Section 5.3

  Reports by Trustee    28

Section 5.4

  Record Dates for Action by Holders    29
ARTICLE VI
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND HOLDERS IN EVENT OF DEFAULT

Section 6.1

  Events of Default    29

Section 6.2

  Collection of Debt by Trustee, etc    31

Section 6.3

  Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee    33

Section 6.4

  Limitation on Suits by Holders    33

Section 6.5

  Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission in Exercise of Rights Not a Waiver of Default    34

Section 6.6

  Rights of Holders of Majority in Principal Amount of Debt Securities to Direct Trustee and to Waive Default    34

Section 6.7

  Trustee to Give Notice of Events of Defaults Known to It, but May Withhold Such Notice in Certain Circumstances    35

Section 6.8

  Requirement of an Undertaking to Pay Costs in Certain Suits under the Indenture or Against the Trustee    35
ARTICLE VII
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

Section 7.1

  Certain Duties and Responsibilities    36

 

iii


Section 7.2

  Certain Rights of Trustee    37

Section 7.3

  Trustee Not Liable for Recitals in Indenture or in Debt Securities    38

Section 7.4

  Trustee, Paying Agent or Registrar May Own Debt Securities    38

Section 7.5

  Moneys Received by Trustee to Be Held in Trust    38

Section 7.6

  Compensation and Reimbursement    38

Section 7.7

  Right of Trustee to Rely on an Officers’ Certificate Where No Other Evidence Specifically Prescribed    39

Section 7.8

  Separate Trustee; Replacement of Trustee    39

Section 7.9

  Successor Trustee by Merger    40

Section 7.10

  Eligibility; Disqualification    41

Section 7.11

  Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company    41

Section 7.12

  Compliance with Tax Laws    41
ARTICLE VIII
CONCERNING THE HOLDERS

Section 8.1

  Evidence of Action by Holders    41

Section 8.2

  Proof of Execution of Instruments and of Holding of Debt Securities    42

Section 8.3

  Who May Be Deemed Owner of Debt Securities    42

Section 8.4

  Instruments Executed by Holders Bind Future Holders    42
ARTICLE IX
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 9.1

  Purposes for Which Supplemental Indenture May Be Entered into Without Consent of Holders    43

Section 9.2

  Modification of Indenture with Consent of Holders of Debt Securities    45

Section 9.3

  Effect of Supplemental Indentures    46

Section 9.4

  Debt Securities May Bear Notation of Changes by Supplemental Indentures    46
ARTICLE X
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE

Section 10.1

  Consolidations and Mergers of the Company    47

Section 10.2

  Rights and Duties of Successor Company    47
ARTICLE XI

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF

 

INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS

Section 11.1

  Applicability of Article    48

Section 11.2

  Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance    48

 

iv


Section 11.3

  Conditions of Defeasance    49

Section 11.4

  Application of Trust Money    50

Section 11.5

  Repayment to Company    50

Section 11.6

  Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations    50

Section 11.7

  Reinstatement    50
ARTICLE XII
SUBORDINATION OF DEBT SECURITIES AND GUARANTEE

Section 12.1

  Applicability of Article; Agreement to Subordinate    51

Section 12.2

  Liquidation, Dissolution, Bankruptcy    51

Section 12.3

  Default on Senior Indebtedness    51

Section 12.4

  Acceleration of Payment of Debt Securities    52

Section 12.5

  When Distribution Must Be Paid Over    53

Section 12.6

  Subrogation    53

Section 12.7

  Relative Rights    53

Section 12.8

  Subordination May Not Be Impaired by Company    53

Section 12.9

  Rights of Trustee and Paying Agent    53

Section 12.10

  Distribution or Notice to Representative    54

Section 12.11

  Article XII Not to Prevent Defaults or Limit Right to Accelerate    54

Section 12.12

  Trust Moneys Not Subordinated    54

Section 12.13

  Trustee Entitled to Rely    54

Section 12.14

  Trustee to Effectuate Subordination    54

Section 12.15

  Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness    55

Section 12.16

  Reliance by Holders of Senior Indebtedness on Subordination Provisions    55
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 13.1

  Successors and Assigns of Company Bound by Indenture    55

Section 13.2

  Acts of Board, Committee or Officer of Successor Company Valid    55

Section 13.3

  Required Notices or Demands    55

Section 13.4

  Indenture and Debt Securities to Be Construed in Accordance with the Laws of the State of New York    56

Section 13.5

  Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to Be Furnished upon Application or Demand by the Company    56

Section 13.6

  Payments Due on Legal Holidays    57

Section 13.7

  Provisions Required by TIA to Control    57

Section 13.8

  Computation of Interest on Debt Securities    57

Section 13.9

  Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar    57

Section 13.10

  No Recourse Against Others    57

Section 13.11

  Severability    58

Section 13.12

  Effect of Headings    58

Section 13.13

  Indenture May Be Executed in Counterparts    58

 

v


ARTICLE XIV
GUARANTEE

Section 14.1

  Unconditional Guarantee    58

Section 14.2

  Execution and Delivery of Guarantee    60

Section 14.3

  Limitation on Guarantors’ Liability    60

Section 14.4

  Release of Guarantors from Guarantee    60

Section 14.5

  Guarantor Contribution    61

Notation of Guarantee        Annex A

 

vi


THIS INDENTURE dated as of                      is among Rayonier Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the “Company”), any Guarantors (as defined herein) party hereto, and [                                         ], as trustee (the “Trustee”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY AND ANY GUARANTORS

The Company and any Guarantors have duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of the Company’s debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness to be issued in one or more series unlimited as to principal amount (herein called the “Debt Securities”), which Debt Securities may be guaranteed by each of the Guarantors and may be subordinated in right of payment to Senior Indebtedness, as in this Indenture provided.

All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company and any Guarantors, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH

That in order to declare the terms and conditions upon which the Debt Securities are authenticated, issued and delivered, and in consideration of the premises, and of the purchase and acceptance of the Debt Securities by the Holders thereof, the Company, any Guarantor and the Trustee covenant and agree with each other, for the benefit of the respective Holders from time to time of the Debt Securities or any series thereof, as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Section 1.1 Definitions.

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the 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 the Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise. The Trustee may request and may conclusively rely upon an Officers’ Certificate to determine whether any Person is an Affiliate of any specified Person.

“Agent” means any Registrar or paying agent.

“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors, or the law of any other jurisdiction relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, winding up, liquidation, reorganization or relief of debtors.

“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Company.


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

“Capital Stock” of any Person means and includes any and all shares, rights to purchase, warrants or options (whether or not currently exercisable), participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) the equity (which includes, but is not limited to, common stock, preferred stock and Company and joint venture interests) of such Person (excluding any debt securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable for, such equity).

“Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.

“Company Request” and “Company Order” mean, respectively, a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by the President, the Chief Executive Officer or any Vice President of the Company, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, an Assistant Controller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.

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

“Debt” of any Person at any date means any obligation created or assumed by such Person for the repayment of borrowed money and any guarantee thereof.

“Debt Security” or “Debt Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any debt security or debt securities, as the case may be, of any series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

“Default” means any event, act or condition that is, or after notice or the passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

“Depositary” means, unless otherwise specified by the Company pursuant to either Section 2.3 or 2.15, with respect to Debt Securities of any series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, or any successor thereto registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute or regulations.

“Designated Senior Indebtedness” means (i) any Senior Indebtedness which, at the date of determination, has an aggregate principal amount outstanding of, or under which, at the date of determination, the holders thereof are committed to lend up to, at least $100 million and (ii) any other Senior Indebtedness designated, as provided in Section 2.3, in respect of any series of Debt Securities.

“Dollar” or “$” means such currency of the United States as at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any successor statute.

 

2


“Floating Rate Security” means a Debt Security that provides for the payment of interest at a variable rate determined periodically by reference to an interest rate index specified pursuant to Section 2.3.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, as in effect from time to time.

“Global Security” means with respect to any series of Debt Securities issued hereunder, a Debt Security which is executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance with this Indenture and any Indentures supplemental hereto, or resolution of the Board of Directors and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee and which shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, all the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series or any portion thereof, in either case having the same terms, including, without limitation, the same original issue date, date or dates on which principal is due and interest rate or method of determining interest.

“Guarantee” means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Debt or other obligation of any other Person and any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Debt or other obligation of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of company or partnership arrangements, or by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise) or (b) entered into for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Debt or other obligation of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part); provided, however, 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 any Subsidiary of the Company and any other Affiliate of the Company who may execute this Indenture, or a supplement hereto, for the purpose of providing a Guarantee of Debt Securities pursuant to this Indenture until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Guarantors” shall mean such successor Person.

“Holder,” “Holder of Debt Securities” or other similar terms means, a Person in whose name a Debt Security is registered in the Debt Security Register (as defined in Section 2.7(a)).

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed, or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented and shall include the form and terms of particular series of Debt Securities as contemplated hereunder, whether or not a supplemental Indenture is entered into with respect thereto.

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

 

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“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, security interest, pledge, charge or other encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law.

“Officer” means, with respect to a Person, the President, the Chief Executive Officer, any Vice President (whether unmodified or prefaced by “Senior,” “Assistant” or any other designation), the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, Controller, Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of such Person.

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by two officers of the Company, one of whom must be the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or Chief Accounting Officer.

“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 or the Trustee.

“Original Issue Discount Debt Security” means any Debt Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.1.

“Outstanding,” when used with respect to any series of Debt Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Debt Securities of that series theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

 

  (a)   Debt Securities of that series theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

  (b)   Debt Securities of that series for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any paying agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying agent) for the Holders of such Debt Securities; provided, that, if such Debt Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made; and

 

  (c)   Debt Securities of that series which have been paid pursuant to Section 2.9 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Debt Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Debt Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Debt Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Debt Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Debt Securities owned by the Company or any

 

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other obligor upon the Debt Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Debt Securities which a Trust Officer actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Debt Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Debt Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities or an Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor. In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Debt Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Debt Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.1.

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

“Redemption Date,” when used with respect to any Debt Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

“Reporting Failure” means the failure of the Company or a Guarantor, as applicable, to file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company or a Guarantor is required to file the same with the SEC within the time periods specified in the Exchange Act or in the relevant forms thereunder (after giving effect to any grace period specified under Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act), the annual reports, information, documents or other reports that the Company or the Guarantor is required to file with the commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

“Representative” means the trustee, agent or representative (if any) for an issue of Senior Indebtedness.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor statute.

“Senior Indebtedness,” unless otherwise provided with respect to the Debt Securities of a series as contemplated by Section 2.3, means (1) all Debt of the Guarantors or the Company, whether currently outstanding or hereafter issued, unless, by the terms of the instrument creating or evidencing such Debt, it is provided that such Debt is subordinate or not superior in right of payment to the Debt Securities, in the case of the Company, or the Guarantee, in the case of the Guarantors, or to other Debt which is pari passu with or subordinated to the Debt Securities, in the case of the Company, or the Guarantee, in the case of the Guarantors, and (2) any modifications, refunding, deferrals, renewals, or extensions of any such Debt or securities, notes

 

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or other evidence of Debt issued in exchange for such Debt; provided that in no event shall “Senior Indebtedness” include (a) Debt evidenced by the Debt Securities or any Guarantee, (b) Debt of any of the Guarantors or the Company owed or owing to any Subsidiary of the Company, (c) Debt of any of the Guarantors owed or owing to the Company, (d) Debt to trade creditors, (e) any liability for taxes owed or owing by the Guarantors or the Company or (f) Debt of any Guarantor in the event there is no series of Debt Securities Outstanding that is entitled to the benefits of a Guarantee.

“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision (but excluding any provision providing for the repurchase of such security at the option of the holder thereof upon the happening of any contingency beyond the control of the issuer unless such contingency has occurred).

“Subsidiary” of any Person means:

 

  (1)   any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of equity interests entitled, without regard to the occurrence of any contingency, to vote in the election of directors, managers, trustees or equivalent Persons thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person or combination thereof; or

 

  (2)   in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the partners’ equity interests, considering all partners’ equity interests as a single class, is at such time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person or combination thereof.

“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§77aaa-77bbbb), as in effect on the date of this Indenture as originally executed and, to the extent required by law, as amended.

“Trustee” initially means [                    ] and any other Person or Persons appointed as such from time to time pursuant to Section 7.8, and, subject to the provisions of Article VII, includes its or their successors and assigns. If at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Debt Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of that series.

“Trust Officer” means any officer or assistant officer of the Trustee assigned by the Trustee to administer its corporate trust matters.

“United States” means the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.

“U.S. Government Obligations” means direct obligations of the United States of America, obligations on which the payment of principal and interest is fully guaranteed by the United States of America or obligations or guarantees for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged.

 

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“Yield to Maturity” means the yield to maturity, calculated at the time of issuance of a series of Debt Securities, or, if applicable, at the most recent redetermination of interest on such series and calculated in accordance with accepted financial practice.

Section 1.2 Other Definitions.

 

Term

   Defined in Section

“Debt Security Register”

   2.7

“Defaulted Interest”

   2.17

“Event of Default”

   6.1

“Funding Guarantor”

   14.5

“Guarantee”

   14.1

“Place of Payment”

   2.3

“Registrar”

   2.7

“Subordinated Debt Securities”

   12.1

“Successor Company”

   10.1

Section 1.3 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.

All terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA have the meanings so assigned to them.

Section 1.4 Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires:

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

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

(c) “or” is not exclusive;

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

(e) all references in this instrument to “Articles,” “Sections” and other subdivisions are to the designated Articles, Sections and subdivisions of this instrument as originally executed;

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

(g) “including” means “including without limitation;”

(h) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

 

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(i) if the applicable series of Debt Securities are subordinated pursuant to Article XII, unsecured Debt shall not be deemed to be subordinate or junior to secured Debt merely by virtue of its nature as unsecured Debt; and

(j) the principal amount of any noninterest bearing or other discount security at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP.

ARTICLE II

DEBT SECURITIES

Section 2.1 Forms Generally. The Debt Securities of each series shall be in substantially the form established without the approval of any Holder by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or in one or more Indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate (and, if not contained in a supplemental Indenture entered into in accordance with Article IX, as are not prohibited by the provisions of this Indenture) or as may be required or appropriate to comply with any law or with any rules made pursuant thereto or with any rules of any securities exchange on which such series of Debt Securities may be listed, or to conform to general usage, or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Debt Securities as evidenced by their execution of the Debt Securities.

The definitive Debt Securities of each series shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Debt Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Debt Securities.

Section 2.2 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication. The Trustee’s certificate of authentication on all Debt Securities authenticated by the Trustee shall be in substantially the following form:

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Debt Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

[                                     ],
As Trustee
By:  

 

Authorized Signatory

Section 2.3 Principal Amount; Issuable in Series. The aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities which may be issued, executed, authenticated, delivered and outstanding under this Indenture is unlimited.

 

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The Debt Securities may be issued in one or more series in fully registered form. There shall be established, without the approval of any Holders, in or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more Indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Debt Securities of any series any or all of the following:

(a) the title of the Debt Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Debt Securities of the series from all other Debt Securities);

(b) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Debt Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Debt Securities of the series pursuant to this Article II);

(c) the date or dates on which the principal of and premium, if any, on the Debt Securities of the series are payable;

(d) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which the Debt Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method of determining such rate or rates, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the interest payment dates on which such interest shall be payable, or the method by which such date will be determined, the record dates for the determination of Holders thereof to whom such interest is payable; and the basis upon which interest will be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve thirty-day months;

(e) the place or places, if any, in addition to or instead of the corporate trust office of the Trustee, where the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, Debt Securities of the series shall be payable (“Place of Payment”);

(f) the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which Debt Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company or otherwise;

(g) whether Debt Securities of the series are entitled to the benefits of any Guarantee of any Guarantors pursuant to this Indenture;

(h) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, purchase or repay Debt Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof, and the price or prices at which and the period or periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which Debt Securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligations;

(i) the terms, if any, upon which the Debt Securities of the series may be convertible into or exchanged for capital stock (which may be represented by depositary shares), other Debt Securities or warrants for capital stock or Debt or other securities of any kind of the Company or any other obligor and the terms and conditions upon which such conversion or exchange shall be effected, including the initial conversion or exchange price or rate, the conversion or exchange period and any other provision in addition to or in lieu of those described herein;

 

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(j) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which Debt Securities of the series shall be issuable;

(k) if the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on Debt Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts will be determined;

(l) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of Debt Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to such Stated Maturity, the amount which will be deemed to be such principal amount as of any such date for any purpose, including the principal amount thereof which will be due and payable upon any maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which will be deemed to be Outstanding as of any such date (or, in any such case, the manner in which such deemed principal amount is to be determined);

(m) any changes or additions to Article XI, including the addition of additional covenants that may be subject to the covenant defeasance option pursuant to Section 11.2(b);

(n) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Debt Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.1 or provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 6.2;

(o) the terms, if any, of the transfer, mortgage, pledge or assignment as security for the Debt Securities of the series of any properties, assets, moneys, proceeds, securities or other collateral, including whether certain provisions of the TIA are applicable and any corresponding changes to provisions of this Indenture as currently in effect;

(p) any addition to or change in the Events of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the Holders to declare the principal of, and premium and interest on, such Debt Securities due and payable;

(q) if the Debt Securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security or Securities, the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such Global Security or Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual Debt Securities in definitive registered form; and the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities and the form of any legend or legends to be borne by any such Global Security or Securities in addition to or in lieu of the legend referred to in Section 2.15(a);

(r) any trustees, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars;

(s) the applicability of, and any addition to or change in the covenants and definitions currently set forth in this Indenture or in the terms currently set forth in Article X, including conditioning any merger, conveyance, transfer or lease permitted by Article X upon the satisfaction of any Debt coverage standard by the Company and Successor Company (as defined in Article X);

(t) the subordination, if any, of the Debt Securities of the series pursuant to Article XII and any changes or additions to Article XII or designation of any Designated Senior Indebtedness;

 

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(u) with regard to Debt Securities of the series that do not bear interest, the dates for certain required reports to the Trustee; and

(v) any other terms of the Debt Securities of the series (which terms shall not be prohibited by the provisions of this Indenture).

All Debt Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such resolution of the Board of Directors and as set forth in such Officers’ Certificate or in any such Indenture supplemental hereto.

Section 2.4 Execution of Debt Securities. The Debt Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Company by the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President of the Company and, if the seal of the Company is reproduced thereon, it shall be attested by its Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, a Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer. Such signatures upon the Debt Securities may be the manual or facsimile signatures of the present or any future such authorized officers and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Debt Securities. The seal of the Company, if any, may be in the form of a facsimile thereof and may be impressed, affixed, imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Debt Securities.

Only such Debt Securities as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form hereinbefore recited, signed manually by the Trustee, shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate by the Trustee upon any Debt Security executed by the Company on behalf of the Company shall be conclusive evidence that the Debt Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.

In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Debt Securities shall cease to be such officer before the Debt Securities so signed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, or disposed of by the Company, such Debt Securities nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the Person who signed such Debt Securities had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Debt Security may be signed on behalf of the Company by such Persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Debt Security, shall be the proper officers of the Company, although at the date of such Debt Security or of the execution of this Indenture any such Person was not such officer.

Section 2.5 Authentication and Delivery of Debt Securities. At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver to the Trustee for authentication Debt Securities of any series executed by the Company, and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver said Debt Securities to or upon a Company Order. In authenticating such Debt Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Debt Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon:

(a) a copy of any resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, authorizing the terms of issuance of any series of Debt Securities;

 

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(b) an executed supplemental Indenture, if any;

(c) an Officers’ Certificate; and

(d) an Opinion of Counsel prepared in accordance with Section 13.5 which shall also state:

(i) that the form of such Debt Securities has been established by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or by a supplemental Indenture as permitted by Section 2.1 in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(ii) that the terms of such Debt Securities have been established by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or by a supplemental Indenture as permitted by Section 2.3 in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(iii) that such Debt Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and rights of acceleration and the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability;

(iv) that the Company has the power to issue such Debt Securities and has duly taken all necessary action with respect to such issuance;

(v) that the issuance of such Debt Securities will not contravene the organizational documents of the Company or result in any material violation of any of the terms or provisions of any law or regulation or of any material indenture, mortgage or other agreement known to such counsel by which the Company is bound;

(vi) that authentication and delivery of such Debt Securities and the execution and delivery of any supplemental Indenture will not violate the terms of this Indenture; and

(vii) such other matters as the Trustee may reasonably request.

Such Opinion of Counsel need express no opinion as to whether a court in the United States would render a money judgment in a currency other than that of the United States.

The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Debt Securities under this Section 2.5 if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee or a trust committee of directors, trustees or Officers (or any combination thereof) shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to existing Holders.

 

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

Unless otherwise provided in the form of Debt Security for any series, each Debt Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

Section 2.6 Denomination of Debt Securities. Unless otherwise provided in the form of Debt Security for any series, the Debt Securities of each series shall be issuable only as fully registered Debt Securities in such Dollar denominations as shall be specified or contemplated by Section 2.3. In the absence of any such specification with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, the Debt Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

Section 2.7 Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

(a) The Company shall keep or cause to be kept a register for each series of Debt Securities issued hereunder (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Debt Security Register”), in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of all Debt Securities and the transfer of Debt Securities as in this Article II provided. At all reasonable times the Debt Security Register shall be open for inspection by the Trustee. Subject to Section 2.15, upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debt Security at any office or agency to be maintained by the Company in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.2, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Debt Security or Debt Securities of authorized denominations for a like aggregate principal amount. In no event may Debt Securities be issued as, or exchanged for, bearer securities.

Unless and until otherwise determined by the Company by resolution of the Board of Directors, the Debt Security Register shall be kept at the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee and, for this purpose, the Trustee shall be designated “Registrar.”

Debt Securities of any series (other than a Global Security, except as set forth below) may be exchanged for a like aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities of the same series of other authorized denominations. Subject to Section 2.15, Debt Securities to be exchanged shall be surrendered at the office or agency to be maintained by the Company as provided in Section 4.2, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor the Debt Security or Debt Securities which the Holder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive.

(b) All Debt Securities presented or surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange or payment shall (if so required by the Company, the Trustee or the Registrar) be duly endorsed or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company, the Trustee and the Registrar, duly executed by the Holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

 

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All Debt Securities issued in exchange for or upon transfer of Debt Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Debt Securities surrendered for such exchange or transfer.

No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Debt Securities (except as provided by Section 2.9), but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee, assessment or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto, other than those expressly provided in this Indenture to be made at the Company’s own expense or without expense or without charge to the Holders.

The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Debt Securities for a period of 15 days next preceding any mailing of notice of redemption of Debt Securities of such series or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Debt Securities selected, called or being called for redemption.

Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Debt Security, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, any paying agent or any Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name a Debt Security is registered as the absolute owner of such Debt Security for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.12) interest on, such Debt Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Debt Security is overdue, and none of the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, any paying agent or any Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

None of the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, any agent of the Trustee, any paying agent or any Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

Section 2.8 Temporary Debt Securities. Pending the preparation of definitive Debt Securities of any series, the Company may execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver temporary Debt Securities (printed, lithographed, photocopied, typewritten or otherwise produced) of any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the definitive Debt Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Debt Securities, all as may be determined by the Company with the concurrence of the Trustee. Temporary Debt Securities may contain such reference to any provisions of this Indenture as may be appropriate. Every temporary Debt Security shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive Debt Securities.

If temporary Debt Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Debt Securities of such series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation

 

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of definitive Debt Securities of such series, the temporary Debt Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Debt Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Debt Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company at a Place of Payment for such series, without charge to the Holder thereof, except as provided in Section 2.7 in connection with a transfer. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Debt Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Debt Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor. Until so exchanged, temporary Debt Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Debt Securities of such series.

Upon any exchange of a portion of a temporary Global Security for a definitive Global Security or for the individual Debt Securities represented thereby pursuant to Section 2.7 or this Section 2.8, the temporary Global Security shall be endorsed by the Trustee to reflect the reduction of the principal amount evidenced thereby, whereupon the principal amount of such temporary Global Security shall be reduced for all purposes by the amount to be exchanged and endorsed.

Section 2.9 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debt Securities. If (a) any mutilated Debt Security is surrendered to the Trustee at its corporate trust office or (b) the Company and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Debt Security, and there is delivered to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any paying agent harmless, and neither the Company nor the Trustee receives notice that such Debt Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, then the Company shall execute and, upon a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security, a new Debt Security of the same series of like tenor, form, terms and principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously Outstanding. Upon the issuance of any substituted Debt Security, the Company or the Trustee may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee, assessment or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses connected therewith. In case any Debt Security which has matured or is about to mature or which has been called for redemption shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substituted Debt Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Debt Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish the Company and the Trustee with such security or indemnity as either may require to save it harmless from all risk, however remote, and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to the satisfaction of the Company and the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Debt Security and of the ownership thereof.

Every substituted Debt Security of any series issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.9 by virtue of the fact that any Debt Security is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security shall be found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Debt Securities of that series duly issued hereunder. All Debt Securities shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated,

 

15


destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Securities, and shall preclude any and all other rights or remedies, notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.

Section 2.10 Cancellation of Surrendered Debt Securities. All Debt Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any paying agent or a Registrar, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation by it, or if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be canceled by it, and no Debt Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. All canceled Debt Securities held by the Trustee shall be destroyed (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act) and certification of their destruction delivered to the Company, unless otherwise directed. On request of the Company, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company canceled Debt Securities held by the Trustee. If the Company shall acquire any of the Debt Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the Debt represented thereby unless and until the same are delivered or surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation. The Company may not issue new Debt Securities to replace Debt Securities it has redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 2.11 Provisions of the Indenture and Debt Securities for the Sole Benefit of the Parties and the Holders. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities, expressed or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, the Holders or any Registrar or paying agent, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Indenture, or under any covenant, condition or provision herein contained; all its covenants, conditions and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto, the Holders and any Registrar and paying agents.

Section 2.12 Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

(a) Interest on any Debt Security that is payable and is punctually paid or duly provided for on any interest payment date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Debt Security is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest notwithstanding the cancellation of such Debt Security upon any transfer or exchange subsequent to the regular record date. Payment of interest on Debt Securities shall be made at the corporate trust office of the Trustee (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.3), or at the option of the Company, by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Debt Security Register or, if provided pursuant to Section 2.3 and in accordance with arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee, at the option of the Holder by wire transfer to an account designated by the Holder.

(b) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.12 and Section 2.17, each Debt Security of a particular series delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Debt Security of the same series shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Debt Security.

Section 2.13 Securities Denominated in Dollars. Except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.3 for Debt Securities of any series, payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, Debt Securities of such series will be made in Dollars.

 

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Section 2.14 Wire Transfers. Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary in this Indenture, the Company may make any payment of moneys required to be deposited with the Trustee on account of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities (whether pursuant to optional or mandatory redemption payments, interest payments or otherwise) by wire transfer in immediately available funds to an account designated by the Trustee before 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date such moneys are to be paid to the Holders of the Debt Securities in accordance with the terms hereof.

Section 2.15 Securities Issuable in the Form of a Global Security.

(a) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.3 that the Debt Securities of a particular series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee or its agent shall, in accordance with Section 2.5, authenticate and deliver, such Global Security or Securities, which shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series to be represented by such Global Security or Securities, or such portion thereof as the Company shall specify in an Officers’ Certificate, shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or its nominee, shall be delivered by the Trustee or its agent to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction and shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect:

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

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

or such other legend as may then be required by the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.15 or of Section 2.7 to the contrary, and subject to the provisions of paragraph (c) below, unless the terms of a Global Security expressly permit such Global Security to be exchanged in whole or in part for definitive Debt Securities in registered form, a Global Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part

 

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and in the manner provided in Section 2.7, only by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary for such Global Security, or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary to a successor Depositary for such Global Security selected or approved by the Company, or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.

(c) (i) If at any time the Depositary for a Global Security or Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or if at any time the Depositary for the Debt Securities for such series shall no longer be eligible or in good standing under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute, rule or regulation, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to such Global Security or Securities. If a successor Depositary for such Global Security or Securities is not appointed by the Company within 120 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee or its agent, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such individual Debt Securities of such series in exchange for such Global Security or Securities, will authenticate and deliver, individual Debt Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security or Securities in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.

(ii) If an Event of Default occurs and the Depositary for a Global Security or Securities notifies the Trustee of its decision to require that the Debt Securities of any series or portion thereof issued or issuable in the form of one or more Global Securities shall no longer be represented by such Global Security or Securities, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to such Global Security or Securities. In such event the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of individual Debt Securities of such series in exchange in whole or in part for such Global Security or Securities, will authenticate and deliver individual Debt Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such series or portion thereof in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.

(iii) If specified by the Company pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.3 with respect to Debt Securities issued or issuable in the form of a Global Security, the Depositary for such Global Security may surrender such Global Security in exchange in whole or in part for individual Debt Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form on such terms as are acceptable to the Company, the Trustee and such Depositary. Thereupon the Company shall execute, and the Trustee or its agent upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Debt Securities of such series shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge, to each Person specified by such Depositary a new Debt Security or Securities of the same series of like tenor and terms and of any authorized denomination as requested by such Person in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person’s beneficial interest in the Global Security; and to such Depositary a new Global Security of like tenor and terms and in an authorized denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities delivered to Holders thereof.

 

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(iv) In any exchange provided for in any of the preceding three paragraphs, the Company will execute and the Trustee or its agent will authenticate and deliver individual Debt Securities. Upon the exchange of the entire principal amount of a Global Security for individual Debt Securities, such Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee or its agent. Except as provided in the preceding paragraph, Debt Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security pursuant to this Section 2.15 shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Global Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee or the Registrar. The Trustee or the Registrar shall deliver such Debt Securities to the Persons in whose names such Debt Securities are so registered.

(v) Payments in respect of the principal of and interest on any Debt Securities registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee will be payable to the Depositary or such nominee in its capacity as the registered owner of such Global Security. The Company, any Guarantors and the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name the Debt Securities, including the Global Security, are registered as the owner thereof for the purpose of receiving such payments and for any and all other purposes whatsoever. None of the Company, any Guarantors, the Trustee, any Registrar, the paying agent or any agent of the Company, any Guarantors or the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of the beneficial ownership interests of the Global Security by the Depositary or its nominee or any of the Depositary’s direct or indirect participants, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of the Depositary, its nominee or any of its direct or indirect participants relating to the beneficial ownership interests of the Global Security, the payments to the beneficial owners of the Global Security of amounts paid to the Depositary or its nominee, or any other matter relating to the actions and practices of the Depositary, its nominee or any of its direct or indirect participants. None of the Company, any Guarantors, the Trustee or any such agent will be liable for any delay by the Depositary, its nominee, or any of its direct or indirect participants in identifying the beneficial owners of the Debt Securities, and the Company, any Guarantors and the Trustee may conclusively rely on, and will be protected in relying on, instructions from the Depositary or its nominee for all purposes (including with respect to the registration and delivery, and the respective principal amounts, of the Debt Securities to be issued).

Section 2.16 Medium Term Securities. Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein, if all Debt Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary for the Company to deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate, resolutions of the Board of Directors, supplemental Indenture, Opinion of Counsel or written order or any other document otherwise required pursuant to Section 2.1, 2.3, 2.5 or 13.5 at or prior to the time of authentication of each Debt Security of such series if such documents are delivered to the Trustee or its agent at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first such Debt Security of such series to be issued; provided, that any subsequent request by the Company to the Trustee to authenticate Debt Securities of such series upon original issuance shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Company that, as of the date of such request, the statements

 

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made in the Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.5 or 13.5 shall be true and correct as if made on such date and that the Opinion of Counsel delivered at or prior to such time of authentication of an original issuance of Debt Securities shall specifically state that it shall relate to all subsequent issuances of Debt Securities of such series that are identical to the Debt Securities issued in the first issuance of Debt Securities of such series.

A Company Order delivered by the Company to the Trustee in the circumstances set forth in the preceding paragraph, may provide that Debt Securities which are the subject thereof will be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or its agent on original issue from time to time upon the telephonic or written order of Persons designated in such written order (any such telephonic instructions to be promptly confirmed in writing by such Person) and that such Persons are authorized to determine, consistent with the Officers’ Certificate, supplemental Indenture or resolution of the Board of Directors relating to such written order, such terms and conditions of such Debt Securities as are specified in such Officers’ Certificate, supplemental Indenture or such resolution.

Section 2.17 Defaulted Interest. Any interest on any Debt Security of a particular series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on the dates and in the manner provided in the Debt Securities of such series and in this Indenture (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder thereof on the relevant record date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (i) or (ii) below:

(i) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Debt Securities of such series are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Debt Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such special record date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be mailed, first class postage pre-paid, to each Holder thereof at its address as it appears in the Debt Security Register, not less than 15 days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Debt Securities of such series are registered at the close of business on such special record date.

 

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(ii) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Debt Securities of such series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Debt Securities of such series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

Section 2.18 CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing the Debt Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Debt Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Debt Securities, and any such 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” numbers.

ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

Section 3.1 Applicability of Article. The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to the Debt Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.3 for Debt Securities of such series.

Section 3.2 Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debt Securities. In case the Company shall desire to exercise the right to redeem all or, as the case may be, any part of the Debt Securities of any series in accordance with their terms, by resolution of the Board of Directors or a supplemental Indenture, the Company shall fix a date for redemption and shall give notice of such redemption at least 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption to the Holders of Debt Securities of such series so to be redeemed as a whole or in part, in the manner provided in Section 13.3. The notice if given in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Debt Security of a series designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Debt Security of such series.

Each such notice of redemption shall specify (i) the date fixed for redemption, (ii) the redemption price at which Debt Securities of such series are to be redeemed (or the method of calculating such redemption price), (iii) the Place or Places of Payment that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Debt Securities, (iv) that any interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, (v) that the redemption is for a sinking fund payment (if applicable), (vi) that, unless otherwise specified in such notice, if the Company defaults in making such redemption payment or if the Debt Securities of that series are subordinated pursuant to the terms of Article XII, the paying agent is prohibited from making such payment pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, (vii) that on and after said date any interest thereon or on the portions thereof to be redeemed will cease to accrue, (viii) that in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities original issue discount accrued after the date fixed for

 

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redemption will cease to accrue, (ix) the terms of the Debt Securities of that series pursuant to which the Debt Securities of that series are being redeemed and (x) 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 Debt Securities of that series. If less than all the Debt Securities of a series are to be redeemed the notice of redemption shall specify the certificate numbers of any Debt Securities of that series to be redeemed that are not in global form. In case any Debt Security of a series is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that on and after the date fixed for redemption, upon surrender of such Debt Security, a new Debt Security or Debt Securities of that series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof, will be issued.

At least five days before the giving of any notice of redemption, unless the Trustee consents to a shorter period, the Company shall give written notice to the Trustee of the Redemption Date, the principal amount of Debt Securities to be redeemed and the series and terms of the Debt Securities pursuant to which such redemption will occur. Such notice shall be accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel from the Company to the effect that such redemption will comply with the conditions herein, and such notice may be revoked at any time prior to the giving of a notice of redemption to the Holders pursuant to this Section 3.2. If fewer than all the Debt Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the record date relating to such redemption shall be selected by the Company and given in writing to the Trustee, which record date shall be not less than three days after the date of notice to the Trustee.

By 11 a.m., New York City time, on the Redemption Date for any Debt Securities, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a paying agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own paying agent, segregate and hold in trust) an amount of money in Dollars (except as provided pursuant to Section 2.3) sufficient to pay the redemption price of such Debt Securities or any portions thereof that are to be redeemed on that date, together with any interest accrued to the Redemption Date.

If less than all the Debt Securities of like tenor and terms of a series are to be redeemed (other than pursuant to mandatory sinking fund redemptions), the Trustee shall select, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as in its sole discretion it shall deem appropriate and fair, the Debt Securities of that series or portions thereof (in multiples of $1,000) to be redeemed. In any case where more than one Debt Security of such series is registered in the same name, the Trustee in its discretion may treat the aggregate principal amount so registered as if it were represented by one Debt Security of such series. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Debt Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Debt Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. If any Debt Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof on such Redemption Date, the principal, premium, if any, and interest shall bear interest until paid from the Redemption Date at the rate borne by the Debt Securities of that series. If less than all the Debt Securities of unlike tenor and terms of a series are to be redeemed, the particular Debt Securities to be redeemed shall be selected by the Company. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Debt Securities called for redemption also apply to portions of Debt Securities called for redemption.

 

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Section 3.3 Payment of Debt Securities Called for Redemption. If notice of redemption has been given as provided in Section 3.2, the Debt Securities or portions of Debt Securities of the series with respect to which such notice has been given shall become due and payable on the date and at the Place or Places of Payment stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with any interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption, and on and after said date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Debt Securities at the applicable redemption price, together with any interest accrued to said date) any interest on the Debt Securities or portions of Debt Securities of any series so called for redemption shall cease to accrue, and any original issue discount in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities shall cease to accrue. On presentation and surrender of such Debt Securities at the Place or Places of Payment in said notice specified, the said Debt Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable redemption price, together with any interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption.

Any Debt Security that is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at the Place of Payment with, if the Company, the Registrar or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, the Registrar and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Debt Security without service charge, a new Debt Security or Debt Securities of the same series, of like tenor and form, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Debt Security so surrendered; except that if a Global Security is so surrendered, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Depositary for such Global Security, without service charge, a new Global Security in a denomination equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Global Security so surrendered. In the case of a Debt Security providing appropriate space for such notation, at the option of the Holder thereof, the Trustee, in lieu of delivering a new Debt Security or Debt Securities as aforesaid, may make a notation on such Debt Security of the payment of the redeemed portion thereof.

Section 3.4 Mandatory and Optional Sinking Funds. The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Debt Securities of any series, resolution of the Board of Directors or a supplemental Indenture is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Debt Securities of any series, resolution of the Board of Directors or a supplemental Indenture is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.”

In lieu of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to any Debt Securities of a series in cash, the Company may at its option (a) deliver to the Trustee Debt Securities of that series theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company or (b) receive credit for the principal amount of Debt Securities of that series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Debt Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Debt Securities, resolution or supplemental Indenture; provided, that such Debt Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Debt Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption price specified in such Debt Securities, resolution or supplemental Indenture for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such mandatory sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

 

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Section 3.5 Redemption of Debt Securities for Sinking Fund. Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Debt Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, any resolution or supplemental Indenture, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Debt Securities of that series pursuant to Section 3.4 (which Debt Securities, if not previously redeemed, will accompany such certificate) and whether the Company intends to exercise its right to make any permitted optional sinking fund payment with respect to such series. Such certificate shall also state that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to such series. Such certificate shall be irrevocable and upon its delivery the Company shall be obligated to make the cash payment or payments therein referred to, if any, by 11 a.m., New York City time, on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date. Failure of the Company to deliver such certificate (or to deliver the Debt Securities specified in this paragraph) shall not constitute a Default, but such failure shall require that the sinking fund payment due on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date for that series shall be paid entirely in cash and shall be sufficient to redeem the principal amount of such Debt Securities subject to a mandatory sinking fund payment without the option to deliver or credit Debt Securities as provided in Section 3.4 and without the right to make any optional sinking fund payment, if any, with respect to such series.

Any sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional) made in cash plus any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made in cash which shall equal or exceed $100,000 (or a lesser sum if the Company shall so request) with respect to the Debt Securities of any particular series shall be applied by the Trustee on the sinking fund payment date on which such payment is made (or, if such payment is made before a sinking fund payment date, on the sinking fund payment date following the date of such payment) to the redemption of such Debt Securities at the redemption price specified in such Debt Securities, resolution or supplemental Indenture for operation of the sinking fund together with any accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption. Any sinking fund moneys not so applied or allocated by the Trustee to the redemption of Debt Securities shall be added to the next cash sinking fund payment received by the Trustee for such series and, together with such payment, shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.5. Any and all sinking fund moneys with respect to the Debt Securities of any particular series held by the Trustee on the last sinking fund payment date with respect to Debt Securities of such series and not held for the payment or redemption of particular Debt Securities shall be applied by the Trustee, together with other moneys, if necessary, to be deposited sufficient for the purpose, to the payment of the principal of the Debt Securities of that series at its Stated Maturity.

The Trustee shall select the Debt Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in the last paragraph of Section 3.2 and the Company shall cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the manner provided in Section 3.2 except that the notice of redemption shall also state that the Debt Securities are being redeemed by operation of the sinking fund. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Debt Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 3.3.

 

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The Trustee shall not redeem any Debt Securities of a series with sinking fund moneys or mail any notice of redemption of such Debt Securities by operation of the sinking fund for such series during the continuance of a Default in payment of interest on such Debt Securities or of any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default occurring as a consequence of this paragraph) with respect to such Debt Securities, except that if the notice of redemption of any such Debt Securities shall theretofore have been mailed in accordance with the provisions hereof, the Trustee shall redeem such Debt Securities if cash sufficient for that purpose shall be deposited with the Trustee for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Article III. Except as aforesaid, any moneys in the sinking fund for such series at the time when any such Default or Event of Default shall occur and any moneys thereafter paid into such sinking fund shall, during the continuance of such Default or Event of Default, be held as security for the payment of such Debt Securities; provided, however, that in case such Default or Event of Default shall have been cured or waived as provided herein, such moneys shall thereafter be applied on the next sinking fund payment date for such Debt Securities on which such moneys may be applied pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3.5.

ARTICLE IV

PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

Section 4.1 Payment of Principal of, and Premium, If Any, and Interest on, Debt Securities. The Company, for the benefit of each series of Debt Securities, will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, each of the Debt Securities at the place, at the respective times and in the manner provided herein or in the Debt Securities. Each installment of interest on any Debt Securities not in global form may at the Company’s option be paid by mailing checks for such interest payable to the Person entitled thereto pursuant to Section 2.7(a) to the address of such Person as it appears on the Debt Security Register.

Principal of and premium and interest on Debt Securities of any series shall be considered paid on the date due if, by 11 a.m., New York City time, on such date the Trustee or any paying agent holds in accordance with this Indenture money sufficient to pay all principal, premium and interest then due and, in the case of Debt Securities subordinated pursuant to the terms of Article XII, the Trustee or such paying agent, as the case may be, is not prohibited from paying such money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal or premium, if any, at the rate specified therefor in the Debt Securities, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.

Section 4.2 Maintenance of Offices or Agencies for Registration of Transfer, Exchange and Payment of Debt Securities. The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Debt Securities an office or agency where Debt Securities of such series may be presented or surrendered for payment, and it shall also maintain (in or outside such Place of Payment) an office or agency where Debt Securities of such series may be surrendered for transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Debt Securities of such series and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give

 

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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 shall 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 office of the Trustee where its corporate trust business is principally administered in the United States, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

The Company may also from time to time designate different or additional offices or agencies to be maintained for such purposes (in or outside of such Place of Payment), and may from time to time rescind any such designation; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligations described in the preceding paragraph. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such additional designation or rescission of designation and any change in the location of any such different or additional office or agency.

Section 4.3 Appointment to Fill a Vacancy in the Office of Trustee. The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.8, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder with respect to each series of Debt Securities.

Section 4.4 Duties of Paying Agents, etc.

(a) The Company shall cause each paying agent, if any, other than the Trustee, to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 4.4,

(i) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities of any series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor on the Debt Securities of such series) in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series;

(ii) that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor on the Debt Securities of such series) to make any payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities of such series when the same shall be due and payable; and

(iii) that it will at any time during the continuance of an Event of Default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held by it as such agent.

(b) If the Company shall act as its own paying agent, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities of any series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series a sum sufficient to pay such principal, premium, if any, or interest so becoming due. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure by the Company to take such action or the failure by any other obligor on such Debt Securities to make any payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, such Debt Securities when the same shall be due and payable.

 

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(c) Anything in this Section 4.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, or for any other reason, pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee all sums held in trust by it or any paying agent, as required by this Section 4.4, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such paying agent.

(d) Whenever the Company shall have one or more paying agents with respect to any series of Debt Securities, it will, prior to each due date of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, any Debt Securities of such series, deposit with any such paying agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal, premium or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto, and (unless any such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

(e) Anything in this Section 4.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section 4.4 is subject to the provisions of Section 11.5.

Section 4.5 SEC Reports; Financial Statements. The Company shall file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company or any Guarantor is required to file the same with the SEC, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents, and other reports that the Company or such Guarantor is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s and any Guarantor’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

Section 4.6 Compliance Certificate. The Company shall, so long as any of the Debt Securities are Outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, on or before January 31 in each year, a brief certificate from the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Company as to his or her knowledge of the Company’s compliance with all conditions and covenants under the Indenture (such compliance to be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under the Indenture).

Section 4.7 Further Instruments and Acts. The Company will, upon request of the Trustee, execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may reasonably be necessary or proper to carry out more effectually the purposes of this Indenture.

Section 4.8 Waiver of Certain Covenants. The Company and the Guarantors may, with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any covenant made applicable to such Debt Securities pursuant to Section 2.3, if, before or after the time for such compliance, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected, waive such compliance in such instance with such covenant, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such covenant except to the extent so

 

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expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the Guarantors and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such covenant shall remain in full force and effect.

ARTICLE V

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE

Section 5.1 Company to Furnish Trustee Information as to Names and Addresses of Holders; Preservation of Information. The Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of each series:

(a) not more than 10 days after each record date with respect to the payment of interest, if any, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders as of such record date, and

(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and contents as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished;

provided, however, that so long as the Trustee shall be the Registrar, such lists shall not be required to be furnished.

The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the Holders (i) contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in this Section 5.1 or (ii) received by it in the capacity of paying agent or Registrar (if so acting) hereunder.

The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in this Section 5.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

Section 5.2 Communications to Holders. Holders may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the TIA with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Debt Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the TIA.

Section 5.3 Reports by Trustee. Within 60 days after each January 31, beginning with the first January 31 following the date of this Indenture, and in any event on or before April 1 in each year, the Trustee shall mail to Holders a brief report dated as of such January 31 that complies with TIA Section 313(a); provided, however, that if no event described in TIA Section 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted. The Trustee also shall comply with TIA Section 313(b).

Reports pursuant to this Section 5.3 shall be transmitted by mail:

(a) to all Holders, as the names and addresses of such Holders appear in the Debt Security Register; and

 

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(b) except in the cases of reports under Section 313(b)(2) of the TIA, to each Holder of a Debt Security of any series whose name and address appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 5.1.

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Holders shall be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and each stock exchange (if any) on which the Debt Securities of any series are listed. The Company agrees to notify promptly the Trustee whenever the Debt Securities of any series become listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.

Section 5.4 Record Dates for Action by Holders. If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of Debt Securities of any series any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any direction, notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the Company may, at its option, by resolution of the Board of Directors, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders of Debt Securities entitled to take such action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. Any such record date shall be fixed at the Company’s discretion. If such a record date is fixed, such action may be sought or given before or after the record date, but only the Holders of Debt Securities of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders of Debt Securities for the purpose of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Debt Securities of such series Outstanding have authorized or agreed or consented to such action, and for that purpose the Debt Securities of such series Outstanding shall be computed as of such record date.

ARTICLE VI

REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND HOLDERS IN EVENT OF DEFAULT

Section 6.1 Events of Default. “Event of Default” with respect to the Debt Securities of any series means each one of the following events which shall have occurred and be continuing:

(a) default in the payment of any installment of interest upon any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable, whether or not such payment shall be prohibited by Article XII, if applicable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

(b) default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable, whether at Stated Maturity, upon redemption, by declaration, upon required repurchase or otherwise, whether or not such payment shall be prohibited by Article XII, if applicable; or

(c) default in the payment of any sinking fund payment with respect to any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable; or

(d) failure on the part of the Company or, if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of a Guarantee by a Guarantor, any of the Guarantors, duly to observe or perform any other of the covenants or agreements on the part of the Company, or if applicable, any of the Guarantors, in the Debt Securities of that series, in any

 

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resolution of the Board of Directors authorizing the issuance of that series of Debt Securities, in this Indenture with respect to such series or in any supplemental Indenture with respect to such series (other than a covenant a default in the performance of which is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with), continuing for a period of 60 days (or 180 days in the case of a Reporting Failure) after the date on which written notice specifying such failure and requiring the Company, or if applicable, the Guarantors, to remedy the same and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder shall have been given to the Company and if applicable, the Guarantors, by the Trustee or to the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors, and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series at the time Outstanding; or

(e) the Company or, if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee by a Guarantor, any of the Guarantors, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law,

(i) commences a voluntary case,

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

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

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

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

(i) is for relief against the Company or, if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee by a Guarantor, any of the Guarantors, as debtor in an involuntary case,

(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company or, if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee by a Guarantor, any of the Guarantors, or a Custodian for all or substantially all of the property of the Company, or if applicable, any of the Guarantors, or

(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company or, if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee by a Guarantor, any of the Guarantors,

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

(g) if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee by a Guarantor, the Guarantee of any of the Guarantors ceases to be in full force and effect with respect to Debt Securities of that series (except as otherwise provided in this Indenture) or is declared null and void in a judicial proceeding or any of the Guarantors denies or disaffirms its obligations under this Indenture or such Guarantee; or

 

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(h) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Debt Securities of that series;

(i) provided, however, that the occurrence of any of the events described in the foregoing clause (d) shall not constitute an Event of Default if such occurrence is the result of changes in generally accepted accounting principles as recognized by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants at the date as of which this Indenture is executed and a certificate to such effect is delivered to the Trustee by the Company’s independent public accountants.

(j) If an Event of Default described in clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (g), or (h) with respect to Debt Securities of that series at the time Outstanding occurs with respect to the Company or any Guarantor and is continuing, unless the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Debt Securities of that series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company and the Guarantor (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), may declare the principal of (or, if the Debt Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Debt Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series), premium, if any, and interest on all the Debt Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable, anything in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities of that series contained to the contrary notwithstanding. If an Event of Default described in clause (e) or (f) occurs with respect to the Company, then and in each and every such case, unless the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Debt Securities shall have become due and payable, the principal of (or, if the Debt Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Debt Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms thereof), premium, if any, and interest on all the Debt Securities then Outstanding hereunder shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders, anything in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of a particular series by written notice to the Trustee may rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction already rendered and if all existing Events of Default with respect to that series have been cured or waived except nonpayment of principal, premium, if any, or interest that has become due solely because of acceleration. Upon any such rescission, the parties hereto shall be restored respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the parties hereto shall continue as though no such proceeding had been taken.

Section 6.2 Collection of Debt by Trustee, etc. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid or enforce the performance of any provision of the Debt Securities of the affected series or this Indenture, and may prosecute any such action or proceedings to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against any of the Guarantors or the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of such series (and collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of any of the Guarantors or the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of such series wherever situated the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable).

 

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In case there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for the reorganization of any of the Guarantors or the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of any series under any Bankruptcy Law, or in case a Custodian shall have been appointed for its property, or in case of any other similar judicial proceedings relative to any of the Guarantors or the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of any series, its creditors or its property, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of Debt Securities of any series shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6.2, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise, to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal, premium, if any, and interest (or, if the Debt Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Debt Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) owing and unpaid in respect of the Debt Securities of such series, and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and for reimbursement of all expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee except as a result of its negligence or bad faith) and of the Holders thereof allowed in any such judicial proceedings relative to any of the Guarantors or the Company, or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of such series, its creditors or its property, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute all amounts received with respect to the claims of such Holders and of the Trustee on their behalf, and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of such Holders to make payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of payments directly to such Holders, to pay to the Trustee such amount as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other reasonable expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee except as a result of its negligence or bad faith.

All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Debt Securities of any series, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any such Debt Securities, or the production thereof in any trial or other proceedings relative thereto, and any such action or proceedings instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment (except for any amounts payable to the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.6) shall be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of all the Debt Securities in respect of which such action was taken.

In case of an Event of Default hereunder the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.

 

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Section 6.3 Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee. Any moneys or other property collected by the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.2 with respect to Debt Securities of any series shall be applied, after giving effect to the provisions of Article XII, if applicable, in the order following, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys or other property, upon presentation of the several Debt Securities of such series in respect of which moneys or other property have been collected, and the notation thereon of the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

FIRST: To the payment of all money due the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.6;

SECOND: In case the principal of the Outstanding Debt Securities in respect of which such moneys have been collected shall not have become due, to the payment of interest on the Debt Securities of such series in the order of the maturity of the installments of such interest, with interest (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon the overdue installments of interest at the rate or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Debt Securities) borne by the Debt Securities of such series, such payments to be made ratably to the Persons entitled thereto, without discrimination or preference;

THIRD: In case the principal of the Outstanding Debt Securities in respect of which such moneys have been collected shall have become due, by declaration or otherwise, to the payment of the whole amount then owing and unpaid upon the Debt Securities of such series for principal and premium, if any, and interest, with interest on the overdue principal and premium, if any, and (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon overdue installments of interest at the rate or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Debt Securities) borne by the Debt Securities of such series; and, in case such moneys shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amount so due and unpaid upon the Debt Securities of such series, then to the payment of such principal and premium, if any, and interest, without preference or priority of principal and premium, if any, over interest, or of interest over principal and premium, if any, or of any installment of interest over any other installment of interest, or of any Debt Security of such series over any Debt Security of such series, ratably to the aggregate of such principal and premium, if any, and interest; and

FOURTH: The remainder, if any, shall be paid to the Guarantors or the Company, as applicable, its successors or assigns, or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.3. At least 15 days before such record date, the Company shall mail to each Holder and the Trustee a notice that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.

Section 6.4 Limitation on Suits by Holders. No Holder of any Debt Security of any series shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any action or proceeding at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, upon or under or with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless such Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default with respect to Debt Securities of that same series and of the continuance

 

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thereof and unless the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action or proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder and shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity or security as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, and the Trustee, for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity or security shall have failed to institute any such action or proceedings and no direction inconsistent with such written request shall have been given to the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.6; it being understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by the Holder of every Debt Security with every other Holder and the Trustee, that no one or more Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any Holders, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such Holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all such Holders. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section 6.4, each and every Holder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, however, the right of any Holder of any Debt Security to receive payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.12) interest on, such Debt Security, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Debt Security, and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

Section 6.5 Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission in Exercise of Rights Not a Waiver of Default. All powers and remedies given by this Article VI to the Trustee or to the Holders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any thereof or of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the Holders, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture, and no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid, shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such Default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.4, every power and remedy given by this Article VI or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders.

Section 6.6 Rights of Holders of Majority in Principal Amount of Debt Securities to Direct Trustee and to Waive Default. The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series at the time Outstanding shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or of exercising any right, trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Debt Securities of such series; provided, however, that such direction shall not be otherwise than in accordance with law and the provisions of this Indenture, and that subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee being advised by counsel shall determine that the action so directed may not lawfully be taken or is inconsistent with any provision of this Indenture, or if the Trustee shall by a responsible officer or officers determine that the action so directed would involve it in personal liability or would be unduly prejudicial to Holders of Debt Securities of such series not taking

 

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part in such direction; and provided, further, however, that nothing in this Indenture contained shall impair the right of the Trustee to take any action deemed proper by the Trustee and which is not inconsistent with such direction by such Holders. The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series at the time Outstanding may on behalf of the Holders of all the Debt Securities of that series waive any past Default or Event of Default and its consequences for that series, except a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, any of the Debt Securities and a Default or Event of Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.2 cannot be amended without the consent of each Holder affected thereby. In case of any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture, and the Guarantors, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Debt Securities of that series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 6.7 Trustee to Give Notice of Events of Defaults Known to It, but May Withhold Such Notice in Certain Circumstances. The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of an Event of Default, or if later, within 30 days after the Trustee obtains actual knowledge of the Event of Default, with respect to a series of Debt Securities give to the Holders thereof, in the manner provided in Section 13.3, notice of all Events of Default with respect to such series known to the Trustee, unless such Events of Default shall have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice; provided, that, except in the case of an Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any of the Debt Securities of such series or in the making of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a committee of directors or responsible officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders thereof.

Section 6.8 Requirement of an Undertaking to Pay Costs in Certain Suits under the Indenture or Against the Trustee. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Debt Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit in the manner and to the extent provided in the TIA, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 6.8 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 25 percent in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any Debt Security on or after the due date for such payment expressed in such Debt Security.

 

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ARTICLE VII

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

Section 7.1 Certain Duties and Responsibilities. The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture. In case an Event of Default has occurred (which has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, its own bad faith or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(a) this paragraph shall not be construed to limit the effect of the first paragraph of this Section 7.1;

(b) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of a series and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default with respect to such series which may have occurred:

(i) the duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect to Debt Securities of any series shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations with respect to such series as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to such series shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee;

(ii) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture; but the Trustee shall examine the evidence furnished to it pursuant to Sections 4.5 and 4.6 to determine whether or not such evidence conforms to the requirement of this Indenture;

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable for an error of judgment made in good faith by a responsible officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

(iv) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it with respect to Debt Securities of any series in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount

 

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of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to Debt Securities of such series.

None of the provisions of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

Section 7.2 Certain Rights of Trustee. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.1:

(a) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note or other paper or document (whether in its original or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

(b) any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Order (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company;

(c) 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 in respect of any action taken or suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;

(d) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders of Debt Securities of any series pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby;

(e) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;

(f) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing of all Events of Default which may have occurred, the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, approval or other paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then

 

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Outstanding Debt Securities of a series affected by such matter; provided, however, that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is not, in the opinion of the Trustee, reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require reasonable indemnity against such costs, expenses or liabilities as a condition to so proceeding, and the reasonable expense of every such investigation shall be paid by the Company or, if paid by the Trustee, shall be repaid by the Company upon demand;

(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed by it with due care hereunder; and

(h) if any property other than cash shall at any time be subject to a Lien in favor of the Holders, the Trustee, if and to the extent authorized by a receivership or bankruptcy court of competent jurisdiction or by the supplemental instrument subjecting such property to such Lien, shall be entitled to make advances for the purpose of preserving such property or of discharging tax Liens or other prior Liens or encumbrances thereon.

Section 7.3 Trustee Not Liable for Recitals in Indenture or in Debt Securities. The recitals contained herein and in the Debt Securities (except the Trustee’s certificate of authentication) shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Debt Securities of any series, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Debt Securities and perform its obligations hereunder, and that the statements made by it or to be made by it in a Statement of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1 supplied to the Company are true and accurate. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any of the Debt Securities or of the proceeds thereof.

Section 7.4 Trustee, Paying Agent or Registrar May Own Debt Securities. The Trustee or any paying agent or Registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Debt Securities and subject to the provisions of the TIA relating to conflicts of interest and preferential claims may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, paying agent or Registrar.

Section 7.5 Moneys Received by Trustee to Be Held in Trust. Subject to the provisions of Section 11.5, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder. So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, all interest allowed on any such moneys shall be paid from time to time to the Company upon a Company Order.

Section 7.6 Compensation and Reimbursement. The Company covenants and agrees to pay in Dollars to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder (which shall not be limited by any

 

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provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust), and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Company will pay or reimburse in Dollars the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents, attorneys and counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ), including without limitation, Section 6.2, except any such expense, disbursement or advances as may arise from its negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Company also covenants to indemnify in Dollars the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust or trusts hereunder, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.6 to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional Debt hereunder and shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture. The Company and the Holders agree that such additional Debt shall be secured by a Lien prior to that of the Debt Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee, as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, particular Debt Securities.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(e) or (f) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

Section 7.7 Right of Trustee to Rely on an Officers’ Certificate Where No Other Evidence Specifically Prescribed. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.1, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering or omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

Section 7.8 Separate Trustee; Replacement of Trustee. The Company may, but need not, appoint a separate Trustee for any one or more series of Debt Securities. The Trustee may resign with respect to one or more or all series of Debt Securities at any time by giving notice to the Company. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debt Securities of a particular series may remove the Trustee for such series and only such series by so notifying the Trustee and may appoint a successor Trustee. The Company shall remove the Trustee if:

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

(b) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

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

(d) the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.

 

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If the Trustee resigns, is removed by the Company or by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debt Securities of a particular series and such Holders do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of this Section 7.8.

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders of Debt Securities of each applicable series. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.6.

If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee gives notice of resignation or is removed, the retiring Trustee or the Holders of 25% in principal amount of the Debt Securities of any applicable series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee for the Debt Securities of such series.

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

Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.8, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.6 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

In the case of the appointment hereunder of a separate or successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more series, the Company, any retiring Trustee and each successor or separate Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of any applicable series shall execute and deliver an Indenture supplemental hereto (i) which shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of any retiring Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of any series as to which any such retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in such retiring Trustee and (ii) that shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental Indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such separate, retiring or successor Trustee shall be Trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee.

Section 7.9 Successor Trustee by Merger. If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation or banking association without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

 

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

Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification. The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of Section 310(a) of the TIA. The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. No obligor upon the Debt Securities of a particular series or Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such obligor shall serve as Trustee for the Debt Securities of such series. The Trustee shall comply with Section 310(b) of the TIA; provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA this Indenture or any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Company are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA are met.

Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company. The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the TIA, excluding any creditor relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the TIA. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the TIA to the extent indicated therein.

Section 7.12 Compliance with Tax Laws. The Trustee hereby agrees to comply with all U.S. Federal income tax information reporting and withholding requirements applicable to it with respect to payments of premium (if any) and interest on the Debt Securities, whether acting as Trustee, Registrar, paying agent or otherwise with respect to the Debt Securities.

ARTICLE VIII

CONCERNING THE HOLDERS

Section 8.1 Evidence of Action by Holders. Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any or all series may take action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any direction, notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action) the fact that at the time of taking any such action the Holders of such specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced (a) by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by Holders in Person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, (b) by the record of the Holders voting in favor thereof at any meeting of Holders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.2, (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such

 

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record of such a meeting of Holders or (d) in the case of Debt Securities evidenced by a Global Security, by any electronic transmission or other message, whether or not in written format, that complies with the Depositary’s applicable procedures.

Section 8.2 Proof of Execution of Instruments and of Holding of Debt Securities. Subject to the provisions of Sections 7.1, 7.2 and 13.9, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Holder or his agent or proxy shall be sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. The ownership of Debt Securities of any series shall be proved by the Debt Security Register or by a certificate of the Registrar for such series. The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section 8.2 as it shall deem necessary.

Section 8.3 Who May Be Deemed Owner of Debt Securities. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debt Security, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, any paying agent and any Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Debt Security shall be registered upon the books of the Company as the absolute owner of such Debt Security (whether or not such Debt Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.12) interest on such Debt Security and for all other purposes, and none of the Company, the Guarantors or the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary; and all such payments so made to any such Holder for the time being, or upon his order, shall be valid and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Debt Security.

None of the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, any paying agent or any Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

Section 8.4 Instruments Executed by Holders Bind Future Holders. At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 8.1, of the taking of any action by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action and subject to the following paragraph, any Holder of a Debt Security which is shown by the evidence to be included in the Debt Securities the Holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at its corporate trust office and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.2, revoke such action so far as concerns such Debt Security. Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the Holder of any Debt Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of such Debt Security and of any Debt Security issued upon transfer thereof or in exchange or substitution therefor, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Debt Security or such other Debt Securities. Any action taken by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders of all the Debt Securities of such series.

 

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The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Debt Securities entitled to give their consent or take any other action required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders of Debt Securities at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders of Debt Securities after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date unless the consent of the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of such series specified in this Indenture shall have been received within such 120-day period.

ARTICLE IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 9.1 Purposes for Which Supplemental Indenture May Be Entered into Without Consent of Holders. The Company and any Guarantors, when authorized by resolutions of the Board of Directors, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time, without the consent of Holders, enter into an Indenture or Indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the TIA as in force at the date of the execution thereof) for one or more of the following purposes:

(a) to evidence the succession pursuant to Article X of another Person to the Company, or successive successions, and the assumption by the Successor Company (as defined in Section 10.1) of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company in this Indenture and in the Debt Securities;

(b) to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company or the Guarantors, to add to the covenants of the Company or the Guarantors such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the protection of the Holders of all or any series of Debt Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Debt Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) as the Board of Directors shall consider to be for the protection of the Holders of such Debt Securities, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a Default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions a Default or an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in this Indenture; provided, that in respect of any such additional covenant, restriction, condition or provision such supplemental Indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after Default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other Defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such Default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such Default or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of any or all series of Debt Securities to waive such Default;

(c) to cure any ambiguity or omission or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein, in any supplemental Indenture or in any Debt Securities of any series that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein, in any supplemental

 

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Indenture or in the Debt Securities of such series; to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to or with the Trustee, or to make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under this Indenture as shall not adversely affect the interests of any Holders of Debt Securities of any series;

(d) to permit the qualification of this Indenture or any Indenture supplemental hereto under the TIA as then in effect, except that nothing herein contained shall permit or authorize the inclusion in any Indenture supplemental hereto of the provisions referred to in Section 316(a)(2) of the TIA;

(e) to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, on, Debt Securities; provided, that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Debt Securities of any series in any material respect or permit or facilitate the issuance of Debt Securities of any series in uncertificated form;

(f) to reflect the release of any Guarantor in accordance with Article XIV;

(g) in the case of any Debt Securities subordinated pursuant to Article XII, to make any change in Article XII that would limit or terminate the benefits available to any holder of Senior Indebtedness (or Representatives therefor) under Article XII;

(h) to add Guarantors with respect to any or all of the Debt Securities or to secure any or all of the Debt Securities or the Guarantee;

(i) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights hereunder of any Holder;

(j) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Debt Securities; provided, however, that any such addition, change or elimination not otherwise permitted under this Section 9.1 shall neither apply to any Debt Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental Indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor modify the rights of the Holder of any such Debt Security with respect to such provision or shall become effective only when there is no such Debt Security Outstanding;

(k) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor or separate Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee; and

(l) to establish the form or terms of Debt Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 2.1 and 2.3.

The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of any such supplemental Indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer, assignment, mortgage or pledge of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental Indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

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Any supplemental Indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 9.1 may be executed by the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any of the Debt Securities at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.2.

In the case of Debt Securities subordinated pursuant to Article XII, an amendment under this Section 9.1 may not make any change that adversely affects the rights under Article XII of any holder of Senior Indebtedness then outstanding unless the holders of such Senior Indebtedness (or any group or Representative thereof authorized to give a consent) consent to such change.

Section 9.2 Modification of Indenture with Consent of Holders of Debt Securities. Without notice to any Holder but with the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 8.1) of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected by such supplemental Indenture (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for any such series of Debt Securities), the Company and the Guarantors, when authorized by resolutions of the Board of Directors, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an Indenture or Indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the TIA as in force at the date of execution thereof) for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series; provided, that no such supplemental Indenture, without the consent of the Holders of each Debt Security so affected, shall: reduce the percentage in principal amount of Debt Securities of any series whose Holders must consent to an amendment; reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any Debt Security; reduce the principal of or extend the Stated Maturity of any Debt Security; reduce any premium payable upon the redemption of any Debt Security or change the time at which any Debt Security may or shall be redeemed in accordance with Article III; make any Debt Security payable in currency other than the Dollar; impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of premium, if any, principal of and interest on such Holder’s Debt Securities on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Debt Securities; in the case of any Debt Security subordinated pursuant to Article XII, make any change in Article XII that adversely affects the rights of any Holder under Article XII; release any security that may have been granted in respect of the Debt Securities, other than in accordance with this Indenture; make any change in Section 6.6 or this Section 9.2; or, except as provided in Section 11.2(b) or Section 14.4, release the Guarantors other than as provided in this Indenture or modify the Guarantee in any manner adverse to the Holders.

A supplemental Indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has been expressly included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Debt Securities or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Debt Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Debt Securities of any other series.

 

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Upon the request of the Company and the Guarantors, accompanied by a copy of resolutions of the Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such supplemental Indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Holders as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental Indenture unless such supplemental Indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion but shall not be obligated to enter into such supplemental Indenture.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental Indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.

In the case of any Debt Securities subordinated pursuant to Article XII, an amendment under this Section 9.2 may not make any change that adversely affects the rights under Article XII of any holder of Senior Indebtedness then outstanding unless the holders of such Senior Indebtedness (or any group or Representative thereof authorized to give a consent) consent to such change.

After an amendment under this Section 9.2 requiring the consent of the Holders of any series of Debt Securities becomes effective, the Company shall mail to Holders of that series of Debt Securities of each series affected thereby a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to any such Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.2 with respect to other Holders.

Section 9.3 Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of any supplemental Indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company, the Guarantors and the Holders shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental Indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 7.1 and 7.2, may receive an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such supplemental Indenture complies with the provisions of this Article IX.

Section 9.4 Debt Securities May Bear Notation of Changes by Supplemental Indentures. Debt Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental Indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental Indenture. New Debt Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental Indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Debt Securities of such series then Outstanding. Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Debt Security of such series shall not affect the validity of such amendment.

 

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ARTICLE X

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE

Section 10.1 Consolidations and Mergers of the Company. The Company shall not consolidate or amalgamate with or merge with or into any Person, or sell, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all its assets to any Person, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, unless: (a) either (i) the Company shall be the surviving Person in the case of a merger or (ii) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person if other than the Company (the “Successor Company”), shall be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and the Successor Company shall expressly assume, by an Indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Debt Securities according to their tenor; (b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of transactions (and treating any Debt which becomes an obligation of the Successor Company or any Subsidiary of the Company as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the Successor Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction or series of transactions), no Default or Event of Default would occur or be continuing; (c) if the Company is not the continuing Person, then each Guarantor, unless it has become the Successor Company, shall confirm that its Guarantee shall continue to apply to the obligations under the Debt Securities and this Indenture; and (d) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or disposition and such supplemental Indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture.

Section 10.2 Rights and Duties of Successor Company. In case of any consolidation, amalgamation or merger where the Company is not the continuing Person, or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 10.1, the Successor Company shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the respective party to this Indenture, and the predecessor entity shall be released from all liabilities and obligations under this Indenture and the Debt Securities, except that no such release will occur in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets. The Successor Company thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of the Company, any or all the Debt Securities issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by or on behalf of the Company and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of the Successor Company, instead of the Company, and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall deliver any Debt Securities which previously shall have been signed and delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and any Debt Securities which the Successor Company thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee for that purpose. All the Debt Securities so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Debt Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all such Debt Securities had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

 

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In case of any such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, sale or disposition such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Debt Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.

ARTICLE XI

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF

INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS

Section 11.1 Applicability of Article. The provisions of this Article XI relating to discharge or defeasance of Debt Securities shall be applicable to each series of Debt Securities except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.3 for Debt Securities of such series.

Section 11.2 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance.

(a) If at any time the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all Debt Securities of any series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than any Debt Securities of such series which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.9 and Debt Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Company as provided in Section 11.5) or all Debt Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Company shall deposit with the Trustee as trust funds the entire amount in cash sufficient to pay at final maturity or upon redemption all Debt Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal and premium, if any, and interest due or to become due on such date of maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be, and if in either case the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company, then this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of such Debt Securities herein expressly provided for) with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, and the Trustee, on demand of the Company accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel and at the cost and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of such series.

(b) Subject to Sections 11.2(c), 11.3 and 11.7, the Company at any time may terminate, with respect to Debt Securities of a particular series, all its obligations under the Debt Securities of such series and this Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of such series (“legal defeasance option”) or the operation of (x) any covenant made applicable to such Debt Securities pursuant to Section 2.3, (y) Sections 6.1(d), (g) and (h) and (z) as they relate to the Guarantors only, Sections 6.1(e) and (f) (“covenant defeasance option”). If the Company exercises either its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option with respect to Debt Securities of a particular series that are entitled to the benefit of the Guarantee, the Guarantee will terminate with respect to that series of Debt Securities. The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option.

 

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If the Company exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of the Debt Securities of the defeased series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If the Company exercises its covenant defeasance option, payment of the Debt Securities of the defeased series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.1(d), (g) and (h) and, with respect to the Guarantors only, Sections 6.1(e) and (f).

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

(c) Notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, the Company’s obligations in Sections 2.7, 2.9, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 5.1, 7.6, 11.5, 11.6 and 11.7 shall survive until the Debt Securities of the defeased series have been paid in full. Thereafter, the Company’s obligations in Sections 7.6, 11.5 and 11.6 shall survive.

Section 11.3 Conditions of Defeasance. The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option with respect to Debt Securities of a particular series only if:

(a) the Company irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Debt Securities of such series to final maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

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

(c) 91 days pass after the deposit is made and during the 91-day period no Default specified in Section 6.1(e) or (f) with respect to the Company occurs which is continuing at the end of the period;

(d) no Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit and after giving effect thereto;

(e) the deposit does not constitute a default under any other agreement binding on the Company and, if the Debt Securities of such series are subordinated pursuant to Article XII, is not prohibited by Article XII;

(f) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the trust resulting from the deposit does not constitute, or is qualified as, a regulated investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940;

(g) in the event of the legal defeasance option, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that the Company has received from the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the

 

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applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of Debt Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such 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 defeasance had not occurred;

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

(i) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance and discharge of the Debt Securities of such series as contemplated by this Article XI have been complied with.

Before or after a deposit, the Company may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Debt Securities of such series at a future date in accordance with Article III.

Section 11.4 Application of Trust Money. The Trustee shall hold in trust money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to this Article XI. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from U.S. Government Obligations through any paying agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Debt Securities of the defeased series. In the event the Debt Securities of the defeased series are subordinated pursuant to Article XII, money and securities so held in trust are not subject to Article XII.

Section 11.5 Repayment to Company. The Trustee and any paying agent shall promptly turn over to the Company upon request any excess money or securities held by them at any time.

Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and any paying agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal, premium or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, and, thereafter, Holders entitled to such money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors.

Section 11.6 Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations. The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee and the Holders against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against deposited U.S. Government Obligations or the principal and interest received on such U.S. Government Obligations.

Section 11.7 Reinstatement. If the Trustee or any paying agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article XI by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or government authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Debt Securities of the defeased series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article XI until such time as the Trustee or any paying agent is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article XI.

 

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ARTICLE XII

SUBORDINATION OF DEBT SECURITIES AND GUARANTEE

Section 12.1 Applicability of Article; Agreement to Subordinate. The provisions of this Article XII shall only be applicable to the Debt Securities of any series (Debt Securities of such series referred to in this Article XII as “Subordinated Debt Securities”) designated, pursuant to Section 2.3, as subordinated to Senior Indebtedness and any related Guarantee of such Subordinated Debt Securities. Each Holder by accepting a Subordinated Debt Security agrees that the Debt evidenced by such Subordinated Debt Security and any related Guarantee of such Subordinated Debt Security is subordinated in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner provided in this Article XII, to the prior payment of all Senior Indebtedness and that the subordination is for the benefit of and enforceable by the holders of Senior Indebtedness. All provisions of this Article XII shall be subject to Section 12.12.

Section 12.2 Liquidation, Dissolution, Bankruptcy. Upon any payment or distribution of the assets of the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, to creditors, upon a liquidation or a dissolution of the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, or in a bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding relating to the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, or their respective property:

(a) holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor, as the case may be, shall be entitled to receive payment in full in cash of such Senior Indebtedness of such Person (including interest (if any), accruing on or after the commencement of a proceeding in bankruptcy, whether or not allowed as a claim against the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, in such bankruptcy proceeding) before Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities and any related Guarantee shall be entitled to receive any payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Subordinated Debt Securities from the Company, or any payment in respect of the Guarantee from the Guarantors; and

(b) until the Senior Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor, as the case may be, is paid in full, any distribution to which Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities and any related Guarantee would be entitled but for this Article XII shall be made to holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, as their interests may appear, except that such Holders may receive capital stock and any debt securities that are subordinated to Senior Indebtedness of the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, to at least the same extent as the Subordinated Debt Securities of the Company or the related Guarantee of any Guarantor, respectively.

Section 12.3 Default on Senior Indebtedness. The Company and the Guarantors may not pay the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Subordinated Debt Securities or any related Guarantee or make any deposit pursuant to Article XI and may not repurchase, redeem or otherwise retire (except, in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities that provide for a mandatory sinking fund pursuant to Section 3.5, by the delivery of Subordinated Debt Securities

 

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by the Company to the Trustee pursuant to the first paragraph of Section 3.5) any Subordinated Debt Securities (collectively, “pay the Subordinated Debt Securities”) if any principal, premium or interest in respect of Senior Indebtedness of such Person is not paid within any applicable grace period (including at maturity) or any other default on Senior Indebtedness of such Person occurs and the maturity of such Senior Indebtedness is accelerated in accordance with its terms unless, in either case, the default has been cured or waived and any such acceleration has been rescinded or such Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full in cash; provided, however, that the Company and the Guarantors may make payments on the Subordinated Debt Securities or any related Guarantee without regard to the foregoing if the Company and the Trustee receive written notice approving such payment from the Representative of each issue of Designated Senior Indebtedness. During the continuance of any other default with respect to any Designated Senior Indebtedness pursuant to which the maturity thereof may be accelerated immediately without further notice (except such notice as may be required to effect such acceleration) or the expiration of any applicable grace periods, the Company and the Guarantors may not make payments on the Subordinated Debt Securities or any related Guarantee for a period (a “Payment Blockage Period”) commencing upon the receipt by the Company and the Trustee (and if such Designated Senior Indebtedness is Debt of a Guarantor, the Guarantor) of written notice of such default from the Representative of any Designated Senior Indebtedness specifying an election to effect a Payment Blockage Period (a “Blockage Notice”) and ending 179 days thereafter (or earlier if such Payment Blockage Period is terminated by written notice to the Trustee and the Company (and if such Designated Senior Indebtedness is Debt of a Guarantor, the Guarantor) from the Person or Persons who gave such Blockage Notice, by repayment in full in cash of such Designated Senior Indebtedness or because the default giving rise to such Blockage Notice is no longer continuing). Notwithstanding the provisions described in the immediately preceding sentence (but subject to the provisions contained in Section 12.2 and the first sentence of this Section 12.3), unless the holders of such Designated Senior Indebtedness or the Representative of such holders shall have accelerated the maturity of such Designated Senior Indebtedness, the Company and the Guarantors may resume payments on the Subordinated Debt Securities and related Guarantees after such Payment Blockage Period. Not more than one Blockage Notice may be given in any consecutive 360-day period, irrespective of the number of defaults with respect to any number of issues of Designated Senior Indebtedness during such period, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.3 for the Subordinated Debt Securities of a series; provided, however, that in no event may the total number of days during which any Payment Blockage Period or Periods is in effect exceed 179 days in the aggregate during any 360 consecutive day period. For purposes of this Section 12.3, no default or event of default which existed or was continuing on the date of the commencement of any Payment Blockage Period with respect to the Designated Senior Indebtedness initiating such Payment Blockage Period shall be, or be made, the basis of the commencement of a subsequent Payment Blockage Period by the Representative of such Designated Senior Indebtedness, whether or not within a period of 360 consecutive days, unless such default or event of default shall have been cured or waived for a period of not less than 90 consecutive days.

Section 12.4 Acceleration of Payment of Debt Securities. If payment of the Subordinated Debt Securities is accelerated because of an Event of Default, the Company shall promptly notify the holders of the Designated Senior Indebtedness (or their Representatives) of the acceleration.

 

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Section 12.5 When Distribution Must Be Paid Over. If a distribution is made to Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities or a related Guarantee that because of this Article XII should not have been made to them, the Holders who receive such distribution shall hold it in trust for holders of Senior Indebtedness and pay it over to them as their interests may appear.

Section 12.6 Subrogation. After all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full and until the Subordinated Debt Securities are paid in full, Holders thereof shall be subrogated to the rights of holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive distributions applicable to Senior Indebtedness. A distribution made under this Article XII to holders of Senior Indebtedness which otherwise would have been made to Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities is not, as between the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, and such Holders, a payment by the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, on Senior Indebtedness.

Section 12.7 Relative Rights. This Article XII defines the relative rights of Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities and holders of Senior Indebtedness. Nothing in this Indenture shall:

(a) impair, as between the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, and Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities, the obligation of the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Subordinated Debt Securities in accordance with their terms; or

(b) prevent the Trustee or any Holder of Subordinated Debt Securities from exercising its available remedies upon an Event of Default, subject to the rights of holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive distributions otherwise payable to Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities.

Section 12.8 Subordination May Not Be Impaired by Company. No right of any holder of Senior Indebtedness to enforce the subordination of the Debt evidenced by the Subordinated Debt Securities and the Guarantee in respect thereof shall be impaired by any act or failure to act by the Company or the Guarantors or by its failure to comply with this Indenture.

Section 12.9 Rights of Trustee and Paying Agent. Notwithstanding Sections 12.2 and 12.3, the Trustee or any paying agent may continue to make payments on Subordinated Debt Securities and shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of facts that would prohibit the making of any such payments unless, not less than two Business Days prior to the date of such payment, a responsible officer of the Trustee receives notice satisfactory to it that payments may not be made under this Article XII. The Company, the Registrar, any paying agent, a Representative or a holder of Senior Indebtedness may give the notice; provided, however, that, if an issue of Senior Indebtedness has a Representative, only the Representative may give the notice on behalf of the Holders of the Senior Indebtedness of that issue.

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may hold Senior Indebtedness with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. The Registrar and any paying agent may do the same with like rights. The Trustee shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article XII with respect to any Senior Indebtedness which may at any time be held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness; and nothing in Article VII shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder. Nothing in this Article XII shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 7.6.

 

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Section 12.10 Distribution or Notice to Representative. Whenever a distribution is to be made or a notice given to holders of Senior Indebtedness, the distribution may be made and the notice given to their Representative (if any).

Section 12.11 Article XII Not to Prevent Defaults or Limit Right to Accelerate. The failure to make a payment pursuant to the Subordinated Debt Securities, whether directly or pursuant to the Guarantee, by reason of any provision in this Article XII shall not be construed as preventing the occurrence of a Default. Nothing in this Article XII shall have any effect on the right of the Holders or the Trustee to accelerate the maturity of either the Subordinated Debt Securities or the Debt Securities, as the case may be.

Section 12.12 Trust Moneys Not Subordinated. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, payments from money or the proceeds of U.S. Government Obligations held in trust under Article XI by the Trustee for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Subordinated Debt Securities or the Debt Securities shall not be subordinated to the prior payment of any Senior Indebtedness or subject to the restrictions set forth in this Article XII, and none of the Holders thereof shall be obligated to pay over any such amount to the Company, the Guarantors or any holder of Senior Indebtedness of the Company or the Guarantors or any other creditor of the Company or the Guarantors.

Section 12.13 Trustee Entitled to Rely. Upon any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article XII, the Trustee and the Holders shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction in which any proceedings of the nature referred to in Section 12.2 are pending, upon a certificate of the liquidating trustee or agent or other Person making such payment or distribution to the Trustee or to such Holders or upon the Representatives for the holders of Senior Indebtedness for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and other Debt of the Company or the Guarantors, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XII. In the event that the Trustee determines, in good faith, that evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article XII, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article XII, and, if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment. The provisions of Sections 7.1 and 7.2 shall be applicable to all actions or omissions of actions by the Trustee pursuant to this Article XII.

Section 12.14 Trustee to Effectuate Subordination. Each Holder by accepting a Subordinated Debt Security authorizes and directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the subordination between the Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities and the holders of Senior Indebtedness as provided in this Article XII and appoints the Trustee as attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

 

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Section 12.15 Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness and shall not be liable to any such holders if it shall mistakenly pay over or distribute to Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities or the Company or the Guarantors or any other Person, money or assets to which any holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article XII or otherwise.

Section 12.16 Reliance by Holders of Senior Indebtedness on Subordination Provisions. Each Holder by accepting a Subordinated Debt Security acknowledges and agrees that the foregoing subordination provisions are, and are intended to be, an inducement and a consideration to each holder of any Senior Indebtedness, whether such Senior Indebtedness was created or acquired before or after the issuance of the Subordinated Debt Securities, to acquire and continue to hold, or to continue to hold, such Senior Indebtedness and such holder of Senior Indebtedness shall be deemed conclusively to have relied on such subordination provisions in acquiring and continuing to hold, or in continuing to hold, such Senior Indebtedness.

ARTICLE XIII

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 13.1 Successors and Assigns of Company Bound by Indenture. All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained by or in behalf of the Company, the Guarantors or the Trustee shall bind their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

Section 13.2 Acts of Board, Committee or Officer of Successor Company Valid. Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the like board, committee or officer of any Successor Company.

Section 13.3 Required Notices or Demands. Any notice or communication by the Company, the Guarantors or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in Person or mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the other’s address:

If to the Company or any Guarantor:

Rayonier Inc.

50 North Laura Street

Jacksonville, FL 32202

Attn: Chief Financial Officer

Telephone No.: (904) 357-9100

If to the Trustee:

 

   [                                    ]    

 

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

All notices and communications 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; on the first Business Day on or after being sent, if telecopied and the sender receives confirmation of successful transmission; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

Any notice required or permitted to a Holder by the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture shall be deemed to be properly mailed by being deposited postage prepaid in a post office letter box in the United States addressed to such Holder at the address of such Holder as shown on the Debt Security Register. Any report pursuant to Section 313 of the TIA shall be transmitted in compliance with subsection (c) therein.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any notice to Holders of Floating Rate Securities regarding the determination of a periodic rate of interest, if such notice is required pursuant to Section 2.3, shall be sufficiently given if given in the manner specified pursuant to Section 2.3.

In the event of suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give notice by mail, then such notification as shall be given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice for every purpose hereunder.

In the event it shall be impracticable to give notice by publication, then such notification as shall be given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice for every purpose hereunder.

Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it or any defect in any notice by publication as to a Holder shall not affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. If a notice or communication is mailed or published in the manner provided above, it is conclusively presumed duly given.

Section 13.4 Indenture and Debt Securities to Be Construed in Accordance with the Laws of the State of New York. THIS INDENTURE, EACH DEBT SECURITY AND THE GUARANTEE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE NEW YORK CONTRACTS, AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF SAID STATE.

Section 13.5 Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to Be Furnished upon Application or Demand by the Company. Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or demand as to which the furnishing of such document is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

 

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Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include (a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition, (b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based, (c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he 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.

Section 13.6 Payments Due on Legal Holidays. In any case where the date of maturity of interest on or principal of and premium, if any, on the Debt Securities of a series or the date fixed for redemption or repayment of any Debt Security or the making of any sinking fund payment shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment for the Debt Securities of such series, then payment of interest or principal and premium, if any, or the making of such sinking fund payment need not be made on such date at such Place of Payment, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the date of maturity or the date fixed for redemption, and no interest shall accrue for the period after such date. If a record date is not a Business Day, the record date shall not be affected.

Section 13.7 Provisions Required by TIA to Control. If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision included in this Indenture which is required to be included in this Indenture by any of Sections 310 to 318, inclusive, of the TIA, such required provision shall control.

Section 13.8 Computation of Interest on Debt Securities. Interest, if any, on the Debt Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to Section 2.3.

Section 13.9 Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Holders. The Registrar and any paying agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.

Section 13.10 No Recourse Against Others. The Company and its directors, officers, employees, incorporators and capital stockholders, as such, shall have no liability for any obligations of the Guarantors or the Company under the Debt Securities, this Indenture or the Guarantee or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Debt Security, each Holder shall be deemed to have waived and released all such liability. The waiver and release shall be part of the consideration for the issue of the Debt Securities.

 

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Section 13.11 Severability. In case any provision in this Indenture or the Debt Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 13.12 Effect of Headings. The article and section headings herein and in the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

Section 13.13 Indenture May Be Executed in Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original; but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

ARTICLE XIV

GUARANTEE

Section 14.1 Unconditional Guarantee.

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Article XIV to the contrary, the provisions of this Article XIV shall be applicable only to, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Debt Securities of any series designated, pursuant to Section 2.3, as entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee of each of the Guarantors.

(b) For value received, each of the Guarantors hereby fully, unconditionally and absolutely guarantees (the “Guarantee”) to the Holders and to the Trustee the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Debt Securities and all other amounts due and payable under this Indenture and the Debt Securities by the Company, when and as such principal, premium, if any, and interest shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, according to the terms of the Debt Securities and this Indenture, subject to (i) the limitations set forth in Section 14.3 and (ii) in the case of the Guarantee of the Subordinated Debt Securities, to the subordination provisions contained in Article XII.

(c) Failing payment when due of any amount guaranteed pursuant to the Guarantee, for whatever reason, each of the Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately , subject, in the case of the Guarantee of the Subordinated Debt Securities, to the subordination provisions contained in Article XII. The Guarantee hereunder (other than the Guarantee of Subordinated Debt Securities) is intended to be a general, unsecured, senior obligation of each of the Guarantors and will rank pari passu in right of payment with all Debt of each Guarantor that is not, by its terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee. Each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be full, unconditional and absolute, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Debt Securities, the Guarantee (including the Guarantee of any other Guarantor) or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Debt Securities with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company or any other Guarantor, or any action to enforce the same or any other circumstances which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of any of the Guarantors. Each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that in the event of a default in payment

 

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of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Debt Securities, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, legal proceedings may be instituted by the Trustee on behalf of the Holders or, subject to Section 6.4, by the Holders, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Indenture, directly against such Guarantor to enforce the Guarantee without first proceeding against the Company or any other Guarantor.

(d) The obligations of each of the Guarantors under this Article XIV shall be as aforesaid full, unconditional and absolute and shall not be impaired, modified, released or limited by any occurrence or condition whatsoever, including, without limitation, (A) any compromise, settlement, release, waiver, renewal, extension, indulgence or modification of, or any change in, any of the obligations and liabilities of the Company or any of the Guarantors contained in the Debt Securities or this Indenture, (B) any impairment, modification, release or limitation of the liability of the Company, any of the Guarantors or any of their estates in bankruptcy, or any remedy for the enforcement thereof, resulting from the operation of any present or future provision of any applicable Bankruptcy Law, as amended, or other statute or from the decision of any court, (C) the assertion or exercise by the Company, any of the Guarantors or the Trustee of any rights or remedies under the Debt Securities or this Indenture or their delay in or failure to assert or exercise any such rights or remedies, (D) the assignment or the purported assignment of any property as security for the Debt Securities, including all or any part of the rights of the Company or any of the Guarantors under this Indenture, (E) the extension of the time for payment by the Company or any of the Guarantors of any payments or other sums or any part thereof owing or payable under any of the terms and provisions of the Debt Securities or this Indenture or of the time for performance by the Company or any of the Guarantors of any other obligations under or arising out of any such terms and provisions or the extension or the renewal of any thereof, (F) the modification or amendment (whether material or otherwise) of any duty, agreement or obligation of the Company or any of the Guarantors set forth in this Indenture, (G) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets, marshaling of assets and liabilities, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of, or other similar proceeding affecting, the Company or any of the Guarantors or any of their respective assets, or the disaffirmance of the Debt Securities, the Guarantee or this Indenture in any such proceeding, (H) the release or discharge of the Company or any of the Guarantors from the performance or observance of any agreement, covenant, term or condition contained in any of such instruments by operation of law, (I) the unenforceability of the Debt Securities, the Guarantee or this Indenture or (J) any other circumstances (other than payment in full or discharge of all amounts guaranteed pursuant to the Guarantee) which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a surety or guarantor.

(e) Each of the Guarantors hereby (A) waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of the merger, insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company or any of the Guarantors, and all demands whatsoever, (B) acknowledges that any agreement, instrument or document evidencing the Guarantee may be transferred and that the benefit of its obligations hereunder shall extend to each holder of any agreement, instrument or document evidencing the Guarantee without notice to it and (C) covenants that the Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the Guarantee. Each of the Guarantors further agrees that if at any time all or any part of any payment theretofore applied by any Person to the Guarantee is, or must be, rescinded or returned for any reason whatsoever,

 

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including without limitation, the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or any of the Guarantors, the Guarantee shall, to the extent that such payment is or must be rescinded or returned, be deemed to have continued in existence notwithstanding such application, and the Guarantee shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, as though such application had not been made.

(f) Each of the Guarantors shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holders and the Trustee against the Company in respect of any amounts paid by such Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, provided, however, that such Guarantor, shall not be entitled to enforce or to receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all of the Debt Securities and the Guarantee shall have been paid in full or discharged.

Section 14.2 Execution and Delivery of Guarantee. To further evidence the Guarantee set forth in Section 14.1, each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that a notation relating to such Guarantee, substantially in the form attached hereto as Annex A, shall be endorsed on each Debt Security entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and executed by either manual or facsimile signature of an officer of such Guarantor, or in the case of a Guarantor that is a limited partnership, an officer of the general partner of each Guarantor. Each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that the Guarantee set forth in Section 14.1 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Debt Security a notation relating to the Guarantee. If any officer of any Guarantor, or in the case of a Guarantor that is a limited partnership, any officer of the general partner of the Guarantor, whose signature is on this Indenture or a Debt Security no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates such Debt Security or at any time thereafter, the Guarantee of such Debt Security shall be valid nevertheless. The delivery of any Debt Security by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.

The Trustee hereby accepts the trusts in this Indenture upon the terms and conditions herein set forth.

Section 14.3 Limitation on Guarantors’ Liability. Each Guarantor and by its acceptance hereof each Holder of a Debt Security entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee hereby confirm that it is the intention of all such parties that the guarantee by such Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of any Federal or state law. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Holders of a Debt Security entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each Guarantor under the Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor and to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under the Guarantee, not result in the obligations of such Guarantor under the Guarantee constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under Federal or state law.

Section 14.4 Release of Guarantors from Guarantee.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Guarantee of any Guarantor may be released upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Section

 

60


11.2(b) and in this Section 14.4. Provided that no Default shall have occurred and shall be continuing under this Indenture, the Guarantee incurred by a Guarantor pursuant to this Article XIV shall be unconditionally released and discharged (i) automatically upon (A) any sale, exchange or transfer, whether by way of merger or otherwise, to any Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company, of all of the Company’s direct or indirect limited partnership or other equity interests in such Guarantor (provided such sale, exchange or transfer is not prohibited by this Indenture) or (B) the merger of such Guarantor into the Company or any other Guarantor or the liquidation and dissolution of such Guarantor (in each case to the extent not prohibited by this Indenture) or (ii) following delivery of a written notice of such release or discharge by the Company to the Trustee, upon the release or discharge of all guarantees by such Guarantor of any Debt of the Company other than obligations arising under this Indenture and any Debt Securities issued hereunder, except a discharge or release by or as a result of payment under such guarantees.

(b) The Trustee shall deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing any release of a Guarantor from the Guarantee upon receipt of a written request of the Company accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Guarantor is entitled to such release in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture. Any Guarantor not so released shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debt Securities entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee as provided in this Indenture, subject to the limitations of Section 14.3.

Section 14.5 Guarantor Contribution. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution among the Guarantors, the Guarantors hereby agree, inter se, that in the event any payment or distribution is made by any Guarantor (a “Funding Guarantor”) under the Guarantee, such Funding Guarantor shall be entitled to a contribution from each other Guarantor (if any) in a pro rata amount based on the net assets of each Guarantor (including the Funding Guarantor) for all payments, damages and expenses incurred by that Funding Guarantor in discharging the Company’s obligations with respect to the Debt Securities or any other Guarantor’s obligations with respect to the Guarantee.

[Remainder of This Page Intentionally Left Blank.]

 

61


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

 

RAYONIER INC.
By:  

 

 

 

 

 

[NAME OF GUARANTOR(S)]
By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

[                                             ], as Trustee
By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

 

62


ANNEX A

NOTATION OF GUARANTEE

Each of the Guarantors (which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture), has fully, unconditionally and absolutely guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Debt Securities and all other amounts due and payable under the Indenture and the Debt Securities by the Company.

The obligations of the Guarantors to the Holders of Debt Securities and to the Trustee pursuant to the Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article XIV of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Guarantee.

 

[NAME OF GUARANTOR(S)]
By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

 

A-1

EX-4.4 4 dex44.htm FORM OF SENIOR INDENTURE - RAYONIER TRS HOLDINGS INC. Form of Senior Indenture - Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc.

Exhibit 4.4

[Form of Senior Indenture]


RAYONIER TRS HOLDINGS INC.,

AS ISSUER,

any Guarantors party hereto,

and

[                                                                 ],

as Trustee

INDENTURE

Dated as of                     

Debt Securities

 



CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

TIA Section

   Indenture Section
310    (a)    7.10
   (b)    7.10
   (c)    N.A.
311    (a)    7.11
   (b)    7.11
   (c)    N.A.
312    (a)    5.1
   (b)    5.2
   (c)    5.2
313    (a)    5.3
   (b)    5.3
   (c)    13.3
   (d)    5.3
314    (a)    4.5
   (b)    N.A.
   (c)(1)    13.5
   (c)(2)    13.5
   (c)(3)    N.A.
   (d)    N.A.
   (e)    13.5
   (f)    N.A.
315    (a)    7.1
   (b)    6.7 & 13.3
   (c)    7.1
   (d)    7.1
   (e)    6.8
316    (a) (last sentence)    1.1
   (a)(1)(A)    6.6
   (a)(1)(B)    6.6
   (a)(2)    9.1(d)
   (b)    6.4
   (c)    5.4
317    (a)(1)    6.2
   (a)(2)    6.2
   (b)    4.4
318    (a)    13.7

N.A. means Not Applicable

NOTE: This Cross-Reference table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed part of this Indenture.

 

i


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Section 1.1

   Definitions    1

Section 1.2

   Other Definitions    6

Section 1.3

   Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act    6

Section 1.4

   Rules of Construction    6
ARTICLE II
DEBT SECURITIES

Section 2.1

   Forms Generally    7

Section 2.2

   Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication    8

Section 2.3

   Principal Amount; Issuable in Series    8

Section 2.4

   Execution of Debt Securities    10

Section 2.5

   Authentication and Delivery of Debt Securities    11

Section 2.6

   Denomination of Debt Securities    12

Section 2.7

   Registration of Transfer and Exchange    12

Section 2.8

   Temporary Debt Securities    14

Section 2.9

   Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debt Securities    14

Section 2.10

   Cancellation of Surrendered Debt Securities    15

Section 2.11

   Provisions of the Indenture and Debt Securities for the Sole Benefit of the Parties and the Holders    15

Section 2.12

   Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved    15

Section 2.13

   Securities Denominated in Dollars    16

Section 2.14

   Wire Transfers    16

Section 2.15

   Securities Issuable in the Form of a Global Security    16

Section 2.16

   Medium Term Securities    19

Section 2.17

   Defaulted Interest    19

Section 2.18

   CUSIP Numbers    19
ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

Section 3.1

   Applicability of Article    20

Section 3.2

   Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debt Securities    20

Section 3.3

   Payment of Debt Securities Called for Redemption    22

Section 3.4

   Mandatory and Optional Sinking Funds    23

Section 3.5

   Redemption of Debt Securities for Sinking Fund    23

 

ii


ARTICLE IV
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

Section 4.1

   Payment of Principal of, and Premium, If Any, and Interest on, Debt Securities    24

Section 4.2

   Maintenance of Offices or Agencies for Registration of Transfer, Exchange and Payment of Debt Securities    25

Section 4.3

   Appointment to Fill a Vacancy in the Office of Trustee    25

Section 4.4

   Duties of Paying Agents, etc    25

Section 4.5

   SEC Reports; Financial Statements    26

Section 4.6

   Compliance Certificate    27

Section 4.7

   Further Instruments and Acts    27

Section 4.8

   Waiver of Certain Covenants    27
ARTICLE V
HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE

Section 5.1

   Company to Furnish Trustee Information as to Names and Addresses of Holders; Preservation of Information    27

Section 5.2

   Communications to Holders    29

Section 5.3

   Reports by Trustee    29

Section 5.4

   Record Dates for Action by Holders    30
ARTICLE VI
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND HOLDERS IN EVENT OF DEFAULT

Section 6.1

   Events of Default    28

Section 6.2

   Collection of Debt by Trustee, etc    31

Section 6.3

   Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee    32

Section 6.4

   Limitation on Suits by Holders    33

Section 6.5

   Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission in Exercise of Rights Not a Waiver of Default    33

Section 6.6

   Rights of Holders of Majority in Principal Amount of Debt Securities to Direct Trustee and to Waive Default    34

Section 6.7

   Trustee to Give Notice of Events of Defaults Known to It, but May Withhold Such Notice in Certain Circumstances    34

Section 6.8

   Requirement of an Undertaking to Pay Costs in Certain Suits under the Indenture or Against the Trustee    35
ARTICLE VII
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

Section 7.1

   Certain Duties and Responsibilities    35

 

iii


Section 7.2

   Certain Rights of Trustee    36

Section 7.3

   Trustee Not Liable for Recitals in Indenture or in Debt Securities    37

Section 7.4

   Trustee, Paying Agent or Registrar May Own Debt Securities    38

Section 7.5

   Moneys Received by Trustee to Be Held in Trust    38

Section 7.6

   Compensation and Reimbursement    38

Section 7.7

   Right of Trustee to Rely on an Officers’ Certificate Where No Other Evidence Specifically Prescribed    38

Section 7.8

   Separate Trustee; Replacement of Trustee    39

Section 7.9

   Successor Trustee by Merger    40

Section 7.10

   Eligibility; Disqualification    40

Section 7.11

   Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company    40

Section 7.12

   Compliance with Tax Laws    41
ARTICLE VIII
CONCERNING THE HOLDERS

Section 8.1

   Evidence of Action by Holders    41

Section 8.2

   Proof of Execution of Instruments and of Holding of Debt Securities    41

Section 8.3

   Who May Be Deemed Owner of Debt Securities    41

Section 8.4

   Instruments Executed by Holders Bind Future Holders    42
ARTICLE IX
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 9.1

   Purposes for Which Supplemental Indenture May Be Entered into Without Consent of Holders    42

Section 9.2

   Modification of Indenture with Consent of Holders of Debt Securities    44

Section 9.3

   Effect of Supplemental Indentures    45

Section 9.4

   Debt Securities May Bear Notation of Changes by Supplemental Indentures    45
ARTICLE X
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE

Section 10.1

   Consolidations and Mergers of the Company    46

Section 10.2

   Rights and Duties of Successor Company    46
ARTICLE XI
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS

Section 11.1

   Applicability of Article    47

Section 11.2

   Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance    47

Section 11.3

   Conditions of Defeasance    48

 

iv


Section 11.4

   Application of Trust Money    49

Section 11.5

   Repayment to Company    49

Section 11.6

   Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations    49

Section 11.7

   Reinstatement    49
ARTICLE XII
[RESERVED]
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 13.1

   Successors and Assigns of Company Bound by Indenture    50

Section 13.2

   Acts of Board, Committee or Officer of Successor Company Valid    50

Section 13.3

   Required Notices or Demands    50

Section 13.4

   Indenture and Debt Securities to Be Construed in Accordance with the Laws of the State of New York    51

Section 13.5

   Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to Be Furnished upon Application or Demand by the Company    51

Section 13.6

   Payments Due on Legal Holidays    52

Section 13.7

   Provisions Required by TIA to Control    52

Section 13.8

   Computation of Interest on Debt Securities    52

Section 13.9

   Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar    52

Section 13.10

   No Recourse Against Others    52

Section 13.11

   Severability    52

Section 13.12

   Effect of Headings    52

Section 13.13

   Indenture May Be Executed in Counterparts    52
ARTICLE XIV
GUARANTEE

Section 14.1

   Unconditional Guarantee    53

Section 14.2

   Execution and Delivery of Guarantee    54

Section 14.3

   Limitation on Guarantors’ Liability    55

Section 14.4

   Release of Guarantors from Guarantee    55

Section 14.5

   Guarantor Contribution    56

 

Notation of Guarantee    Annex A   

 

v


THIS INDENTURE dated as of                      is among Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the “Company”), any Guarantors (as defined herein) party hereto, and [                                                 ], as trustee (the “Trustee”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY AND ANY GUARANTORS

The Company and any Guarantors have duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of the Company’s debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness to be issued in one or more series unlimited as to principal amount (herein called the “Debt Securities”), which Debt Securities may be guaranteed by each of the Guarantors, as in this Indenture provided.

All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company and any Guarantors, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH

That in order to declare the terms and conditions upon which the Debt Securities are authenticated, issued and delivered, and in consideration of the premises, and of the purchase and acceptance of the Debt Securities by the Holders thereof, the Company, any Guarantor and the Trustee covenant and agree with each other, for the benefit of the respective Holders from time to time of the Debt Securities or any series thereof, as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Section 1.1 Definitions.

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the 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 the Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise. The Trustee may request and may conclusively rely upon an Officers’ Certificate to determine whether any Person is an Affiliate of any specified Person.

“Agent” means any Registrar or paying agent.

“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors, or the law of any other jurisdiction relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, winding up, liquidation, reorganization or relief of debtors.

“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Company.

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


“Capital Stock” of any Person means and includes any and all shares, rights to purchase, warrants or options (whether or not currently exercisable), participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) the equity (which includes, but is not limited to, common stock, preferred stock and Company and joint venture interests) of such Person (excluding any debt securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable for, such equity).

“Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.

“Company Request” and “Company Order” mean, respectively, a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by the President, the Chief Executive Officer or any Vice President of the Company, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, an Assistant Controller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.

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

“Debt” of any Person at any date means any obligation created or assumed by such Person for the repayment of borrowed money and any guarantee thereof.

“Debt Security” or “Debt Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any debt security or debt securities, as the case may be, of any series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

“Default” means any event, act or condition that is, or after notice or the passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

“Depositary” means, unless otherwise specified by the Company pursuant to either Section 2.3 or 2.15, with respect to Debt Securities of any series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, or any successor thereto registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute or regulations.

“Dollar” or “$” means such currency of the United States as at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any successor statute.

“Floating Rate Security” means a Debt Security that provides for the payment of interest at a variable rate determined periodically by reference to an interest rate index specified pursuant to Section 2.3.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, as in effect from time to time.

 

2


“Global Security” means with respect to any series of Debt Securities issued hereunder, a Debt Security which is executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance with this Indenture and any Indentures supplemental hereto, or resolution of the Board of Directors and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee and which shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, all the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series or any portion thereof, in either case having the same terms, including, without limitation, the same original issue date, date or dates on which principal is due and interest rate or method of determining interest.

“Guarantee” means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Debt or other obligation of any other Person and any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Debt or other obligation of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of company or partnership arrangements, or by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise) or (b) entered into for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Debt or other obligation of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part); provided, however, 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 any Subsidiary of the Company and any other Affiliate of the Company who may execute this Indenture, or a supplement hereto, for the purpose of providing a Guarantee of Debt Securities pursuant to this Indenture until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Guarantors” shall mean such successor Person.

“Holder,” “Holder of Debt Securities” or other similar terms means, a Person in whose name a Debt Security is registered in the Debt Security Register (as defined in Section 2.7(a)).

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed, or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented and shall include the form and terms of particular series of Debt Securities as contemplated hereunder, whether or not a supplemental Indenture is entered into with respect thereto.

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

“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, security interest, pledge, charge or other encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law.

 

3


“Officer” means, with respect to a Person, the President, the Chief Executive Officer, any Vice President (whether unmodified or prefaced by “Senior,” “Assistant” or any other designation), the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, Controller, Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of such Person.

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by two officers of the Company, one of whom must be the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or Chief Accounting Officer.

“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 or the Trustee.

“Original Issue Discount Debt Security” means any Debt Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.1.

“Outstanding,” when used with respect to any series of Debt Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Debt Securities of that series theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

 

  (a)   Debt Securities of that series theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

  (b)   Debt Securities of that series for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any paying agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying agent) for the Holders of such Debt Securities; provided, that, if such Debt Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made; and

 

  (c)   Debt Securities of that series which have been paid pursuant to Section 2.9 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Debt Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Debt Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Debt Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Debt Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Debt Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Debt Securities which a Trust Officer actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Debt Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Debt Securities and

 

4


that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities or an Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor. In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Debt Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Debt Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.1.

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

“Redemption Date,” when used with respect to any Debt Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

“Reporting Failure” means the failure of the Company or a Guarantor, as applicable, to file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company or a Guarantor is required to file the same with the SEC within the time periods specified in the Exchange Act or in the relevant forms thereunder (after giving effect to any grace period specified under Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act), the annual reports, information, documents or other reports that the Company or the Guarantor is required to file with the commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor statute.

“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision (but excluding any provision providing for the repurchase of such security at the option of the holder thereof upon the happening of any contingency beyond the control of the issuer unless such contingency has occurred).

“Subsidiary” of any Person means:

 

  (1)   any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of equity interests entitled, without regard to the occurrence of any contingency, to vote in the election of directors, managers, trustees or equivalent Persons thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person or combination thereof; or

 

  (2)   in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the partners’ equity interests, considering all partners’ equity interests as a single class, is at such time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person or combination thereof.

 

5


“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§77aaa-77bbbb), as in effect on the date of this Indenture as originally executed and, to the extent required by law, as amended.

“Trustee” initially means [                                    ] and any other Person or Persons appointed as such from time to time pursuant to Section 7.8, and, subject to the provisions of Article VII, includes its or their successors and assigns. If at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Debt Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of that series.

“Trust Officer” means any officer or assistant officer of the Trustee assigned by the Trustee to administer its corporate trust matters.

“United States” means the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.

“U.S. Government Obligations” means direct obligations of the United States of America, obligations on which the payment of principal and interest is fully guaranteed by the United States of America or obligations or guarantees for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged.

“Yield to Maturity” means the yield to maturity, calculated at the time of issuance of a series of Debt Securities, or, if applicable, at the most recent redetermination of interest on such series and calculated in accordance with accepted financial practice.

Section 1.2 Other Definitions.

 

Term

  

Defined in Section

“Debt Security Register”

     2.7

“Defaulted Interest”

       2.17

“Event of Default”

     6.1

“Funding Guarantor”

   14.5

“Guarantee”

   14.1

“Place of Payment”

     2.3

“Registrar”

     2.7

“Successor Company”

   10.1

Section 1.3 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.

All terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA have the meanings so assigned to them.

Section 1.4 Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires:

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

 

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

(c) “or” is not exclusive;

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

(e) all references in this instrument to “Articles,” “Sections” and other subdivisions are to the designated Articles, Sections and subdivisions of this instrument as originally executed;

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

(g) “including” means “including without limitation;”

(h) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

(i) the principal amount of any noninterest bearing or other discount security at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP.

ARTICLE II

DEBT SECURITIES

Section 2.1 Forms Generally. The Debt Securities of each series shall be in substantially the form established without the approval of any Holder by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or in one or more Indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate (and, if not contained in a supplemental Indenture entered into in accordance with Article IX, as are not prohibited by the provisions of this Indenture) or as may be required or appropriate to comply with any law or with any rules made pursuant thereto or with any rules of any securities exchange on which such series of Debt Securities may be listed, or to conform to general usage, or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Debt Securities as evidenced by their execution of the Debt Securities.

The definitive Debt Securities of each series shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Debt Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Debt Securities.

 

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Section 2.2 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication. The Trustee’s certificate of authentication on all Debt Securities authenticated by the Trustee shall be in substantially the following form:

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Debt Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

[                                         ],

As Trustee

 

By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory

Section 2.3 Principal Amount; Issuable in Series. The aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities which may be issued, executed, authenticated, delivered and outstanding under this Indenture is unlimited.

The Debt Securities may be issued in one or more series in fully registered form. There shall be established, without the approval of any Holders, in or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more Indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Debt Securities of any series any or all of the following:

(a) the title of the Debt Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Debt Securities of the series from all other Debt Securities);

(b) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Debt Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Debt Securities of the series pursuant to this Article II);

(c) the date or dates on which the principal of and premium, if any, on the Debt Securities of the series are payable;

(d) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which the Debt Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method of determining such rate or rates, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the interest payment dates on which such interest shall be payable, or the method by which such date will be determined, the record dates for the determination of Holders thereof to whom such interest is payable; and the basis upon which interest will be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve thirty-day months;

(e) the place or places, if any, in addition to or instead of the corporate trust office of the Trustee, where the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, Debt Securities of the series shall be payable (“Place of Payment”);

 

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(f) the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which Debt Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company or otherwise;

(g) whether Debt Securities of the series are entitled to the benefits of any Guarantee of any Guarantors pursuant to this Indenture;

(h) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, purchase or repay Debt Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof, and the price or prices at which and the period or periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which Debt Securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligations;

(i) the terms, if any, upon which the Debt Securities of the series may be convertible into or exchanged for capital stock (which may be represented by depositary shares), other Debt Securities or warrants for capital stock or Debt or other securities of any kind of the Company or any other obligor and the terms and conditions upon which such conversion or exchange shall be effected, including the initial conversion or exchange price or rate, the conversion or exchange period and any other provision in addition to or in lieu of those described herein;

(j) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which Debt Securities of the series shall be issuable;

(k) if the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on Debt Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts will be determined;

(l) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of Debt Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to such Stated Maturity, the amount which will be deemed to be such principal amount as of any such date for any purpose, including the principal amount thereof which will be due and payable upon any maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which will be deemed to be Outstanding as of any such date (or, in any such case, the manner in which such deemed principal amount is to be determined);

(m) any changes or additions to Article XI, including the addition of additional covenants that may be subject to the covenant defeasance option pursuant to Section 11.2(b);

(n) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Debt Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.1 or provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 6.2;

(o) the terms, if any, of the transfer, mortgage, pledge or assignment as security for the Debt Securities of the series of any properties, assets, moneys, proceeds, securities or other collateral, including whether certain provisions of the TIA are applicable and any corresponding changes to provisions of this Indenture as currently in effect;

 

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(p) any addition to or change in the Events of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the Holders to declare the principal of, and premium and interest on, such Debt Securities due and payable;

(q) if the Debt Securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security or Securities, the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such Global Security or Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual Debt Securities in definitive registered form; and the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities and the form of any legend or legends to be borne by any such Global Security or Securities in addition to or in lieu of the legend referred to in Section 2.15(a);

(r) any trustees, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars;

(s) the applicability of, and any addition to or change in the covenants and definitions currently set forth in this Indenture or in the terms currently set forth in Article X, including conditioning any merger, conveyance, transfer or lease permitted by Article X upon the satisfaction of any Debt coverage standard by the Company and Successor Company (as defined in Article X);

(t) with regard to Debt Securities of the series that do not bear interest, the dates for certain required reports to the Trustee; and

(u) any other terms of the Debt Securities of the series (which terms shall not be prohibited by the provisions of this Indenture).

All Debt Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such resolution of the Board of Directors and as set forth in such Officers’ Certificate or in any such Indenture supplemental hereto.

Section 2.4 Execution of Debt Securities. The Debt Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Company by the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President of the Company and, if the seal of the Company is reproduced thereon, it shall be attested by its Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, a Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer. Such signatures upon the Debt Securities may be the manual or facsimile signatures of the present or any future such authorized officers and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Debt Securities. The seal of the Company, if any, may be in the form of a facsimile thereof and may be impressed, affixed, imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Debt Securities.

Only such Debt Securities as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form hereinbefore recited, signed manually by the Trustee, shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate by the Trustee upon any Debt Security executed by the Company on behalf of the Company shall be conclusive evidence that the Debt Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.

In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Debt Securities shall cease to be such officer before the Debt Securities so signed shall have been authenticated and

 

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delivered by the Trustee, or disposed of by the Company, such Debt Securities nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the Person who signed such Debt Securities had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Debt Security may be signed on behalf of the Company by such Persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Debt Security, shall be the proper officers of the Company, although at the date of such Debt Security or of the execution of this Indenture any such Person was not such officer.

Section 2.5 Authentication and Delivery of Debt Securities. At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver to the Trustee for authentication Debt Securities of any series executed by the Company, and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver said Debt Securities to or upon a Company Order. In authenticating such Debt Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Debt Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon:

(a) a copy of any resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, authorizing the terms of issuance of any series of Debt Securities;

(b) an executed supplemental Indenture, if any;

(c) an Officers’ Certificate; and

(d) an Opinion of Counsel prepared in accordance with Section 13.5 which shall also state:

(i) that the form of such Debt Securities has been established by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or by a supplemental Indenture as permitted by Section 2.1 in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(ii) that the terms of such Debt Securities have been established by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or by a supplemental Indenture as permitted by Section 2.3 in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(iii) that such Debt Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and rights of acceleration and the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability;

(iv) that the Company has the power to issue such Debt Securities and has duly taken all necessary action with respect to such issuance;

(v) that the issuance of such Debt Securities will not contravene the organizational documents of the Company or result in any material violation of any of the terms or provisions of any law or regulation or of any material indenture, mortgage or other agreement known to such counsel by which the Company is bound;

 

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(vi) that authentication and delivery of such Debt Securities and the execution and delivery of any supplemental Indenture will not violate the terms of this Indenture; and

(vii) such other matters as the Trustee may reasonably request.

Such Opinion of Counsel need express no opinion as to whether a court in the United States would render a money judgment in a currency other than that of the United States.

The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Debt Securities under this Section 2.5 if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee or a trust committee of directors, trustees or Officers (or any combination thereof) shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to existing Holders.

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

Unless otherwise provided in the form of Debt Security for any series, each Debt Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

Section 2.6 Denomination of Debt Securities. Unless otherwise provided in the form of Debt Security for any series, the Debt Securities of each series shall be issuable only as fully registered Debt Securities in such Dollar denominations as shall be specified or contemplated by Section 2.3. In the absence of any such specification with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, the Debt Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

Section 2.7 Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

(a) The Company shall keep or cause to be kept a register for each series of Debt Securities issued hereunder (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Debt Security Register”), in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of all Debt Securities and the transfer of Debt Securities as in this Article II provided. At all reasonable times the Debt Security Register shall be open for inspection by the Trustee. Subject to Section 2.15, upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debt Security at any office or agency to be maintained by the Company in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.2, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Debt Security or Debt Securities of authorized denominations for a like aggregate principal amount. In no event may Debt Securities be issued as, or exchanged for, bearer securities.

 

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Unless and until otherwise determined by the Company by resolution of the Board of Directors, the Debt Security Register shall be kept at the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee and, for this purpose, the Trustee shall be designated “Registrar.”

Debt Securities of any series (other than a Global Security, except as set forth below) may be exchanged for a like aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities of the same series of other authorized denominations. Subject to Section 2.15, Debt Securities to be exchanged shall be surrendered at the office or agency to be maintained by the Company as provided in Section 4.2, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor the Debt Security or Debt Securities which the Holder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive.

(b) All Debt Securities presented or surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange or payment shall (if so required by the Company, the Trustee or the Registrar) be duly endorsed or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company, the Trustee and the Registrar, duly executed by the Holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

All Debt Securities issued in exchange for or upon transfer of Debt Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Debt Securities surrendered for such exchange or transfer.

No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Debt Securities (except as provided by Section 2.9), but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee, assessment or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto, other than those expressly provided in this Indenture to be made at the Company’s own expense or without expense or without charge to the Holders.

The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Debt Securities for a period of 15 days next preceding any mailing of notice of redemption of Debt Securities of such series or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Debt Securities selected, called or being called for redemption.

Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Debt Security, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, any paying agent or any Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name a Debt Security is registered as the absolute owner of such Debt Security for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.12) interest on, such Debt Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Debt Security is overdue, and none of the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, any paying agent or any Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

None of the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, any agent of the Trustee, any paying agent or any Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

 

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Section 2.8 Temporary Debt Securities. Pending the preparation of definitive Debt Securities of any series, the Company may execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver temporary Debt Securities (printed, lithographed, photocopied, typewritten or otherwise produced) of any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the definitive Debt Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Debt Securities, all as may be determined by the Company with the concurrence of the Trustee. Temporary Debt Securities may contain such reference to any provisions of this Indenture as may be appropriate. Every temporary Debt Security shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive Debt Securities.

If temporary Debt Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Debt Securities of such series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Debt Securities of such series, the temporary Debt Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Debt Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Debt Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company at a Place of Payment for such series, without charge to the Holder thereof, except as provided in Section 2.7 in connection with a transfer. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Debt Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Debt Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor. Until so exchanged, temporary Debt Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Debt Securities of such series.

Upon any exchange of a portion of a temporary Global Security for a definitive Global Security or for the individual Debt Securities represented thereby pursuant to Section 2.7 or this Section 2.8, the temporary Global Security shall be endorsed by the Trustee to reflect the reduction of the principal amount evidenced thereby, whereupon the principal amount of such temporary Global Security shall be reduced for all purposes by the amount to be exchanged and endorsed.

Section 2.9 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debt Securities. If (a) any mutilated Debt Security is surrendered to the Trustee at its corporate trust office or (b) the Company and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Debt Security, and there is delivered to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any paying agent harmless, and neither the Company nor the Trustee receives notice that such Debt Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, then the Company shall execute and, upon a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security, a new Debt Security of the same series of like tenor, form, terms and principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously Outstanding. Upon the issuance of any substituted Debt Security, the Company or the Trustee may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee, assessment or other governmental charge that may be imposed in

 

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relation thereto and any other expenses connected therewith. In case any Debt Security which has matured or is about to mature or which has been called for redemption shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substituted Debt Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Debt Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish the Company and the Trustee with such security or indemnity as either may require to save it harmless from all risk, however remote, and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to the satisfaction of the Company and the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Debt Security and of the ownership thereof.

Every substituted Debt Security of any series issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.9 by virtue of the fact that any Debt Security is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security shall be found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Debt Securities of that series duly issued hereunder. All Debt Securities shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Securities, and shall preclude any and all other rights or remedies, notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.

Section 2.10 Cancellation of Surrendered Debt Securities. All Debt Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any paying agent or a Registrar, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation by it, or if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be canceled by it, and no Debt Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. All canceled Debt Securities held by the Trustee shall be destroyed (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act) and certification of their destruction delivered to the Company, unless otherwise directed. On request of the Company, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company canceled Debt Securities held by the Trustee. If the Company shall acquire any of the Debt Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the Debt represented thereby unless and until the same are delivered or surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation. The Company may not issue new Debt Securities to replace Debt Securities it has redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 2.11 Provisions of the Indenture and Debt Securities for the Sole Benefit of the Parties and the Holders. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities, expressed or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, the Holders or any Registrar or paying agent, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Indenture, or under any covenant, condition or provision herein contained; all its covenants, conditions and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto, the Holders and any Registrar and paying agents.

Section 2.12 Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

(a) Interest on any Debt Security that is payable and is punctually paid or duly provided for on any interest payment date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Debt

 

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Security is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest notwithstanding the cancellation of such Debt Security upon any transfer or exchange subsequent to the regular record date. Payment of interest on Debt Securities shall be made at the corporate trust office of the Trustee (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.3), or at the option of the Company, by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Debt Security Register or, if provided pursuant to Section 2.3 and in accordance with arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee, at the option of the Holder by wire transfer to an account designated by the Holder.

(b) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.12 and Section 2.17, each Debt Security of a particular series delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Debt Security of the same series shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Debt Security.

Section 2.13 Securities Denominated in Dollars. Except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.3 for Debt Securities of any series, payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, Debt Securities of such series will be made in Dollars.

Section 2.14 Wire Transfers. Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary in this Indenture, the Company may make any payment of moneys required to be deposited with the Trustee on account of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities (whether pursuant to optional or mandatory redemption payments, interest payments or otherwise) by wire transfer in immediately available funds to an account designated by the Trustee before 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date such moneys are to be paid to the Holders of the Debt Securities in accordance with the terms hereof.

Section 2.15 Securities Issuable in the Form of a Global Security.

(a) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.3 that the Debt Securities of a particular series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee or its agent shall, in accordance with Section 2.5, authenticate and deliver, such Global Security or Securities, which shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series to be represented by such Global Security or Securities, or such portion thereof as the Company shall specify in an Officers’ Certificate, shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or its nominee, shall be delivered by the Trustee or its agent to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction and shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect:

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

 

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REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

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

or such other legend as may then be required by the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.15 or of Section 2.7 to the contrary, and subject to the provisions of paragraph (c) below, unless the terms of a Global Security expressly permit such Global Security to be exchanged in whole or in part for definitive Debt Securities in registered form, a Global Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part and in the manner provided in Section 2.7, only by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary for such Global Security, or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary to a successor Depositary for such Global Security selected or approved by the Company, or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.

(c) (i) If at any time the Depositary for a Global Security or Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or if at any time the Depositary for the Debt Securities for such series shall no longer be eligible or in good standing under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute, rule or regulation, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to such Global Security or Securities. If a successor Depositary for such Global Security or Securities is not appointed by the Company within 120 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee or its agent, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such individual Debt Securities of such series in exchange for such Global Security or Securities, will authenticate and deliver, individual Debt Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security or Securities in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.

(ii) If an Event of Default occurs and the Depositary for a Global Security or Securities notifies the Trustee of its decision to require that the Debt Securities of any series or portion thereof issued or issuable in the form of one or more Global Securities shall no longer be represented by such Global Security or Securities, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to such Global Security or Securities. In such event the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of individual Debt Securities of such

 

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series in exchange in whole or in part for such Global Security or Securities, will authenticate and deliver individual Debt Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such series or portion thereof in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.

(iii) If specified by the Company pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.3 with respect to Debt Securities issued or issuable in the form of a Global Security, the Depositary for such Global Security may surrender such Global Security in exchange in whole or in part for individual Debt Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form on such terms as are acceptable to the Company, the Trustee and such Depositary. Thereupon the Company shall execute, and the Trustee or its agent upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Debt Securities of such series shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge, to each Person specified by such Depositary a new Debt Security or Securities of the same series of like tenor and terms and of any authorized denomination as requested by such Person in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person’s beneficial interest in the Global Security; and to such Depositary a new Global Security of like tenor and terms and in an authorized denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities delivered to Holders thereof.

(iv) In any exchange provided for in any of the preceding three paragraphs, the Company will execute and the Trustee or its agent will authenticate and deliver individual Debt Securities. Upon the exchange of the entire principal amount of a Global Security for individual Debt Securities, such Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee or its agent. Except as provided in the preceding paragraph, Debt Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security pursuant to this Section 2.15 shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Global Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee or the Registrar. The Trustee or the Registrar shall deliver such Debt Securities to the Persons in whose names such Debt Securities are so registered.

(v) Payments in respect of the principal of and interest on any Debt Securities registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee will be payable to the Depositary or such nominee in its capacity as the registered owner of such Global Security. The Company, any Guarantors and the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name the Debt Securities, including the Global Security, are registered as the owner thereof for the purpose of receiving such payments and for any and all other purposes whatsoever. None of the Company, any Guarantors, the Trustee, any Registrar, the paying agent or any agent of the Company, any Guarantors or the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of the beneficial ownership interests of the Global Security by the Depositary or its nominee or any of the Depositary’s direct or indirect participants, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of the Depositary, its nominee or any of its direct or indirect participants relating to the beneficial ownership interests of the Global Security, the payments to the beneficial owners of the Global Security of amounts paid to the Depositary or its nominee, or any other matter relating to the actions and practices of the

 

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Depositary, its nominee or any of its direct or indirect participants. None of the Company, any Guarantors, the Trustee or any such agent will be liable for any delay by the Depositary, its nominee, or any of its direct or indirect participants in identifying the beneficial owners of the Debt Securities, and the Company, any Guarantors and the Trustee may conclusively rely on, and will be protected in relying on, instructions from the Depositary or its nominee for all purposes (including with respect to the registration and delivery, and the respective principal amounts, of the Debt Securities to be issued).

Section 2.16 Medium Term Securities. Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein, if all Debt Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary for the Company to deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate, resolutions of the Board of Directors, supplemental Indenture, Opinion of Counsel or written order or any other document otherwise required pursuant to Section 2.1, 2.3, 2.5 or 13.5 at or prior to the time of authentication of each Debt Security of such series if such documents are delivered to the Trustee or its agent at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first such Debt Security of such series to be issued; provided, that any subsequent request by the Company to the Trustee to authenticate Debt Securities of such series upon original issuance shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Company that, as of the date of such request, the statements made in the Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.5 or 13.5 shall be true and correct as if made on such date and that the Opinion of Counsel delivered at or prior to such time of authentication of an original issuance of Debt Securities shall specifically state that it shall relate to all subsequent issuances of Debt Securities of such series that are identical to the Debt Securities issued in the first issuance of Debt Securities of such series.

A Company Order delivered by the Company to the Trustee in the circumstances set forth in the preceding paragraph, may provide that Debt Securities which are the subject thereof will be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or its agent on original issue from time to time upon the telephonic or written order of Persons designated in such written order (any such telephonic instructions to be promptly confirmed in writing by such Person) and that such Persons are authorized to determine, consistent with the Officers’ Certificate, supplemental Indenture or resolution of the Board of Directors relating to such written order, such terms and conditions of such Debt Securities as are specified in such Officers’ Certificate, supplemental Indenture or such resolution.

Section 2.17 Defaulted Interest. Any interest on any Debt Security of a particular series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on the dates and in the manner provided in the Debt Securities of such series and in this Indenture (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder thereof on the relevant record date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (i) or (ii) below:

(i) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Debt Securities of such series are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Debt Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the

 

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Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such special record date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be mailed, first class postage pre-paid, to each Holder thereof at its address as it appears in the Debt Security Register, not less than 15 days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Debt Securities of such series are registered at the close of business on such special record date.

(ii) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Debt Securities of such series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Debt Securities of such series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

Section 2.18 CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing the Debt Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Debt Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Debt Securities, and any such 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” numbers.

ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

Section 3.1 Applicability of Article. The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to the Debt Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.3 for Debt Securities of such series.

Section 3.2 Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debt Securities. In case the Company shall desire to exercise the right to redeem all or, as the case may be, any part of the Debt Securities of any series in accordance with their terms, by resolution of the Board of Directors or a supplemental Indenture, the Company shall fix a date for redemption and shall give notice of such redemption at least 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption to

 

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the Holders of Debt Securities of such series so to be redeemed as a whole or in part, in the manner provided in Section 13.3. The notice if given in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Debt Security of a series designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Debt Security of such series.

Each such notice of redemption shall specify (i) the date fixed for redemption, (ii) the redemption price at which Debt Securities of such series are to be redeemed (or the method of calculating such redemption price), (iii) the Place or Places of Payment that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Debt Securities, (iv) that any interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, (v) that the redemption is for a sinking fund payment (if applicable), (vi) that, unless otherwise specified in such notice, if the Company defaults in making such redemption payment, (vii) that on and after said date any interest thereon or on the portions thereof to be redeemed will cease to accrue, (viii) that in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities original issue discount accrued after the date fixed for redemption will cease to accrue, (ix) the terms of the Debt Securities of that series pursuant to which the Debt Securities of that series are being redeemed and (x) 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 Debt Securities of that series. If less than all the Debt Securities of a series are to be redeemed the notice of redemption shall specify the certificate numbers of any Debt Securities of that series to be redeemed that are not in global form. In case any Debt Security of a series is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that on and after the date fixed for redemption, upon surrender of such Debt Security, a new Debt Security or Debt Securities of that series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof, will be issued.

At least five days before the giving of any notice of redemption, unless the Trustee consents to a shorter period, the Company shall give written notice to the Trustee of the Redemption Date, the principal amount of Debt Securities to be redeemed and the series and terms of the Debt Securities pursuant to which such redemption will occur. Such notice shall be accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel from the Company to the effect that such redemption will comply with the conditions herein, and such notice may be revoked at any time prior to the giving of a notice of redemption to the Holders pursuant to this Section 3.2. If fewer than all the Debt Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the record date relating to such redemption shall be selected by the Company and given in writing to the Trustee, which record date shall be not less than three days after the date of notice to the Trustee.

By 11 a.m., New York City time, on the Redemption Date for any Debt Securities, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a paying agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own paying agent, segregate and hold in trust) an amount of money in Dollars (except as provided pursuant to Section 2.3) sufficient to pay the redemption price of such Debt Securities or any portions thereof that are to be redeemed on that date, together with any interest accrued to the Redemption Date.

If less than all the Debt Securities of like tenor and terms of a series are to be redeemed (other than pursuant to mandatory sinking fund redemptions), the Trustee shall select, on a pro

 

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rata basis, by lot or by such other method as in its sole discretion it shall deem appropriate and fair, the Debt Securities of that series or portions thereof (in multiples of $1,000) to be redeemed. In any case where more than one Debt Security of such series is registered in the same name, the Trustee in its discretion may treat the aggregate principal amount so registered as if it were represented by one Debt Security of such series. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Debt Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Debt Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. If any Debt Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof on such Redemption Date, the principal, premium, if any, and interest shall bear interest until paid from the Redemption Date at the rate borne by the Debt Securities of that series. If less than all the Debt Securities of unlike tenor and terms of a series are to be redeemed, the particular Debt Securities to be redeemed shall be selected by the Company. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Debt Securities called for redemption also apply to portions of Debt Securities called for redemption.

Section 3.3 Payment of Debt Securities Called for Redemption. If notice of redemption has been given as provided in Section 3.2, the Debt Securities or portions of Debt Securities of the series with respect to which such notice has been given shall become due and payable on the date and at the Place or Places of Payment stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with any interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption, and on and after said date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Debt Securities at the applicable redemption price, together with any interest accrued to said date) any interest on the Debt Securities or portions of Debt Securities of any series so called for redemption shall cease to accrue, and any original issue discount in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities shall cease to accrue. On presentation and surrender of such Debt Securities at the Place or Places of Payment in said notice specified, the said Debt Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable redemption price, together with any interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption.

Any Debt Security that is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at the Place of Payment with, if the Company, the Registrar or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, the Registrar and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Debt Security without service charge, a new Debt Security or Debt Securities of the same series, of like tenor and form, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Debt Security so surrendered; except that if a Global Security is so surrendered, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Depositary for such Global Security, without service charge, a new Global Security in a denomination equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Global Security so surrendered. In the case of a Debt Security providing appropriate space for such notation, at the option of the Holder thereof, the Trustee, in lieu of delivering a new Debt Security or Debt Securities as aforesaid, may make a notation on such Debt Security of the payment of the redeemed portion thereof.

 

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Section 3.4 Mandatory and Optional Sinking Funds. The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Debt Securities of any series, resolution of the Board of Directors or a supplemental Indenture is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Debt Securities of any series, resolution of the Board of Directors or a supplemental Indenture is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.”

In lieu of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to any Debt Securities of a series in cash, the Company may at its option (a) deliver to the Trustee Debt Securities of that series theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company or (b) receive credit for the principal amount of Debt Securities of that series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Debt Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Debt Securities, resolution or supplemental Indenture; provided, that such Debt Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Debt Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption price specified in such Debt Securities, resolution or supplemental Indenture for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such mandatory sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

Section 3.5 Redemption of Debt Securities for Sinking Fund. Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Debt Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, any resolution or supplemental Indenture, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Debt Securities of that series pursuant to Section 3.4 (which Debt Securities, if not previously redeemed, will accompany such certificate) and whether the Company intends to exercise its right to make any permitted optional sinking fund payment with respect to such series. Such certificate shall also state that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to such series. Such certificate shall be irrevocable and upon its delivery the Company shall be obligated to make the cash payment or payments therein referred to, if any, by 11 a.m., New York City time, on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date. Failure of the Company to deliver such certificate (or to deliver the Debt Securities specified in this paragraph) shall not constitute a Default, but such failure shall require that the sinking fund payment due on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date for that series shall be paid entirely in cash and shall be sufficient to redeem the principal amount of such Debt Securities subject to a mandatory sinking fund payment without the option to deliver or credit Debt Securities as provided in Section 3.4 and without the right to make any optional sinking fund payment, if any, with respect to such series.

Any sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional) made in cash plus any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made in cash which shall equal or exceed $100,000 (or a lesser sum if the Company shall so request) with respect to the Debt Securities of any particular series shall be applied by the Trustee on the sinking fund payment date on which such payment is made (or, if such payment is made before a sinking fund payment date, on the sinking fund payment date following the date of such payment) to the redemption of such Debt Securities at the redemption price specified in such Debt Securities, resolution or supplemental Indenture for operation of the sinking fund together with any accrued interest to the

 

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date fixed for redemption. Any sinking fund moneys not so applied or allocated by the Trustee to the redemption of Debt Securities shall be added to the next cash sinking fund payment received by the Trustee for such series and, together with such payment, shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.5. Any and all sinking fund moneys with respect to the Debt Securities of any particular series held by the Trustee on the last sinking fund payment date with respect to Debt Securities of such series and not held for the payment or redemption of particular Debt Securities shall be applied by the Trustee, together with other moneys, if necessary, to be deposited sufficient for the purpose, to the payment of the principal of the Debt Securities of that series at its Stated Maturity.

The Trustee shall select the Debt Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in the last paragraph of Section 3.2 and the Company shall cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the manner provided in Section 3.2 except that the notice of redemption shall also state that the Debt Securities are being redeemed by operation of the sinking fund. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Debt Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 3.3.

The Trustee shall not redeem any Debt Securities of a series with sinking fund moneys or mail any notice of redemption of such Debt Securities by operation of the sinking fund for such series during the continuance of a Default in payment of interest on such Debt Securities or of any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default occurring as a consequence of this paragraph) with respect to such Debt Securities, except that if the notice of redemption of any such Debt Securities shall theretofore have been mailed in accordance with the provisions hereof, the Trustee shall redeem such Debt Securities if cash sufficient for that purpose shall be deposited with the Trustee for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Article III. Except as aforesaid, any moneys in the sinking fund for such series at the time when any such Default or Event of Default shall occur and any moneys thereafter paid into such sinking fund shall, during the continuance of such Default or Event of Default, be held as security for the payment of such Debt Securities; provided, however, that in case such Default or Event of Default shall have been cured or waived as provided herein, such moneys shall thereafter be applied on the next sinking fund payment date for such Debt Securities on which such moneys may be applied pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3.5.

ARTICLE IV

PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

Section 4.1 Payment of Principal of, and Premium, If Any, and Interest on, Debt Securities. The Company, for the benefit of each series of Debt Securities, will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, each of the Debt Securities at the place, at the respective times and in the manner provided herein or in the Debt Securities. Each installment of interest on any Debt Securities not in global form may at the Company’s option be paid by mailing checks for such interest payable to the Person entitled thereto pursuant to Section 2.7(a) to the address of such Person as it appears on the Debt Security Register.

 

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Principal of and premium and interest on Debt Securities of any series shall be considered paid on the date due if, by 11 a.m., New York City time, on such date the Trustee or any paying agent holds in accordance with this Indenture money sufficient to pay all principal, premium and interest then due.

The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal or premium, if any, at the rate specified therefor in the Debt Securities, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.

Section 4.2 Maintenance of Offices or Agencies for Registration of Transfer, Exchange and Payment of Debt Securities. The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Debt Securities an office or agency where Debt Securities of such series may be presented or surrendered for payment, and it shall also maintain (in or outside such Place of Payment) an office or agency where Debt Securities of such series may be surrendered for transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Debt Securities of such series 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 shall 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 office of the Trustee where its corporate trust business is principally administered in the United States, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

The Company may also from time to time designate different or additional offices or agencies to be maintained for such purposes (in or outside of such Place of Payment), and may from time to time rescind any such designation; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligations described in the preceding paragraph. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such additional designation or rescission of designation and any change in the location of any such different or additional office or agency.

Section 4.3 Appointment to Fill a Vacancy in the Office of Trustee. The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.8, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder with respect to each series of Debt Securities.

Section 4.4 Duties of Paying Agents, etc.

(a) The Company shall cause each paying agent, if any, other than the Trustee, to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 4.4,

(i) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities of any series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor on the Debt Securities of such series) in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series;

 

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(ii) that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor on the Debt Securities of such series) to make any payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities of such series when the same shall be due and payable; and

(iii) that it will at any time during the continuance of an Event of Default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held by it as such agent.

(b) If the Company shall act as its own paying agent, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities of any series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series a sum sufficient to pay such principal, premium, if any, or interest so becoming due. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure by the Company to take such action or the failure by any other obligor on such Debt Securities to make any payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, such Debt Securities when the same shall be due and payable.

(c) Anything in this Section 4.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, or for any other reason, pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee all sums held in trust by it or any paying agent, as required by this Section 4.4, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such paying agent.

(d) Whenever the Company shall have one or more paying agents with respect to any series of Debt Securities, it will, prior to each due date of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, any Debt Securities of such series, deposit with any such paying agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal, premium or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto, and (unless any such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

(e) Anything in this Section 4.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section 4.4 is subject to the provisions of Section 11.5.

Section 4.5 SEC Reports; Financial Statements.

The Company shall file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company or any Guarantor is required to file the same with the SEC, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents, and other reports that the Company or such Guarantor is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s and any Guarantor’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

 

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Section 4.6 Compliance Certificate. The Company shall, so long as any of the Debt Securities are Outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, on or before January 31 in each year, a brief certificate from the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Company as to his or her knowledge of the Company’s compliance with all conditions and covenants under the Indenture (such compliance to be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under the Indenture).

Section 4.7 Further Instruments and Acts. The Company will, upon request of the Trustee, execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may reasonably be necessary or proper to carry out more effectually the purposes of this Indenture.

Section 4.8 Waiver of Certain Covenants. The Company and the Guarantors may, with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any covenant made applicable to such Debt Securities pursuant to Section 2.3, if, before or after the time for such compliance, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected, waive such compliance in such instance with such covenant, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such covenant except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the Guarantors and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such covenant shall remain in full force and effect.

ARTICLE V

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE

Section 5.1 Company to Furnish Trustee Information as to Names and Addresses of Holders; Preservation of Information. The Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of each series:

(a) not more than 10 days after each record date with respect to the payment of interest, if any, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders as of such record date, and

(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and contents as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished;

provided, however, that so long as the Trustee shall be the Registrar, such lists shall not be required to be furnished.

The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the Holders (i) contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in this Section 5.1 or (ii) received by it in the capacity of paying agent or Registrar (if so acting) hereunder.

The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in this Section 5.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

 

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Section 5.2 Communications to Holders. Holders may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the TIA with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Debt Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the TIA.

Section 5.3 Reports by Trustee. Within 60 days after each January 31, beginning with the first January 31 following the date of this Indenture, and in any event on or before April 1 in each year, the Trustee shall mail to Holders a brief report dated as of such January 31 that complies with TIA Section 313(a); provided, however, that if no event described in TIA Section 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted. The Trustee also shall comply with TIA Section 313(b).

Reports pursuant to this Section 5.3 shall be transmitted by mail:

(a) to all Holders, as the names and addresses of such Holders appear in the Debt Security Register; and

(b) except in the cases of reports under Section 313(b)(2) of the TIA, to each Holder of a Debt Security of any series whose name and address appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 5.1.

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Holders shall be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and each stock exchange (if any) on which the Debt Securities of any series are listed. The Company agrees to notify promptly the Trustee whenever the Debt Securities of any series become listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.

Section 5.4 Record Dates for Action by Holders. If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of Debt Securities of any series any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any direction, notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the Company may, at its option, by resolution of the Board of Directors, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders of Debt Securities entitled to take such action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. Any such record date shall be fixed at the Company’s discretion. If such a record date is fixed, such action may be sought or given before or after the record date, but only the Holders of Debt Securities of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders of Debt Securities for the purpose of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Debt Securities of such series Outstanding have authorized or agreed or consented to such action, and for that purpose the Debt Securities of such series Outstanding shall be computed as of such record date.

ARTICLE VI

REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND HOLDERS IN EVENT OF DEFAULT

Section 6.1 Events of Default. “Event of Default” with respect to the Debt Securities of any series means each one of the following events which shall have occurred and be continuing:

(a) default in the payment of any installment of interest upon any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

 

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(b) default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable, whether at Stated Maturity, upon redemption, by declaration, upon required repurchase or otherwise; or

(c) default in the payment of any sinking fund payment with respect to any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable; or

(d) failure on the part of the Company or, if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of a Guarantee by a Guarantor, any of the Guarantors, duly to observe or perform any other of the covenants or agreements on the part of the Company, or if applicable, any of the Guarantors, in the Debt Securities of that series, in any resolution of the Board of Directors authorizing the issuance of that series of Debt Securities, in this Indenture with respect to such series or in any supplemental Indenture with respect to such series (other than a covenant a default in the performance of which is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with), continuing for a period of 60 days (or 180 days in the case of a Reporting Failure) after the date on which written notice specifying such failure and requiring the Company, or if applicable, the Guarantors, to remedy the same and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder shall have been given to the Company and if applicable, the Guarantors, by the Trustee or to the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors, and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series at the time Outstanding; or

(e) the Company or, if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee by a Guarantor, any of the Guarantors, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law,

(i) commences a voluntary case,

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

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

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

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

(i) is for relief against the Company or, if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee by a Guarantor, any of the Guarantors, as debtor in an involuntary case,

 

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(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company or, if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee by a Guarantor, any of the Guarantors, or a Custodian for all or substantially all of the property of the Company, or if applicable, any of the Guarantors, or

(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company or, if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee by a Guarantor, any of the Guarantors,

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

(g) if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee by a Guarantor, the Guarantee of any of the Guarantors ceases to be in full force and effect with respect to Debt Securities of that series (except as otherwise provided in this Indenture) or is declared null and void in a judicial proceeding or any of the Guarantors denies or disaffirms its obligations under this Indenture or such Guarantee; or

(h) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Debt Securities of that series;

(i) provided, however, that the occurrence of any of the events described in the foregoing clause (d) shall not constitute an Event of Default if such occurrence is the result of changes in generally accepted accounting principles as recognized by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants at the date as of which this Indenture is executed and a certificate to such effect is delivered to the Trustee by the Company’s independent public accountants.

(j) If an Event of Default described in clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (g), or (h) with respect to Debt Securities of that series at the time Outstanding occurs with respect to the Company or any Guarantor and is continuing, unless the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Debt Securities of that series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company and the Guarantor (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), may declare the principal of (or, if the Debt Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Debt Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series), premium, if any, and interest on all the Debt Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable, anything in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities of that series contained to the contrary notwithstanding. If an Event of Default described in clause (e) or (f) occurs with respect to the Company, then and in each and every such case, unless the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Debt Securities shall have become due and payable, the principal of (or, if the Debt Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Debt Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms thereof), premium, if any, and interest on all the Debt Securities then Outstanding hereunder shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders, anything in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

 

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The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of a particular series by written notice to the Trustee may rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction already rendered and if all existing Events of Default with respect to that series have been cured or waived except nonpayment of principal, premium, if any, or interest that has become due solely because of acceleration. Upon any such rescission, the parties hereto shall be restored respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the parties hereto shall continue as though no such proceeding had been taken.

Section 6.2 Collection of Debt by Trustee, etc. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid or enforce the performance of any provision of the Debt Securities of the affected series or this Indenture, and may prosecute any such action or proceedings to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against any of the Guarantors or the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of such series (and collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of any of the Guarantors or the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of such series wherever situated the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable).

In case there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for the reorganization of any of the Guarantors or the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of any series under any Bankruptcy Law, or in case a Custodian shall have been appointed for its property, or in case of any other similar judicial proceedings relative to any of the Guarantors or the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of any series, its creditors or its property, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of Debt Securities of any series shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6.2, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise, to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal, premium, if any, and interest (or, if the Debt Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Debt Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) owing and unpaid in respect of the Debt Securities of such series, and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and for reimbursement of all expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee except as a result of its negligence or bad faith) and of the Holders thereof allowed in any such judicial proceedings relative to any of the Guarantors or the Company, or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of such series, its creditors or its property, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute all amounts received with respect to the claims of such Holders and of the Trustee on their behalf, and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of such Holders to make payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of payments directly to such Holders, to pay to the Trustee such amount as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other reasonable expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee except as a result of its negligence or bad faith.

 

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All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Debt Securities of any series, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any such Debt Securities, or the production thereof in any trial or other proceedings relative thereto, and any such action or proceedings instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment (except for any amounts payable to the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.6) shall be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of all the Debt Securities in respect of which such action was taken.

In case of an Event of Default hereunder the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.

Section 6.3 Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee. Any moneys or other property collected by the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.2 with respect to Debt Securities of any series shall be applied, in the order following, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys or other property, upon presentation of the several Debt Securities of such series in respect of which moneys or other property have been collected, and the notation thereon of the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

FIRST: To the payment of all money due the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.6;

SECOND: In case the principal of the Outstanding Debt Securities in respect of which such moneys have been collected shall not have become due, to the payment of interest on the Debt Securities of such series in the order of the maturity of the installments of such interest, with interest (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon the overdue installments of interest at the rate or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Debt Securities) borne by the Debt Securities of such series, such payments to be made ratably to the Persons entitled thereto, without discrimination or preference;

THIRD: In case the principal of the Outstanding Debt Securities in respect of which such moneys have been collected shall have become due, by declaration or otherwise, to the payment of the whole amount then owing and unpaid upon the Debt Securities of such series for principal and premium, if any, and interest, with interest on the overdue principal and premium, if any, and (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon overdue installments of interest at the rate or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Debt Securities) borne by the Debt Securities of such series; and, in case such moneys shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amount so due and unpaid upon the Debt Securities of such series, then to the payment of such principal and premium, if any, and interest, without preference or priority of principal and premium, if any, over interest, or of interest over principal and premium, if any, or of any installment of interest over any other installment of interest, or of any Debt Security of such series over any Debt Security of such series, ratably to the aggregate of such principal and premium, if any, and interest; and

 

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FOURTH: The remainder, if any, shall be paid to the Guarantors or the Company, as applicable, its successors or assigns, or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.3. At least 15 days before such record date, the Company shall mail to each Holder and the Trustee a notice that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.

Section 6.4 Limitation on Suits by Holders. No Holder of any Debt Security of any series shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any action or proceeding at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, upon or under or with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless such Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default with respect to Debt Securities of that same series and of the continuance thereof and unless the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action or proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder and shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity or security as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, and the Trustee, for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity or security shall have failed to institute any such action or proceedings and no direction inconsistent with such written request shall have been given to the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.6; it being understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by the Holder of every Debt Security with every other Holder and the Trustee, that no one or more Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any Holders, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such Holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all such Holders. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section 6.4, each and every Holder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, however, the right of any Holder of any Debt Security to receive payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.12) interest on, such Debt Security, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Debt Security, and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

Section 6.5 Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission in Exercise of Rights Not a Waiver of Default. All powers and remedies given by this Article VI to the Trustee or to the Holders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any thereof or of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the Holders, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture, and no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder

 

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to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid, shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such Default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.4, every power and remedy given by this Article VI or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders.

Section 6.6 Rights of Holders of Majority in Principal Amount of Debt Securities to Direct Trustee and to Waive Default. The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series at the time Outstanding shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or of exercising any right, trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Debt Securities of such series; provided, however, that such direction shall not be otherwise than in accordance with law and the provisions of this Indenture, and that subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee being advised by counsel shall determine that the action so directed may not lawfully be taken or is inconsistent with any provision of this Indenture, or if the Trustee shall by a responsible officer or officers determine that the action so directed would involve it in personal liability or would be unduly prejudicial to Holders of Debt Securities of such series not taking part in such direction; and provided, further, however, that nothing in this Indenture contained shall impair the right of the Trustee to take any action deemed proper by the Trustee and which is not inconsistent with such direction by such Holders. The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series at the time Outstanding may on behalf of the Holders of all the Debt Securities of that series waive any past Default or Event of Default and its consequences for that series, except a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, any of the Debt Securities and a Default or Event of Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.2 cannot be amended without the consent of each Holder affected thereby. In case of any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture, and the Guarantors, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Debt Securities of that series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 6.7 Trustee to Give Notice of Events of Defaults Known to It, but May Withhold Such Notice in Certain Circumstances. The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of an Event of Default, or if later, within 30 days after the Trustee obtains actual knowledge of the Event of Default, with respect to a series of Debt Securities give to the Holders thereof, in the manner provided in Section 13.3, notice of all Events of Default with respect to such series known to the Trustee, unless such Events of Default shall have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice; provided, that, except in the case of an Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any of the Debt Securities of such series or in the making of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a committee of directors or responsible officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders thereof.

 

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Section 6.8 Requirement of an Undertaking to Pay Costs in Certain Suits under the Indenture or Against the Trustee. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Debt Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit in the manner and to the extent provided in the TIA, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 6.8 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 25 percent in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any Debt Security on or after the due date for such payment expressed in such Debt Security.

ARTICLE VII

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

Section 7.1 Certain Duties and Responsibilities. The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture. In case an Event of Default has occurred (which has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, its own bad faith or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(a) this paragraph shall not be construed to limit the effect of the first paragraph of this Section 7.1;

(b) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of a series and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default with respect to such series which may have occurred:

(i) the duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect to Debt Securities of any series shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations with respect to such series as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to such series shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee;

(ii) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions

 

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expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture; but the Trustee shall examine the evidence furnished to it pursuant to Sections 4.5 and 4.6 to determine whether or not such evidence conforms to the requirement of this Indenture;

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable for an error of judgment made in good faith by a responsible officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

(iv) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it with respect to Debt Securities of any series in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to Debt Securities of such series.

None of the provisions of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

Section 7.2 Certain Rights of Trustee. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.1:

(a) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note or other paper or document (whether in its original or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

(b) any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Order (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company;

(c) 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 in respect of any action taken or suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;

 

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(d) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders of Debt Securities of any series pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby;

(e) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;

(f) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing of all Events of Default which may have occurred, the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, approval or other paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Debt Securities of a series affected by such matter; provided, however, that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is not, in the opinion of the Trustee, reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require reasonable indemnity against such costs, expenses or liabilities as a condition to so proceeding, and the reasonable expense of every such investigation shall be paid by the Company or, if paid by the Trustee, shall be repaid by the Company upon demand;

(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed by it with due care hereunder; and

(h) if any property other than cash shall at any time be subject to a Lien in favor of the Holders, the Trustee, if and to the extent authorized by a receivership or bankruptcy court of competent jurisdiction or by the supplemental instrument subjecting such property to such Lien, shall be entitled to make advances for the purpose of preserving such property or of discharging tax Liens or other prior Liens or encumbrances thereon.

Section 7.3 Trustee Not Liable for Recitals in Indenture or in Debt Securities. The recitals contained herein and in the Debt Securities (except the Trustee’s certificate of authentication) shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Debt Securities of any series, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Debt Securities and perform its obligations hereunder, and that the statements made by it or to be made by it in a Statement of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1 supplied to the Company are true and accurate. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any of the Debt Securities or of the proceeds thereof.

 

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Section 7.4 Trustee, Paying Agent or Registrar May Own Debt Securities. The Trustee or any paying agent or Registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Debt Securities and subject to the provisions of the TIA relating to conflicts of interest and preferential claims may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, paying agent or Registrar.

Section 7.5 Moneys Received by Trustee to Be Held in Trust. Subject to the provisions of Section 11.5, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder. So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, all interest allowed on any such moneys shall be paid from time to time to the Company upon a Company Order.

Section 7.6 Compensation and Reimbursement. The Company covenants and agrees to pay in Dollars to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust), and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Company will pay or reimburse in Dollars the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents, attorneys and counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ), including without limitation, Section 6.2, except any such expense, disbursement or advances as may arise from its negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Company also covenants to indemnify in Dollars the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust or trusts hereunder, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.6 to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional Debt hereunder and shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture. The Company and the Holders agree that such additional Debt shall be secured by a Lien prior to that of the Debt Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee, as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, particular Debt Securities.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(e) or (f) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

Section 7.7 Right of Trustee to Rely on an Officers’ Certificate Where No Other Evidence Specifically Prescribed. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.1, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable

 

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that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering or omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

Section 7.8 Separate Trustee; Replacement of Trustee. The Company may, but need not, appoint a separate Trustee for any one or more series of Debt Securities. The Trustee may resign with respect to one or more or all series of Debt Securities at any time by giving notice to the Company. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debt Securities of a particular series may remove the Trustee for such series and only such series by so notifying the Trustee and may appoint a successor Trustee. The Company shall remove the Trustee if:

 

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

 

  (b)   the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

 

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

 

  (d)   the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.

If the Trustee resigns, is removed by the Company or by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debt Securities of a particular series and such Holders do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of this Section 7.8.

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders of Debt Securities of each applicable series. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.6.

If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee gives notice of resignation or is removed, the retiring Trustee or the Holders of 25% in principal amount of the Debt Securities of any applicable series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee for the Debt Securities of such series.

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

 

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Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.8, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.6 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

In the case of the appointment hereunder of a separate or successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more series, the Company, any retiring Trustee and each successor or separate Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of any applicable series shall execute and deliver an Indenture supplemental hereto (i) which shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of any retiring Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of any series as to which any such retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in such retiring Trustee and (ii) that shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental Indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such separate, retiring or successor Trustee shall be Trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee.

Section 7.9 Successor Trustee by Merger. If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation or banking association without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

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

Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification. The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of Section 310(a) of the TIA. The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. No obligor upon the Debt Securities of a particular series or Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such obligor shall serve as Trustee for the Debt Securities of such series. The Trustee shall comply with Section 310(b) of the TIA; provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA this Indenture or any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Company are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA are met.

Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company. The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the TIA, excluding any creditor relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the TIA. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the TIA to the extent indicated therein.

 

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Section 7.12 Compliance with Tax Laws. The Trustee hereby agrees to comply with all U.S. Federal income tax information reporting and withholding requirements applicable to it with respect to payments of premium (if any) and interest on the Debt Securities, whether acting as Trustee, Registrar, paying agent or otherwise with respect to the Debt Securities.

ARTICLE VIII

CONCERNING THE HOLDERS

Section 8.1 Evidence of Action by Holders. Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any or all series may take action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any direction, notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action) the fact that at the time of taking any such action the Holders of such specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced (a) by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by Holders in Person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, (b) by the record of the Holders voting in favor thereof at any meeting of Holders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.2, (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of Holders or (d) in the case of Debt Securities evidenced by a Global Security, by any electronic transmission or other message, whether or not in written format, that complies with the Depositary’s applicable procedures.

Section 8.2 Proof of Execution of Instruments and of Holding of Debt Securities. Subject to the provisions of Sections 7.1, 7.2 and 13.9, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Holder or his agent or proxy shall be sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. The ownership of Debt Securities of any series shall be proved by the Debt Security Register or by a certificate of the Registrar for such series. The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section 8.2 as it shall deem necessary.

Section 8.3 Who May Be Deemed Owner of Debt Securities. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debt Security, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, any paying agent and any Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Debt Security shall be registered upon the books of the Company as the absolute owner of such Debt Security (whether or not such Debt Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.12) interest on such Debt Security and for all other purposes, and none of the Company, the Guarantors or the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary; and all such payments so made to any such Holder for the time being, or upon his order, shall be valid and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Debt Security.

None of the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, any paying agent or any Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

 

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Section 8.4 Instruments Executed by Holders Bind Future Holders. At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 8.1, of the taking of any action by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action and subject to the following paragraph, any Holder of a Debt Security which is shown by the evidence to be included in the Debt Securities the Holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at its corporate trust office and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.2, revoke such action so far as concerns such Debt Security. Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the Holder of any Debt Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of such Debt Security and of any Debt Security issued upon transfer thereof or in exchange or substitution therefor, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Debt Security or such other Debt Securities. Any action taken by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders of all the Debt Securities of such series.

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Debt Securities entitled to give their consent or take any other action required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders of Debt Securities at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders of Debt Securities after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date unless the consent of the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of such series specified in this Indenture shall have been received within such 120-day period.

ARTICLE IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 9.1 Purposes for Which Supplemental Indenture May Be Entered into Without Consent of Holders. The Company and any Guarantors, when authorized by resolutions of the Board of Directors, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time, without the consent of Holders, enter into an Indenture or Indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the TIA as in force at the date of the execution thereof) for one or more of the following purposes:

(a) to evidence the succession pursuant to Article X of another Person to the Company, or successive successions, and the assumption by the Successor Company (as defined in Section 10.1) of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company in this Indenture and in the Debt Securities;

 

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(b) to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company or the Guarantors, to add to the covenants of the Company or the Guarantors such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the protection of the Holders of all or any series of Debt Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Debt Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) as the Board of Directors shall consider to be for the protection of the Holders of such Debt Securities, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a Default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions a Default or an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in this Indenture; provided, that in respect of any such additional covenant, restriction, condition or provision such supplemental Indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after Default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other Defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such Default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such Default or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of any or all series of Debt Securities to waive such Default;

(c) to cure any ambiguity or omission or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein, in any supplemental Indenture or in any Debt Securities of any series that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein, in any supplemental Indenture or in the Debt Securities of such series; to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to or with the Trustee, or to make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under this Indenture as shall not adversely affect the interests of any Holders of Debt Securities of any series;

(d) to permit the qualification of this Indenture or any Indenture supplemental hereto under the TIA as then in effect, except that nothing herein contained shall permit or authorize the inclusion in any Indenture supplemental hereto of the provisions referred to in Section 316(a)(2) of the TIA;

(e) to permit or facilitate the issuance of Debt Securities of any series in uncertificated form;

(f) to reflect the release of any Guarantor in accordance with Article XIV;

(g) to add Guarantors with respect to any or all of the Debt Securities or to secure any or all of the Debt Securities or the Guarantee;

(h) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights hereunder of any Holder;

(i) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Debt Securities; provided, however, that any such addition, change or elimination not otherwise permitted under this Section 9.1 shall neither apply to any Debt Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental Indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor modify the rights of the Holder of any such Debt Security with respect to such provision or shall become effective only when there is no such Debt Security Outstanding;

 

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(j) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor or separate Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee; and

(k) to establish the form or terms of Debt Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 2.1 and 2.3.

The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of any such supplemental Indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer, assignment, mortgage or pledge of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental Indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Any supplemental Indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 9.1 may be executed by the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any of the Debt Securities at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.2.

Section 9.2 Modification of Indenture with Consent of Holders of Debt Securities. Without notice to any Holder but with the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 8.1) of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected by such supplemental Indenture (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for any such series of Debt Securities), the Company and the Guarantors, when authorized by resolutions of the Board of Directors, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an Indenture or Indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the TIA as in force at the date of execution thereof) for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series; provided, that no such supplemental Indenture, without the consent of the Holders of each Debt Security so affected, shall: reduce the percentage in principal amount of Debt Securities of any series whose Holders must consent to an amendment; reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any Debt Security; reduce the principal of or extend the Stated Maturity of any Debt Security; reduce any premium payable upon the redemption of any Debt Security or change the time at which any Debt Security may or shall be redeemed in accordance with Article III; make any Debt Security payable in currency other than the Dollar; impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of premium, if any, principal of and interest on such Holder’s Debt Securities on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Debt Securities; release any security that may have been granted in respect of the Debt Securities, other than in accordance with this Indenture; make any change in Section 6.6 or this Section 9.2; or, except as provided in Section 11.2(b) or Section 14.4, release the Guarantors other than as provided in this Indenture or modify the Guarantee in any manner adverse to the Holders.

 

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A supplemental Indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has been expressly included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Debt Securities or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Debt Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Debt Securities of any other series.

Upon the request of the Company and the Guarantors, accompanied by a copy of resolutions of the Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such supplemental Indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Holders as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental Indenture unless such supplemental Indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion but shall not be obligated to enter into such supplemental Indenture.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental Indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.

After an amendment under this Section 9.2 requiring the consent of the Holders of any series of Debt Securities becomes effective, the Company shall mail to Holders of that series of Debt Securities of each series affected thereby a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to any such Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.2 with respect to other Holders.

Section 9.3 Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of any supplemental Indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company, the Guarantors and the Holders shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental Indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 7.1and 7.2, may receive an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such supplemental Indenture complies with the provisions of this Article IX.

Section 9.4 Debt Securities May Bear Notation of Changes by Supplemental Indentures. Debt Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental Indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental Indenture. New Debt Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental Indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Debt Securities of such series then Outstanding. Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Debt Security of such series shall not affect the validity of such amendment.

 

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ARTICLE X

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE

Section 10.1 Consolidations and Mergers of the Company. The Company shall not consolidate or amalgamate with or merge with or into any Person, or sell, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all its assets to any Person, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, unless: (a) either (i) the Company shall be the surviving Person in the case of a merger or (ii) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person if other than the Company (the “Successor Company”), shall be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and the Successor Company shall expressly assume, by an Indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Debt Securities according to their tenor; (b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of transactions (and treating any Debt which becomes an obligation of the Successor Company or any Subsidiary of the Company as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the Successor Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction or series of transactions), no Default or Event of Default would occur or be continuing; (c) if the Company is not the continuing Person, then each Guarantor, unless it has become the Successor Company, shall confirm that its Guarantee shall continue to apply to the obligations under the Debt Securities and this Indenture; and (d) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or disposition and such supplemental Indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture.

Section 10.2 Rights and Duties of Successor Company. In case of any consolidation, amalgamation or merger where the Company is not the continuing Person, or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 10.1, the Successor Company shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the respective party to this Indenture, and the predecessor entity shall be released from all liabilities and obligations under this Indenture and the Debt Securities, except that no such release will occur in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets. The Successor Company thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of the Company, any or all the Debt Securities issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by or on behalf of the Company and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of the Successor Company, instead of the Company, and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall deliver any Debt Securities which previously shall have been signed and delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and any Debt Securities which the Successor Company thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee for that purpose. All the Debt Securities so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Debt Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all such Debt Securities had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

 

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In case of any such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, sale or disposition such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Debt Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.

ARTICLE XI

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF

INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS

Section 11.1 Applicability of Article. The provisions of this Article XI relating to discharge or defeasance of Debt Securities shall be applicable to each series of Debt Securities except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.3 for Debt Securities of such series.

Section 11.2 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance.

(a) If at any time the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all Debt Securities of any series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than any Debt Securities of such series which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.9 and Debt Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Company as provided in Section 11.5) or all Debt Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Company shall deposit with the Trustee as trust funds the entire amount in cash sufficient to pay at final maturity or upon redemption all Debt Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal and premium, if any, and interest due or to become due on such date of maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be, and if in either case the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company, then this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of such Debt Securities herein expressly provided for) with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, and the Trustee, on demand of the Company accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel and at the cost and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of such series.

(b) Subject to Sections 11.2(c), 11.3 and 11.7, the Company at any time may terminate, with respect to Debt Securities of a particular series, all its obligations under the Debt Securities of such series and this Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of such series (“legal defeasance option”) or the operation of (x) any covenant made applicable to such Debt Securities pursuant to Section 2.3, (y) Sections 6.1(d), (g) and (h) and (z) as they relate to the Guarantors only, Sections 6.1(e) and (f) (“covenant defeasance option”). If the Company exercises either its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option with respect to Debt Securities of a particular series that are entitled to the benefit of the Guarantee, the Guarantee will terminate with respect to that series of Debt Securities. The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option.

 

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If the Company exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of the Debt Securities of the defeased series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If the Company exercises its covenant defeasance option, payment of the Debt Securities of the defeased series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.1(d), (g) and (h) and, with respect to the Guarantors only, Sections 6.1(e) and (f).

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

(c) Notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, the Company’s obligations in Sections 2.7, 2.9, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 5.1, 7.6, 11.5, 11.6 and 11.7 shall survive until the Debt Securities of the defeased series have been paid in full. Thereafter, the Company’s obligations in Sections 7.6, 11.5 and 11.6 shall survive.

Section 11.3 Conditions of Defeasance. The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option with respect to Debt Securities of a particular series only if:

(a) the Company irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Debt Securities of such series to final maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

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

(c) 91 days pass after the deposit is made and during the 91-day period no Default specified in Section 6.1(e) or (f) with respect to the Company occurs which is continuing at the end of the period;

(d) no Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit and after giving effect thereto;

(e) the deposit does not constitute a default under any other agreement binding on the Company;

(f) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the trust resulting from the deposit does not constitute, or is qualified as, a regulated investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940;

(g) in the event of the legal defeasance option, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that the Company has received from the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such

 

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Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of Debt Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such 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 defeasance had not occurred;

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

(i) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance and discharge of the Debt Securities of such series as contemplated by this Article XI have been complied with.

Before or after a deposit, the Company may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Debt Securities of such series at a future date in accordance with Article III.

Section 11.4 Application of Trust Money. The Trustee shall hold in trust money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to this Article XI. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from U.S. Government Obligations through any paying agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Debt Securities of the defeased series.

Section 11.5 Repayment to Company. The Trustee and any paying agent shall promptly turn over to the Company upon request any excess money or securities held by them at any time.

Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and any paying agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal, premium or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, and, thereafter, Holders entitled to such money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors.

Section 11.6 Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations. The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee and the Holders against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against deposited U.S. Government Obligations or the principal and interest received on such U.S. Government Obligations.

Section 11.7 Reinstatement. If the Trustee or any paying agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article XI by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or government authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Debt Securities of the defeased series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article XI until such time as the Trustee or any paying agent is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article XI.

 

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ARTICLE XII

[RESERVED]

ARTICLE XIII

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 13.1 Successors and Assigns of Company Bound by Indenture. All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained by or in behalf of the Company, the Guarantors or the Trustee shall bind their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

Section 13.2 Acts of Board, Committee or Officer of Successor Company Valid. Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the like board, committee or officer of any Successor Company.

Section 13.3 Required Notices or Demands. Any notice or communication by the Company, the Guarantors or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in Person or mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the other’s address:

If to the Company or any Guarantor:

Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc.

50 North Laura Street

Jacksonville, FL 32202

Attn: Chief Financial Officer

Telephone No.: (904) 357-9100

If to the Trustee:

[                                         ]

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

All notices and communications 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; on the first Business Day on or after being sent, if telecopied and the sender receives confirmation of successful transmission; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

 

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Any notice required or permitted to a Holder by the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture shall be deemed to be properly mailed by being deposited postage prepaid in a post office letter box in the United States addressed to such Holder at the address of such Holder as shown on the Debt Security Register. Any report pursuant to Section 313 of the TIA shall be transmitted in compliance with subsection (c) therein.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any notice to Holders of Floating Rate Securities regarding the determination of a periodic rate of interest, if such notice is required pursuant to Section 2.3, shall be sufficiently given if given in the manner specified pursuant to Section 2.3.

In the event of suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give notice by mail, then such notification as shall be given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice for every purpose hereunder.

In the event it shall be impracticable to give notice by publication, then such notification as shall be given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice for every purpose hereunder.

Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it or any defect in any notice by publication as to a Holder shall not affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. If a notice or communication is mailed or published in the manner provided above, it is conclusively presumed duly given.

Section 13.4 Indenture and Debt Securities to Be Construed in Accordance with the Laws of the State of New York. THIS INDENTURE, EACH DEBT SECURITY AND THE GUARANTEE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE NEW YORK CONTRACTS, AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF SAID STATE.

Section 13.5 Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to Be Furnished upon Application or Demand by the Company. Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or demand as to which the furnishing of such document is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include (a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition, (b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based, (c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he 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.

 

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Section 13.6 Payments Due on Legal Holidays. In any case where the date of maturity of interest on or principal of and premium, if any, on the Debt Securities of a series or the date fixed for redemption or repayment of any Debt Security or the making of any sinking fund payment shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment for the Debt Securities of such series, then payment of interest or principal and premium, if any, or the making of such sinking fund payment need not be made on such date at such Place of Payment, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the date of maturity or the date fixed for redemption, and no interest shall accrue for the period after such date. If a record date is not a Business Day, the record date shall not be affected.

Section 13.7 Provisions Required by TIA to Control. If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision included in this Indenture which is required to be included in this Indenture by any of Sections 310 to 318, inclusive, of the TIA, such required provision shall control.

Section 13.8 Computation of Interest on Debt Securities. Interest, if any, on the Debt Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to Section 2.3.

Section 13.9 Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Holders. The Registrar and any paying agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.

Section 13.10 No Recourse Against Others. The Company and its directors, officers, employees, incorporators and capital stockholders, as such, shall have no liability for any obligations of the Guarantors or the Company under the Debt Securities, this Indenture or the Guarantee or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Debt Security, each Holder shall be deemed to have waived and released all such liability. The waiver and release shall be part of the consideration for the issue of the Debt Securities.

Section 13.11 Severability. In case any provision in this Indenture or the Debt Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 13.12 Effect of Headings. The article and section headings herein and in the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

Section 13.13 Indenture May Be Executed in Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original; but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

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ARTICLE XIV

GUARANTEE

Section 14.1 Unconditional Guarantee.

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Article XIV to the contrary, the provisions of this Article XIV shall be applicable only to, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Debt Securities of any series designated, pursuant to Section 2.3, as entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee of each of the Guarantors.

(b) For value received, each of the Guarantors hereby fully, unconditionally and absolutely guarantees (the “Guarantee”) to the Holders and to the Trustee the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Debt Securities and all other amounts due and payable under this Indenture and the Debt Securities by the Company, when and as such principal, premium, if any, and interest shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, according to the terms of the Debt Securities and this Indenture, subject to (i) the limitations set forth in Section 14.3.

(c) Failing payment when due of any amount guaranteed pursuant to the Guarantee, for whatever reason, each of the Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. The Guarantee hereunder is intended to be a general, unsecured, senior obligation of each of the Guarantors and will rank pari passu in right of payment with all Debt of each Guarantor that is not, by its terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee. Each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be full, unconditional and absolute, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Debt Securities, the Guarantee (including the Guarantee of any other Guarantor) or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Debt Securities with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company or any other Guarantor, or any action to enforce the same or any other circumstances which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of any of the Guarantors. Each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that in the event of a default in payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Debt Securities, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, legal proceedings may be instituted by the Trustee on behalf of the Holders or, subject to Section 6.4, by the Holders, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Indenture, directly against such Guarantor to enforce the Guarantee without first proceeding against the Company or any other Guarantor.

(d) The obligations of each of the Guarantors under this Article XIV shall be as aforesaid full, unconditional and absolute and shall not be impaired, modified, released or limited by any occurrence or condition whatsoever, including, without limitation, (A) any compromise, settlement, release, waiver, renewal, extension, indulgence or modification of, or any change in, any of the obligations and liabilities of the Company or any of the Guarantors contained in the Debt Securities or this Indenture, (B) any impairment, modification, release or limitation of the liability of the Company, any of the Guarantors or any of their estates in bankruptcy, or any remedy for the enforcement thereof, resulting from the operation of any

 

53


present or future provision of any applicable Bankruptcy Law, as amended, or other statute or from the decision of any court, (C) the assertion or exercise by the Company, any of the Guarantors or the Trustee of any rights or remedies under the Debt Securities or this Indenture or their delay in or failure to assert or exercise any such rights or remedies, (D) the assignment or the purported assignment of any property as security for the Debt Securities, including all or any part of the rights of the Company or any of the Guarantors under this Indenture, (E) the extension of the time for payment by the Company or any of the Guarantors of any payments or other sums or any part thereof owing or payable under any of the terms and provisions of the Debt Securities or this Indenture or of the time for performance by the Company or any of the Guarantors of any other obligations under or arising out of any such terms and provisions or the extension or the renewal of any thereof, (F) the modification or amendment (whether material or otherwise) of any duty, agreement or obligation of the Company or any of the Guarantors set forth in this Indenture, (G) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets, marshaling of assets and liabilities, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of, or other similar proceeding affecting, the Company or any of the Guarantors or any of their respective assets, or the disaffirmance of the Debt Securities, the Guarantee or this Indenture in any such proceeding, (H) the release or discharge of the Company or any of the Guarantors from the performance or observance of any agreement, covenant, term or condition contained in any of such instruments by operation of law, (I) the unenforceability of the Debt Securities, the Guarantee or this Indenture or (J) any other circumstances (other than payment in full or discharge of all amounts guaranteed pursuant to the Guarantee) which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a surety or guarantor.

(e) Each of the Guarantors hereby (A) waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of the merger, insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company or any of the Guarantors, and all demands whatsoever, (B) acknowledges that any agreement, instrument or document evidencing the Guarantee may be transferred and that the benefit of its obligations hereunder shall extend to each holder of any agreement, instrument or document evidencing the Guarantee without notice to it and (C) covenants that the Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the Guarantee. Each of the Guarantors further agrees that if at any time all or any part of any payment theretofore applied by any Person to the Guarantee is, or must be, rescinded or returned for any reason whatsoever, including without limitation, the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or any of the Guarantors, the Guarantee shall, to the extent that such payment is or must be rescinded or returned, be deemed to have continued in existence notwithstanding such application, and the Guarantee shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, as though such application had not been made.

(f) Each of the Guarantors shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holders and the Trustee against the Company in respect of any amounts paid by such Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, provided, however, that such Guarantor, shall not be entitled to enforce or to receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all of the Debt Securities and the Guarantee shall have been paid in full or discharged.

Section 14.2 Execution and Delivery of Guarantee. To further evidence the Guarantee set forth in Section 14.1, each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that a notation relating to such

 

54


Guarantee, substantially in the form attached hereto as Annex A, shall be endorsed on each Debt Security entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and executed by either manual or facsimile signature of an officer of such Guarantor, or in the case of a Guarantor that is a limited partnership, an officer of the general partner of each Guarantor. Each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that the Guarantee set forth in Section 14.1 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Debt Security a notation relating to the Guarantee. If any officer of any Guarantor, or in the case of a Guarantor that is a limited partnership, any officer of the general partner of the Guarantor, whose signature is on this Indenture or a Debt Security no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates such Debt Security or at any time thereafter, the Guarantee of such Debt Security shall be valid nevertheless. The delivery of any Debt Security by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.

The Trustee hereby accepts the trusts in this Indenture upon the terms and conditions herein set forth.

Section 14.3 Limitation on Guarantors’ Liability. Each Guarantor and by its acceptance hereof each Holder of a Debt Security entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee hereby confirm that it is the intention of all such parties that the guarantee by such Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of any Federal or state law. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Holders of a Debt Security entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each Guarantor under the Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor and to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under the Guarantee, not result in the obligations of such Guarantor under the Guarantee constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under Federal or state law.

Section 14.4 Release of Guarantors from Guarantee.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Guarantee of any Guarantor may be released upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 11.2(b) and in this Section 14.4. Provided that no Default shall have occurred and shall be continuing under this Indenture, the Guarantee incurred by a Guarantor pursuant to this Article XIV shall be unconditionally released and discharged (i) automatically upon (A) any sale, exchange or transfer, whether by way of merger or otherwise, to any Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company, of all of the Company’s direct or indirect limited partnership or other equity interests in such Guarantor (provided such sale, exchange or transfer is not prohibited by this Indenture) or (B) the merger of such Guarantor into the Company or any other Guarantor or the liquidation and dissolution of such Guarantor (in each case to the extent not prohibited by this Indenture) or (ii) following delivery of a written notice of such release or discharge by the Company to the Trustee, upon the release or discharge of all guarantees by such Guarantor of any Debt of the Company other than obligations arising under this Indenture and any Debt Securities issued hereunder, except a discharge or release by or as a result of payment under such guarantees.

 

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(b) The Trustee shall deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing any release of a Guarantor from the Guarantee upon receipt of a written request of the Company accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Guarantor is entitled to such release in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture. Any Guarantor not so released shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debt Securities entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee as provided in this Indenture, subject to the limitations of Section 14.3.

Section 14.5 Guarantor Contribution. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution among the Guarantors, the Guarantors hereby agree, inter se, that in the event any payment or distribution is made by any Guarantor (a “Funding Guarantor”) under the Guarantee, such Funding Guarantor shall be entitled to a contribution from each other Guarantor (if any) in a pro rata amount based on the net assets of each Guarantor (including the Funding Guarantor) for all payments, damages and expenses incurred by that Funding Guarantor in discharging the Company’s obligations with respect to the Debt Securities or any other Guarantor’s obligations with respect to the Guarantee.

[Remainder of This Page Intentionally Left Blank.]

 

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

 

RAYONIER TRS HOLDINGS INC.
By:     
    
    
[NAME OF GUARANTOR(S)]
By:     
Name:     
Title:     
[                                         ], as Trustee
By:     
Name:     
Title:     

 

57


ANNEX A

NOTATION OF GUARANTEE

Each of the Guarantors (which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture), has fully, unconditionally and absolutely guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Debt Securities and all other amounts due and payable under the Indenture and the Debt Securities by the Company.

The obligations of the Guarantors to the Holders of Debt Securities and to the Trustee pursuant to the Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article XIV of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Guarantee.

 

[NAME OF GUARANTOR(S)]
By:     
Name:     
Title:     

 

A-1

EX-4.5 5 dex45.htm FORM OF SUBORDINATED INDENTURE - RAYONIER TRS HOLDINGS INC. Form of Subordinated Indenture - Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc.

Exhibit 4.5

[Form of Subordinated Indenture]


RAYONIER TRS HOLDINGS INC.,

AS ISSUER,

any Guarantors party hereto,

and

[                                                             ],

as Trustee

INDENTURE

Dated as of                     

Debt Securities

 



CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

TIA Section

  Indenture Section
310  

(a)

  7.10
 

(b)

  7.10
 

(c)

  N.A.
311  

(a)

  7.11
 

(b)

  7.11
 

(c)

  N.A.
312  

(a)

  5.1
 

(b)

  5.2
 

(c)

  5.2
313  

(a)

  5.3
 

(b)

  5.3
 

(c)

  13.3
 

(d)

  5.3
314  

(a)

  4.5
 

(b)

  N.A.
 

(c)(1)

  13.5
 

(c)(2)

  13.5
 

(c)(3)

  N.A.
 

(d)

  N.A.
 

(e)

  13.5
 

(f)

  N.A.
315  

(a)

  7.1
 

(b)

  6.7 & 13.3
 

(c)

  7.1
 

(d)

  7.1
 

(e)

  6.8
316  

(a) (last sentence)

  1.1
 

(a)(1)(A)

  6.6
 

(a)(1)(B)

  6.6
 

(a)(2)

  9.1(d)
 

(b)

  6.4
 

(c)

  5.4
317  

(a)(1)

  6.2
 

(a)(2)

  6.2
 

(b)

  4.4
318  

(a)

  13.7

N.A. means Not Applicable

NOTE: This Cross-Reference table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed part of this Indenture.

 

i


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section 1.1    Definitions    1
Section 1.2    Other Definitions    7
Section 1.3    Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act    7
Section 1.4    Rules of Construction    7
ARTICLE II
DEBT SECURITIES
Section 2.1    Forms Generally    8
Section 2.2    Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication    8
Section 2.3    Principal Amount; Issuable in Series    8
Section 2.4    Execution of Debt Securities    11
Section 2.5    Authentication and Delivery of Debt Securities    11
Section 2.6    Denomination of Debt Securities    13
Section 2.7    Registration of Transfer and Exchange    13
Section 2.8    Temporary Debt Securities    14
Section 2.9    Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debt Securities    15
Section 2.10    Cancellation of Surrendered Debt Securities    16
Section 2.11    Provisions of the Indenture and Debt Securities for the Sole Benefit of the Parties and the Holders    16
Section 2.12    Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved    16
Section 2.13    Securities Denominated in Dollars    16
Section 2.14    Wire Transfers    17
Section 2.15    Securities Issuable in the Form of a Global Security    17
Section 2.16    Medium Term Securities    19
Section 2.17    Defaulted Interest    20
Section 2.18    CUSIP Numbers    21
ARTICLE III   
REDEMPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES   
Section 3.1    Applicability of Article    21
Section 3.2    Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debt Securities    21
Section 3.3    Payment of Debt Securities Called for Redemption    23
Section 3.4    Mandatory and Optional Sinking Funds    23
Section 3.5    Redemption of Debt Securities for Sinking Fund    24

 

ii


ARTICLE IV
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE Company
Section 4.1    Payment of Principal of, and Premium, If Any, and Interest on, Debt Securities    25
Section 4.2    Maintenance of Offices or Agencies for Registration of Transfer, Exchange and Payment of Debt Securities    25
Section 4.3    Appointment to Fill a Vacancy in the Office of Trustee    26
Section 4.4    Duties of Paying Agents, etc    26
Section 4.5    SEC Reports; Financial Statements    27
Section 4.6    Compliance Certificate    27
Section 4.7    Further Instruments and Acts    27
Section 4.8    Waiver of Certain Covenants    27
ARTICLE V
HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE
Section 5.1    Company to Furnish Trustee Information as to Names and Addresses of Holders; Preservation of Information    28
Section 5.2    Communications to Holders    28
Section 5.3    Reports by Trustee    28
Section 5.4    Record Dates for Action by Holders    29
ARTICLE VI
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND HOLDERS IN EVENT OF DEFAULT
Section 6.1    Events of Default    29
Section 6.2    Collection of Debt by Trustee, etc    31
Section 6.3    Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee    33
Section 6.4    Limitation on Suits by Holders    33
Section 6.5    Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission in Exercise of Rights Not a Waiver of Default    34
Section 6.6    Rights of Holders of Majority in Principal Amount of Debt Securities to Direct Trustee and to Waive Default    34
Section 6.7    Trustee to Give Notice of Events of Defaults Known to It, but May Withhold Such Notice in Certain Circumstances    35
Section 6.8    Requirement of an Undertaking to Pay Costs in Certain Suits under the Indenture or Against the Trustee    35
ARTICLE VII
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
Section 7.1    Certain Duties and Responsibilities    36

 

iii


Section 7.2    Certain Rights of Trustee    37
Section 7.3    Trustee Not Liable for Recitals in Indenture or in Debt Securities    38
Section 7.4    Trustee, Paying Agent or Registrar May Own Debt Securities    38
Section 7.5    Moneys Received by Trustee to Be Held in Trust    38
Section 7.6    Compensation and Reimbursement    38
Section 7.7    Right of Trustee to Rely on an Officers’ Certificate Where No Other Evidence Specifically Prescribed    39
Section 7.8    Separate Trustee; Replacement of Trustee    39
Section 7.9    Successor Trustee by Merger    40
Section 7.10    Eligibility; Disqualification    41
Section 7.11    Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company    41
Section 7.12    Compliance with Tax Laws    41
ARTICLE VIII
CONCERNING THE HOLDERS
Section 8.1    Evidence of Action by Holders    41
Section 8.2    Proof of Execution of Instruments and of Holding of Debt Securities    42
Section 8.3    Who May Be Deemed Owner of Debt Securities    42
Section 8.4    Instruments Executed by Holders Bind Future Holders    42
ARTICLE IX
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 9.1    Purposes for Which Supplemental Indenture May Be Entered into Without Consent of Holders    43
Section 9.2    Modification of Indenture with Consent of Holders of Debt Securities    45
Section 9.3    Effect of Supplemental Indentures    46
Section 9.4    Debt Securities May Bear Notation of Changes by Supplemental Indentures    46
ARTICLE X
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE
Section 10.1    Consolidations and Mergers of the Company    47
Section 10.2    Rights and Duties of Successor Company    47
ARTICLE XI
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF
INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS
Section 11.1    Applicability of Article    48
Section 11.2    Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance    48

 

iv


Section 11.3    Conditions of Defeasance    49
Section 11.4    Application of Trust Money    50
Section 11.5    Repayment to Company    50
Section 11.6    Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations    50
Section 11.7    Reinstatement    50
ARTICLE XII
SUBORDINATION OF DEBT SECURITIES AND GUARANTEE
Section 12.1    Applicability of Article; Agreement to Subordinate    51
Section 12.2    Liquidation, Dissolution, Bankruptcy    51
Section 12.3    Default on Senior Indebtedness    51
Section 12.4    Acceleration of Payment of Debt Securities    52
Section 12.5    When Distribution Must Be Paid Over    53
Section 12.6    Subrogation    53
Section 12.7    Relative Rights    53
Section 12.8    Subordination May Not Be Impaired by Company    53
Section 12.9    Rights of Trustee and Paying Agent    53
Section 12.10    Distribution or Notice to Representative    54
Section 12.11    Article XII Not to Prevent Defaults or Limit Right to Accelerate    54
Section 12.12    Trust Moneys Not Subordinated    54
Section 12.13    Trustee Entitled to Rely    54
Section 12.14    Trustee to Effectuate Subordination    54
Section 12.15    Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness    55
Section 12.16    Reliance by Holders of Senior Indebtedness on Subordination Provisions    55
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 13.1    Successors and Assigns of Company Bound by Indenture    55
Section 13.2    Acts of Board, Committee or Officer of Successor Company Valid    55
Section 13.3    Required Notices or Demands    55
Section 13.4    Indenture and Debt Securities to Be Construed in Accordance with the Laws of the State of New York    56
Section 13.5    Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to Be Furnished upon Application or Demand by the Company    56
Section 13.6    Payments Due on Legal Holidays    57
Section 13.7    Provisions Required by TIA to Control    57
Section 13.8    Computation of Interest on Debt Securities    57
Section 13.9    Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar    57
Section 13.10    No Recourse Against Others    57
Section 13.11    Severability    58
Section 13.12    Effect of Headings    58
Section 13.13    Indenture May Be Executed in Counterparts    58

 

v


ARTICLE XIV
GUARANTEE
Section 14.1    Unconditional Guarantee    58
Section 14.2    Execution and Delivery of Guarantee    60
Section 14.3    Limitation on Guarantors’ Liability    60
Section 14.4    Release of Guarantors from Guarantee    60
Section 14.5    Guarantor Contribution    61

 

Notation of Guarantee    Annex A

 

vi


THIS INDENTURE dated as of                      is among Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the “Company”), any Guarantors (as defined herein) party hereto, and [                                         ], as trustee (the “Trustee”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY AND ANY GUARANTORS

The Company and any Guarantors have duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of the Company’s debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness to be issued in one or more series unlimited as to principal amount (herein called the “Debt Securities”), which Debt Securities may be guaranteed by each of the Guarantors and may be subordinated in right of payment to Senior Indebtedness, as in this Indenture provided.

All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company and any Guarantors, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH

That in order to declare the terms and conditions upon which the Debt Securities are authenticated, issued and delivered, and in consideration of the premises, and of the purchase and acceptance of the Debt Securities by the Holders thereof, the Company, any Guarantor and the Trustee covenant and agree with each other, for the benefit of the respective Holders from time to time of the Debt Securities or any series thereof, as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Section 1.1 Definitions.

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the 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 the Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise. The Trustee may request and may conclusively rely upon an Officers’ Certificate to determine whether any Person is an Affiliate of any specified Person.

“Agent” means any Registrar or paying agent.

“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors, or the law of any other jurisdiction relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, winding up, liquidation, reorganization or relief of debtors.

“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Company.


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

“Capital Stock” of any Person means and includes any and all shares, rights to purchase, warrants or options (whether or not currently exercisable), participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) the equity (which includes, but is not limited to, common stock, preferred stock and Company and joint venture interests) of such Person (excluding any debt securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable for, such equity).

“Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.

“Company Request” and “Company Order” mean, respectively, a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by the President, the Chief Executive Officer or any Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, an Assistant Controller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.

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

“Debt” of any Person at any date means any obligation created or assumed by such Person for the repayment of borrowed money and any guarantee thereof.

“Debt Security” or “Debt Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any debt security or debt securities, as the case may be, of any series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

“Default” means any event, act or condition that is, or after notice or the passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

“Depositary” means, unless otherwise specified by the Company pursuant to either Section 2.3 or 2.15, with respect to Debt Securities of any series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, or any successor thereto registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute or regulations.

“Designated Senior Indebtedness” means (i) any Senior Indebtedness which, at the date of determination, has an aggregate principal amount outstanding of, or under which, at the date of determination, the holders thereof are committed to lend up to, at least $100 million and (ii) any other Senior Indebtedness designated, as provided in Section 2.3, in respect of any series of Debt Securities.

“Dollar” or “$” means such currency of the United States as at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any successor statute.

 

2


“Floating Rate Security” means a Debt Security that provides for the payment of interest at a variable rate determined periodically by reference to an interest rate index specified pursuant to Section 2.3.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, as in effect from time to time.

“Global Security” means with respect to any series of Debt Securities issued hereunder, a Debt Security which is executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance with this Indenture and any Indentures supplemental hereto, or resolution of the Board of Directors and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee and which shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, all the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series or any portion thereof, in either case having the same terms, including, without limitation, the same original issue date, date or dates on which principal is due and interest rate or method of determining interest.

“Guarantee” means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Debt or other obligation of any other Person and any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Debt or other obligation of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of company or partnership arrangements, or by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise) or (b) entered into for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Debt or other obligation of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part); provided, however, 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 any Subsidiary of the Company and any other Affiliate of the Company who may execute this Indenture, or a supplement hereto, for the purpose of providing a Guarantee of Debt Securities pursuant to this Indenture until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Guarantors” shall mean such successor Person.

“Holder,” “Holder of Debt Securities” or other similar terms means, a Person in whose name a Debt Security is registered in the Debt Security Register (as defined in Section 2.7(a)).

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed, or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented and shall include the form and terms of particular series of Debt Securities as contemplated hereunder, whether or not a supplemental Indenture is entered into with respect thereto.

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

 

3


“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, security interest, pledge, charge or other encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law.

“Officer” means, with respect to a Person, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President (whether unmodified or prefaced by “Senior,” “Assistant” or any other designation), the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, Controller, Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of such Person.

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by two officers of the Company, one of whom must be the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or Chief Accounting Officer.

“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 or the Trustee.

“Original Issue Discount Debt Security” means any Debt Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.1.

“Outstanding,” when used with respect to any series of Debt Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Debt Securities of that series theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

 

  (a)   Debt Securities of that series theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

  (b)   Debt Securities of that series for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any paying agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying agent) for the Holders of such Debt Securities; provided, that, if such Debt Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made; and

 

  (c)   Debt Securities of that series which have been paid pursuant to Section 2.9 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Debt Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Debt Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Debt Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Debt Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Debt Securities owned by the

 

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Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Debt Securities which a Trust Officer actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Debt Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Debt Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities or an Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor. In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Debt Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Debt Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.1.

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

“Redemption Date,” when used with respect to any Debt Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

“Reporting Failure” means the failure of the Company or a Guarantor, as applicable, to file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company or a Guarantor is required to file the same with the SEC within the time periods specified in the Exchange Act or in the relevant forms thereunder (after giving effect to any grace period specified under Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act), the annual reports, information, documents or other reports that the Company or the Guarantor is required to file with the commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

“Representative” means the trustee, agent or representative (if any) for an issue of Senior Indebtedness.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor statute.

“Senior Indebtedness,” unless otherwise provided with respect to the Debt Securities of a series as contemplated by Section 2.3, means (1) all Debt of the Guarantors or the Company, whether currently outstanding or hereafter issued, unless, by the terms of the instrument creating or evidencing such Debt, it is provided that such Debt is subordinate or not superior in right of payment to the Debt Securities, in the case of the Company, or the Guarantee, in the case of the Guarantors, or to other Debt which is pari passu with or subordinated to the Debt Securities, in the case of the Company, or the Guarantee, in the case of the Guarantors, and (2) any modifications, refunding, deferrals, renewals, or extensions of any such Debt or securities, notes

 

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or other evidence of Debt issued in exchange for such Debt; provided that in no event shall “Senior Indebtedness” include (a) Debt evidenced by the Debt Securities or any Guarantee, (b) Debt of any of the Guarantors or the Company owed or owing to any Subsidiary of the Company, (c) Debt of any of the Guarantors owed or owing to the Company, (d) Debt to trade creditors, (e) any liability for taxes owed or owing by the Guarantors or the Company or (f) Debt of any Guarantor in the event there is no series of Debt Securities Outstanding that is entitled to the benefits of a Guarantee.

“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision (but excluding any provision providing for the repurchase of such security at the option of the holder thereof upon the happening of any contingency beyond the control of the issuer unless such contingency has occurred).

“Subsidiary” of any Person means:

 

  (1)   any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of equity interests entitled, without regard to the occurrence of any contingency, to vote in the election of directors, managers, trustees or equivalent Persons thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person or combination thereof; or

 

  (2)   in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the partners’ equity interests, considering all partners’ equity interests as a single class, is at such time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person or combination thereof.

“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§77aaa-77bbbb), as in effect on the date of this Indenture as originally executed and, to the extent required by law, as amended.

“Trustee” initially means [                                        ] and any other Person or Persons appointed as such from time to time pursuant to Section 7.8, and, subject to the provisions of Article VII, includes its or their successors and assigns. If at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Debt Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of that series.

“Trust Officer” means any officer or assistant officer of the Trustee assigned by the Trustee to administer its corporate trust matters.

“United States” means the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.

“U.S. Government Obligations” means direct obligations of the United States of America, obligations on which the payment of principal and interest is fully guaranteed by the United States of America or obligations or guarantees for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged.

 

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“Yield to Maturity” means the yield to maturity, calculated at the time of issuance of a series of Debt Securities, or, if applicable, at the most recent redetermination of interest on such series and calculated in accordance with accepted financial practice.

Section 1.2 Other Definitions.

 

Term

   Defined in Section

“Debt Security Register”

   2.7

“Defaulted Interest”

   2.17

“Event of Default”

   6.1

“Funding Guarantor”

   14.5

“Guarantee”

   14.1

“Place of Payment”

   2.3

“Registrar”

   2.7

“Subordinated Debt Securities”

   12.1

“Successor Company”

   10.1

Section 1.3 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.

All terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA have the meanings so assigned to them.

Section 1.4 Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires:

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

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

(c) “or” is not exclusive;

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

(e) all references in this instrument to “Articles,” “Sections” and other subdivisions are to the designated Articles, Sections and subdivisions of this instrument as originally executed;

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

(g) “including” means “including without limitation;”

(h) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

 

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(i) if the applicable series of Debt Securities are subordinated pursuant to Article XII, unsecured Debt shall not be deemed to be subordinate or junior to secured Debt merely by virtue of its nature as unsecured Debt; and

(j) the principal amount of any noninterest bearing or other discount security at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP.

ARTICLE II

DEBT SECURITIES

Section 2.1 Forms Generally. The Debt Securities of each series shall be in substantially the form established without the approval of any Holder by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or in one or more Indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate (and, if not contained in a supplemental Indenture entered into in accordance with Article IX, as are not prohibited by the provisions of this Indenture) or as may be required or appropriate to comply with any law or with any rules made pursuant thereto or with any rules of any securities exchange on which such series of Debt Securities may be listed, or to conform to general usage, or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Debt Securities as evidenced by their execution of the Debt Securities.

The definitive Debt Securities of each series shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Debt Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Debt Securities.

Section 2.2 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication. The Trustee’s certificate of authentication on all Debt Securities authenticated by the Trustee shall be in substantially the following form:

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Debt Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

[                                         ],
As Trustee
By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory

Section 2.3 Principal Amount; Issuable in Series. The aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities which may be issued, executed, authenticated, delivered and outstanding under this Indenture is unlimited.

 

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The Debt Securities may be issued in one or more series in fully registered form. There shall be established, without the approval of any Holders, in or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more Indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Debt Securities of any series any or all of the following:

(a) the title of the Debt Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Debt Securities of the series from all other Debt Securities);

(b) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Debt Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Debt Securities of the series pursuant to this Article II);

(c) the date or dates on which the principal of and premium, if any, on the Debt Securities of the series are payable;

(d) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which the Debt Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method of determining such rate or rates, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the interest payment dates on which such interest shall be payable, or the method by which such date will be determined, the record dates for the determination of Holders thereof to whom such interest is payable; and the basis upon which interest will be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve thirty-day months;

(e) the place or places, if any, in addition to or instead of the corporate trust office of the Trustee, where the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, Debt Securities of the series shall be payable (“Place of Payment”);

(f) the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which Debt Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company or otherwise;

(g) whether Debt Securities of the series are entitled to the benefits of any Guarantee of any Guarantors pursuant to this Indenture;

(h) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, purchase or repay Debt Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof, and the price or prices at which and the period or periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which Debt Securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligations;

(i) the terms, if any, upon which the Debt Securities of the series may be convertible into or exchanged for capital stock (which may be represented by depositary shares), other Debt Securities or warrants for capital stock or Debt or other securities of any kind of the Company or any other obligor and the terms and conditions upon which such conversion or exchange shall be effected, including the initial conversion or exchange price or rate, the conversion or exchange period and any other provision in addition to or in lieu of those described herein;

 

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(j) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which Debt Securities of the series shall be issuable;

(k) if the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on Debt Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts will be determined;

(l) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of Debt Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to such Stated Maturity, the amount which will be deemed to be such principal amount as of any such date for any purpose, including the principal amount thereof which will be due and payable upon any maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which will be deemed to be Outstanding as of any such date (or, in any such case, the manner in which such deemed principal amount is to be determined);

(m) any changes or additions to Article XI, including the addition of additional covenants that may be subject to the covenant defeasance option pursuant to Section 11.2(b);

(n) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Debt Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.1 or provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 6.2;

(o) the terms, if any, of the transfer, mortgage, pledge or assignment as security for the Debt Securities of the series of any properties, assets, moneys, proceeds, securities or other collateral, including whether certain provisions of the TIA are applicable and any corresponding changes to provisions of this Indenture as currently in effect;

(p) any addition to or change in the Events of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the Holders to declare the principal of, and premium and interest on, such Debt Securities due and payable;

(q) if the Debt Securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security or Securities, the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such Global Security or Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual Debt Securities in definitive registered form; and the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities and the form of any legend or legends to be borne by any such Global Security or Securities in addition to or in lieu of the legend referred to in Section 2.15(a);

(r) any trustees, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars;

(s) the applicability of, and any addition to or change in the covenants and definitions currently set forth in this Indenture or in the terms currently set forth in Article X, including conditioning any merger, conveyance, transfer or lease permitted by Article X upon the satisfaction of any Debt coverage standard by the Company and Successor Company (as defined in Article X);

(t) the subordination, if any, of the Debt Securities of the series pursuant to Article XII and any changes or additions to Article XII or designation of any Designated Senior Indebtedness;

 

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(u) with regard to Debt Securities of the series that do not bear interest, the dates for certain required reports to the Trustee; and

(v) any other terms of the Debt Securities of the series (which terms shall not be prohibited by the provisions of this Indenture).

All Debt Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such resolution of the Board of Directors and as set forth in such Officers’ Certificate or in any such Indenture supplemental hereto.

Section 2.4 Execution of Debt Securities. The Debt Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Company by the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President of the Company and, if the seal of the Company is reproduced thereon, it shall be attested by its Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, a Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer. Such signatures upon the Debt Securities may be the manual or facsimile signatures of the present or any future such authorized officers and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Debt Securities. The seal of the Company, if any, may be in the form of a facsimile thereof and may be impressed, affixed, imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Debt Securities.

Only such Debt Securities as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form hereinbefore recited, signed manually by the Trustee, shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate by the Trustee upon any Debt Security executed by the Company on behalf of the Company shall be conclusive evidence that the Debt Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.

In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Debt Securities shall cease to be such officer before the Debt Securities so signed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, or disposed of by the Company, such Debt Securities nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the Person who signed such Debt Securities had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Debt Security may be signed on behalf of the Company by such Persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Debt Security, shall be the proper officers of the Company, although at the date of such Debt Security or of the execution of this Indenture any such Person was not such officer.

Section 2.5 Authentication and Delivery of Debt Securities. At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver to the Trustee for authentication Debt Securities of any series executed by the Company, and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver said Debt Securities to or upon a Company Order. In authenticating such Debt Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Debt Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon:

(a) a copy of any resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, authorizing the terms of issuance of any series of Debt Securities;

 

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(b) an executed supplemental Indenture, if any;

(c) an Officers’ Certificate; and

(d) an Opinion of Counsel prepared in accordance with Section 13.5 which shall also state:

(i) that the form of such Debt Securities has been established by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or by a supplemental Indenture as permitted by Section 2.1 in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(ii) that the terms of such Debt Securities have been established by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or by a supplemental Indenture as permitted by Section 2.3 in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(iii) that such Debt Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and rights of acceleration and the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability;

(iv) that the Company has the power to issue such Debt Securities and has duly taken all necessary action with respect to such issuance;

(v) that the issuance of such Debt Securities will not contravene the organizational documents of the Company or result in any material violation of any of the terms or provisions of any law or regulation or of any material indenture, mortgage or other agreement known to such counsel by which the Company is bound;

(vi) that authentication and delivery of such Debt Securities and the execution and delivery of any supplemental Indenture will not violate the terms of this Indenture; and

(vii) such other matters as the Trustee may reasonably request.

Such Opinion of Counsel need express no opinion as to whether a court in the United States would render a money judgment in a currency other than that of the United States.

The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Debt Securities under this Section 2.5 if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee or a trust committee of directors, trustees or Officers (or any combination thereof) shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to existing Holders.

 

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

Unless otherwise provided in the form of Debt Security for any series, each Debt Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

Section 2.6 Denomination of Debt Securities. Unless otherwise provided in the form of Debt Security for any series, the Debt Securities of each series shall be issuable only as fully registered Debt Securities in such Dollar denominations as shall be specified or contemplated by Section 2.3. In the absence of any such specification with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, the Debt Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

Section 2.7 Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

(a) The Company shall keep or cause to be kept a register for each series of Debt Securities issued hereunder (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Debt Security Register”), in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of all Debt Securities and the transfer of Debt Securities as in this Article II provided. At all reasonable times the Debt Security Register shall be open for inspection by the Trustee. Subject to Section 2.15, upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debt Security at any office or agency to be maintained by the Company in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.2, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Debt Security or Debt Securities of authorized denominations for a like aggregate principal amount. In no event may Debt Securities be issued as, or exchanged for, bearer securities.

Unless and until otherwise determined by the Company by resolution of the Board of Directors, the Debt Security Register shall be kept at the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee and, for this purpose, the Trustee shall be designated “Registrar.”

Debt Securities of any series (other than a Global Security, except as set forth below) may be exchanged for a like aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities of the same series of other authorized denominations. Subject to Section 2.15, Debt Securities to be exchanged shall be surrendered at the office or agency to be maintained by the Company as provided in Section 4.2, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor the Debt Security or Debt Securities which the Holder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive.

(b) All Debt Securities presented or surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange or payment shall (if so required by the Company, the Trustee or the Registrar) be duly endorsed or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company, the Trustee and the Registrar, duly executed by the Holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

 

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All Debt Securities issued in exchange for or upon transfer of Debt Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Debt Securities surrendered for such exchange or transfer.

No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Debt Securities (except as provided by Section 2.9), but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee, assessment or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto, other than those expressly provided in this Indenture to be made at the Company’s own expense or without expense or without charge to the Holders.

The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Debt Securities for a period of 15 days next preceding any mailing of notice of redemption of Debt Securities of such series or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Debt Securities selected, called or being called for redemption.

Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Debt Security, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, any paying agent or any Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name a Debt Security is registered as the absolute owner of such Debt Security for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.12) interest on, such Debt Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Debt Security is overdue, and none of the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, any paying agent or any Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

None of the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, any agent of the Trustee, any paying agent or any Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

Section 2.8 Temporary Debt Securities. Pending the preparation of definitive Debt Securities of any series, the Company may execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver temporary Debt Securities (printed, lithographed, photocopied, typewritten or otherwise produced) of any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the definitive Debt Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Debt Securities, all as may be determined by the Company with the concurrence of the Trustee. Temporary Debt Securities may contain such reference to any provisions of this Indenture as may be appropriate. Every temporary Debt Security shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive Debt Securities.

If temporary Debt Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Debt Securities of such series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation

 

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of definitive Debt Securities of such series, the temporary Debt Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Debt Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Debt Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company at a Place of Payment for such series, without charge to the Holder thereof, except as provided in Section 2.7 in connection with a transfer. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Debt Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Debt Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor. Until so exchanged, temporary Debt Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Debt Securities of such series.

Upon any exchange of a portion of a temporary Global Security for a definitive Global Security or for the individual Debt Securities represented thereby pursuant to Section 2.7 or this Section 2.8, the temporary Global Security shall be endorsed by the Trustee to reflect the reduction of the principal amount evidenced thereby, whereupon the principal amount of such temporary Global Security shall be reduced for all purposes by the amount to be exchanged and endorsed.

Section 2.9 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debt Securities. If (a) any mutilated Debt Security is surrendered to the Trustee at its corporate trust office or (b) the Company and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Debt Security, and there is delivered to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any paying agent harmless, and neither the Company nor the Trustee receives notice that such Debt Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, then the Company shall execute and, upon a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security, a new Debt Security of the same series of like tenor, form, terms and principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously Outstanding. Upon the issuance of any substituted Debt Security, the Company or the Trustee may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee, assessment or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses connected therewith. In case any Debt Security which has matured or is about to mature or which has been called for redemption shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substituted Debt Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Debt Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish the Company and the Trustee with such security or indemnity as either may require to save it harmless from all risk, however remote, and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to the satisfaction of the Company and the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Debt Security and of the ownership thereof.

Every substituted Debt Security of any series issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.9 by virtue of the fact that any Debt Security is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security shall be found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Debt Securities of that series duly issued hereunder. All Debt Securities shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated,

 

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destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Securities, and shall preclude any and all other rights or remedies, notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.

Section 2.10 Cancellation of Surrendered Debt Securities. All Debt Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any paying agent or a Registrar, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation by it, or if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be canceled by it, and no Debt Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. All canceled Debt Securities held by the Trustee shall be destroyed (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act) and certification of their destruction delivered to the Company, unless otherwise directed. On request of the Company, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company canceled Debt Securities held by the Trustee. If the Company shall acquire any of the Debt Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the Debt represented thereby unless and until the same are delivered or surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation. The Company may not issue new Debt Securities to replace Debt Securities it has redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 2.11 Provisions of the Indenture and Debt Securities for the Sole Benefit of the Parties and the Holders. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities, expressed or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, the Holders or any Registrar or paying agent, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Indenture, or under any covenant, condition or provision herein contained; all its covenants, conditions and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto, the Holders and any Registrar and paying agents.

Section 2.12 Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

(a) Interest on any Debt Security that is payable and is punctually paid or duly provided for on any interest payment date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Debt Security is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest notwithstanding the cancellation of such Debt Security upon any transfer or exchange subsequent to the regular record date. Payment of interest on Debt Securities shall be made at the corporate trust office of the Trustee (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.3), or at the option of the Company, by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Debt Security Register or, if provided pursuant to Section 2.3 and in accordance with arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee, at the option of the Holder by wire transfer to an account designated by the Holder.

(b) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.12 and Section 2.17, each Debt Security of a particular series delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Debt Security of the same series shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Debt Security.

Section 2.13 Securities Denominated in Dollars. Except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.3 for Debt Securities of any series, payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, Debt Securities of such series will be made in Dollars.

 

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Section 2.14 Wire Transfers. Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary in this Indenture, the Company may make any payment of moneys required to be deposited with the Trustee on account of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities (whether pursuant to optional or mandatory redemption payments, interest payments or otherwise) by wire transfer in immediately available funds to an account designated by the Trustee before 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date such moneys are to be paid to the Holders of the Debt Securities in accordance with the terms hereof.

Section 2.15 Securities Issuable in the Form of a Global Security.

(a) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.3 that the Debt Securities of a particular series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee or its agent shall, in accordance with Section 2.5, authenticate and deliver, such Global Security or Securities, which shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series to be represented by such Global Security or Securities, or such portion thereof as the Company shall specify in an Officers’ Certificate, shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or its nominee, shall be delivered by the Trustee or its agent to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction and shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect:

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

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

or such other legend as may then be required by the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.15 or of Section 2.7 to the contrary, and subject to the provisions of paragraph (c) below, unless the terms of a Global Security expressly permit such Global Security to be exchanged in whole or in part for definitive Debt Securities in registered form, a Global Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part

 

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and in the manner provided in Section 2.7, only by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary for such Global Security, or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary to a successor Depositary for such Global Security selected or approved by the Company, or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.

(c) (i) If at any time the Depositary for a Global Security or Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or if at any time the Depositary for the Debt Securities for such series shall no longer be eligible or in good standing under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute, rule or regulation, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to such Global Security or Securities. If a successor Depositary for such Global Security or Securities is not appointed by the Company within 120 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee or its agent, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such individual Debt Securities of such series in exchange for such Global Security or Securities, will authenticate and deliver, individual Debt Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security or Securities in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.

(ii) If an Event of Default occurs and the Depositary for a Global Security or Securities notifies the Trustee of its decision to require that the Debt Securities of any series or portion thereof issued or issuable in the form of one or more Global Securities shall no longer be represented by such Global Security or Securities, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to such Global Security or Securities. In such event the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of individual Debt Securities of such series in exchange in whole or in part for such Global Security or Securities, will authenticate and deliver individual Debt Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such series or portion thereof in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.

(iii) If specified by the Company pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.3 with respect to Debt Securities issued or issuable in the form of a Global Security, the Depositary for such Global Security may surrender such Global Security in exchange in whole or in part for individual Debt Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form on such terms as are acceptable to the Company, the Trustee and such Depositary. Thereupon the Company shall execute, and the Trustee or its agent upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Debt Securities of such series shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge, to each Person specified by such Depositary a new Debt Security or Securities of the same series of like tenor and terms and of any authorized denomination as requested by such Person in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person’s beneficial interest in the Global Security; and to such Depositary a new Global Security of like tenor and terms and in an authorized denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities delivered to Holders thereof.

 

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(iv) In any exchange provided for in any of the preceding three paragraphs, the Company will execute and the Trustee or its agent will authenticate and deliver individual Debt Securities. Upon the exchange of the entire principal amount of a Global Security for individual Debt Securities, such Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee or its agent. Except as provided in the preceding paragraph, Debt Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security pursuant to this Section 2.15 shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Global Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee or the Registrar. The Trustee or the Registrar shall deliver such Debt Securities to the Persons in whose names such Debt Securities are so registered.

(v) Payments in respect of the principal of and interest on any Debt Securities registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee will be payable to the Depositary or such nominee in its capacity as the registered owner of such Global Security. The Company, any Guarantors and the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name the Debt Securities, including the Global Security, are registered as the owner thereof for the purpose of receiving such payments and for any and all other purposes whatsoever. None of the Company, any Guarantors, the Trustee, any Registrar, the paying agent or any agent of the Company, any Guarantors or the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of the beneficial ownership interests of the Global Security by the Depositary or its nominee or any of the Depositary’s direct or indirect participants, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of the Depositary, its nominee or any of its direct or indirect participants relating to the beneficial ownership interests of the Global Security, the payments to the beneficial owners of the Global Security of amounts paid to the Depositary or its nominee, or any other matter relating to the actions and practices of the Depositary, its nominee or any of its direct or indirect participants. None of the Company, any Guarantors, the Trustee or any such agent will be liable for any delay by the Depositary, its nominee, or any of its direct or indirect participants in identifying the beneficial owners of the Debt Securities, and the Company, any Guarantors and the Trustee may conclusively rely on, and will be protected in relying on, instructions from the Depositary or its nominee for all purposes (including with respect to the registration and delivery, and the respective principal amounts, of the Debt Securities to be issued).

Section 2.16 Medium Term Securities. Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein, if all Debt Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary for the Company to deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate, resolutions of the Board of Directors, supplemental Indenture, Opinion of Counsel or written order or any other document otherwise required pursuant to Section 2.1, 2.3, 2.5 or 13.5 at or prior to the time of authentication of each Debt Security of such series if such documents are delivered to the Trustee or its agent at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first such Debt Security of such series to be issued; provided, that any subsequent request by the Company to the Trustee to authenticate Debt Securities of such series upon original issuance shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Company that, as of the date of such request, the statements

 

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made in the Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.5 or 13.5 shall be true and correct as if made on such date and that the Opinion of Counsel delivered at or prior to such time of authentication of an original issuance of Debt Securities shall specifically state that it shall relate to all subsequent issuances of Debt Securities of such series that are identical to the Debt Securities issued in the first issuance of Debt Securities of such series.

A Company Order delivered by the Company to the Trustee in the circumstances set forth in the preceding paragraph, may provide that Debt Securities which are the subject thereof will be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or its agent on original issue from time to time upon the telephonic or written order of Persons designated in such written order (any such telephonic instructions to be promptly confirmed in writing by such Person) and that such Persons are authorized to determine, consistent with the Officers’ Certificate, supplemental Indenture or resolution of the Board of Directors relating to such written order, such terms and conditions of such Debt Securities as are specified in such Officers’ Certificate, supplemental Indenture or such resolution.

Section 2.17 Defaulted Interest. Any interest on any Debt Security of a particular series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on the dates and in the manner provided in the Debt Securities of such series and in this Indenture (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder thereof on the relevant record date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (i) or (ii) below:

(i) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Debt Securities of such series are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Debt Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such special record date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be mailed, first class postage pre-paid, to each Holder thereof at its address as it appears in the Debt Security Register, not less than 15 days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Debt Securities of such series are registered at the close of business on such special record date.

 

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(ii) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Debt Securities of such series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Debt Securities of such series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

Section 2.18 CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing the Debt Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Debt Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Debt Securities, and any such 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” numbers.

ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

Section 3.1 Applicability of Article. The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to the Debt Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.3 for Debt Securities of such series.

Section 3.2 Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debt Securities. In case the Company shall desire to exercise the right to redeem all or, as the case may be, any part of the Debt Securities of any series in accordance with their terms, by resolution of the Board of Directors or a supplemental Indenture, the Company shall fix a date for redemption and shall give notice of such redemption at least 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption to the Holders of Debt Securities of such series so to be redeemed as a whole or in part, in the manner provided in Section 13.3. The notice if given in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Debt Security of a series designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Debt Security of such series.

Each such notice of redemption shall specify (i) the date fixed for redemption, (ii) the redemption price at which Debt Securities of such series are to be redeemed (or the method of calculating such redemption price), (iii) the Place or Places of Payment that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Debt Securities, (iv) that any interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, (v) that the redemption is for a sinking fund payment (if applicable), (vi) that, unless otherwise specified in such notice, if the Company defaults in making such redemption payment or if the Debt Securities of that series are subordinated pursuant to the terms of Article XII, the paying agent is prohibited from making such payment pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, (vii) that on and after said date any interest thereon or on the portions thereof to be redeemed will cease to accrue, (viii) that in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities original issue discount accrued after the date fixed for

 

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redemption will cease to accrue, (ix) the terms of the Debt Securities of that series pursuant to which the Debt Securities of that series are being redeemed and (x) 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 Debt Securities of that series. If less than all the Debt Securities of a series are to be redeemed the notice of redemption shall specify the certificate numbers of any Debt Securities of that series to be redeemed that are not in global form. In case any Debt Security of a series is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that on and after the date fixed for redemption, upon surrender of such Debt Security, a new Debt Security or Debt Securities of that series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof, will be issued.

At least five days before the giving of any notice of redemption, unless the Trustee consents to a shorter period, the Company shall give written notice to the Trustee of the Redemption Date, the principal amount of Debt Securities to be redeemed and the series and terms of the Debt Securities pursuant to which such redemption will occur. Such notice shall be accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel from the Company to the effect that such redemption will comply with the conditions herein, and such notice may be revoked at any time prior to the giving of a notice of redemption to the Holders pursuant to this Section 3.2. If fewer than all the Debt Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the record date relating to such redemption shall be selected by the Company and given in writing to the Trustee, which record date shall be not less than three days after the date of notice to the Trustee.

By 11 a.m., New York City time, on the Redemption Date for any Debt Securities, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a paying agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own paying agent, segregate and hold in trust) an amount of money in Dollars (except as provided pursuant to Section 2.3) sufficient to pay the redemption price of such Debt Securities or any portions thereof that are to be redeemed on that date, together with any interest accrued to the Redemption Date.

If less than all the Debt Securities of like tenor and terms of a series are to be redeemed (other than pursuant to mandatory sinking fund redemptions), the Trustee shall select, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as in its sole discretion it shall deem appropriate and fair, the Debt Securities of that series or portions thereof (in multiples of $1,000) to be redeemed. In any case where more than one Debt Security of such series is registered in the same name, the Trustee in its discretion may treat the aggregate principal amount so registered as if it were represented by one Debt Security of such series. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Debt Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Debt Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. If any Debt Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof on such Redemption Date, the principal, premium, if any, and interest shall bear interest until paid from the Redemption Date at the rate borne by the Debt Securities of that series. If less than all the Debt Securities of unlike tenor and terms of a series are to be redeemed, the particular Debt Securities to be redeemed shall be selected by the Company. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Debt Securities called for redemption also apply to portions of Debt Securities called for redemption.

 

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Section 3.3 Payment of Debt Securities Called for Redemption. If notice of redemption has been given as provided in Section 3.2, the Debt Securities or portions of Debt Securities of the series with respect to which such notice has been given shall become due and payable on the date and at the Place or Places of Payment stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with any interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption, and on and after said date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Debt Securities at the applicable redemption price, together with any interest accrued to said date) any interest on the Debt Securities or portions of Debt Securities of any series so called for redemption shall cease to accrue, and any original issue discount in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities shall cease to accrue. On presentation and surrender of such Debt Securities at the Place or Places of Payment in said notice specified, the said Debt Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable redemption price, together with any interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption.

Any Debt Security that is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at the Place of Payment with, if the Company, the Registrar or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, the Registrar and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Debt Security without service charge, a new Debt Security or Debt Securities of the same series, of like tenor and form, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Debt Security so surrendered; except that if a Global Security is so surrendered, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Depositary for such Global Security, without service charge, a new Global Security in a denomination equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Global Security so surrendered. In the case of a Debt Security providing appropriate space for such notation, at the option of the Holder thereof, the Trustee, in lieu of delivering a new Debt Security or Debt Securities as aforesaid, may make a notation on such Debt Security of the payment of the redeemed portion thereof.

Section 3.4 Mandatory and Optional Sinking Funds. The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Debt Securities of any series, resolution of the Board of Directors or a supplemental Indenture is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Debt Securities of any series, resolution of the Board of Directors or a supplemental Indenture is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.”

In lieu of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to any Debt Securities of a series in cash, the Company may at its option (a) deliver to the Trustee Debt Securities of that series theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company or (b) receive credit for the principal amount of Debt Securities of that series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Debt Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Debt Securities, resolution or supplemental Indenture; provided, that such Debt Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Debt Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption price specified in such Debt Securities, resolution or supplemental Indenture for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such mandatory sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

 

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Section 3.5 Redemption of Debt Securities for Sinking Fund. Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Debt Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, any resolution or supplemental Indenture, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Debt Securities of that series pursuant to Section 3.4 (which Debt Securities, if not previously redeemed, will accompany such certificate) and whether the Company intends to exercise its right to make any permitted optional sinking fund payment with respect to such series. Such certificate shall also state that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to such series. Such certificate shall be irrevocable and upon its delivery the Company shall be obligated to make the cash payment or payments therein referred to, if any, by 11 a.m., New York City time, on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date. Failure of the Company to deliver such certificate (or to deliver the Debt Securities specified in this paragraph) shall not constitute a Default, but such failure shall require that the sinking fund payment due on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date for that series shall be paid entirely in cash and shall be sufficient to redeem the principal amount of such Debt Securities subject to a mandatory sinking fund payment without the option to deliver or credit Debt Securities as provided in Section 3.4 and without the right to make any optional sinking fund payment, if any, with respect to such series.

Any sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional) made in cash plus any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made in cash which shall equal or exceed $100,000 (or a lesser sum if the Company shall so request) with respect to the Debt Securities of any particular series shall be applied by the Trustee on the sinking fund payment date on which such payment is made (or, if such payment is made before a sinking fund payment date, on the sinking fund payment date following the date of such payment) to the redemption of such Debt Securities at the redemption price specified in such Debt Securities, resolution or supplemental Indenture for operation of the sinking fund together with any accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption. Any sinking fund moneys not so applied or allocated by the Trustee to the redemption of Debt Securities shall be added to the next cash sinking fund payment received by the Trustee for such series and, together with such payment, shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.5. Any and all sinking fund moneys with respect to the Debt Securities of any particular series held by the Trustee on the last sinking fund payment date with respect to Debt Securities of such series and not held for the payment or redemption of particular Debt Securities shall be applied by the Trustee, together with other moneys, if necessary, to be deposited sufficient for the purpose, to the payment of the principal of the Debt Securities of that series at its Stated Maturity.

The Trustee shall select the Debt Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in the last paragraph of Section 3.2 and the Company shall cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the manner provided in Section 3.2 except that the notice of redemption shall also state that the Debt Securities are being redeemed by operation of the sinking fund. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Debt Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 3.3.

 

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The Trustee shall not redeem any Debt Securities of a series with sinking fund moneys or mail any notice of redemption of such Debt Securities by operation of the sinking fund for such series during the continuance of a Default in payment of interest on such Debt Securities or of any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default occurring as a consequence of this paragraph) with respect to such Debt Securities, except that if the notice of redemption of any such Debt Securities shall theretofore have been mailed in accordance with the provisions hereof, the Trustee shall redeem such Debt Securities if cash sufficient for that purpose shall be deposited with the Trustee for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Article III. Except as aforesaid, any moneys in the sinking fund for such series at the time when any such Default or Event of Default shall occur and any moneys thereafter paid into such sinking fund shall, during the continuance of such Default or Event of Default, be held as security for the payment of such Debt Securities; provided, however, that in case such Default or Event of Default shall have been cured or waived as provided herein, such moneys shall thereafter be applied on the next sinking fund payment date for such Debt Securities on which such moneys may be applied pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3.5.

ARTICLE IV

PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE Company

Section 4.1 Payment of Principal of, and Premium, If Any, and Interest on, Debt Securities. The Company, for the benefit of each series of Debt Securities, will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, each of the Debt Securities at the place, at the respective times and in the manner provided herein or in the Debt Securities. Each installment of interest on any Debt Securities not in global form may at the Company’s option be paid by mailing checks for such interest payable to the Person entitled thereto pursuant to Section 2.7(a) to the address of such Person as it appears on the Debt Security Register.

Principal of and premium and interest on Debt Securities of any series shall be considered paid on the date due if, by 11 a.m., New York City time, on such date the Trustee or any paying agent holds in accordance with this Indenture money sufficient to pay all principal, premium and interest then due and, in the case of Debt Securities subordinated pursuant to the terms of Article XII, the Trustee or such paying agent, as the case may be, is not prohibited from paying such money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal or premium, if any, at the rate specified therefor in the Debt Securities, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.

Section 4.2 Maintenance of Offices or Agencies for Registration of Transfer, Exchange and Payment of Debt Securities. The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Debt Securities an office or agency where Debt Securities of such series may be presented or surrendered for payment, and it shall also maintain (in or outside such Place of Payment) an office or agency where Debt Securities of such series may be surrendered for transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Debt Securities of such series and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give

 

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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 shall 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 office of the Trustee where its corporate trust business is principally administered in the United States, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

The Company may also from time to time designate different or additional offices or agencies to be maintained for such purposes (in or outside of such Place of Payment), and may from time to time rescind any such designation; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligations described in the preceding paragraph. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such additional designation or rescission of designation and any change in the location of any such different or additional office or agency.

Section 4.3 Appointment to Fill a Vacancy in the Office of Trustee. The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.8, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder with respect to each series of Debt Securities.

Section 4.4 Duties of Paying Agents, etc.

(a) The Company shall cause each paying agent, if any, other than the Trustee, to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 4.4,

(i) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities of any series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor on the Debt Securities of such series) in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series;

(ii) that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor on the Debt Securities of such series) to make any payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities of such series when the same shall be due and payable; and

(iii) that it will at any time during the continuance of an Event of Default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held by it as such agent.

(b) If the Company shall act as its own paying agent, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities of any series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series a sum sufficient to pay such principal, premium, if any, or interest so becoming due. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure by the Company to take such action or the failure by any other obligor on such Debt Securities to make any payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, such Debt Securities when the same shall be due and payable.

 

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(c) Anything in this Section 4.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, or for any other reason, pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee all sums held in trust by it or any paying agent, as required by this Section 4.4, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such paying agent.

(d) Whenever the Company shall have one or more paying agents with respect to any series of Debt Securities, it will, prior to each due date of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, any Debt Securities of such series, deposit with any such paying agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal, premium or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto, and (unless any such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

(e) Anything in this Section 4.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section 4.4 is subject to the provisions of Section 11.5.

Section 4.5 SEC Reports; Financial Statements.

The Company shall file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company or any Guarantor is required to file the same with the SEC, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents, and other reports that the Company or such Guarantor is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s and any Guarantor’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

Section 4.6 Compliance Certificate. The Company shall, so long as any of the Debt Securities are Outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, on or before January 31 in each year, a brief certificate from the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Company as to his or her knowledge of the Company’s compliance with all conditions and covenants under the Indenture (such compliance to be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under the Indenture).

Section 4.7 Further Instruments and Acts. The Company will, upon request of the Trustee, execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may reasonably be necessary or proper to carry out more effectually the purposes of this Indenture.

Section 4.8 Waiver of Certain Covenants. The Company and the Guarantors may, with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any covenant made applicable to such Debt Securities pursuant to Section 2.3, if, before or after the time for such compliance, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected, waive such compliance in such instance with such covenant, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such covenant except to the extent so

 

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expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the Guarantors and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such covenant shall remain in full force and effect.

ARTICLE V

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE

Section 5.1 Company to Furnish Trustee Information as to Names and Addresses of Holders; Preservation of Information. The Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of each series:

(a) not more than 10 days after each record date with respect to the payment of interest, if any, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders as of such record date, and

(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and contents as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished;

provided, however, that so long as the Trustee shall be the Registrar, such lists shall not be required to be furnished.

The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the Holders (i) contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in this Section 5.1 or (ii) received by it in the capacity of paying agent or Registrar (if so acting) hereunder.

The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in this Section 5.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

Section 5.2 Communications to Holders. Holders may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the TIA with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Debt Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the TIA.

Section 5.3 Reports by Trustee. Within 60 days after each January 31, beginning with the first January 31 following the date of this Indenture, and in any event on or before April 1 in each year, the Trustee shall mail to Holders a brief report dated as of such January 31 that complies with TIA Section 313(a); provided, however, that if no event described in TIA Section 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted. The Trustee also shall comply with TIA Section 313(b).

Reports pursuant to this Section 5.3 shall be transmitted by mail:

(a) to all Holders, as the names and addresses of such Holders appear in the Debt Security Register; and

 

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(b) except in the cases of reports under Section 313(b)(2) of the TIA, to each Holder of a Debt Security of any series whose name and address appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 5.1.

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Holders shall be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and each stock exchange (if any) on which the Debt Securities of any series are listed. The Company agrees to notify promptly the Trustee whenever the Debt Securities of any series become listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.

Section 5.4 Record Dates for Action by Holders. If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of Debt Securities of any series any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any direction, notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the Company may, at its option, by resolution of the Board of Directors, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders of Debt Securities entitled to take such action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. Any such record date shall be fixed at the Company’s discretion. If such a record date is fixed, such action may be sought or given before or after the record date, but only the Holders of Debt Securities of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders of Debt Securities for the purpose of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Debt Securities of such series Outstanding have authorized or agreed or consented to such action, and for that purpose the Debt Securities of such series Outstanding shall be computed as of such record date.

ARTICLE VI

REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND HOLDERS IN EVENT OF DEFAULT

Section 6.1 Events of Default. “Event of Default” with respect to the Debt Securities of any series means each one of the following events which shall have occurred and be continuing:

(a) default in the payment of any installment of interest upon any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable, whether or not such payment shall be prohibited by Article XII, if applicable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

(b) default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable, whether at Stated Maturity, upon redemption, by declaration, upon required repurchase or otherwise, whether or not such payment shall be prohibited by Article XII, if applicable; or

(c) default in the payment of any sinking fund payment with respect to any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable; or

(d) failure on the part of the Company or, if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of a Guarantee by a Guarantor, any of the Guarantors, duly to observe or perform any other of the covenants or agreements on the part of the Company, or if applicable, any of the Guarantors, in the Debt Securities of that series, in any

 

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resolution of the Board of Directors authorizing the issuance of that series of Debt Securities, in this Indenture with respect to such series or in any supplemental Indenture with respect to such series (other than a covenant a default in the performance of which is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with), continuing for a period of 60 days (or 180 days in the case of a Reporting Failure) after the date on which written notice specifying such failure and requiring the Company, or if applicable, the Guarantors, to remedy the same and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder shall have been given to the Company and if applicable, the Guarantors, by the Trustee or to the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors, and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series at the time Outstanding; or

(e) the Company or, if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee by a Guarantor, any of the Guarantors, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law,

(i) commences a voluntary case,

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

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

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

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

(i) is for relief against the Company or, if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee by a Guarantor, any of the Guarantors, as debtor in an involuntary case,

(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company or, if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee by a Guarantor, any of the Guarantors, or a Custodian for all or substantially all of the property of the Company, or if applicable, any of the Guarantors, or

(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company or, if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee by a Guarantor, any of the Guarantors,

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

(g) if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee by a Guarantor, the Guarantee of any of the Guarantors ceases to be in full force and effect with respect to Debt Securities of that series (except as otherwise provided in this Indenture) or is declared null and void in a judicial proceeding or any of the Guarantors denies or disaffirms its obligations under this Indenture or such Guarantee; or

 

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(h) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Debt Securities of that series;

(i) provided, however, that the occurrence of any of the events described in the foregoing clause (d) shall not constitute an Event of Default if such occurrence is the result of changes in generally accepted accounting principles as recognized by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants at the date as of which this Indenture is executed and a certificate to such effect is delivered to the Trustee by the Company’s independent public accountants.

(j) If an Event of Default described in clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (g), or (h) with respect to Debt Securities of that series at the time Outstanding occurs with respect to the Company or any Guarantor and is continuing, unless the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Debt Securities of that series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company and the Guarantor (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), may declare the principal of (or, if the Debt Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Debt Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series), premium, if any, and interest on all the Debt Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable, anything in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities of that series contained to the contrary notwithstanding. If an Event of Default described in clause (e) or (f) occurs with respect to the Company, then and in each and every such case, unless the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Debt Securities shall have become due and payable, the principal of (or, if the Debt Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Debt Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms thereof), premium, if any, and interest on all the Debt Securities then Outstanding hereunder shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders, anything in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of a particular series by written notice to the Trustee may rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction already rendered and if all existing Events of Default with respect to that series have been cured or waived except nonpayment of principal, premium, if any, or interest that has become due solely because of acceleration. Upon any such rescission, the parties hereto shall be restored respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the parties hereto shall continue as though no such proceeding had been taken.

Section 6.2 Collection of Debt by Trustee, etc. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid or enforce the performance of any provision of the Debt Securities of the affected series or this Indenture, and may prosecute any such action or proceedings to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against any of the Guarantors or the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of such series (and collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of any of the Guarantors or the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of such series wherever situated the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable).

 

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In case there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for the reorganization of any of the Guarantors or the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of any series under any Bankruptcy Law, or in case a Custodian shall have been appointed for its property, or in case of any other similar judicial proceedings relative to any of the Guarantors or the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of any series, its creditors or its property, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of Debt Securities of any series shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6.2, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise, to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal, premium, if any, and interest (or, if the Debt Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Debt Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) owing and unpaid in respect of the Debt Securities of such series, and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and for reimbursement of all expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee except as a result of its negligence or bad faith) and of the Holders thereof allowed in any such judicial proceedings relative to any of the Guarantors or the Company, or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of such series, its creditors or its property, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute all amounts received with respect to the claims of such Holders and of the Trustee on their behalf, and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of such Holders to make payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of payments directly to such Holders, to pay to the Trustee such amount as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other reasonable expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee except as a result of its negligence or bad faith.

All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Debt Securities of any series, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any such Debt Securities, or the production thereof in any trial or other proceedings relative thereto, and any such action or proceedings instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment (except for any amounts payable to the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.6) shall be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of all the Debt Securities in respect of which such action was taken.

In case of an Event of Default hereunder the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.

 

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Section 6.3 Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee. Any moneys or other property collected by the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.2 with respect to Debt Securities of any series shall be applied, after giving effect to the provisions of Article XII, if applicable, in the order following, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys or other property, upon presentation of the several Debt Securities of such series in respect of which moneys or other property have been collected, and the notation thereon of the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

FIRST: To the payment of all money due the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.6;

SECOND: In case the principal of the Outstanding Debt Securities in respect of which such moneys have been collected shall not have become due, to the payment of interest on the Debt Securities of such series in the order of the maturity of the installments of such interest, with interest (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon the overdue installments of interest at the rate or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Debt Securities) borne by the Debt Securities of such series, such payments to be made ratably to the Persons entitled thereto, without discrimination or preference;

THIRD: In case the principal of the Outstanding Debt Securities in respect of which such moneys have been collected shall have become due, by declaration or otherwise, to the payment of the whole amount then owing and unpaid upon the Debt Securities of such series for principal and premium, if any, and interest, with interest on the overdue principal and premium, if any, and (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon overdue installments of interest at the rate or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Debt Securities) borne by the Debt Securities of such series; and, in case such moneys shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amount so due and unpaid upon the Debt Securities of such series, then to the payment of such principal and premium, if any, and interest, without preference or priority of principal and premium, if any, over interest, or of interest over principal and premium, if any, or of any installment of interest over any other installment of interest, or of any Debt Security of such series over any Debt Security of such series, ratably to the aggregate of such principal and premium, if any, and interest; and

FOURTH: The remainder, if any, shall be paid to the Guarantors or the Company, as applicable, its successors or assigns, or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.3. At least 15 days before such record date, the Company shall mail to each Holder and the Trustee a notice that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.

Section 6.4 Limitation on Suits by Holders. No Holder of any Debt Security of any series shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any action or proceeding at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, upon or under or with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless such Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default with respect to Debt Securities of that same series and of the continuance

 

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thereof and unless the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action or proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder and shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity or security as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, and the Trustee, for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity or security shall have failed to institute any such action or proceedings and no direction inconsistent with such written request shall have been given to the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.6; it being understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by the Holder of every Debt Security with every other Holder and the Trustee, that no one or more Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any Holders, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such Holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all such Holders. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section 6.4, each and every Holder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, however, the right of any Holder of any Debt Security to receive payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.12) interest on, such Debt Security, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Debt Security, and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

Section 6.5 Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission in Exercise of Rights Not a Waiver of Default. All powers and remedies given by this Article VI to the Trustee or to the Holders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any thereof or of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the Holders, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture, and no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid, shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such Default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.4, every power and remedy given by this Article VI or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders.

Section 6.6 Rights of Holders of Majority in Principal Amount of Debt Securities to Direct Trustee and to Waive Default. The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series at the time Outstanding shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or of exercising any right, trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Debt Securities of such series; provided, however, that such direction shall not be otherwise than in accordance with law and the provisions of this Indenture, and that subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee being advised by counsel shall determine that the action so directed may not lawfully be taken or is inconsistent with any provision of this Indenture, or if the Trustee shall by a responsible officer or officers determine that the action so directed would involve it in personal liability or would be unduly prejudicial to Holders of Debt Securities of such series not taking

 

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part in such direction; and provided, further, however, that nothing in this Indenture contained shall impair the right of the Trustee to take any action deemed proper by the Trustee and which is not inconsistent with such direction by such Holders. The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series at the time Outstanding may on behalf of the Holders of all the Debt Securities of that series waive any past Default or Event of Default and its consequences for that series, except a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, any of the Debt Securities and a Default or Event of Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.2 cannot be amended without the consent of each Holder affected thereby. In case of any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture, and the Guarantors, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Debt Securities of that series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 6.7 Trustee to Give Notice of Events of Defaults Known to It, but May Withhold Such Notice in Certain Circumstances. The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of an Event of Default, or if later, within 30 days after the Trustee obtains actual knowledge of the Event of Default, with respect to a series of Debt Securities give to the Holders thereof, in the manner provided in Section 13.3, notice of all Events of Default with respect to such series known to the Trustee, unless such Events of Default shall have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice; provided, that, except in the case of an Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any of the Debt Securities of such series or in the making of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a committee of directors or responsible officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders thereof.

Section 6.8 Requirement of an Undertaking to Pay Costs in Certain Suits under the Indenture or Against the Trustee. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Debt Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit in the manner and to the extent provided in the TIA, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 6.8 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 25 percent in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any Debt Security on or after the due date for such payment expressed in such Debt Security.

 

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ARTICLE VII

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

Section 7.1 Certain Duties and Responsibilities. The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture. In case an Event of Default has occurred (which has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, its own bad faith or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(a) this paragraph shall not be construed to limit the effect of the first paragraph of this Section 7.1;

(b) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of a series and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default with respect to such series which may have occurred:

(i) the duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect to Debt Securities of any series shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations with respect to such series as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to such series shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee;

(ii) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture; but the Trustee shall examine the evidence furnished to it pursuant to Sections 4.5 and 4.6 to determine whether or not such evidence conforms to the requirement of this Indenture;

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable for an error of judgment made in good faith by a responsible officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

(iv) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it with respect to Debt Securities of any series in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount

 

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of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to Debt Securities of such series.

None of the provisions of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

Section 7.2 Certain Rights of Trustee. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.1:

(a) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note or other paper or document (whether in its original or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

(b) any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Order (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company;

(c) 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 in respect of any action taken or suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;

(d) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders of Debt Securities of any series pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby;

(e) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;

(f) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing of all Events of Default which may have occurred, the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, approval or other paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then

 

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Outstanding Debt Securities of a series affected by such matter; provided, however, that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is not, in the opinion of the Trustee, reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require reasonable indemnity against such costs, expenses or liabilities as a condition to so proceeding, and the reasonable expense of every such investigation shall be paid by the Company or, if paid by the Trustee, shall be repaid by the Company upon demand;

(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed by it with due care hereunder; and

(h) if any property other than cash shall at any time be subject to a Lien in favor of the Holders, the Trustee, if and to the extent authorized by a receivership or bankruptcy court of competent jurisdiction or by the supplemental instrument subjecting such property to such Lien, shall be entitled to make advances for the purpose of preserving such property or of discharging tax Liens or other prior Liens or encumbrances thereon.

Section 7.3 Trustee Not Liable for Recitals in Indenture or in Debt Securities. The recitals contained herein and in the Debt Securities (except the Trustee’s certificate of authentication) shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Debt Securities of any series, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Debt Securities and perform its obligations hereunder, and that the statements made by it or to be made by it in a Statement of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1 supplied to the Company are true and accurate. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any of the Debt Securities or of the proceeds thereof.

Section 7.4 Trustee, Paying Agent or Registrar May Own Debt Securities. The Trustee or any paying agent or Registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Debt Securities and subject to the provisions of the TIA relating to conflicts of interest and preferential claims may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, paying agent or Registrar.

Section 7.5 Moneys Received by Trustee to Be Held in Trust. Subject to the provisions of Section 11.5, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder. So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, all interest allowed on any such moneys shall be paid from time to time to the Company upon a Company Order.

Section 7.6 Compensation and Reimbursement. The Company covenants and agrees to pay in Dollars to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder (which shall not be limited by any

 

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provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust), and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Company will pay or reimburse in Dollars the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents, attorneys and counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ), including without limitation, Section 6.2, except any such expense, disbursement or advances as may arise from its negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Company also covenants to indemnify in Dollars the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust or trusts hereunder, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.6 to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional Debt hereunder and shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture. The Company and the Holders agree that such additional Debt shall be secured by a Lien prior to that of the Debt Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee, as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, particular Debt Securities.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(e) or (f) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

Section 7.7 Right of Trustee to Rely on an Officers’ Certificate Where No Other Evidence Specifically Prescribed. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.1, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering or omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

Section 7.8 Separate Trustee; Replacement of Trustee. The Company may, but need not, appoint a separate Trustee for any one or more series of Debt Securities. The Trustee may resign with respect to one or more or all series of Debt Securities at any time by giving notice to the Company. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debt Securities of a particular series may remove the Trustee for such series and only such series by so notifying the Trustee and may appoint a successor Trustee. The Company shall remove the Trustee if:

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

(b) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

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

 

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(d) the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.

If the Trustee resigns, is removed by the Company or by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debt Securities of a particular series and such Holders do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of this Section 7.8.

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders of Debt Securities of each applicable series. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.6.

If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee gives notice of resignation or is removed, the retiring Trustee or the Holders of 25% in principal amount of the Debt Securities of any applicable series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee for the Debt Securities of such series.

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

Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.8, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.6 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

In the case of the appointment hereunder of a separate or successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more series, the Company, any retiring Trustee and each successor or separate Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of any applicable series shall execute and deliver an Indenture supplemental hereto (i) which shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of any retiring Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of any series as to which any such retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in such retiring Trustee and (ii) that shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental Indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such separate, retiring or successor Trustee shall be Trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee.

Section 7.9 Successor Trustee by Merger. If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation or banking association without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

 

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

Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification. The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of Section 310(a) of the TIA. The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. No obligor upon the Debt Securities of a particular series or Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such obligor shall serve as Trustee for the Debt Securities of such series. The Trustee shall comply with Section 310(b) of the TIA; provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA this Indenture or any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Company are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA are met.

Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company. The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the TIA, excluding any creditor relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the TIA. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the TIA to the extent indicated therein.

Section 7.12 Compliance with Tax Laws. The Trustee hereby agrees to comply with all U.S. Federal income tax information reporting and withholding requirements applicable to it with respect to payments of premium (if any) and interest on the Debt Securities, whether acting as Trustee, Registrar, paying agent or otherwise with respect to the Debt Securities.

ARTICLE VIII

CONCERNING THE HOLDERS

Section 8.1 Evidence of Action by Holders. Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any or all series may take action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any direction, notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action) the fact that at the time of taking any such action the Holders of such specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced (a) by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by Holders in Person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, (b) by the record of the Holders voting in favor thereof at any meeting of Holders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.2, (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such

 

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record of such a meeting of Holders or (d) in the case of Debt Securities evidenced by a Global Security, by any electronic transmission or other message, whether or not in written format, that complies with the Depositary’s applicable procedures.

Section 8.2 Proof of Execution of Instruments and of Holding of Debt Securities. Subject to the provisions of Sections 7.1, 7.2 and 13.9, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Holder or his agent or proxy shall be sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. The ownership of Debt Securities of any series shall be proved by the Debt Security Register or by a certificate of the Registrar for such series. The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section 8.2 as it shall deem necessary.

Section 8.3 Who May Be Deemed Owner of Debt Securities. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debt Security, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, any paying agent and any Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Debt Security shall be registered upon the books of the Company as the absolute owner of such Debt Security (whether or not such Debt Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.12) interest on such Debt Security and for all other purposes, and none of the Company, the Guarantors or the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary; and all such payments so made to any such Holder for the time being, or upon his order, shall be valid and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Debt Security.

None of the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, any paying agent or any Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

Section 8.4 Instruments Executed by Holders Bind Future Holders. At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 8.1, of the taking of any action by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action and subject to the following paragraph, any Holder of a Debt Security which is shown by the evidence to be included in the Debt Securities the Holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at its corporate trust office and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.2, revoke such action so far as concerns such Debt Security. Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the Holder of any Debt Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of such Debt Security and of any Debt Security issued upon transfer thereof or in exchange or substitution therefor, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Debt Security or such other Debt Securities. Any action taken by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders of all the Debt Securities of such series.

 

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The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Debt Securities entitled to give their consent or take any other action required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders of Debt Securities at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders of Debt Securities after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date unless the consent of the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of such series specified in this Indenture shall have been received within such 120-day period.

ARTICLE IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 9.1 Purposes for Which Supplemental Indenture May Be Entered into Without Consent of Holders. The Company and any Guarantors, when authorized by resolutions of the Board of Directors, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time, without the consent of Holders, enter into an Indenture or Indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the TIA as in force at the date of the execution thereof) for one or more of the following purposes:

(a) to evidence the succession pursuant to Article X of another Person to the Company, or successive successions, and the assumption by the Successor Company (as defined in Section 10.1) of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company in this Indenture and in the Debt Securities;

(b) to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company or the Guarantors, to add to the covenants of the Company or the Guarantors such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the protection of the Holders of all or any series of Debt Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Debt Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) as the Board of Directors shall consider to be for the protection of the Holders of such Debt Securities, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a Default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions a Default or an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in this Indenture; provided, that in respect of any such additional covenant, restriction, condition or provision such supplemental Indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after Default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other Defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such Default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such Default or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of any or all series of Debt Securities to waive such Default;

(c) to cure any ambiguity or omission or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein, in any supplemental Indenture or in any Debt Securities of any series that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein, in any supplemental

 

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Indenture or in the Debt Securities of such series; to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to or with the Trustee, or to make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under this Indenture as shall not adversely affect the interests of any Holders of Debt Securities of any series;

(d) to permit the qualification of this Indenture or any Indenture supplemental hereto under the TIA as then in effect, except that nothing herein contained shall permit or authorize the inclusion in any Indenture supplemental hereto of the provisions referred to in Section 316(a)(2) of the TIA;

(e) to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, on, Debt Securities; provided, that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Debt Securities of any series in any material respect or permit or facilitate the issuance of Debt Securities of any series in uncertificated form;

(f) to reflect the release of any Guarantor in accordance with Article XIV;

(g) in the case of any Debt Securities subordinated pursuant to Article XII, to make any change in Article XII that would limit or terminate the benefits available to any holder of Senior Indebtedness (or Representatives therefor) under Article XII;

(h) to add Guarantors with respect to any or all of the Debt Securities or to secure any or all of the Debt Securities or the Guarantee;

(i) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights hereunder of any Holder;

(j) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Debt Securities; provided, however, that any such addition, change or elimination not otherwise permitted under this Section 9.1 shall neither apply to any Debt Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental Indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor modify the rights of the Holder of any such Debt Security with respect to such provision or shall become effective only when there is no such Debt Security Outstanding;

(k) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor or separate Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee; and

(l) to establish the form or terms of Debt Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 2.1 and 2.3.

The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of any such supplemental Indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer, assignment, mortgage or pledge of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental Indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

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Any supplemental Indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 9.1 may be executed by the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any of the Debt Securities at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.2.

In the case of Debt Securities subordinated pursuant to Article XII, an amendment under this Section 9.1 may not make any change that adversely affects the rights under Article XII of any holder of Senior Indebtedness then outstanding unless the holders of such Senior Indebtedness (or any group or Representative thereof authorized to give a consent) consent to such change.

Section 9.2 Modification of Indenture with Consent of Holders of Debt Securities. Without notice to any Holder but with the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 8.1) of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected by such supplemental Indenture (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for any such series of Debt Securities), the Company and the Guarantors, when authorized by resolutions of the Board of Directors, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an Indenture or Indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the TIA as in force at the date of execution thereof) for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series; provided, that no such supplemental Indenture, without the consent of the Holders of each Debt Security so affected, shall: reduce the percentage in principal amount of Debt Securities of any series whose Holders must consent to an amendment; reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any Debt Security; reduce the principal of or extend the Stated Maturity of any Debt Security; reduce any premium payable upon the redemption of any Debt Security or change the time at which any Debt Security may or shall be redeemed in accordance with Article III; make any Debt Security payable in currency other than the Dollar; impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of premium, if any, principal of and interest on such Holder’s Debt Securities on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Debt Securities; in the case of any Debt Security subordinated pursuant to Article XII, make any change in Article XII that adversely affects the rights of any Holder under Article XII; release any security that may have been granted in respect of the Debt Securities, other than in accordance with this Indenture; make any change in Section 6.6 or this Section 9.2; or, except as provided in Section 11.2(b) or Section 14.4, release the Guarantors other than as provided in this Indenture or modify the Guarantee in any manner adverse to the Holders.

A supplemental Indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has been expressly included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Debt Securities or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Debt Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Debt Securities of any other series.

 

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Upon the request of the Company and the Guarantors, accompanied by a copy of resolutions of the Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such supplemental Indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Holders as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental Indenture unless such supplemental Indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion but shall not be obligated to enter into such supplemental Indenture.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental Indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.

In the case of any Debt Securities subordinated pursuant to Article XII, an amendment under this Section 9.2 may not make any change that adversely affects the rights under Article XII of any holder of Senior Indebtedness then outstanding unless the holders of such Senior Indebtedness (or any group or Representative thereof authorized to give a consent) consent to such change.

After an amendment under this Section 9.2 requiring the consent of the Holders of any series of Debt Securities becomes effective, the Company shall mail to Holders of that series of Debt Securities of each series affected thereby a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to any such Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.2 with respect to other Holders.

Section 9.3 Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of any supplemental Indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company, the Guarantors and the Holders shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental Indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 7.1and 7.2, may receive an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such supplemental Indenture complies with the provisions of this Article IX.

Section 9.4 Debt Securities May Bear Notation of Changes by Supplemental Indentures. Debt Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental Indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental Indenture. New Debt Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental Indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Debt Securities of such series then Outstanding. Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Debt Security of such series shall not affect the validity of such amendment.

 

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ARTICLE X

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE

Section 10.1 Consolidations and Mergers of the Company. The Company shall not consolidate or amalgamate with or merge with or into any Person, or sell, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all its assets to any Person, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, unless: (a) either (i) the Company shall be the surviving Person in the case of a merger or (ii) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person if other than the Company (the “Successor Company”), shall be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and the Successor Company shall expressly assume, by an Indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Debt Securities according to their tenor; (b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of transactions (and treating any Debt which becomes an obligation of the Successor Company or any Subsidiary of the Company as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the Successor Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction or series of transactions), no Default or Event of Default would occur or be continuing; (c) if the Company is not the continuing Person, then each Guarantor, unless it has become the Successor Company, shall confirm that its Guarantee shall continue to apply to the obligations under the Debt Securities and this Indenture; and (d) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or disposition and such supplemental Indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture.

Section 10.2 Rights and Duties of Successor Company. In case of any consolidation, amalgamation or merger where the Company is not the continuing Person, or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 10.1, the Successor Company shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the respective party to this Indenture, and the predecessor entity shall be released from all liabilities and obligations under this Indenture and the Debt Securities, except that no such release will occur in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets. The Successor Company thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of the Company, any or all the Debt Securities issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by or behalf of the Company and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of the Successor Company, instead of the Company, and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall deliver any Debt Securities which previously shall have been signed and delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and any Debt Securities which the Successor Company thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee for that purpose. All the Debt Securities so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Debt Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all such Debt Securities had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

 

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In case of any such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, sale or disposition such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Debt Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.

ARTICLE XI

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF

INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS

Section 11.1 Applicability of Article. The provisions of this Article XI relating to discharge or defeasance of Debt Securities shall be applicable to each series of Debt Securities except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.3 for Debt Securities of such series.

Section 11.2 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance.

(a) If at any time the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all Debt Securities of any series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than any Debt Securities of such series which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.9 and Debt Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Company as provided in Section 11.5) or all Debt Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Company shall deposit with the Trustee as trust funds the entire amount in cash sufficient to pay at final maturity or upon redemption all Debt Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal and premium, if any, and interest due or to become due on such date of maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be, and if in either case the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company, then this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of such Debt Securities herein expressly provided for) with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, and the Trustee, on demand of the Company accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel and at the cost and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of such series.

(b) Subject to Sections 11.2(c), 11.3 and 11.7, the Company at any time may terminate, with respect to Debt Securities of a particular series, all its obligations under the Debt Securities of such series and this Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of such series (“legal defeasance option”) or the operation of (x) any covenant made applicable to such Debt Securities pursuant to Section 2.3, (y) Sections 6.1(d), (g) and (h) and (z) as they relate to the Guarantors only, Sections 6.1(e) and (f) (“covenant defeasance option”). If the Company exercises either its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option with respect to Debt Securities of a particular series that are entitled to the benefit of the Guarantee, the Guarantee will terminate with respect to that series of Debt Securities. The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option.

 

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If the Company exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of the Debt Securities of the defeased series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If the Company exercises its covenant defeasance option, payment of the Debt Securities of the defeased series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.1(d), (g) and (h) and, with respect to the Guarantors only, Sections 6.1(e) and (f).

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

(c) Notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, the Company’s obligations in Sections 2.7, 2.9, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 5.1, 7.6, 11.5, 11.6 and 11.7 shall survive until the Debt Securities of the defeased series have been paid in full. Thereafter, the Company’s obligations in Sections 7.6, 11.5 and 11.6 shall survive.

Section 11.3 Conditions of Defeasance. The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option with respect to Debt Securities of a particular series only if:

(a) the Company irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Debt Securities of such series to final maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

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

(c) 91 days pass after the deposit is made and during the 91-day period no Default specified in Section 6.1(e) or (f) with respect to the Company occurs which is continuing at the end of the period;

(d) no Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit and after giving effect thereto;

(e) the deposit does not constitute a default under any other agreement binding on the Company and, if the Debt Securities of such series are subordinated pursuant to Article XII, is not prohibited by Article XII;

(f) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the trust resulting from the deposit does not constitute, or is qualified as, a regulated investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940;

(g) in the event of the legal defeasance option, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that the Company has received from the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the

 

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applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of Debt Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such 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 defeasance had not occurred;

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

(i) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance and discharge of the Debt Securities of such series as contemplated by this Article XI have been complied with.

Before or after a deposit, the Company may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Debt Securities of such series at a future date in accordance with Article III.

Section 11.4 Application of Trust Money. The Trustee shall hold in trust money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to this Article XI. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from U.S. Government Obligations through any paying agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Debt Securities of the defeased series. In the event the Debt Securities of the defeased series are subordinated pursuant to Article XII, money and securities so held in trust are not subject to Article XII.

Section 11.5 Repayment to Company. The Trustee and any paying agent shall promptly turn over to the Company upon request any excess money or securities held by them at any time.

Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and any paying agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal, premium or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, and, thereafter, Holders entitled to such money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors.

Section 11.6 Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations. The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee and the Holders against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against deposited U.S. Government Obligations or the principal and interest received on such U.S. Government Obligations.

Section 11.7 Reinstatement. If the Trustee or any paying agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article XI by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or government authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Debt Securities of the defeased series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article XI until such time as the Trustee or any paying agent is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article XI.

 

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ARTICLE XII

SUBORDINATION OF DEBT SECURITIES AND GUARANTEE

Section 12.1 Applicability of Article; Agreement to Subordinate. The provisions of this Article XII shall only be applicable to the Debt Securities of any series (Debt Securities of such series referred to in this Article XII as “Subordinated Debt Securities”) designated, pursuant to Section 2.3, as subordinated to Senior Indebtedness and any related Guarantee of such Subordinated Debt Securities. Each Holder by accepting a Subordinated Debt Security agrees that the Debt evidenced by such Subordinated Debt Security and any related Guarantee of such Subordinated Debt Security is subordinated in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner provided in this Article XII, to the prior payment of all Senior Indebtedness and that the subordination is for the benefit of and enforceable by the holders of Senior Indebtedness. All provisions of this Article XII shall be subject to Section 12.12.

Section 12.2 Liquidation, Dissolution, Bankruptcy. Upon any payment or distribution of the assets of the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, to creditors, upon a liquidation or a dissolution of the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, or in a bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding relating to the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, or their respective property:

(a) holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor, as the case may be, shall be entitled to receive payment in full in cash of such Senior Indebtedness of such Person (including interest (if any), accruing on or after the commencement of a proceeding in bankruptcy, whether or not allowed as a claim against the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, in such bankruptcy proceeding) before Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities and any related Guarantee shall be entitled to receive any payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Subordinated Debt Securities from the Company, or any payment in respect of the Guarantee from the Guarantors; and

(b) until the Senior Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor, as the case may be, is paid in full, any distribution to which Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities and any related Guarantee would be entitled but for this Article XII shall be made to holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, as their interests may appear, except that such Holders may receive capital stock and any debt securities that are subordinated to Senior Indebtedness of the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, to at least the same extent as the Subordinated Debt Securities of the Company or the related Guarantee of any Guarantor, respectively.

Section 12.3 Default on Senior Indebtedness. The Company and the Guarantors may not pay the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Subordinated Debt Securities or any related Guarantee or make any deposit pursuant to Article XI and may not repurchase, redeem or otherwise retire (except, in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities that provide for a mandatory sinking fund pursuant to Section 3.5, by the delivery of Subordinated Debt Securities

 

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by the Company to the Trustee pursuant to the first paragraph of Section 3.5) any Subordinated Debt Securities (collectively, “pay the Subordinated Debt Securities”) if any principal, premium or interest in respect of Senior Indebtedness of such Person is not paid within any applicable grace period (including at maturity) or any other default on Senior Indebtedness of such Person occurs and the maturity of such Senior Indebtedness is accelerated in accordance with its terms unless, in either case, the default has been cured or waived and any such acceleration has been rescinded or such Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full in cash; provided, however, that the Company and the Guarantors may make payments on the Subordinated Debt Securities or any related Guarantee without regard to the foregoing if the Company and the Trustee receive written notice approving such payment from the Representative of each issue of Designated Senior Indebtedness. During the continuance of any other default with respect to any Designated Senior Indebtedness pursuant to which the maturity thereof may be accelerated immediately without further notice (except such notice as may be required to effect such acceleration) or the expiration of any applicable grace periods, the Company and the Guarantors may not make payments on the Subordinated Debt Securities or any related Guarantee for a period (a “Payment Blockage Period”) commencing upon the receipt by the Company and the Trustee (and if such Designated Senior Indebtedness is Debt of a Guarantor, the Guarantor) of written notice of such default from the Representative of any Designated Senior Indebtedness specifying an election to effect a Payment Blockage Period (a “Blockage Notice”) and ending 179 days thereafter (or earlier if such Payment Blockage Period is terminated by written notice to the Trustee and the Company (and if such Designated Senior Indebtedness is Debt of a Guarantor, the Guarantor) from the Person or Persons who gave such Blockage Notice, by repayment in full in cash of such Designated Senior Indebtedness or because the default giving rise to such Blockage Notice is no longer continuing). Notwithstanding the provisions described in the immediately preceding sentence (but subject to the provisions contained in Section 12.2 and the first sentence of this Section 12.3), unless the holders of such Designated Senior Indebtedness or the Representative of such holders shall have accelerated the maturity of such Designated Senior Indebtedness, the Company and the Guarantors may resume payments on the Subordinated Debt Securities and related Guarantees after such Payment Blockage Period. Not more than one Blockage Notice may be given in any consecutive 360-day period, irrespective of the number of defaults with respect to any number of issues of Designated Senior Indebtedness during such period, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.3 for the Subordinated Debt Securities of a series; provided, however, that in no event may the total number of days during which any Payment Blockage Period or Periods is in effect exceed 179 days in the aggregate during any 360 consecutive day period. For purposes of this Section 12.3, no default or event of default which existed or was continuing on the date of the commencement of any Payment Blockage Period with respect to the Designated Senior Indebtedness initiating such Payment Blockage Period shall be, or be made, the basis of the commencement of a subsequent Payment Blockage Period by the Representative of such Designated Senior Indebtedness, whether or not within a period of 360 consecutive days, unless such default or event of default shall have been cured or waived for a period of not less than 90 consecutive days.

Section 12.4 Acceleration of Payment of Debt Securities. If payment of the Subordinated Debt Securities is accelerated because of an Event of Default, the Company shall promptly notify the holders of the Designated Senior Indebtedness (or their Representatives) of the acceleration.

 

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Section 12.5 When Distribution Must Be Paid Over. If a distribution is made to Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities or a related Guarantee that because of this Article XII should not have been made to them, the Holders who receive such distribution shall hold it in trust for holders of Senior Indebtedness and pay it over to them as their interests may appear.

Section 12.6 Subrogation. After all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full and until the Subordinated Debt Securities are paid in full, Holders thereof shall be subrogated to the rights of holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive distributions applicable to Senior Indebtedness. A distribution made under this Article XII to holders of Senior Indebtedness which otherwise would have been made to Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities is not, as between the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, and such Holders, a payment by the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, on Senior Indebtedness.

Section 12.7 Relative Rights. This Article XII defines the relative rights of Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities and holders of Senior Indebtedness. Nothing in this Indenture shall:

(a) impair, as between the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, and Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities, the obligation of the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Subordinated Debt Securities in accordance with their terms; or

(b) prevent the Trustee or any Holder of Subordinated Debt Securities from exercising its available remedies upon an Event of Default, subject to the rights of holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive distributions otherwise payable to Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities.

Section 12.8 Subordination May Not Be Impaired by Company. No right of any holder of Senior Indebtedness to enforce the subordination of the Debt evidenced by the Subordinated Debt Securities and the Guarantee in respect thereof shall be impaired by any act or failure to act by the Company or the Guarantors or by its failure to comply with this Indenture.

Section 12.9 Rights of Trustee and Paying Agent. Notwithstanding Sections 12.2 and 12.3, the Trustee or any paying agent may continue to make payments on Subordinated Debt Securities and shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of facts that would prohibit the making of any such payments unless, not less than two Business Days prior to the date of such payment, a responsible officer of the Trustee receives notice satisfactory to it that payments may not be made under this Article XII. The Company, the Registrar, any paying agent, a Representative or a holder of Senior Indebtedness may give the notice; provided, however, that, if an issue of Senior Indebtedness has a Representative, only the Representative may give the notice on behalf of the Holders of the Senior Indebtedness of that issue.

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may hold Senior Indebtedness with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. The Registrar and any paying agent may do the same with like rights. The Trustee shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article XII with respect to any Senior Indebtedness which may at any time be held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness; and nothing in Article VII shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder. Nothing in this Article XII shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 7.6.

 

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Section 12.10 Distribution or Notice to Representative. Whenever a distribution is to be made or a notice given to holders of Senior Indebtedness, the distribution may be made and the notice given to their Representative (if any).

Section 12.11 Article XII Not to Prevent Defaults or Limit Right to Accelerate. The failure to make a payment pursuant to the Subordinated Debt Securities, whether directly or pursuant to the Guarantee, by reason of any provision in this Article XII shall not be construed as preventing the occurrence of a Default. Nothing in this Article XII shall have any effect on the right of the Holders or the Trustee to accelerate the maturity of either the Subordinated Debt Securities or the Debt Securities, as the case may be.

Section 12.12 Trust Moneys Not Subordinated. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, payments from money or the proceeds of U.S. Government Obligations held in trust under Article XI by the Trustee for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Subordinated Debt Securities or the Debt Securities shall not be subordinated to the prior payment of any Senior Indebtedness or subject to the restrictions set forth in this Article XII, and none of the Holders thereof shall be obligated to pay over any such amount to the Company, the Guarantors or any holder of Senior Indebtedness of the Company or the Guarantors or any other creditor of the Company or the Guarantors.

Section 12.13 Trustee Entitled to Rely. Upon any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article XII, the Trustee and the Holders shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction in which any proceedings of the nature referred to in Section 12.2 are pending, upon a certificate of the liquidating trustee or agent or other Person making such payment or distribution to the Trustee or to such Holders or upon the Representatives for the holders of Senior Indebtedness for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and other Debt of the Company or the Guarantors, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XII. In the event that the Trustee determines, in good faith, that evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article XII, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article XII, and, if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment. The provisions of Sections 7.1 and 7.2 shall be applicable to all actions or omissions of actions by the Trustee pursuant to this Article XII.

Section 12.14 Trustee to Effectuate Subordination. Each Holder by accepting a Subordinated Debt Security authorizes and directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the subordination between the Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities and the holders of Senior Indebtedness as provided in this Article XII and appoints the Trustee as attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

 

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Section 12.15 Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness and shall not be liable to any such holders if it shall mistakenly pay over or distribute to Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities or the Company or the Guarantors or any other Person, money or assets to which any holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article XII or otherwise.

Section 12.16 Reliance by Holders of Senior Indebtedness on Subordination Provisions. Each Holder by accepting a Subordinated Debt Security acknowledges and agrees that the foregoing subordination provisions are, and are intended to be, an inducement and a consideration to each holder of any Senior Indebtedness, whether such Senior Indebtedness was created or acquired before or after the issuance of the Subordinated Debt Securities, to acquire and continue to hold, or to continue to hold, such Senior Indebtedness and such holder of Senior Indebtedness shall be deemed conclusively to have relied on such subordination provisions in acquiring and continuing to hold, or in continuing to hold, such Senior Indebtedness.

ARTICLE XIII

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 13.1 Successors and Assigns of Company Bound by Indenture. All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained by or in behalf of the Company, the Guarantors or the Trustee shall bind their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

Section 13.2 Acts of Board, Committee or Officer of Successor Company Valid. Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the like board, committee or officer of any Successor Company.

Section 13.3 Required Notices or Demands. Any notice or communication by the Company, the Guarantors or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in Person or mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the other’s address:

If to the Company or any Guarantor:

Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc.

50 North Laura Street

Jacksonville, FL 32202

Attn: Chief Financial Officer

Telephone No.: (904) 357-9100

 

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If to the Trustee:

[                    ]

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

All notices and communications 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; on the first Business Day on or after being sent, if telecopied and the sender receives confirmation of successful transmission; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

Any notice required or permitted to a Holder by the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture shall be deemed to be properly mailed by being deposited postage prepaid in a post office letter box in the United States addressed to such Holder at the address of such Holder as shown on the Debt Security Register. Any report pursuant to Section 313 of the TIA shall be transmitted in compliance with subsection (c) therein.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any notice to Holders of Floating Rate Securities regarding the determination of a periodic rate of interest, if such notice is required pursuant to Section 2.3, shall be sufficiently given if given in the manner specified pursuant to Section 2.3.

In the event of suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give notice by mail, then such notification as shall be given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice for every purpose hereunder.

In the event it shall be impracticable to give notice by publication, then such notification as shall be given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice for every purpose hereunder.

Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it or any defect in any notice by publication as to a Holder shall not affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. If a notice or communication is mailed or published in the manner provided above, it is conclusively presumed duly given.

Section 13.4 Indenture and Debt Securities to Be Construed in Accordance with the Laws of the State of New York. THIS INDENTURE, EACH DEBT SECURITY AND THE GUARANTEE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE NEW YORK CONTRACTS, AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF SAID STATE.

Section 13.5 Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to Be Furnished upon Application or Demand by the Company. Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or demand as to which the furnishing of such document is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

 

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Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include (a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition, (b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based, (c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he 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.

Section 13.6 Payments Due on Legal Holidays. In any case where the date of maturity of interest on or principal of and premium, if any, on the Debt Securities of a series or the date fixed for redemption or repayment of any Debt Security or the making of any sinking fund payment shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment for the Debt Securities of such series, then payment of interest or principal and premium, if any, or the making of such sinking fund payment need not be made on such date at such Place of Payment, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the date of maturity or the date fixed for redemption, and no interest shall accrue for the period after such date. If a record date is not a Business Day, the record date shall not be affected.

Section 13.7 Provisions Required by TIA to Control. If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision included in this Indenture which is required to be included in this Indenture by any of Sections 310 to 318, inclusive, of the TIA, such required provision shall control.

Section 13.8 Computation of Interest on Debt Securities. Interest, if any, on the Debt Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to Section 2.3.

Section 13.9 Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Holders. The Registrar and any paying agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.

Section 13.10 No Recourse Against Others. The Company and its directors, officers, employees, incorporators and capital stockholders, as such, shall have no liability for any obligations of the Guarantors or the Company under the Debt Securities, this Indenture or the Guarantee or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Debt Security, each Holder shall be deemed to have waived and released all such liability. The waiver and release shall be part of the consideration for the issue of the Debt Securities.

 

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Section 13.11 Severability. In case any provision in this Indenture or the Debt Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 13.12 Effect of Headings. The article and section headings herein and in the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

Section 13.13 Indenture May Be Executed in Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original; but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

ARTICLE XIV

GUARANTEE

Section 14.1 Unconditional Guarantee.

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Article XIV to the contrary, the provisions of this Article XIV shall be applicable only to, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Debt Securities of any series designated, pursuant to Section 2.3, as entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee of each of the Guarantors.

(b) For value received, each of the Guarantors hereby fully, unconditionally and absolutely guarantees (the “Guarantee”) to the Holders and to the Trustee the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Debt Securities and all other amounts due and payable under this Indenture and the Debt Securities by the Company, when and as such principal, premium, if any, and interest shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, according to the terms of the Debt Securities and this Indenture, subject to (i) the limitations set forth in Section 14.3 and (ii) in the case of the Guarantee of the Subordinated Debt Securities, to the subordination provisions contained in Article XII.

(c) Failing payment when due of any amount guaranteed pursuant to the Guarantee, for whatever reason, each of the Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately , subject, in the case of the Guarantee of the Subordinated Debt Securities, to the subordination provisions contained in Article XII. The Guarantee hereunder (other than the Guarantee of Subordinated Debt Securities) is intended to be a general, unsecured, senior obligation of each of the Guarantors and will rank pari passu in right of payment with all Debt of each Guarantor that is not, by its terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee. Each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be full, unconditional and absolute, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Debt Securities, the Guarantee (including the Guarantee of any other Guarantor) or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Debt Securities with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company or any other Guarantor, or any action to enforce the same or any other circumstances which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of any of the Guarantors. Each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that in the event of a default in payment

 

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of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Debt Securities, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, legal proceedings may be instituted by the Trustee on behalf of the Holders or, subject to Section 6.4, by the Holders, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Indenture, directly against such Guarantor to enforce the Guarantee without first proceeding against the Company or any other Guarantor.

(d) The obligations of each of the Guarantors under this Article XIV shall be as aforesaid full, unconditional and absolute and shall not be impaired, modified, released or limited by any occurrence or condition whatsoever, including, without limitation, (A) any compromise, settlement, release, waiver, renewal, extension, indulgence or modification of, or any change in, any of the obligations and liabilities of the Company or any of the Guarantors contained in the Debt Securities or this Indenture, (B) any impairment, modification, release or limitation of the liability of the Company, any of the Guarantors or any of their estates in bankruptcy, or any remedy for the enforcement thereof, resulting from the operation of any present or future provision of any applicable Bankruptcy Law, as amended, or other statute or from the decision of any court, (C) the assertion or exercise by the Company, any of the Guarantors or the Trustee of any rights or remedies under the Debt Securities or this Indenture or their delay in or failure to assert or exercise any such rights or remedies, (D) the assignment or the purported assignment of any property as security for the Debt Securities, including all or any part of the rights of the Company or any of the Guarantors under this Indenture, (E) the extension of the time for payment by the Company or any of the Guarantors of any payments or other sums or any part thereof owing or payable under any of the terms and provisions of the Debt Securities or this Indenture or of the time for performance by the Company or any of the Guarantors of any other obligations under or arising out of any such terms and provisions or the extension or the renewal of any thereof, (F) the modification or amendment (whether material or otherwise) of any duty, agreement or obligation of the Company or any of the Guarantors set forth in this Indenture, (G) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets, marshaling of assets and liabilities, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of, or other similar proceeding affecting, the Company or any of the Guarantors or any of their respective assets, or the disaffirmance of the Debt Securities, the Guarantee or this Indenture in any such proceeding, (H) the release or discharge of the Company or any of the Guarantors from the performance or observance of any agreement, covenant, term or condition contained in any of such instruments by operation of law, (I) the unenforceability of the Debt Securities, the Guarantee or this Indenture or (J) any other circumstances (other than payment in full or discharge of all amounts guaranteed pursuant to the Guarantee) which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a surety or guarantor.

(e) Each of the Guarantors hereby (A) waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of the merger, insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company or any of the Guarantors, and all demands whatsoever, (B) acknowledges that any agreement, instrument or document evidencing the Guarantee may be transferred and that the benefit of its obligations hereunder shall extend to each holder of any agreement, instrument or document evidencing the Guarantee without notice to it and (C) covenants that the Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the Guarantee. Each of the Guarantors further agrees that if at any time all or any part of any payment theretofore applied by any Person to the Guarantee is, or must be, rescinded or returned for any reason whatsoever,

 

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including without limitation, the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or any of the Guarantors, the Guarantee shall, to the extent that such payment is or must be rescinded or returned, be deemed to have continued in existence notwithstanding such application, and the Guarantee shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, as though such application had not been made.

(f) Each of the Guarantors shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holders and the Trustee against the Company in respect of any amounts paid by such Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, provided, however, that such Guarantor, shall not be entitled to enforce or to receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all of the Debt Securities and the Guarantee shall have been paid in full or discharged.

Section 14.2 Execution and Delivery of Guarantee. To further evidence the Guarantee set forth in Section 14.1, each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that a notation relating to such Guarantee, substantially in the form attached hereto as Annex A, shall be endorsed on each Debt Security entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and executed by either manual or facsimile signature of an officer of such Guarantor, or in the case of a Guarantor that is a limited partnership, an officer of the general partner of each Guarantor. Each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that the Guarantee set forth in Section 14.1 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Debt Security a notation relating to the Guarantee. If any officer of any Guarantor, or in the case of a Guarantor that is a limited partnership, any officer of the general partner of the Guarantor, whose signature is on this Indenture or a Debt Security no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates such Debt Security or at any time thereafter, the Guarantee of such Debt Security shall be valid nevertheless. The delivery of any Debt Security by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.

The Trustee hereby accepts the trusts in this Indenture upon the terms and conditions herein set forth.

Section 14.3 Limitation on Guarantors’ Liability. Each Guarantor and by its acceptance hereof each Holder of a Debt Security entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee hereby confirm that it is the intention of all such parties that the guarantee by such Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of any Federal or state law. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Holders of a Debt Security entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each Guarantor under the Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor and to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under the Guarantee, not result in the obligations of such Guarantor under the Guarantee constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under Federal or state law.

Section 14.4 Release of Guarantors from Guarantee.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Guarantee of any Guarantor may be released upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Section

 

60


11.2(b) and in this Section 14.4. Provided that no Default shall have occurred and shall be continuing under this Indenture, the Guarantee incurred by a Guarantor pursuant to this Article XIV shall be unconditionally released and discharged (i) automatically upon (A) any sale, exchange or transfer, whether by way of merger or otherwise, to any Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company, of all of the Company’s direct or indirect limited partnership or other equity interests in such Guarantor (provided such sale, exchange or transfer is not prohibited by this Indenture) or (B) the merger of such Guarantor into the Company or any other Guarantor or the liquidation and dissolution of such Guarantor (in each case to the extent not prohibited by this Indenture) or (ii) following delivery of a written notice of such release or discharge by the Company to the Trustee, upon the release or discharge of all guarantees by such Guarantor of any Debt of the Company other than obligations arising under this Indenture and any Debt Securities issued hereunder, except a discharge or release by or as a result of payment under such guarantees.

(b) The Trustee shall deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing any release of a Guarantor from the Guarantee upon receipt of a written request of the Company accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Guarantor is entitled to such release in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture. Any Guarantor not so released shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debt Securities entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee as provided in this Indenture, subject to the limitations of Section 14.3.

Section 14.5 Guarantor Contribution. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution among the Guarantors, the Guarantors hereby agree, inter se, that in the event any payment or distribution is made by any Guarantor (a “Funding Guarantor”) under the Guarantee, such Funding Guarantor shall be entitled to a contribution from each other Guarantor (if any) in a pro rata amount based on the net assets of each Guarantor (including the Funding Guarantor) for all payments, damages and expenses incurred by that Funding Guarantor in discharging the Company’s obligations with respect to the Debt Securities or any other Guarantor’s obligations with respect to the Guarantee.

[Remainder of This Page Intentionally Left Blank.]

 

61


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

 

RAYONIER TRS HOLDINGS INC.

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NAME OF GUARANTOR(S)]

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

[                                         ], as Trustee

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

62


ANNEX A

NOTATION OF GUARANTEE

Each of the Guarantors (which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture), has fully, unconditionally and absolutely guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Debt Securities and all other amounts due and payable under the Indenture and the Debt Securities by the Company.

The obligations of the Guarantors to the Holders of Debt Securities and to the Trustee pursuant to the Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article XIV of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Guarantee.

 

[NAME OF GUARANTOR(S)]

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

A-1

EX-4.6 6 dex46.htm FORM OF SENIOR INDENTURE - RAYONIER FOREST RESOURCES, L.P. Form of Senior Indenture - Rayonier Forest Resources, L.P.

Exhibit 4.6

[Form of Senior Indenture]

 


RAYONIER FOREST RESOURCES, LP,

AS ISSUER,

any Guarantors party hereto,

and

[                                                 ],

as Trustee

INDENTURE

Dated as of                     

Debt Securities

 



CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

TIA Section

   Indenture Section

310

  (a)    7.10
  (b)    7.10
  (c)    N.A.

311

  (a)    7.11
  (b)    7.11
  (c)    N.A.

312

  (a)    5.1
  (b)    5.2
  (c)    5.2

313

  (a)    5.3
  (b)    5.3
  (c)    13.3
  (d)    5.3

314

  (a)    4.5
  (b)    N.A.
  (c)(1)    13.5
  (c)(2)    13.5
  (c)(3)    N.A.
  (d)    N.A.
  (e)    13.5
  (f)    N.A.

315

  (a)    7.1
  (b)    6.7 & 13.3
  (c)    7.1
  (d)    7.1
  (e)    6.8

316

  (a) (last sentence)    1.1
  (a)(1)(A)    6.6
  (a)(1)(B)    6.6
  (a)(2)    9.1(d)
  (b)    6.4
  (c)    5.4

317

  (a)(1)    6.2
  (a)(2)    6.2
  (b)    4.4

318

  (a)    13.7

N.A. means Not Applicable

NOTE: This Cross-Reference table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed part of this Indenture.

 

i


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page

RAYONIER FOREST RESOURCES, LP,

 

AS ISSUER,

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Section 1.1

  Definitions    1

Section 1.2

  Other Definitions    7

Section 1.3

  Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act    7

Section 1.4

  Rules of Construction    7

ARTICLE II

 

DEBT SECURITIES

Section 2.1

  Forms Generally    8

Section 2.2

  Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication    8

Section 2.3

  Principal Amount; Issuable in Series    8

Section 2.4

  Execution of Debt Securities    11

Section 2.5

  Authentication and Delivery of Debt Securities    11

Section 2.6

  Denomination of Debt Securities    12

Section 2.7

  Registration of Transfer and Exchange.    13

Section 2.8

  Temporary Debt Securities    14

Section 2.9

  Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debt Securities    15

Section 2.10

  Cancellation of Surrendered Debt Securities    15

Section 2.11

  Provisions of the Indenture and Debt Securities for the Sole Benefit of the Parties and the Holders    16

Section 2.12

  Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved    16

Section 2.13

  Securities Denominated in Dollars    16

Section 2.14

  Wire Transfers    16

Section 2.15

  Securities Issuable in the Form of a Global Security    16

Section 2.16

  Medium Term Securities    19

Section 2.17

  Defaulted Interest    19

Section 2.18

  CUSIP Numbers    20

 

ii


ARTICLE III

 

REDEMPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

Section 3.1

  Applicability of Article    21

Section 3.2

  Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debt Securities    21

Section 3.3

  Payment of Debt Securities Called for Redemption    22

Section 3.4

  Mandatory and Optional Sinking Funds    23

Section 3.5

  Redemption of Debt Securities for Sinking Fund    23

ARTICLE IV

 

PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE PARTNERSHIP

Section 4.1

  Payment of Principal of, and Premium, If Any, and Interest on, Debt Securities    25

Section 4.2

  Maintenance of Offices or Agencies for Registration of Transfer, Exchange and Payment of Debt Securities    25

Section 4.3

  Appointment to Fill a Vacancy in the Office of Trustee    25

Section 4.4

  Duties of Paying Agents, etc    26

Section 4.5

  SEC Reports; Financial Statements    27

Section 4.6

  Compliance Certificate    27

Section 4.7

  Further Instruments and Acts    27

Section 4.8

  Waiver of Certain Covenants    27

ARTICLE V

 

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE

Section 5.1

  Partnership to Furnish Trustee Information as to Names and Addresses of Holders; Preservation of Information    27

Section 5.2

  Communications to Holders    28

Section 5.3

  Reports by Trustee    28

Section 5.4

  Record Dates for Action by Holders    28

ARTICLE VI

 

REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND HOLDERS IN EVENT OF DEFAULT

Section 6.1

  Events of Default    29

Section 6.2

  Collection of Debt by Trustee, etc.    31

Section 6.3

  Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee    32

Section 6.4

  Limitation on Suits by Holders    33

Section 6.5

  Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission in Exercise of Rights Not a Waiver of Default    34

Section 6.6

  Rights of Holders of Majority in Principal Amount of Debt Securities to Direct Trustee and to Waive Default    34

 

iii


Section 6.7

  Trustee to Give Notice of Events of Defaults Known to It, but May Withhold Such Notice in Certain Circumstances    34

Section 6.8

  Requirement of an Undertaking to Pay Costs in Certain Suits under the Indenture or Against the Trustee    35

ARTICLE VII

 

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

Section 7.1

  Certain Duties and Responsibilities    35

Section 7.2

  Certain Rights of Trustee    36

Section 7.3

  Trustee Not Liable for Recitals in Indenture or in Debt Securities    37

Section 7.4

  Trustee, Paying Agent or Registrar May Own Debt Securities    38

Section 7.5

  Moneys Received by Trustee to Be Held in Trust    38

Section 7.6

  Compensation and Reimbursement    38

Section 7.7

  Right of Trustee to Rely on an Officers’ Certificate Where No Other Evidence Specifically Prescribed    38

Section 7.8

  Separate Trustee; Replacement of Trustee    39

Section 7.9

  Successor Trustee by Merger    40

Section 7.10

  Eligibility; Disqualification    40

Section 7.11

  Preferential Collection of Claims Against Partnership    40

Section 7.12

  Compliance with Tax Laws    41

ARTICLE VIII

 

CONCERNING THE HOLDERS

Section 8.1

  Evidence of Action by Holders    41

Section 8.2

  Proof of Execution of Instruments and of Holding of Debt Securities    41

Section 8.3

  Who May Be Deemed Owner of Debt Securities    41

Section 8.4

  Instruments Executed by Holders Bind Future Holders    42

ARTICLE IX

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 9.1

  Purposes for Which Supplemental Indenture May Be Entered into Without Consent of Holders    42

Section 9.2

  Modification of Indenture with Consent of Holders of Debt Securities    44

Section 9.3

  Effect of Supplemental Indentures    45

Section 9.4

  Debt Securities May Bear Notation of Changes by Supplemental Indentures    45

ARTICLE X

 

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE

Section 10.1

  Consolidations and Mergers of the Partnership    46

 

iv


Section 10.2

  Rights and Duties of Successor Partnership    46

ARTICLE XI

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF

 

INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS

Section 11.1

  Applicability of Article    47

Section 11.2

  Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance    47

Section 11.3

  Conditions of Defeasance    48

Section 11.4

  Application of Trust Money    49

Section 11.5

  Repayment to Partnership    49

Section 11.6

  Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations    49

Section 11.7

  Reinstatement    49

ARTICLE XII

 

[RESERVED]

 

ARTICLE XIII

 

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 13.1

  Successors and Assigns of Partnership Bound by Indenture    50

Section 13.2

  Acts of Board, Committee or Officer of Successor Partnership Valid    50

Section 13.3

  Required Notices or Demands    50

Section 13.4

  Indenture and Debt Securities to Be Construed in Accordance with the Laws of the State of New York    51

Section 13.5

  Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to Be Furnished upon Application or Demand by the Partnership    51

Section 13.6

  Payments Due on Legal Holidays    52

Section 13.7

  Provisions Required by TIA to Control    52

Section 13.8

  Computation of Interest on Debt Securities    52

Section 13.9

  Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar    52

Section 13.10

  No Recourse Against Others    52

Section 13.11

  Severability    52

Section 13.12

  Effect of Headings    52

Section 13.13

  Indenture May Be Executed in Counterparts    52

ARTICLE XIV

 

GUARANTEE

Section 14.1

  Unconditional Guarantee    53

Section 14.2

  Execution and Delivery of Guarantee    54

Section 14.3

  Limitation on Guarantors’ Liability    55

 

v


Section 14.4

  Release of Guarantors from Guarantee    55

Section 14.5

  Guarantor Contribution    56

Notation of Guarantee        Annex A

 

vi


THIS INDENTURE dated as of                  is among Rayonier Forest Resources, LP, a [Delaware] limited partnership (the “Partnership”), any Guarantors (as defined herein) party hereto, and [                                         ], as trustee (the “Trustee”).

RECITALS OF THE PARTNERSHIP AND ANY GUARANTORS

The Partnership and any Guarantors have duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of the Partnership’s debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness to be issued in one or more series unlimited as to principal amount (herein called the “Debt Securities”), which Debt Securities may be guaranteed by each of the Guarantors, as in this Indenture provided.

All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Partnership and any Guarantors, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH

That in order to declare the terms and conditions upon which the Debt Securities are authenticated, issued and delivered, and in consideration of the premises, and of the purchase and acceptance of the Debt Securities by the Holders thereof, the Partnership, any Guarantor and the Trustee covenant and agree with each other, for the benefit of the respective Holders from time to time of the Debt Securities or any series thereof, as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Section 1.1 Definitions.

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the 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 the Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise. The Trustee may request and may conclusively rely upon an Officers’ Certificate to determine whether any Person is an Affiliate of any specified Person.

“Agent” means any Registrar or paying agent.

“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors, or the law of any other jurisdiction relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, winding up, liquidation, reorganization or relief of debtors.

“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the General Partner or any authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the General Partner or any directors and/or officers of the General Partner to whom such Board of Directors or such committee shall have duly delegated its authority to act hereunder. If the Partnership shall change its form of entity to other than a limited partnership, the references to the Board of Directors of the General Partner shall mean the Board of Directors (or other comparable governing body) of the Partnership.


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

“Capital stock” of any Person means and includes any and all shares, rights to purchase, warrants or options (whether or not currently exercisable), participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) the equity (which includes, but is not limited to, common stock, preferred stock and partnership and joint venture interests) of such Person (excluding any debt securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable for, such equity).

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

“Debt” of any Person at any date means any obligation created or assumed by such Person for the repayment of borrowed money and any guarantee thereof.

“Debt Security” or “Debt Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any debt security or debt securities, as the case may be, of any series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

“Default” means any event, act or condition that is, or after notice or the passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

“Depositary” means, unless otherwise specified by the Partnership pursuant to either Sections 2.3 or 2.15, with respect to Debt Securities of any series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, or any successor thereto registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute or regulations.

“Dollar” or “$” means such currency of the United States as at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any successor statute.

“Floating Rate Security” means a Debt Security that provides for the payment of interest at a variable rate determined periodically by reference to an interest rate index specified pursuant to Section 2.3.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, as in effect from time to time.

“General Partner” means Rayonier Timberland management, LLC, a [Delaware] limited liability company.

“Global Security” means with respect to any series of Debt Securities issued hereunder, a Debt Security which is executed by the Partnership and authenticated and delivered by the

 

2


Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance with this Indenture and any Indentures supplemental hereto, or resolution of the Board of Directors and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee and which shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, all the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series or any portion thereof, in either case having the same terms, including, without limitation, the same original issue date, date or dates on which principal is due and interest rate or method of determining interest.

“Guarantee” means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Debt or other obligation of any other Person and any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Debt or other obligation of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise) or (b) entered into for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Debt or other obligation of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part); provided, however, 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 any Subsidiary of the Partnership and any other Affiliate of the Partnership, who may execute this Indenture, or a supplement hereto, for the purpose of providing a Guarantee of Debt Securities pursuant to this Indenture until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Guarantors” shall mean such successor Person.

“Holder,” “Holder of Debt Securities” or other similar terms means, a Person in whose name a Debt Security is registered in the Debt Security Register (as defined in Section 2.7(a)).

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed, or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented and shall include the form and terms of particular series of Debt Securities as contemplated hereunder, whether or not a supplemental Indenture is entered into with respect thereto.

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

“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, security interest, pledge, charge or other encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law.

 

3


“Officer” means, with respect to a Person, the President, the Chief Executive Officer, any Vice President (whether unmodified or prefaced by “Senior,” “Assistant” or any other designation), the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, Controller, Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of such Person.

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or Chief Accounting Officer of the General Partner (or if the Partnership shall change its form of entity to other than a limited partnership or the Partnership’s general partner shall have officers, by Persons, officers, members, agents and others holding positions comparable to those of the foregoing nature, as applicable).

“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 Partnership or the Trustee.

“Original Issue Discount Debt Security” means any Debt Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.1.

“Outstanding,” when used with respect to any series of Debt Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Debt Securities of that series theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

 

  (a) Debt Securities of that series theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

  (b) Debt Securities of that series for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any paying agent (other than the Partnership) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Partnership (if the Partnership shall act as its own paying agent) for the Holders of such Debt Securities; provided, that, if such Debt Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made; and

 

  (c) Debt Securities of that series which have been paid pursuant to Section 2.9 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Debt Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Debt Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Debt Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Debt Securities are valid obligations of the Partnership;

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Debt Securities owned by the Partnership or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities or any Affiliate of the Partnership or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Debt Securities which a Trust Officer actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Debt Securities so owned which have

 

4


been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Debt Securities and that the pledgee is not the Partnership or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities or an Affiliate of the Partnership or of such other obligor. In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Debt Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Debt Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.1.

“Partnership” means the Person named as the “Partnership” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Partnership” shall mean such successor Person.

“Partnership Request” and “Partnership Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Partnership by the President, the Chief Executive Officer or any Vice President of the General Partner, and delivered to the Trustee, or if the Partnership shall change its form of entity to other than a limited partnership, by Persons or officers, members, agents and others holding positions comparable to those of the foregoing nature, as applicable.

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

“Redemption Date,” when used with respect to any Debt Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

“Reporting Failure” means the failure of the Partnership or a Guarantor, as applicable, to file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Partnership or a Guarantor is required to file the same with the SEC within the time periods specified in the Exchange Act or in the relevant forms thereunder (after giving effect to any grace period specified under Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act), the annual reports, information, documents or other reports that the Partnership or the Guarantor is required to file with the commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor statute.

“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision (but excluding any provision providing for the repurchase of such security at the option of the holder thereof upon the happening of any contingency beyond the control of the issuer unless such contingency has occurred).

 

5


“Subsidiary” of any Person means:

 

  (1) any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of equity interests entitled, without regard to the occurrence of any contingency, to vote in the election of directors, managers, trustees or equivalent Persons thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person or combination thereof; or

 

  (2) in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the partners’ equity interests, considering all partners’ equity interests as a single class, is at such time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person or combination thereof.

“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§77aaa-77bbbb), as in effect on the date of this Indenture as originally executed and, to the extent required by law, as amended.

“Trustee” initially means [                                ] and any other Person or Persons appointed as such from time to time pursuant to Section 7.8, and, subject to the provisions of Article VII, includes its or their successors and assigns. If at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Debt Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of that series.

“Trust Officer” means any officer or assistant officer of the Trustee assigned by the Trustee to administer its corporate trust matters.

“United States” means the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.

“U.S. Government Obligations” means direct obligations of the United States of America, obligations on which the payment of principal and interest is fully guaranteed by the United States of America or obligations or guarantees for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged.

“Yield to Maturity” means the yield to maturity, calculated at the time of issuance of a series of Debt Securities, or, if applicable, at the most recent redetermination of interest on such series and calculated in accordance with accepted financial practice.

 

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Section 1.2 Other Definitions.

 

Term

   Defined in Section

“Debt Security Register”

   2.7

“Defaulted Interest”

   2.17

“Event of Default”

   6.1

“Funding Guarantor”

   14.5

“Guarantee”

   14.1

“Place of Payment”

   2.3

“Registrar”

   2.7

“Successor Partnership”

   10.1

Section 1.3 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.

All terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA have the meanings so assigned to them.

Section 1.4 Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires:

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

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

(c) “or” is not exclusive;

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

(e) all references in this instrument to “Articles,” “Sections” and other subdivisions are to the designated Articles, Sections and subdivisions of this instrument as originally executed;

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

(g) “including” means “including without limitation;”

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

(i) the principal amount of any noninterest bearing or other discount security at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP.

 

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ARTICLE II

DEBT SECURITIES

Section 2.1 Forms Generally. The Debt Securities of each series shall be in substantially the form established without the approval of any Holder by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or in one or more Indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as the Partnership may deem appropriate (and, if not contained in a supplemental Indenture entered into in accordance with Article IX, as are not prohibited by the provisions of this Indenture) or as may be required or appropriate to comply with any law or with any rules made pursuant thereto or with any rules of any securities exchange on which such series of Debt Securities may be listed, or to conform to general usage, or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Debt Securities as evidenced by their execution of the Debt Securities.

The definitive Debt Securities of each series shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Debt Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Debt Securities.

Section 2.2 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication. The Trustee’s certificate of authentication on all Debt Securities authenticated by the Trustee shall be in substantially the following form:

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Debt Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

[                                         ],
As Trustee

 

By:

 

 

  Authorized Signatory

Section 2.3 Principal Amount; Issuable in Series. The aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities which may be issued, executed, authenticated, delivered and outstanding under this Indenture is unlimited.

The Debt Securities may be issued in one or more series in fully registered form. There shall be established, without the approval of any Holders, in or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more Indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Debt Securities of any series any or all of the following:

(a) the title of the Debt Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Debt Securities of the series from all other Debt Securities);

 

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(b) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Debt Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Debt Securities of the series pursuant to this Article II);

(c) the date or dates on which the principal of and premium, if any, on the Debt Securities of the series are payable;

(d) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which the Debt Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method of determining such rate or rates, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the interest payment dates on which such interest shall be payable, or the method by which such date will be determined, the record dates for the determination of Holders thereof to whom such interest is payable; and the basis upon which interest will be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve thirty-day months;

(e) the place or places, if any, in addition to or instead of the corporate trust office of the Trustee, where the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, Debt Securities of the series shall be payable (“Place of Payment”);

(f) the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which Debt Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Partnership or otherwise;

(g) whether Debt Securities of the series are entitled to the benefits of any Guarantee of any Guarantors pursuant to this Indenture;

(h) the obligation, if any, of the Partnership to redeem, purchase or repay Debt Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof, and the price or prices at which and the period or periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which Debt Securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligations;

(i) the terms, if any, upon which the Debt Securities of the series may be convertible into or exchanged for capital stock (which may be represented by depositary shares), other Debt Securities or warrants for capital stock or Debt or other securities of any kind of the Partnership or any other obligor and the terms and conditions upon which such conversion or exchange shall be effected, including the initial conversion or exchange price or rate, the conversion or exchange period and any other provision in addition to or in lieu of those described herein;

(j) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which Debt Securities of the series shall be issuable;

(k) if the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on Debt Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts will be determined;

 

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(l) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of Debt Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to such Stated Maturity, the amount which will be deemed to be such principal amount as of any such date for any purpose, including the principal amount thereof which will be due and payable upon any maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which will be deemed to be Outstanding as of any such date (or, in any such case, the manner in which such deemed principal amount is to be determined);

(m) any changes or additions to Article XI, including the addition of additional covenants that may be subject to the covenant defeasance option pursuant to Section 11.2(b);

(n) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Debt Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.1 or provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 6.2;

(o) the terms, if any, of the transfer, mortgage, pledge or assignment as security for the Debt Securities of the series of any properties, assets, moneys, proceeds, securities or other collateral, including whether certain provisions of the TIA are applicable and any corresponding changes to provisions of this Indenture as currently in effect;

(p) any addition to or change in the Events of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the Holders to declare the principal of, and premium and interest on, such Debt Securities due and payable;

(q) if the Debt Securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security or Securities, the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such Global Security or Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual Debt Securities in definitive registered form; and the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities and the form of any legend or legends to be borne by any such Global Security or Securities in addition to or in lieu of the legend referred to in Section 2.15(a);

(r) any trustees, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars;

(s) the applicability of, and any addition to or change in the covenants and definitions currently set forth in this Indenture or in the terms currently set forth in Article X, including conditioning any merger, conveyance, transfer or lease permitted by Article X upon the satisfaction of any Debt coverage standard by the Partnership and Successor Partnership (as defined in Article X);

(t) with regard to Debt Securities of the series that do not bear interest, the dates for certain required reports to the Trustee; and

(u) any other terms of the Debt Securities of the series (which terms shall not be prohibited by the provisions of this Indenture).

All Debt Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such resolution of the Board of Directors and as set forth in such Officers’ Certificate or in any such Indenture supplemental hereto.

 

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Section 2.4 Execution of Debt Securities. The Debt Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Partnership by one Officer of the General Partner and, if the seal of the General Partner is reproduced thereon, it shall be attested by its Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, a Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer. Such signatures upon the Debt Securities may be the manual or facsimile signatures of the present or any future such authorized officers and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Debt Securities. The seal of the General Partner, if any, may be in the form of a facsimile thereof and may be impressed, affixed, imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Debt Securities.

Only such Debt Securities as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form hereinbefore recited, signed manually by the Trustee, shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate by the Trustee upon any Debt Security executed by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall be conclusive evidence that the Debt Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.

In case any officer of the General Partner who shall have signed any of the Debt Securities shall cease to be such officer before the Debt Securities so signed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, or disposed of by the Partnership, such Debt Securities nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the Person who signed such Debt Securities had not ceased to be such officer of the General Partner; and any Debt Security may be signed on behalf of the General Partner by such Persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Debt Security, shall be the proper officers of the General Partner, although at the date of such Debt Security or of the execution of this Indenture any such Person was not such officer.

Section 2.5 Authentication and Delivery of Debt Securities. At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Partnership may deliver to the Trustee for authentication Debt Securities of any series executed by the Partnership, and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver said Debt Securities to or upon a Partnership Order. In authenticating such Debt Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Debt Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon:

(a) a copy of any resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the General Partner, authorizing the terms of issuance of any series of Debt Securities;

(b) an executed supplemental Indenture, if any;

(c) an Officers’ Certificate; and

(d) an Opinion of Counsel prepared in accordance with Section 13.5 which shall also state:

(i) that the form of such Debt Securities has been established by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or by a supplemental Indenture as permitted by Section 2.1 in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

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(ii) that the terms of such Debt Securities have been established by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or by a supplemental Indenture as permitted by Section 2.3 in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(iii) that such Debt Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Partnership in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Partnership, enforceable in accordance with their terms except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and rights of acceleration and the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability;

(iv) that the Partnership has the partnership power to issue such Debt Securities and has duly taken all necessary partnership action with respect to such issuance;

(v) that the issuance of such Debt Securities will not contravene the organizational documents of the Partnership or result in any material violation of any of the terms or provisions of any law or regulation or of any material indenture, mortgage or other agreement known to such counsel by which the Partnership is bound;

(vi) that authentication and delivery of such Debt Securities and the execution and delivery of any supplemental Indenture will not violate the terms of this Indenture; and

(vii) such other matters as the Trustee may reasonably request.

Such Opinion of Counsel need express no opinion as to whether a court in the United States would render a money judgment in a currency other than that of the United States.

The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Debt Securities under this Section 2.5 if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee or a trust committee of directors, trustees or Officers (or any combination thereof) shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to existing Holders.

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

Unless otherwise provided in the form of Debt Security for any series, each Debt Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

Section 2.6 Denomination of Debt Securities. Unless otherwise provided in the form of Debt Security for any series, the Debt Securities of each series shall be issuable only as fully registered Debt Securities in such Dollar denominations as shall be specified or contemplated by

 

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Section 2.3. In the absence of any such specification with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, the Debt Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

Section 2.7 Registration of Transfer and Exchange. The Partnership shall keep or cause to be kept a register for each series of Debt Securities issued hereunder (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Debt Security Register”), in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Partnership shall provide for the registration of all Debt Securities and the transfer of Debt Securities as in this Article II provided. At all reasonable times the Debt Security Register shall be open for inspection by the Trustee. Subject to Section 2.15, upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debt Security at any office or agency to be maintained by the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.2, the Partnership shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Debt Security or Debt Securities of authorized denominations for a like aggregate principal amount. In no event may Debt Securities be issued as, or exchanged for, bearer securities.

Unless and until otherwise determined by the Partnership by resolution of the Board of Directors, the Debt Security Register shall be kept at the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee and, for this purpose, the Trustee shall be designated “Registrar.”

Debt Securities of any series (other than a Global Security, except as set forth below) may be exchanged for a like aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities of the same series of other authorized denominations. Subject to Section 2.15, Debt Securities to be exchanged shall be surrendered at the office or agency to be maintained by the Partnership as provided in Section 4.2, and the Partnership shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor the Debt Security or Debt Securities which the Holder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive.

(b) All Debt Securities presented or surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange or payment shall (if so required by the Partnership, the Trustee or the Registrar) be duly endorsed or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Partnership, the Trustee and the Registrar, duly executed by the Holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

All Debt Securities issued in exchange for or upon transfer of Debt Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Partnership, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Debt Securities surrendered for such exchange or transfer.

No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Debt Securities (except as provided by Section 2.9), but the Partnership may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee, assessment or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto, other than those expressly provided in this Indenture to be made at the Partnership’s own expense or without expense or without charge to the Holders.

The Partnership shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Debt Securities for a period of 15 days next preceding any mailing of notice of redemption of Debt Securities of such series or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Debt Securities selected, called or being called for redemption.

 

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Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Debt Security, the Partnership, the Guarantors, the Trustee, any paying agent or any Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name a Debt Security is registered as the absolute owner of such Debt Security for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.12) interest on, such Debt Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Debt Security is overdue, and none of the Partnership, the Guarantors, the Trustee, any paying agent or any Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

None of the Partnership, the Guarantors, the Trustee, any agent of the Trustee, any paying agent or any Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

Section 2.8 Temporary Debt Securities. Pending the preparation of definitive Debt Securities of any series, the Partnership may execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver temporary Debt Securities (printed, lithographed, photocopied, typewritten or otherwise produced) of any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the definitive Debt Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Debt Securities, all as may be determined by the Partnership with the concurrence of the Trustee. Temporary Debt Securities may contain such reference to any provisions of this Indenture as may be appropriate. Every temporary Debt Security shall be executed by the Partnership and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive Debt Securities.

If temporary Debt Securities of any series are issued, the Partnership will cause definitive Debt Securities of such series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Debt Securities of such series, the temporary Debt Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Debt Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Debt Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Partnership at a Place of Payment for such series, without charge to the Holder thereof, except as provided in Section 2.7 in connection with a transfer. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Debt Securities of any series, the Partnership shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Debt Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor. Until so exchanged, temporary Debt Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Debt Securities of such series.

Upon any exchange of a portion of a temporary Global Security for a definitive Global Security or for the individual Debt Securities represented thereby pursuant to Section 2.7 or this Section 2.8, the temporary Global Security shall be endorsed by the Trustee to reflect the reduction of the principal amount evidenced thereby, whereupon the principal amount of such temporary Global Security shall be reduced for all purposes by the amount to be exchanged and endorsed.

 

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Section 2.9 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debt Securities. If (a) any mutilated Debt Security is surrendered to the Trustee at its corporate trust office or (b) the Partnership and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Debt Security, and there is delivered to the Partnership and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any paying agent harmless, and neither the Partnership nor the Trustee receives notice that such Debt Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, then the Partnership shall execute and, upon a Partnership Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security, a new Debt Security of the same series of like tenor, form, terms and principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously Outstanding. Upon the issuance of any substituted Debt Security, the Partnership or the Trustee may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee, assessment or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses connected therewith. In case any Debt Security which has matured or is about to mature or which has been called for redemption shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Partnership may, instead of issuing a substituted Debt Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Debt Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish the Partnership and the Trustee with such security or indemnity as either may require to save it harmless from all risk, however remote, and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to the satisfaction of the Partnership and the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Debt Security and of the ownership thereof.

Every substituted Debt Security of any series issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.9 by virtue of the fact that any Debt Security is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Partnership, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security shall be found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Debt Securities of that series duly issued hereunder. All Debt Securities shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Securities, and shall preclude any and all other rights or remedies, notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.

Section 2.10 Cancellation of Surrendered Debt Securities. All Debt Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Partnership or any paying agent or a Registrar, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation by it, or if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be canceled by it, and no Debt Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. All canceled Debt Securities held by the Trustee shall be destroyed (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act) and certification of their destruction delivered to the Partnership, unless otherwise directed. On request of the Partnership, the Trustee shall deliver to the Partnership canceled Debt Securities held by the Trustee. If the Partnership shall acquire any of the Debt Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the Debt represented thereby unless and until the same are delivered or surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation. The Partnership may not issue new Debt Securities to replace Debt Securities it has redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

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Section 2.11 Provisions of the Indenture and Debt Securities for the Sole Benefit of the Parties and the Holders. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities, expressed or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, the Holders or any Registrar or paying agent, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Indenture, or under any covenant, condition or provision herein contained; all its covenants, conditions and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto, the Holders and any Registrar and paying agents.

Section 2.12 Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

(a) Interest on any Debt Security that is payable and is punctually paid or duly provided for on any interest payment date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Debt Security is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest notwithstanding the cancellation of such Debt Security upon any transfer or exchange subsequent to the regular record date. Payment of interest on Debt Securities shall be made at the corporate trust office of the Trustee (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.3), or at the option of the Partnership, by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Debt Security Register or, if provided pursuant to Section 2.3 and in accordance with arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee, at the option of the Holder by wire transfer to an account designated by the Holder.

(b) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.12 and Section 2.17, each Debt Security of a particular series delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Debt Security of the same series shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Debt Security.

Section 2.13 Securities Denominated in Dollars. Except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.3 for Debt Securities of any series, payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, Debt Securities of such series will be made in Dollars.

Section 2.14 Wire Transfers. Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary in this Indenture, the Partnership may make any payment of moneys required to be deposited with the Trustee on account of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities (whether pursuant to optional or mandatory redemption payments, interest payments or otherwise) by wire transfer in immediately available funds to an account designated by the Trustee before 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date such moneys are to be paid to the Holders of the Debt Securities in accordance with the terms hereof.

Section 2.15 Securities Issuable in the Form of a Global Security.

(a) If the Partnership shall establish pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.3 that the Debt Securities of a particular series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, then the Partnership shall execute and the Trustee or its agent shall, in accordance with Section 2.5, authenticate and deliver, such Global Security or Securities, which shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount

 

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of, the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series to be represented by such Global Security or Securities, or such portion thereof as the Partnership shall specify in an Officers’ Certificate, shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or its nominee, shall be delivered by the Trustee or its agent to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction and shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect:

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

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

or such other legend as may then be required by the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.15 or of Section 2.7 to the contrary, and subject to the provisions of paragraph (c) below, unless the terms of a Global Security expressly permit such Global Security to be exchanged in whole or in part for definitive Debt Securities in registered form, a Global Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part and in the manner provided in Section 2.7, only by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary for such Global Security, or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary to a successor Depositary for such Global Security selected or approved by the Partnership, or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.

(i) If at any time the Depositary for a Global Security or Securities notifies the Partnership that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or if at any time the Depositary for the Debt Securities for such series shall no longer be eligible or in good standing under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute, rule or regulation, the Partnership shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to such Global Security or Securities. If a successor Depositary for such Global Security or Securities is not appointed by the Partnership within 120 days after the Partnership receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Partnership shall execute, and the Trustee or its agent, upon receipt of a Partnership Order for the authentication and delivery of such individual Debt

 

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Securities of such series in exchange for such Global Security or Securities, will authenticate and deliver, individual Debt Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security or Securities in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.

(ii) If an Event of Default occurs and the Depositary for a Global Security or Securities notifies the Trustee of its decision to require that the Debt Securities of any series or portion thereof issued or issuable in the form of one or more Global Securities shall no longer be represented by such Global Security or Securities, the Partnership shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to such Global Security or Securities. In such event the Partnership will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Partnership Order for the authentication and delivery of individual Debt Securities of such series in exchange in whole or in part for such Global Security or Securities, will authenticate and deliver individual Debt Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such series or portion thereof in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.

(iii) If specified by the Partnership pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.3 with respect to Debt Securities issued or issuable in the form of a Global Security, the Depositary for such Global Security may surrender such Global Security in exchange in whole or in part for individual Debt Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form on such terms as are acceptable to the Partnership, the Trustee and such Depositary. Thereupon the Partnership shall execute, and the Trustee or its agent upon receipt of a Partnership Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Debt Securities of such series shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge, to each Person specified by such Depositary a new Debt Security or Securities of the same series of like tenor and terms and of any authorized denomination as requested by such Person in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person’s beneficial interest in the Global Security; and to such Depositary a new Global Security of like tenor and terms and in an authorized denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities delivered to Holders thereof.

(iv) In any exchange provided for in any of the preceding three paragraphs, the Partnership will execute and the Trustee or its agent will authenticate and deliver individual Debt Securities. Upon the exchange of the entire principal amount of a Global Security for individual Debt Securities, such Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee or its agent. Except as provided in the preceding paragraph, Debt Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security pursuant to this Section 2.15 shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Global Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee or the Registrar. The Trustee or the Registrar shall deliver such Debt Securities to the Persons in whose names such Debt Securities are so registered.

(v) Payments in respect of the principal of and interest on any Debt Securities registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee will be payable to the Depositary or such nominee in its capacity as the registered owner of such Global Security. The Partnership, any Guarantors and the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name the Debt Securities, including the Global Security, are registered as the owner thereof for the purpose of receiving such

 

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payments and for any and all other purposes whatsoever. None of the Partnership, any Guarantors, the Trustee, any Registrar, the paying agent or any agent of the Partnership, any Guarantors or the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of the beneficial ownership interests of the Global Security by the Depositary or its nominee or any of the Depositary’s direct or indirect participants, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of the Depositary, its nominee or any of its direct or indirect participants relating to the beneficial ownership interests of the Global Security, the payments to the beneficial owners of the Global Security of amounts paid to the Depositary or its nominee, or any other matter relating to the actions and practices of the Depositary, its nominee or any of its direct or indirect participants. None of the Partnership, any Guarantors, the Trustee or any such agent will be liable for any delay by the Depositary, its nominee, or any of its direct or indirect participants in identifying the beneficial owners of the Debt Securities, and the Partnership, any Guarantors and the Trustee may conclusively rely on, and will be protected in relying on, instructions from the Depositary or its nominee for all purposes (including with respect to the registration and delivery, and the respective principal amounts, of the Debt Securities to be issued).

Section 2.16 Medium Term Securities. Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein, if all Debt Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary for the Partnership to deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate, resolutions of the Board of Directors, supplemental Indenture, Opinion of Counsel or written order or any other document otherwise required pursuant to Sections 2.1, 2.3, 2.5 or 13.5 at or prior to the time of authentication of each Debt Security of such series if such documents are delivered to the Trustee or its agent at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first such Debt Security of such series to be issued; provided, that any subsequent request by the Partnership to the Trustee to authenticate Debt Securities of such series upon original issuance shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Partnership that, as of the date of such request, the statements made in the Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Sections 2.5 or 13.5 shall be true and correct as if made on such date and that the Opinion of Counsel delivered at or prior to such time of authentication of an original issuance of Debt Securities shall specifically state that it shall relate to all subsequent issuances of Debt Securities of such series that are identical to the Debt Securities issued in the first issuance of Debt Securities of such series.

A Partnership Order delivered by the Partnership to the Trustee in the circumstances set forth in the preceding paragraph, may provide that Debt Securities which are the subject thereof will be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or its agent on original issue from time to time upon the telephonic or written order of Persons designated in such written order (any such telephonic instructions to be promptly confirmed in writing by such Person) and that such Persons are authorized to determine, consistent with the Officers’ Certificate, supplemental Indenture or resolution of the Board of Directors relating to such written order, such terms and conditions of such Debt Securities as are specified in such Officers’ Certificate, supplemental Indenture or such resolution.

Section 2.17 Defaulted Interest. Any interest on any Debt Security of a particular series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on the dates and in the manner provided in the Debt Securities of such series and in this Indenture (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder thereof on the relevant record date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Partnership, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (i) or (ii) below:

 

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(i) The Partnership may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Debt Securities of such series are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Partnership shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Debt Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Partnership shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Partnership of such special record date and, in the name and at the expense of the Partnership, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be mailed, first class postage pre-paid, to each Holder thereof at its address as it appears in the Debt Security Register, not less than 15 days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Debt Securities of such series are registered at the close of business on such special record date.

(ii) The Partnership may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Debt Securities of such series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Debt Securities of such series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Partnership to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

Section 2.18 CUSIP Numbers. The Partnership in issuing the Debt Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Debt Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Debt Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Partnership will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the “CUSIP” numbers.

 

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ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

Section 3.1 Applicability of Article. The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to the Debt Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.3 for Debt Securities of such series.

Section 3.2 Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debt Securities. In case the Partnership shall desire to exercise the right to redeem all or, as the case may be, any part of the Debt Securities of any series in accordance with their terms, by resolution of the Board of Directors or a supplemental Indenture, the Partnership shall fix a date for redemption and shall give notice of such redemption at least 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption to the Holders of Debt Securities of such series so to be redeemed as a whole or in part, in the manner provided in Section 13.3. The notice if given in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Debt Security of a series designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Debt Security of such series.

Each such notice of redemption shall specify (i) the date fixed for redemption, (ii) the redemption price at which Debt Securities of such series are to be redeemed (or the method of calculating such redemption price), (iii) the Place or Places of Payment that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Debt Securities, (iv) that any interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, (v) that the redemption is for a sinking fund payment (if applicable), (vi) that, unless otherwise specified in such notice, if the Partnership defaults in making such redemption payment, (vii) that on and after said date any interest thereon or on the portions thereof to be redeemed will cease to accrue, (viii) that in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities original issue discount accrued after the date fixed for redemption will cease to accrue, (ix) the terms of the Debt Securities of that series pursuant to which the Debt Securities of that series are being redeemed and (x) 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 Debt Securities of that series. If less than all the Debt Securities of a series are to be redeemed the notice of redemption shall specify the certificate numbers of any Debt Securities of that series to be redeemed that are not in global form. In case any Debt Security of a series is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that on and after the date fixed for redemption, upon surrender of such Debt Security, a new Debt Security or Debt Securities of that series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof, will be issued.

At least five days before the giving of any notice of redemption, unless the Trustee consents to a shorter period, the Partnership shall give written notice to the Trustee of the Redemption Date, the principal amount of Debt Securities to be redeemed and the series and terms of the Debt Securities pursuant to which such redemption will occur. Such notice shall be accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel from the Partnership to the effect that such redemption will comply with the conditions herein, and such notice may be revoked at any time prior to the giving of a notice of redemption to the Holders pursuant to this

 

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Section 3.2. If fewer than all the Debt Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the record date relating to such redemption shall be selected by the Partnership and given in writing to the Trustee, which record date shall be not less than three days after the date of notice to the Trustee.

By 11 a.m., New York City time, on the Redemption Date for any Debt Securities, the Partnership shall deposit with the Trustee or with a paying agent (or, if the Partnership is acting as its own paying agent, segregate and hold in trust) an amount of money in Dollars (except as provided pursuant to Section 2.3) sufficient to pay the redemption price of such Debt Securities or any portions thereof that are to be redeemed on that date, together with any interest accrued to the Redemption Date.

If less than all the Debt Securities of like tenor and terms of a series are to be redeemed (other than pursuant to mandatory sinking fund redemptions), the Trustee shall select, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as in its sole discretion it shall deem appropriate and fair, the Debt Securities of that series or portions thereof (in multiples of $1,000) to be redeemed. In any case where more than one Debt Security of such series is registered in the same name, the Trustee in its discretion may treat the aggregate principal amount so registered as if it were represented by one Debt Security of such series. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Partnership in writing of the Debt Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Debt Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. If any Debt Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof on such Redemption Date, the principal, premium, if any, and interest shall bear interest until paid from the Redemption Date at the rate borne by the Debt Securities of that series. If less than all the Debt Securities of unlike tenor and terms of a series are to be redeemed, the particular Debt Securities to be redeemed shall be selected by the Partnership. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Debt Securities called for redemption also apply to portions of Debt Securities called for redemption.

Section 3.3 Payment of Debt Securities Called for Redemption. If notice of redemption has been given as provided in Section 3.2, the Debt Securities or portions of Debt Securities of the series with respect to which such notice has been given shall become due and payable on the date and at the Place or Places of Payment stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with any interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption, and on and after said date (unless the Partnership shall default in the payment of such Debt Securities at the applicable redemption price, together with any interest accrued to said date) any interest on the Debt Securities or portions of Debt Securities of any series so called for redemption shall cease to accrue, and any original issue discount in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities shall cease to accrue. On presentation and surrender of such Debt Securities at the Place or Places of Payment in said notice specified, the said Debt Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Partnership at the applicable redemption price, together with any interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption.

Any Debt Security that is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at the Place of Payment with, if the Partnership, the Registrar or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Partnership, the Registrar and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and the Partnership shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such

 

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Debt Security without service charge, a new Debt Security or Debt Securities of the same series, of like tenor and form, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Debt Security so surrendered; except that if a Global Security is so surrendered, the Partnership shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Depositary for such Global Security, without service charge, a new Global Security in a denomination equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Global Security so surrendered. In the case of a Debt Security providing appropriate space for such notation, at the option of the Holder thereof, the Trustee, in lieu of delivering a new Debt Security or Debt Securities as aforesaid, may make a notation on such Debt Security of the payment of the redeemed portion thereof.

Section 3.4 Mandatory and Optional Sinking Funds. The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Debt Securities of any series, resolution of the Board of Directors or a supplemental Indenture is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Debt Securities of any series, resolution of the Board of Directors or a supplemental Indenture is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.”

In lieu of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to any Debt Securities of a series in cash, the Partnership may at its option (a) deliver to the Trustee Debt Securities of that series theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired by the Partnership or (b) receive credit for the principal amount of Debt Securities of that series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of such Debt Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Debt Securities, resolution or supplemental Indenture; provided, that such Debt Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Debt Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption price specified in such Debt Securities, resolution or supplemental Indenture for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such mandatory sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

Section 3.5 Redemption of Debt Securities for Sinking Fund. Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Debt Securities, the Partnership will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, any resolution or supplemental Indenture, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Debt Securities of that series pursuant to Section 3.4 (which Debt Securities, if not previously redeemed, will accompany such certificate) and whether the Partnership intends to exercise its right to make any permitted optional sinking fund payment with respect to such series. Such certificate shall also state that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to such series. Such certificate shall be irrevocable and upon its delivery the Partnership shall be obligated to make the cash payment or payments therein referred to, if any, by 11 a.m., New York City time, on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date. Failure of the Partnership to deliver such certificate (or to deliver the Debt Securities specified in this paragraph) shall not constitute a Default, but such failure shall require that the sinking fund payment due on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date for that series shall be paid entirely in cash and shall be sufficient to redeem the

 

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principal amount of such Debt Securities subject to a mandatory sinking fund payment without the option to deliver or credit Debt Securities as provided in Section 3.4 and without the right to make any optional sinking fund payment, if any, with respect to such series.

Any sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional) made in cash plus any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made in cash which shall equal or exceed $100,000 (or a lesser sum if the Partnership shall so request) with respect to the Debt Securities of any particular series shall be applied by the Trustee on the sinking fund payment date on which such payment is made (or, if such payment is made before a sinking fund payment date, on the sinking fund payment date following the date of such payment) to the redemption of such Debt Securities at the redemption price specified in such Debt Securities, resolution or supplemental Indenture for operation of the sinking fund together with any accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption. Any sinking fund moneys not so applied or allocated by the Trustee to the redemption of Debt Securities shall be added to the next cash sinking fund payment received by the Trustee for such series and, together with such payment, shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.5. Any and all sinking fund moneys with respect to the Debt Securities of any particular series held by the Trustee on the last sinking fund payment date with respect to Debt Securities of such series and not held for the payment or redemption of particular Debt Securities shall be applied by the Trustee, together with other moneys, if necessary, to be deposited sufficient for the purpose, to the payment of the principal of the Debt Securities of that series at its Stated Maturity.

The Trustee shall select the Debt Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in the last paragraph of Section 3.2 and the Partnership shall cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the manner provided in Section 3.2 except that the notice of redemption shall also state that the Debt Securities are being redeemed by operation of the sinking fund. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Debt Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 3.3.

The Trustee shall not redeem any Debt Securities of a series with sinking fund moneys or mail any notice of redemption of such Debt Securities by operation of the sinking fund for such series during the continuance of a Default in payment of interest on such Debt Securities or of any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default occurring as a consequence of this paragraph) with respect to such Debt Securities, except that if the notice of redemption of any such Debt Securities shall theretofore have been mailed in accordance with the provisions hereof, the Trustee shall redeem such Debt Securities if cash sufficient for that purpose shall be deposited with the Trustee for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Article III. Except as aforesaid, any moneys in the sinking fund for such series at the time when any such Default or Event of Default shall occur and any moneys thereafter paid into such sinking fund shall, during the continuance of such Default or Event of Default, be held as security for the payment of such Debt Securities; provided, however, that in case such Default or Event of Default shall have been cured or waived as provided herein, such moneys shall thereafter be applied on the next sinking fund payment date for such Debt Securities on which such moneys may be applied pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3.5.

 

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ARTICLE IV

PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE PARTNERSHIP

Section 4.1 Payment of Principal of, and Premium, If Any, and Interest on, Debt Securities. The Partnership, for the benefit of each series of Debt Securities, will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, each of the Debt Securities at the place, at the respective times and in the manner provided herein or in the Debt Securities. Each installment of interest on any Debt Securities not in global form may at the Partnership’s option be paid by mailing checks for such interest payable to the Person entitled thereto pursuant to Section 2.7(a) to the address of such Person as it appears on the Debt Security Register.

Principal of and premium and interest on Debt Securities of any series shall be considered paid on the date due if, by 11 a.m., New York City time, on such date the Trustee or any paying agent holds in accordance with this Indenture money sufficient to pay all principal, premium and interest then due.

The Partnership shall pay interest on overdue principal or premium, if any, at the rate specified therefor in the Debt Securities, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.

Section 4.2 Maintenance of Offices or Agencies for Registration of Transfer, Exchange and Payment of Debt Securities. The Partnership will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Debt Securities an office or agency where Debt Securities of such series may be presented or surrendered for payment, and it shall also maintain (in or outside such Place of Payment) an office or agency where Debt Securities of such series may be surrendered for transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Partnership in respect of the Debt Securities of such series and this Indenture may be served. The Partnership 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 Partnership shall 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 office of the Trustee where its corporate trust business is principally administered in the United States, and the Partnership hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

The Partnership may also from time to time designate different or additional offices or agencies to be maintained for such purposes (in or outside of such Place of Payment), and may from time to time rescind any such designation; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Partnership of its obligations described in the preceding paragraph. The Partnership will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such additional designation or rescission of designation and any change in the location of any such different or additional office or agency.

Section 4.3 Appointment to Fill a Vacancy in the Office of Trustee. The Partnership, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.8, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder with respect to each series of Debt Securities.

 

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Section 4.4 Duties of Paying Agents, etc.

(a) The Partnership shall cause each paying agent, if any, other than the Trustee, to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 4.4,

(i) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities of any series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Partnership or by any other obligor on the Debt Securities of such series) in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series;

(ii) that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Partnership (or by any other obligor on the Debt Securities of such series) to make any payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities of such series when the same shall be due and payable; and

(iii) that it will at any time during the continuance of an Event of Default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held by it as such agent.

(b) If the Partnership shall act as its own paying agent, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities of any series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series a sum sufficient to pay such principal, premium, if any, or interest so becoming due. The Partnership will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure by the Partnership to take such action or the failure by any other obligor on such Debt Securities to make any payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, such Debt Securities when the same shall be due and payable.

(c) Anything in this Section 4.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Partnership may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, or for any other reason, pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee all sums held in trust by it or any paying agent, as required by this Section 4.4, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Partnership or such paying agent.

(d) Whenever the Partnership shall have one or more paying agents with respect to any series of Debt Securities, it will, prior to each due date of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, any Debt Securities of such series, deposit with any such paying agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal, premium or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto, and (unless any such paying agent is the Trustee) the Partnership will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

(e) Anything in this Section 4.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section 4.4 is subject to the provisions of Section 11.5.

 

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Section 4.5 SEC Reports; Financial Statements. The Partnership shall file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Partnership or any Guarantor is required to file the same with the SEC, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents, and other reports that the Partnership or such Guarantor is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Partnership’s and any Guarantor’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

Section 4.6 Compliance Certificate. The Partnership shall, so long as any of the Debt Securities are Outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, on or before January 31 in each year, a brief certificate from the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the General Partner as to his or her knowledge of the Partnership’s compliance with all conditions and covenants under the Indenture (such compliance to be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under the Indenture).

Section 4.7 Further Instruments and Acts. The Partnership will, upon request of the Trustee, execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may reasonably be necessary or proper to carry out more effectually the purposes of this Indenture.

Section 4.8 Waiver of Certain Covenants. The Partnership and the Guarantors may, with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any covenant made applicable to such Debt Securities pursuant to Section 2.3, if, before or after the time for such compliance, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected, waive such compliance in such instance with such covenant, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such covenant except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Partnership and the Guarantors and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such covenant shall remain in full force and effect.

ARTICLE V

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE

Section 5.1 Partnership to Furnish Trustee Information as to Names and Addresses of Holders; Preservation of Information. The Partnership covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of each series:

(a) not more than 10 days after each record date with respect to the payment of interest, if any, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders as of such record date, and

(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Partnership of any such request, a list of similar form and contents as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished;

 

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provided, however, that so long as the Trustee shall be the Registrar, such lists shall not be required to be furnished.

The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the Holders (i) contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in this Section 5.1 or (ii) received by it in the capacity of paying agent or Registrar (if so acting) hereunder.

The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in this Section 5.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

Section 5.2 Communications to Holders. Holders may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the TIA with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Debt Securities. The Partnership, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the TIA.

Section 5.3 Reports by Trustee. Within 60 days after each January 31, beginning with the first January 31 following the date of this Indenture, and in any event on or before April 1 in each year, the Trustee shall mail to Holders a brief report dated as of such January 31 that complies with TIA Section 313(a); provided, however, that if no event described in TIA Section 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted. The Trustee also shall comply with TIA Section 313(b).

Reports pursuant to this Section 5.3 shall be transmitted by mail:

(a) to all Holders, as the names and addresses of such Holders appear in the Debt Security Register; and

(b) except in the cases of reports under Section 313(b)(2) of the TIA, to each Holder of a Debt Security of any series whose name and address appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 5.1.

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Holders shall be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and each stock exchange (if any) on which the Debt Securities of any series are listed. The Partnership agrees to notify promptly the Trustee whenever the Debt Securities of any series become listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.

Section 5.4 Record Dates for Action by Holders. If the Partnership shall solicit from the Holders of Debt Securities of any series any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any direction, notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the Partnership may, at its option, by resolution of the Board of Directors, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders of Debt Securities entitled to take such action, but the Partnership shall have no obligation to do so. Any such record date shall be fixed at the Partnership’s discretion. If such a record date is fixed, such action may be sought or given before or after the record date, but only the Holders of Debt Securities of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders of Debt Securities for the purpose of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Debt Securities of such series Outstanding have authorized or agreed or consented to such action, and for that purpose the Debt Securities of such series Outstanding shall be computed as of such record date.

 

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ARTICLE VI

REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND HOLDERS IN EVENT OF DEFAULT

Section 6.1 Events of Default. “Event of Default” with respect to the Debt Securities of any series means each one of the following events which shall have occurred and be continuing:

(a) default in the payment of any installment of interest upon any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

(b) default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable, whether at Stated Maturity, upon redemption, by declaration, upon required repurchase or otherwise; or

(c) default in the payment of any sinking fund payment with respect to any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable; or

(d) failure on the part of the Partnership or, if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of a Guarantee by a Guarantor, any of the Guarantors, duly to observe or perform any other of the covenants or agreements on the part of the Partnership, or if applicable, any of the Guarantors, in the Debt Securities of that series, in any resolution of the Board of Directors authorizing the issuance of that series of Debt Securities, in this Indenture with respect to such series or in any supplemental Indenture with respect to such series (other than a covenant a default in the performance of which is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with), continuing for a period of 60 days (or 180 days in the case of a Reporting Failure) after the date on which written notice specifying such failure and requiring the Partnership, or if applicable, the Guarantors, to remedy the same and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder shall have been given to the Partnership and if applicable, the Guarantors, by the Trustee or to the Partnership and, if applicable, the Guarantors, and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series at the time Outstanding; or

(e) the Partnership or, if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee by a Guarantor, any of the Guarantors, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law,

(i) commences a voluntary case,

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

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

 

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

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

(i) is for relief against the Partnership or, if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee by a Guarantor, any of the Guarantors, as debtor in an involuntary case,

(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Partnership or, if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee by a Guarantor, any of the Guarantors, or a Custodian for all or substantially all of the property of the Partnership, or if applicable, any of the Guarantors, or

(iii) orders the liquidation of the Partnership or, if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee by a Guarantor, any of the Guarantors,

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

(g) if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee by a Guarantor, the Guarantee of any of the Guarantors ceases to be in full force and effect with respect to Debt Securities of that series (except as otherwise provided in this Indenture) or is declared null and void in a judicial proceeding or any of the Guarantors denies or disaffirms its obligations under this Indenture or such Guarantee; or

(h) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Debt Securities of that series;

(i) provided, however, that the occurrence of any of the events described in the foregoing clause (d) shall not constitute an Event of Default if such occurrence is the result of changes in generally accepted accounting principles as recognized by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants at the date as of which this Indenture is executed and a certificate to such effect is delivered to the Trustee by the Partnership’s independent public accountants.

(j) If an Event of Default described in clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (g), or (h) with respect to Debt Securities of that series at the time Outstanding occurs with respect to the Partnership or any Guarantor and is continuing, unless the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Debt Securities of that series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Partnership and the Guarantor (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), may declare the principal of (or, if the Debt Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Debt Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series), premium, if any, and interest on all the Debt Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable, anything in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities of that series contained to the contrary notwithstanding. If an Event of Default described in clause (e) or (f) occurs with respect to the Partnership, then and in each and every such case, unless the principal of and accrued and unpaid

 

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interest on all the Debt Securities shall have become due and payable, the principal of (or, if the Debt Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Debt Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms thereof), premium, if any, and interest on all the Debt Securities then Outstanding hereunder shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders, anything in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of a particular series by written notice to the Trustee may rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction already rendered and if all existing Events of Default with respect to that series have been cured or waived except nonpayment of principal, premium, if any, or interest that has become due solely because of acceleration. Upon any such rescission, the parties hereto shall be restored respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the parties hereto shall continue as though no such proceeding had been taken.

Section 6.2 Collection of Debt by Trustee, etc. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid or enforce the performance of any provision of the Debt Securities of the affected series or this Indenture, and may prosecute any such action or proceedings to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against any of the Guarantors or the Partnership or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of such series (and collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of any of the Guarantors or the Partnership or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of such series wherever situated the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable).

In case there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for the reorganization of any of the Guarantors or the Partnership or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of any series under any Bankruptcy Law, or in case a Custodian shall have been appointed for its property, or in case of any other similar judicial proceedings relative to any of the Guarantors or the Partnership or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of any series, its creditors or its property, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of Debt Securities of any series shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6.2, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise, to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal, premium, if any, and interest (or, if the Debt Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Debt Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) owing and unpaid in respect of the Debt Securities of such series, and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and for reimbursement of all expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee except as a result of its negligence or bad faith) and of the Holders thereof allowed in any such judicial proceedings relative to any of the Guarantors or the Partnership, or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of such series, its creditors or its property, and to collect and receive any moneys

 

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or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute all amounts received with respect to the claims of such Holders and of the Trustee on their behalf, and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of such Holders to make payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of payments directly to such Holders, to pay to the Trustee such amount as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other reasonable expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee except as a result of its negligence or bad faith.

All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Debt Securities of any series, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any such Debt Securities, or the production thereof in any trial or other proceedings relative thereto, and any such action or proceedings instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment (except for any amounts payable to the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.6) shall be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of all the Debt Securities in respect of which such action was taken.

In case of an Event of Default hereunder the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.

Section 6.3 Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee. Any moneys or other property collected by the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.2 with respect to Debt Securities of any series shall be applied in the order following, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys or other property, upon presentation of the several Debt Securities of such series in respect of which moneys or other property have been collected, and the notation thereon of the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

FIRST: To the payment of all money due the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.6;

SECOND: In case the principal of the Outstanding Debt Securities in respect of which such moneys have been collected shall not have become due, to the payment of interest on the Debt Securities of such series in the order of the maturity of the installments of such interest, with interest (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon the overdue installments of interest at the rate or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Debt Securities) borne by the Debt Securities of such series, such payments to be made ratably to the Persons entitled thereto, without discrimination or preference;

THIRD: In case the principal of the Outstanding Debt Securities in respect of which such moneys have been collected shall have become due, by declaration or otherwise, to the payment of the whole amount then owing and unpaid upon the Debt Securities of such series for principal and premium, if any, and interest, with interest on the overdue principal and premium, if any, and (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon overdue installments

 

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of interest at the rate or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Debt Securities) borne by the Debt Securities of such series; and, in case such moneys shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amount so due and unpaid upon the Debt Securities of such series, then to the payment of such principal and premium, if any, and interest, without preference or priority of principal and premium, if any, over interest, or of interest over principal and premium, if any, or of any installment of interest over any other installment of interest, or of any Debt Security of such series over any Debt Security of such series, ratably to the aggregate of such principal and premium, if any, and interest; and

FOURTH: The remainder, if any, shall be paid to the Guarantors or the Partnership, as applicable, its successors or assigns, or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.3. At least 15 days before such record date, the Partnership shall mail to each Holder and the Trustee a notice that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.

Section 6.4 Limitation on Suits by Holders. No Holder of any Debt Security of any series shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any action or proceeding at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, upon or under or with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless such Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default with respect to Debt Securities of that same series and of the continuance thereof and unless the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action or proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder and shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity or security as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, and the Trustee, for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity or security shall have failed to institute any such action or proceedings and no direction inconsistent with such written request shall have been given to the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.6; it being understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by the Holder of every Debt Security with every other Holder and the Trustee, that no one or more Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any Holders, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such Holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all such Holders. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section 6.4, each and every Holder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, however, the right of any Holder of any Debt Security to receive payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.12) interest on, such Debt Security, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Debt Security, and to institute 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.

 

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Section 6.5 Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission in Exercise of Rights Not a Waiver of Default. All powers and remedies given by this Article VI to the Trustee or to the Holders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any thereof or of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the Holders, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture, and no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid, shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such Default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.4, every power and remedy given by this Article VI or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders.

Section 6.6 Rights of Holders of Majority in Principal Amount of Debt Securities to Direct Trustee and to Waive Default. The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series at the time Outstanding shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or of exercising any right, trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Debt Securities of such series; provided, however, that such direction shall not be otherwise than in accordance with law and the provisions of this Indenture, and that subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee being advised by counsel shall determine that the action so directed may not lawfully be taken or is inconsistent with any provision of this Indenture, or if the Trustee shall by a responsible officer or officers determine that the action so directed would involve it in personal liability or would be unduly prejudicial to Holders of Debt Securities of such series not taking part in such direction; and provided, further, however, that nothing in this Indenture contained shall impair the right of the Trustee to take any action deemed proper by the Trustee and which is not inconsistent with such direction by such Holders. The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series at the time Outstanding may on behalf of the Holders of all the Debt Securities of that series waive any past Default or Event of Default and its consequences for that series, except a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, any of the Debt Securities and a Default or Event of Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.2 cannot be amended without the consent of each Holder affected thereby. In case of any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture, and the Guarantors, the Partnership, the Trustee and the Holders of the Debt Securities of that series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 6.7 Trustee to Give Notice of Events of Defaults Known to It, but May Withhold Such Notice in Certain Circumstances. The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of an Event of Default, or if later, within 30 days after the Trustee obtains actual knowledge of the Event of Default, with respect to a series of Debt Securities give to the Holders thereof, in the manner provided in Section 13.3, notice of all Events of Default with respect to such series known to the Trustee, unless such Events of Default shall have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice; provided, that, except in the case of an Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any of the Debt Securities of such

 

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series or in the making of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a committee of directors or responsible officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders thereof.

Section 6.8 Requirement of an Undertaking to Pay Costs in Certain Suits under the Indenture or Against the Trustee. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Debt Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit in the manner and to the extent provided in the TIA, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 6.8 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 25 percent in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any Debt Security on or after the due date for such payment expressed in such Debt Security.

ARTICLE VII

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

Section 7.1 Certain Duties and Responsibilities. The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture. In case an Event of Default has occurred (which has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, its own bad faith or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(a) this paragraph shall not be construed to limit the effect of the first paragraph of this Section 7.1;

(b) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of a series and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default with respect to such series which may have occurred:

(i) the duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect to Debt Securities of any series shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations with respect to such series as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to such series shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee;

 

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(ii) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture; but the Trustee shall examine the evidence furnished to it pursuant to Sections 4.5 and 4.6 to determine whether or not such evidence conforms to the requirement of this Indenture;

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable for an error of judgment made in good faith by a responsible officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

(iv) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it with respect to Debt Securities of any series in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to Debt Securities of such series.

None of the provisions of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

Section 7.2 Certain Rights of Trustee. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.1:

(a) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note or other paper or document (whether in its original or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

(b) any request, direction, order or demand of the Partnership mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Partnership Order (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the General Partner;

 

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(c) 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 in respect of any action taken or suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;

(d) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders of Debt Securities of any series pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby;

(e) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;

(f) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing of all Events of Default which may have occurred, the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, approval or other paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Debt Securities of a series affected by such matter; provided, however, that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is not, in the opinion of the Trustee, reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require reasonable indemnity against such costs, expenses or liabilities as a condition to so proceeding, and the reasonable expense of every such investigation shall be paid by the Partnership or, if paid by the Trustee, shall be repaid by the Partnership upon demand;

(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed by it with due care hereunder; and

(h) if any property other than cash shall at any time be subject to a Lien in favor of the Holders, the Trustee, if and to the extent authorized by a receivership or bankruptcy court of competent jurisdiction or by the supplemental instrument subjecting such property to such Lien, shall be entitled to make advances for the purpose of preserving such property or of discharging tax Liens or other prior Liens or encumbrances thereon.

Section 7.3 Trustee Not Liable for Recitals in Indenture or in Debt Securities. The recitals contained herein and in the Debt Securities (except the Trustee’s certificate of authentication) shall be taken as the statements of the Partnership, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Debt Securities of any series, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Debt Securities and perform its obligations hereunder, and that the statements made by it or to be made by it in a Statement of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1 supplied to the Partnership are true and accurate. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Partnership of any of the Debt Securities or of the proceeds thereof.

 

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Section 7.4 Trustee, Paying Agent or Registrar May Own Debt Securities. The Trustee or any paying agent or Registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Debt Securities and subject to the provisions of the TIA relating to conflicts of interest and preferential claims may otherwise deal with the Partnership with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, paying agent or Registrar.

Section 7.5 Moneys Received by Trustee to Be Held in Trust. Subject to the provisions of Section 11.5, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder. So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, all interest allowed on any such moneys shall be paid from time to time to the Partnership upon a Partnership Order.

Section 7.6 Compensation and Reimbursement. The Partnership covenants and agrees to pay in Dollars to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust), and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Partnership will pay or reimburse in Dollars the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents, attorneys and counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ), including without limitation, Section 6.2, except any such expense, disbursement or advances as may arise from its negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Partnership also covenants to indemnify in Dollars the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust or trusts hereunder, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The obligations of the Partnership under this Section 7.6 to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional Debt hereunder and shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture. The Partnership and the Holders agree that such additional Debt shall be secured by a Lien prior to that of the Debt Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee, as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, particular Debt Securities.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.1(e) or 6.1(f) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

Section 7.7 Right of Trustee to Rely on an Officers’ Certificate Where No Other Evidence Specifically Prescribed. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.1, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable

 

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that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering or omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

Section 7.8 Separate Trustee; Replacement of Trustee. The Partnership may, but need not, appoint a separate Trustee for any one or more series of Debt Securities. The Trustee may resign with respect to one or more or all series of Debt Securities at any time by giving notice to the Partnership. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debt Securities of a particular series may remove the Trustee for such series and only such series by so notifying the Trustee and may appoint a successor Trustee. The Partnership shall remove the Trustee if:

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

(b) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

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

(d) the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.

If the Trustee resigns, is removed by the Partnership or by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debt Securities of a particular series and such Holders do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Partnership shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of this Section 7.8.

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Partnership. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders of Debt Securities of each applicable series. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.6.

If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee gives notice of resignation or is removed, the retiring Trustee or the Holders of 25% in principal amount of the Debt Securities of any applicable series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee for the Debt Securities of such series.

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

 

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Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.8, the Partnership’s obligations under Section 7.6 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

In the case of the appointment hereunder of a separate or successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more series, the Partnership, any retiring Trustee and each successor or separate Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of any applicable series shall execute and deliver an Indenture supplemental hereto (i) which shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of any retiring Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of any series as to which any such retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in such retiring Trustee and (ii) that shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental Indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such separate, retiring or successor Trustee shall be Trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee.

Section 7.9 Successor Trustee by Merger. If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation or banking association without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

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

Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification. The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of Section 310(a) of the TIA. The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. No obligor upon the Debt Securities of a particular series or Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such obligor shall serve as Trustee for the Debt Securities of such series. The Trustee shall comply with Section 310(b) of the TIA; provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA this Indenture or any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Partnership are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA are met.

Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Partnership. The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the TIA, excluding any creditor relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the TIA. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the TIA to the extent indicated therein.

 

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Section 7.12 Compliance with Tax Laws. The Trustee hereby agrees to comply with all U.S. Federal income tax information reporting and withholding requirements applicable to it with respect to payments of premium (if any) and interest on the Debt Securities, whether acting as Trustee, Registrar, paying agent or otherwise with respect to the Debt Securities.

ARTICLE VIII

CONCERNING THE HOLDERS

Section 8.1 Evidence of Action by Holders. Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any or all series may take action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any direction, notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action) the fact that at the time of taking any such action the Holders of such specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced (a) by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by Holders in Person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, (b) by the record of the Holders voting in favor thereof at any meeting of Holders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.2, (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of Holders or (d) in the case of Debt Securities evidenced by a Global Security, by any electronic transmission or other message, whether or not in written format, that complies with the Depositary’s applicable procedures.

Section 8.2 Proof of Execution of Instruments and of Holding of Debt Securities. Subject to the provisions of Sections 7.1, 7.2 and 13.9, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Holder or his agent or proxy shall be sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. The ownership of Debt Securities of any series shall be proved by the Debt Security Register or by a certificate of the Registrar for such series. The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section 8.2 as it shall deem necessary.

Section 8.3 Who May Be Deemed Owner of Debt Securities. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debt Security, the Partnership, the Guarantors, the Trustee, any paying agent and any Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Debt Security shall be registered upon the books of the Partnership as the absolute owner of such Debt Security (whether or not such Debt Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.12) interest on such Debt Security and for all other purposes, and none of the Partnership, the Guarantors or the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary; and all such payments so made to any such Holder for the time being, or upon his order, shall be valid and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Debt Security.

None of the Partnership, the Guarantors, the Trustee, any paying agent or any Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

 

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Section 8.4 Instruments Executed by Holders Bind Future Holders. At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 8.1, of the taking of any action by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action and subject to the following paragraph, any Holder of a Debt Security which is shown by the evidence to be included in the Debt Securities the Holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at its corporate trust office and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.2, revoke such action so far as concerns such Debt Security. Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the Holder of any Debt Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of such Debt Security and of any Debt Security issued upon transfer thereof or in exchange or substitution therefor, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Debt Security or such other Debt Securities. Any action taken by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Partnership, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders of all the Debt Securities of such series.

The Partnership may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Debt Securities entitled to give their consent or take any other action required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders of Debt Securities at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders of Debt Securities after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date unless the consent of the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of such series specified in this Indenture shall have been received within such 120-day period.

ARTICLE IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 9.1 Purposes for Which Supplemental Indenture May Be Entered into Without Consent of Holders. The Partnership and any Guarantors, when authorized by resolutions of the Board of Directors, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time, without the consent of Holders, enter into an Indenture or Indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the TIA as in force at the date of the execution thereof) for one or more of the following purposes:

(a) to evidence the succession pursuant to Article X of another Person to the Partnership, or successive successions, and the assumption by the Successor Partnership (as defined in Section 10.1) of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Partnership in this Indenture and in the Debt Securities;

 

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(b) to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Partnership or the Guarantors, to add to the covenants of the Partnership or the Guarantors such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the protection of the Holders of all or any series of Debt Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Debt Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) as the Board of Directors shall consider to be for the protection of the Holders of such Debt Securities, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a Default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions a Default or an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in this Indenture; provided, that in respect of any such additional covenant, restriction, condition or provision such supplemental Indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after Default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other Defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such Default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such Default or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of any or all series of Debt Securities to waive such Default;

(c) to cure any ambiguity or omission or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein, in any supplemental Indenture or in any Debt Securities of any series that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein, in any supplemental Indenture or in the Debt Securities of such series; to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to or with the Trustee, or to make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under this Indenture as shall not adversely affect the interests of any Holders of Debt Securities of any series;

(d) to permit the qualification of this Indenture or any Indenture supplemental hereto under the TIA as then in effect, except that nothing herein contained shall permit or authorize the inclusion in any Indenture supplemental hereto of the provisions referred to in Section 316(a)(2) of the TIA;

(e) to permit or facilitate the issuance of Debt Securities of any series in uncertificated form;

(f) to reflect the release of any Guarantor in accordance with Article XIV;

(g) to add Guarantors with respect to any or all of the Debt Securities or to secure any or all of the Debt Securities or the Guarantee;

(h) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights hereunder of any Holder;

(i) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Debt Securities; provided, however, that any such addition, change or elimination not otherwise permitted under this Section 9.1 shall neither apply to any Debt Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental Indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor modify the rights of the Holder of any such Debt Security with respect to such provision or shall become effective only when there is no such Debt Security Outstanding;

 

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(j) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor or separate Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee; and

(k) to establish the form or terms of Debt Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 2.1 and 2.3.

The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Partnership and the Guarantors in the execution of any such supplemental Indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer, assignment, mortgage or pledge of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental Indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Any supplemental Indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 9.1 may be executed by the Partnership, the Guarantors and the Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any of the Debt Securities at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.2.

Section 9.2 Modification of Indenture with Consent of Holders of Debt Securities. Without notice to any Holder but with the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 8.1) of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected by such supplemental Indenture (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for any such series of Debt Securities), the Partnership and the Guarantors, when authorized by resolutions of the Board of Directors, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an Indenture or Indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the TIA as in force at the date of execution thereof) for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series; provided, that no such supplemental Indenture, without the consent of the Holders of each Debt Security so affected, shall: reduce the percentage in principal amount of Debt Securities of any series whose Holders must consent to an amendment; reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any Debt Security; reduce the principal of or extend the Stated Maturity of any Debt Security; reduce any premium payable upon the redemption of any Debt Security or change the time at which any Debt Security may or shall be redeemed in accordance with Article III; make any Debt Security payable in currency other than the Dollar; impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of premium, if any, principal of and interest on such Holder’s Debt Securities on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Debt Securities; release any security that may have been granted in respect of the Debt Securities, other than in accordance with this Indenture; make any change in Section 6.6 or this Section 9.2; or, except as provided in Section 11.2(b) or Section 14.4, release the Guarantors other than as provided in this Indenture or modify the Guarantee in any manner adverse to the Holders.

 

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A supplemental Indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has been expressly included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Debt Securities or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Debt Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Debt Securities of any other series.

Upon the request of the Partnership and the Guarantors, accompanied by a copy of resolutions of the Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such supplemental Indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Holders as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Partnership in the execution of such supplemental Indenture unless such supplemental Indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion but shall not be obligated to enter into such supplemental Indenture.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental Indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.

After an amendment under this Section 9.2 requiring the consent of the Holders of any series of Debt Securities becomes effective, the Partnership shall mail to Holders of that series of Debt Securities of each series affected thereby a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to any such Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.2 with respect to other Holders.

Section 9.3 Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of any supplemental Indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Partnership, the Guarantors and the Holders shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental Indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 7.1 and 7.2, may receive an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such supplemental Indenture complies with the provisions of this Article IX.

Section 9.4 Debt Securities May Bear Notation of Changes by Supplemental Indentures. Debt Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental Indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental Indenture. New Debt Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental Indenture may be prepared and executed by the Partnership, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Debt Securities of such series then Outstanding. Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Debt Security of such series shall not affect the validity of such amendment.

 

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ARTICLE X

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE

Section 10.1 Consolidations and Mergers of the Partnership. The Partnership shall not consolidate or amalgamate with or merge with or into any Person, or sell, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all its assets to any Person, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, unless: (a) either (i) the Partnership shall be the surviving Person in the case of a merger or (ii) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person if other than the Partnership (the “Successor Partnership”), shall be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and the Successor Partnership shall expressly assume, by an Indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Partnership under this Indenture and the Debt Securities according to their tenor; (b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of transactions (and treating any Debt which becomes an obligation of the Successor Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the Successor Partnership or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction or series of transactions), no Default or Event of Default would occur or be continuing; (c) if the Partnership is not the continuing Person, then each Guarantor, unless it has become the Successor Partnership, shall confirm that its Guarantee shall continue to apply to the obligations under the Debt Securities and this Indenture; and (d) the Partnership shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or disposition and such supplemental Indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture.

Section 10.2 Rights and Duties of Successor Partnership. In case of any consolidation, amalgamation or merger where the Partnership is not the continuing Person, or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership in accordance with Section 10.1, the Successor Partnership shall succeed to and be substituted for the Partnership with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the respective party to this Indenture, and the predecessor entity shall be released from all liabilities and obligations under this Indenture and the Debt Securities, except that no such release will occur in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of the Partnership’s assets. The Successor Partnership thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of the Partnership, any or all the Debt Securities issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by or on behalf of the Partnership and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of the Successor Partnership, instead of the Partnership, and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall deliver any Debt Securities which previously shall have been signed and delivered by or on behalf of the Partnership to the Trustee for authentication, and any Debt Securities which the Successor Partnership thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee for that purpose. All the Debt Securities so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Debt Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all such Debt Securities had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

 

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In case of any such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, sale or disposition such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Debt Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.

ARTICLE XI

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF

INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS

Section 11.1 Applicability of Article. The provisions of this Article XI relating to discharge or defeasance of Debt Securities shall be applicable to each series of Debt Securities except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.3 for Debt Securities of such series.

Section 11.2 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance.

(a) If at any time the Partnership shall have delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all Debt Securities of any series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than any Debt Securities of such series which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.9 and Debt Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Partnership as provided in Section 11.5) or all Debt Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Partnership shall deposit with the Trustee as trust funds the entire amount in cash sufficient to pay at final maturity or upon redemption all Debt Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal and premium, if any, and interest due or to become due on such date of maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be, and if in either case the Partnership shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Partnership, then this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of such Debt Securities herein expressly provided for) with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, and the Trustee, on demand of the Partnership accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel and at the cost and expense of the Partnership, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of such series.

(b) Subject to Sections 11.2(c), 11.3 and 11.7, the Partnership at any time may terminate, with respect to Debt Securities of a particular series, all its obligations under the Debt Securities of such series and this Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of such series (“legal defeasance option”) or the operation of (x) any covenant made applicable to such Debt Securities pursuant to Section 2.3, (y) Sections 6.1(d), 6.1(g) and 6.1(h) and (z) as they relate to the Guarantors only, Sections 6.1(e) and 6.1(f) (“covenant defeasance option”). If the Partnership exercises either its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option with respect to Debt Securities of a particular series that are entitled to the benefit of the Guarantee, the Guarantee will terminate with respect to that series of Debt Securities. The Partnership may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option.

 

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If the Partnership exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of the Debt Securities of the defeased series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If the Partnership exercises its covenant defeasance option, payment of the Debt Securities of the defeased series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.1(d), 6.1(g) and 6.1(h) and, with respect to the Guarantors only, Sections 6.1(e) and 6.1(f).

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

(c) Notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, the Partnership’s obligations in Sections 2.7, 2.9, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 5.1, 7.6, 11.5, 11.6 and 11.7 shall survive until the Debt Securities of the defeased series have been paid in full. Thereafter, the Partnership’s obligations in Sections 7.6, 11.5 and 11.6 shall survive.

Section 11.3 Conditions of Defeasance. The Partnership may exercise its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option with respect to Debt Securities of a particular series only if:

(a) the Partnership irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Debt Securities of such series to final maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

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

(c) 91 days pass after the deposit is made and during the 91-day period no Default specified in Sections 6.1(e) or 6.1(f) with respect to the Partnership occurs which is continuing at the end of the period;

(d) no Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit and after giving effect thereto;

(e) the deposit does not constitute a default under any other agreement binding on the Partnership;

(f) the Partnership delivers to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the trust resulting from the deposit does not constitute, or is qualified as, a regulated investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940;

 

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(g) in the event of the legal defeasance option, the Partnership shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that the Partnership has received from the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of Debt Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such 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 defeasance had not occurred;

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

(i) the Partnership delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance and discharge of the Debt Securities of such series as contemplated by this Article XI have been complied with.

Before or after a deposit, the Partnership may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Debt Securities of such series at a future date in accordance with Article III.

Section 11.4 Application of Trust Money. The Trustee shall hold in trust money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to this Article XI. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from U.S. Government Obligations through any paying agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Debt Securities of the defeased series.

Section 11.5 Repayment to Partnership. The Trustee and any paying agent shall promptly turn over to the Partnership upon request any excess money or securities held by them at any time.

Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and any paying agent shall pay to the Partnership upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal, premium or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, and, thereafter, Holders entitled to such money must look to the Partnership for payment as general creditors.

Section 11.6 Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations. The Partnership shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee and the Holders against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against deposited U.S. Government Obligations or the principal and interest received on such U.S. Government Obligations.

Section 11.7 Reinstatement. If the Trustee or any paying agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article XI by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or government authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Partnership’s obligations

 

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under this Indenture and the Debt Securities of the defeased series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article XI until such time as the Trustee or any paying agent is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article XI.

ARTICLE XII

[RESERVED]

ARTICLE XIII

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 13.1 Successors and Assigns of Partnership Bound by Indenture. All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained by or in behalf of the Partnership, the Guarantors or the Trustee shall bind their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

Section 13.2 Acts of Board, Committee or Officer of Successor Partnership Valid. Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Partnership shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the like board, committee or officer of any Successor Partnership.

Section 13.3 Required Notices or Demands. Any notice or communication by the Partnership, the Guarantors or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in Person or mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the other’s address:

If to the Partnership or any Guarantor:

Rayonier Forest Resources, L.P.

50 North Laura Street

Jacksonville, FL 32202

Attn: Chief Financial Officer

Telephone No.: (904) 357-9100

If to the Trustee:

 

[                                            ]

       

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

All notices and communications 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; on the first Business Day on or after being sent, if telecopied and the sender receives confirmation of successful transmission; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

 

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Any notice required or permitted to a Holder by the Partnership, any Guarantor or the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture shall be deemed to be properly mailed by being deposited postage prepaid in a post office letter box in the United States addressed to such Holder at the address of such Holder as shown on the Debt Security Register. Any report pursuant to Section 313 of the TIA shall be transmitted in compliance with subsection (c) therein.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any notice to Holders of Floating Rate Securities regarding the determination of a periodic rate of interest, if such notice is required pursuant to Section 2.3, shall be sufficiently given if given in the manner specified pursuant to Section 2.3.

In the event of suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give notice by mail, then such notification as shall be given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice for every purpose hereunder.

In the event it shall be impracticable to give notice by publication, then such notification as shall be given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice for every purpose hereunder.

Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it or any defect in any notice by publication as to a Holder shall not affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. If a notice or communication is mailed or published in the manner provided above, it is conclusively presumed duly given.

Section 13.4 Indenture and Debt Securities to Be Construed in Accordance with the Laws of the State of New York. THIS INDENTURE, EACH DEBT SECURITY AND THE GUARANTEE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE NEW YORK CONTRACTS, AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF SAID STATE.

Section 13.5 Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to Be Furnished upon Application or Demand by the Partnership. Upon any application or demand by the Partnership to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Partnership shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or demand as to which the furnishing of such document is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include (a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition, (b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based, (c) a

 

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

Section 13.6 Payments Due on Legal Holidays. In any case where the date of maturity of interest on or principal of and premium, if any, on the Debt Securities of a series or the date fixed for redemption or repayment of any Debt Security or the making of any sinking fund payment shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment for the Debt Securities of such series, then payment of interest or principal and premium, if any, or the making of such sinking fund payment need not be made on such date at such Place of Payment, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the date of maturity or the date fixed for redemption, and no interest shall accrue for the period after such date. If a record date is not a Business Day, the record date shall not be affected.

Section 13.7 Provisions Required by TIA to Control. If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision included in this Indenture which is required to be included in this Indenture by any of Sections 310 to 318, inclusive, of the TIA, such required provision shall control.

Section 13.8 Computation of Interest on Debt Securities. Interest, if any, on the Debt Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to Section 2.3.

Section 13.9 Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Holders. The Registrar and any paying agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.

Section 13.10 No Recourse Against Others. The General Partner and its directors, officers, employees, incorporators and capital stockholders, as such, shall have no liability for any obligations of the Guarantors or the Partnership under the Debt Securities, this Indenture or the Guarantee or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Debt Security, each Holder shall be deemed to have waived and released all such liability. The waiver and release shall be part of the consideration for the issue of the Debt Securities.

Section 13.11 Severability. In case any provision in this Indenture or the Debt Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 13.12 Effect of Headings. The article and section headings herein and in the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

Section 13.13 Indenture May Be Executed in Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original; but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

52


ARTICLE XIV

GUARANTEE

Section 14.1 Unconditional Guarantee.

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Article XIV to the contrary, the provisions of this Article XIV shall be applicable only to, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Debt Securities of any series designated, pursuant to Section 2.3, as entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee of each of the Guarantors.

(b) For value received, each of the Guarantors hereby fully, unconditionally and absolutely guarantees (the “Guarantee”) to the Holders and to the Trustee the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Debt Securities and all other amounts due and payable under this Indenture and the Debt Securities by the Partnership, when and as such principal, premium, if any, and interest shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, according to the terms of the Debt Securities and this Indenture, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 14.3.

(c) Failing payment when due of any amount guaranteed pursuant to the Guarantee, for whatever reason, each of the Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. The Guarantee hereunder is intended to be a general, unsecured, senior obligation of each of the Guarantors and will rank pari passu in right of payment with all Debt of each Guarantor that is not, by its terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee. Each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be full, unconditional and absolute, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Debt Securities, the Guarantee (including the Guarantee of any other Guarantor) or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Debt Securities with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Partnership or any other Guarantor, or any action to enforce the same or any other circumstances which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of any of the Guarantors. Each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that in the event of a default in payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Debt Securities, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, legal proceedings may be instituted by the Trustee on behalf of the Holders or, subject to Section 6.4, by the Holders, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Indenture, directly against such Guarantor to enforce the Guarantee without first proceeding against the Partnership or any other Guarantor.

(d) The obligations of each of the Guarantors under this Article XIV shall be as aforesaid full, unconditional and absolute and shall not be impaired, modified, released or limited by any occurrence or condition whatsoever, including, without limitation, (i) any compromise, settlement, release, waiver, renewal, extension, indulgence or modification of, or any change in, any of the obligations and liabilities of the Partnership or any of the Guarantors contained in the Debt Securities or this Indenture, (ii) any impairment, modification, release or limitation of the liability of the Partnership, any of the Guarantors or any of their estates in bankruptcy, or any remedy for the enforcement thereof, resulting from the operation of any present or future

 

53


provision of any applicable Bankruptcy Law, as amended, or other statute or from the decision of any court, (iii) the assertion or exercise by the Partnership, any of the Guarantors or the Trustee of any rights or remedies under the Debt Securities or this Indenture or their delay in or failure to assert or exercise any such rights or remedies, (iv) the assignment or the purported assignment of any property as security for the Debt Securities, including all or any part of the rights of the Partnership or any of the Guarantors under this Indenture, (v) the extension of the time for payment by the Partnership or any of the Guarantors of any payments or other sums or any part thereof owing or payable under any of the terms and provisions of the Debt Securities or this Indenture or of the time for performance by the Partnership or any of the Guarantors of any other obligations under or arising out of any such terms and provisions or the extension or the renewal of any thereof, (vi) the modification or amendment (whether material or otherwise) of any duty, agreement or obligation of the Partnership or any of the Guarantors set forth in this Indenture, (vii) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets, marshaling of assets and liabilities, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of, or other similar proceeding affecting, the Partnership or any of the Guarantors or any of their respective assets, or the disaffirmance of the Debt Securities, the Guarantee or this Indenture in any such proceeding, (viii) the release or discharge of the Partnership or any of the Guarantors from the performance or observance of any agreement, covenant, term or condition contained in any of such instruments by operation of law, (ix) the unenforceability of the Debt Securities, the Guarantee or this Indenture or (x) any other circumstances (other than payment in full or discharge of all amounts guaranteed pursuant to the Guarantee) which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a surety or guarantor.

(e) Each of the Guarantors hereby (i) waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of the merger, insolvency or bankruptcy of the Partnership or any of the Guarantors, and all demands whatsoever, (ii) acknowledges that any agreement, instrument or document evidencing the Guarantee may be transferred and that the benefit of its obligations hereunder shall extend to each holder of any agreement, instrument or document evidencing the Guarantee without notice to it and (iii) covenants that the Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the Guarantee. Each of the Guarantors further agrees that if at any time all or any part of any payment theretofore applied by any Person to the Guarantee is, or must be, rescinded or returned for any reason whatsoever, including without limitation, the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Partnership or any of the Guarantors, the Guarantee shall, to the extent that such payment is or must be rescinded or returned, be deemed to have continued in existence notwithstanding such application, and the Guarantee shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, as though such application had not been made.

(f) Each of the Guarantors shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holders and the Trustee against the Partnership in respect of any amounts paid by such Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, provided, however, that such Guarantor, shall not be entitled to enforce or to receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all of the Debt Securities and the Guarantee shall have been paid in full or discharged.

Section 14.2 Execution and Delivery of Guarantee. To further evidence the Guarantee set forth in Section 14.1, each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that a notation relating to such

 

54


Guarantee, substantially in the form attached hereto as Annex A, shall be endorsed on each Debt Security entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and executed by either manual or facsimile signature of an officer of such Guarantor, or in the case of a Guarantor that is a limited partnership, an officer of the general partner of each Guarantor. Each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that the Guarantee set forth in Section 14.1 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Debt Security a notation relating to the Guarantee. If any officer of any Guarantor, or in the case of a Guarantor that is a limited partnership, any officer of the general partner of the Guarantor, whose signature is on this Indenture or a Debt Security no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates such Debt Security or at any time thereafter, the Guarantee of such Debt Security shall be valid nevertheless. The delivery of any Debt Security by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.

The Trustee hereby accepts the trusts in this Indenture upon the terms and conditions herein set forth.

Section 14.3 Limitation on Guarantors’ Liability. Each Guarantor and by its acceptance hereof each Holder of a Debt Security entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee hereby confirm that it is the intention of all such parties that the guarantee by such Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of any Federal or state law. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Holders of a Debt Security entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each Guarantor under the Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor and to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under the Guarantee, not result in the obligations of such Guarantor under the Guarantee constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under Federal or state law.

Section 14.4 Release of Guarantors from Guarantee.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Guarantee of any Guarantor may be released upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 11.2(b) and in this Section 14.4. Provided that no Default shall have occurred and shall be continuing under this Indenture, the Guarantee incurred by a Guarantor pursuant to this Article XIV shall be unconditionally released and discharged (i) automatically upon (A) any sale, exchange or transfer, whether by way of merger or otherwise, to any Person that is not an Affiliate of the Partnership, of all of the Partnership’s direct or indirect limited partnership or other equity interests in such Guarantor (provided such sale, exchange or transfer is not prohibited by this Indenture) or (B) the merger of such Guarantor into the Partnership or any other Guarantor or the liquidation and dissolution of such Guarantor (in each case to the extent not prohibited by this Indenture) or (ii) following delivery of a written notice of such release or discharge by the Partnership to the Trustee, upon the release or discharge of all guarantees by such Guarantor of any Debt of the Partnership other than obligations arising under this Indenture and any Debt Securities issued hereunder, except a discharge or release by or as a result of payment under such guarantees.

 

55


(b) The Trustee shall deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing any release of a Guarantor from the Guarantee upon receipt of a written request of the Partnership accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Guarantor is entitled to such release in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture. Any Guarantor not so released shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debt Securities entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee as provided in this Indenture, subject to the limitations of Section 14.3.

Section 14.5 Guarantor Contribution. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution among the Guarantors, the Guarantors hereby agree, inter se, that in the event any payment or distribution is made by any Guarantor (a “Funding Guarantor”) under the Guarantee, such Funding Guarantor shall be entitled to a contribution from each other Guarantor (if any) in a pro rata amount based on the net assets of each Guarantor (including the Funding Guarantor) for all payments, damages and expenses incurred by that Funding Guarantor in discharging the Partnership’s obligations with respect to the Debt Securities or any other Guarantor’s obligations with respect to the Guarantee.

[Remainder of This Page Intentionally Left Blank.]

 

56


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

 

RAYONIER FOREST RESOURCES, LP
By:  

Rayonier Timberlands Management, Inc.

Its General Partner

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
[NAME OF GUARANTOR(S)]
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
[                                                     ], as Trustee
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

SIGNATURE PAGES


ANNEX A

NOTATION OF GUARANTEE

Each of the Guarantors (which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture), has fully, unconditionally and absolutely guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Debt Securities and all other amounts due and payable under the Indenture and the Debt Securities by the Partnership.

The obligations of the Guarantors to the Holders of Debt Securities and to the Trustee pursuant to the Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article XIV of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Guarantee.

 

[NAME OF GUARANTOR(S)]

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

A-1

EX-4.7 7 dex47.htm FORM OF SUBORDINATED INDENTURE - RAYONIER FOREST RESOURCES, L.P. Form of Subordinated Indenture - Rayonier Forest Resources, L.P.

Exhibit 4.7

[Form of Subordinated Indenture]


RAYONIER FOREST RESOURCES, LP,

AS ISSUER,

any Guarantors party hereto,

and

[                                         ],

as Trustee

INDENTURE

Dated as of                     

Debt Securities

 



CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

TIA Section    Indenture Section
310   (a)      7.10
  (b)      7.10
  (c)      N.A.
311   (a)      7.11
  (b)      7.11
  (c)      N.A.
312   (a)      5.1
  (b)      5.2
  (c)      5.2
313   (a)      5.3
  (b)      5.3
  (c)      13.3
  (d)      5.3
314   (a)      4.5
  (b)      N.A.
  (c)(1)    13.5
  (c)(2)    13.5
  (c)(3)    N.A.
  (d)      N.A.
  (e)      13.5
  (f)      N.A.
315   (a)      7.1
  (b)      6.7 & 13.3
  (c)      7.1
  (d)      7.1
  (e)      6.8
316   (a) (last sentence)    1.1
  (a)(1)(A)    6.6
  (a)(1)(B)    6.6
  (a)(2)      9.1(d)
  (b)      6.4
  (c)      5.4
317   (a)(1)    6.2
  (a)(2)    6.2
  (b)      4.4
318   (a)      13.7

N.A. means Not Applicable

NOTE: This Cross-Reference table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed part of this Indenture.

 

i


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

RAYONIER FOREST RESOURCES, LP,

 

AS ISSUER,

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

  
Section 1.1    Definitions    1
Section 1.2    Other Definitions    7
Section 1.3    Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act    7
Section 1.4    Rules of Construction    7

 

ARTICLE II

 

DEBT SECURITIES

 

  
Section 2.1    Forms Generally    8
Section 2.2    Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication    9
Section 2.3    Principal Amount; Issuable in Series    9
Section 2.4    Execution of Debt Securities    11
Section 2.5    Authentication and Delivery of Debt Securities    12
Section 2.6    Denomination of Debt Securities    13
Section 2.7    Registration of Transfer and Exchange.    13
Section 2.8    Temporary Debt Securities    15
Section 2.9    Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debt Securities    15
Section 2.10    Cancellation of Surrendered Debt Securities    17
Section 2.11    Provisions of the Indenture and Debt Securities for the Sole Benefit of the Parties and the Holders    17
Section 2.12    Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved    17
Section 2.13    Securities Denominated in Dollars    17
Section 2.14    Wire Transfers    17
Section 2.15    Securities Issuable in the Form of a Global Security    18
Section 2.16    Medium Term Securities    20
Section 2.17    Defaulted Interest    21
Section 2.18    CUSIP Numbers    21

 

ii


ARTICLE III

 

REDEMPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

 

    
Section 3.1    Applicability of Article    22
Section 3.2    Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debt Securities    22
Section 3.3    Payment of Debt Securities Called for Redemption    23
Section 3.4    Mandatory and Optional Sinking Funds    24
Section 3.5    Redemption of Debt Securities for Sinking Fund    25

 

ARTICLE IV

 

PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE PARTNERSHIP

 

  
Section 4.1    Payment of Principal of, and Premium, If Any, and Interest on, Debt Securities    26
Section 4.2    Maintenance of Offices or Agencies for Registration of Transfer, Exchange and Payment of Debt Securities    26
Section 4.3    Appointment to Fill a Vacancy in the Office of Trustee    27
Section 4.4    Duties of Paying Agents, etc    27
Section 4.5    SEC Reports; Financial Statements    28

Section 4.6

   Compliance Certificate    28
Section 4.7    Further Instruments and Acts    29
Section 4.8    Waiver of Certain Covenants    29

 

ARTICLE V

 

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE

 

  
Section 5.1    Partnership to Furnish Trustee Information as to Names and Addresses of Holders; Preservation of Information    29
Section 5.2    Communications to Holders    29
Section 5.3    Reports by Trustee    29
Section 5.4    Record Dates for Action by Holders    30

 

ARTICLE VI

 

REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND HOLDERS IN EVENT OF DEFAULT

 

  
Section 6.1    Events of Default    30
Section 6.2    Collection of Debt by Trustee, etc.    33
Section 6.3    Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee    34
Section 6.4    Limitation on Suits by Holders    35
Section 6.5    Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission in Exercise of Rights Not a Waiver of Default    36
Section 6.6    Rights of Holders of Majority in Principal Amount of Debt Securities to Direct Trustee and to Waive Default    36

 

iii


Section 6.7    Trustee to Give Notice of Events of Defaults Known to It, but May Withhold Such Notice in Certain Circumstances    36
Section 6.8    Requirement of an Undertaking to Pay Costs in Certain Suits under the Indenture or Against the Trustee    37

 

ARTICLE VII

 

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

 

  
Section 7.1    Certain Duties and Responsibilities    37
Section 7.2    Certain Rights of Trustee    38
Section 7.3    Trustee Not Liable for Recitals in Indenture or in Debt Securities    39
Section 7.4    Trustee, Paying Agent or Registrar May Own Debt Securities    40
Section 7.5    Moneys Received by Trustee to Be Held in Trust    40
Section 7.6    Compensation and Reimbursement    40
Section 7.7    Right of Trustee to Rely on an Officers’ Certificate Where No Other Evidence Specifically Prescribed    40
Section 7.8    Separate Trustee; Replacement of Trustee    41
Section 7.9    Successor Trustee by Merger    42
Section 7.10    Eligibility; Disqualification    43
Section 7.11    Preferential Collection of Claims Against Partnership    43
Section 7.12    Compliance with Tax Laws    43

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

CONCERNING THE HOLDERS

 

  
Section 8.1    Evidence of Action by Holders    43
Section 8.2    Proof of Execution of Instruments and of Holding of Debt Securities    43
Section 8.3    Who May Be Deemed Owner of Debt Securities    44
Section 8.4    Instruments Executed by Holders Bind Future Holders    44

 

ARTICLE IX

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

  
Section 9.1    Purposes for Which Supplemental Indenture May Be Entered into Without Consent of Holders    45
Section 9.2    Modification of Indenture with Consent of Holders of Debt Securities    47
Section 9.3    Effect of Supplemental Indentures    48
Section 9.4    Debt Securities May Bear Notation of Changes by Supplemental Indentures    48

 

ARTICLE X

 

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE

 

  
Section 10.1    Consolidations and Mergers of the Partnership    48

 

iv


Section 10.2    Rights and Duties of Successor Partnership    49

 

ARTICLE XI

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF

 

INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS

 

  
Section 11.1    Applicability of Article    50
Section 11.2    Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance    50
Section 11.3    Conditions of Defeasance    51
Section 11.4    Application of Trust Money    52
Section 11.5    Repayment to Partnership    52
Section 11.6    Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations    52
Section 11.7    Reinstatement    52

 

ARTICLE XII

 

SUBORDINATION OF DEBT SECURITIES AND GUARANTEE

 

  
Section 12.1    Applicability of Article; Agreement to Subordinate    53
Section 12.2    Liquidation, Dissolution, Bankruptcy    53
Section 12.3    Default on Senior Indebtedness    53
Section 12.4    Acceleration of Payment of Debt Securities    54
Section 12.5    When Distribution Must Be Paid Over    55
Section 12.6    Subrogation    55
Section 12.7    Relative Rights    55
Section 12.8    Subordination May Not Be Impaired by Partnership    55
Section 12.9    Rights of Trustee and Paying Agent    55
Section 12.10    Distribution or Notice to Representative    56
Section 12.11    Article XII Not to Prevent Defaults or Limit Right to Accelerate    56
Section 12.12    Trust Moneys Not Subordinated    56
Section 12.13    Trustee Entitled to Rely    56
Section 12.14    Trustee to Effectuate Subordination    56
Section 12.15    Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness    57
Section 12.16    Reliance by Holders of Senior Indebtedness on Subordination Provisions    57

 

ARTICLE XIII

 

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

  
Section 13.1    Successors and Assigns of Partnership Bound by Indenture    57
Section 13.2    Acts of Board, Committee or Officer of Successor Partnership Valid    57
Section 13.3    Required Notices or Demands    57
Section 13.4    Indenture and Debt Securities to Be Construed in Accordance with the Laws of the State of New York    58

 

v


Section 13.5    Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to Be Furnished upon Application or Demand by the Partnership    58
Section 13.6    Payments Due on Legal Holidays    60
Section 13.7    Provisions Required by TIA to Control    60
Section 13.8    Computation of Interest on Debt Securities    60
Section 13.9    Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar    60
Section 13.10    No Recourse Against Others    60
Section 13.11    Severability    60
Section 13.12    Effect of Headings    60
Section 13.13    Indenture May Be Executed in Counterparts    60

 

ARTICLE XIV

 

GUARANTEE

 

  
Section 14.1    Unconditional Guarantee    60
Section 14.2    Execution and Delivery of Guarantee    62
Section 14.3    Limitation on Guarantors’ Liability    63
Section 14.4    Release of Guarantors from Guarantee    63
Section 14.5    Guarantor Contribution    64
Notation of Guarantee             Annex A   

 

vi


THIS INDENTURE dated as of                      is among Rayonier Forest Resources, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), any Guarantors (as defined herein) party hereto, and [                                         ], as trustee (the “Trustee”).

RECITALS OF THE PARTNERSHIP AND ANY GUARANTORS

The Partnership and any Guarantors have duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of the Partnership’s debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness to be issued in one or more series unlimited as to principal amount (herein called the “Debt Securities”), which Debt Securities may be guaranteed by each of the Guarantors and may be subordinated in right of payment to Senior Indebtedness, as in this Indenture provided.

All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Partnership and any Guarantors, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH

That in order to declare the terms and conditions upon which the Debt Securities are authenticated, issued and delivered, and in consideration of the premises, and of the purchase and acceptance of the Debt Securities by the Holders thereof, the Partnership, any Guarantor and the Trustee covenant and agree with each other, for the benefit of the respective Holders from time to time of the Debt Securities or any series thereof, as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Section 1.1 Definitions.

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the 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 the Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise. The Trustee may request and may conclusively rely upon an Officers’ Certificate to determine whether any Person is an Affiliate of any specified Person.

“Agent” means any Registrar or paying agent.

“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors, or the law of any other jurisdiction relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, winding up, liquidation, reorganization or relief of debtors.

“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the General Partner or any authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the General Partner or any directors and/or officers of the General Partner to whom such Board of Directors or such committee shall have


duly delegated its authority to act hereunder. If the Partnership shall change its form of entity to other than a limited partnership, the references to the Board of Directors of the General Partner shall mean the Board of Directors (or other comparable governing body) of the Partnership.

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

“Capital stock” of any Person means and includes any and all shares, rights to purchase, warrants or options (whether or not currently exercisable), participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) the equity (which includes, but is not limited to, common stock, preferred stock and partnership and joint venture interests) of such Person (excluding any debt securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable for, such equity).

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

“Debt” of any Person at any date means any obligation created or assumed by such Person for the repayment of borrowed money and any guarantee thereof.

“Debt Security” or “Debt Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any debt security or debt securities, as the case may be, of any series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

“Default” means any event, act or condition that is, or after notice or the passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

“Depositary” means, unless otherwise specified by the Partnership pursuant to either Sections 2.3 or 2.15, with respect to Debt Securities of any series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, or any successor thereto registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute or regulations.

“Designated Senior Indebtedness” means (i) any Senior Indebtedness which, at the date of determination, has an aggregate principal amount outstanding of, or under which, at the date of determination, the holders thereof are committed to lend up to, at least $100 million and (ii) any other Senior Indebtedness designated, as provided in Section 2.3, in respect of any series of Debt Securities.

“Dollar” or “$” means such currency of the United States as at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any successor statute.

“Floating Rate Security” means a Debt Security that provides for the payment of interest at a variable rate determined periodically by reference to an interest rate index specified pursuant to Section 2.3.

 

2


“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, as in effect from time to time.

“General Partner” means Rayonier Timberland Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

“Global Security” means with respect to any series of Debt Securities issued hereunder, a Debt Security which is executed by the Partnership and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance with this Indenture and any Indentures supplemental hereto, or resolution of the Board of Directors and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee and which shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, all the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series or any portion thereof, in either case having the same terms, including, without limitation, the same original issue date, date or dates on which principal is due and interest rate or method of determining interest.

“Guarantee” means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Debt or other obligation of any other Person and any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Debt or other obligation of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise) or (b) entered into for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Debt or other obligation of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part); provided, however, 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 any Subsidiary of the Partnership and any other Affiliate of the Partnership, who may execute this Indenture, or a supplement hereto, for the purpose of providing a Guarantee of Debt Securities pursuant to this Indenture until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Guarantors” shall mean such successor Person.

“Holder,” “Holder of Debt Securities” or other similar terms means, a Person in whose name a Debt Security is registered in the Debt Security Register (as defined in Section 2.7(a)).

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed, or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented and shall include the form and terms of particular series of Debt Securities as contemplated hereunder, whether or not a supplemental Indenture is entered into with respect thereto.

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

 

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“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, security interest, pledge, charge or other encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law.

“Officer” means, with respect to a Person, the President, the Chief Executive Officer, any Vice President (whether unmodified or prefaced by “Senior,” “Assistant” or any other designation), the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, Controller, Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of such Person.

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by any two officers of the General Partner, one of whom must by the General Partner’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or Chief Accounting Officer (or if the Partnership shall change its form of entity to other than a limited partnership or the Partnership’s general partner shall have officers, by Persons, officers, members, agents and others holding positions comparable to those of the foregoing nature, as applicable).

“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 Partnership or the Trustee.

“Original Issue Discount Debt Security” means any Debt Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.1.

“Outstanding,” when used with respect to any series of Debt Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Debt Securities of that series theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

 

  (a)   Debt Securities of that series theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

  (b)   Debt Securities of that series for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any paying agent (other than the Partnership) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Partnership (if the Partnership shall act as its own paying agent) for the Holders of such Debt Securities; provided, that, if such Debt Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made; and

 

  (c)   Debt Securities of that series which have been paid pursuant to Section 2.9 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Debt Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Debt Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Debt Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Debt Securities are valid obligations of the Partnership;

 

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provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Debt Securities owned by the Partnership or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities or any Affiliate of the Partnership or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Debt Securities which a Trust Officer actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Debt Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Debt Securities and that the pledgee is not the Partnership or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities or an Affiliate of the Partnership or of such other obligor. In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Debt Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Debt Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.1.

“Partnership” means the Person named as the “Partnership” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Partnership” shall mean such successor Person.

“Partnership Request” and “Partnership Order” mean, respectively, a written request or order signed in the name of the Partnership by the President, the Chief Executive Officer or any Vice President of the General Partner, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, an Assistant Controller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the General Partner, and delivered to the Trustee, or if the Partnership shall change its form of entity to other than a limited partnership, by Persons or officers, members, agents and others holding positions comparable to those of the foregoing nature, as applicable.

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

“Redemption Date,” when used with respect to any Debt Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

“Reporting Failure” means the failure of the Partnership or a Guarantor, as applicable, to file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Partnership or a Guarantor is required to file the same with the SEC within the time periods specified in the Exchange Act or in the relevant forms thereunder (after giving effect to any grace period specified under Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act), the annual reports, information, documents or other reports that the Partnership or the Guarantor is required to file with the commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

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“Representative” means the trustee, agent or representative (if any) for an issue of Senior Indebtedness.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor statute.

“Senior Indebtedness,” unless otherwise provided with respect to the Debt Securities of a series as contemplated by Section 2.3, means (1) all Debt of the Guarantors or the Partnership, whether currently outstanding or hereafter issued, unless, by the terms of the instrument creating or evidencing such Debt, it is provided that such Debt is subordinate or not superior in right of payment to the Debt Securities, in the case of the Partnership, or the Guarantee, in the case of the Guarantors, or to other Debt which is pari passu with or subordinated to the Debt Securities, in the case of the Partnership, or the Guarantee, in the case of the Guarantors, and (2) any modifications, refunding, deferrals, renewals, or extensions of any such Debt or securities, notes or other evidence of Debt issued in exchange for such Debt; provided that in no event shall “Senior Indebtedness” include (a) Debt evidenced by the Debt Securities or any Guarantee, (b) Debt of any of the Guarantors or the Partnership owed or owing to any Subsidiary of the Partnership, (c) Debt of any of the Guarantors owed or owing to the Partnership, (d) Debt to trade creditors, (e) any liability for taxes owed or owing by the Guarantors or the Partnership or (f) Debt of any Guarantor in the event there is no series of Debt Securities Outstanding that is entitled to the benefits of a Guarantee.

“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision (but excluding any provision providing for the repurchase of such security at the option of the holder thereof upon the happening of any contingency beyond the control of the issuer unless such contingency has occurred).

“Subsidiary” of any Person means:

 

  (1)   any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of equity interests entitled, without regard to the occurrence of any contingency, to vote in the election of directors, managers, trustees or equivalent Persons thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person or combination thereof; or

 

  (2)   in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the partners’ equity interests, considering all partners’ equity interests as a single class, is at such time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person or combination thereof.

“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§77aaa-77bbbb), as in effect on the date of this Indenture as originally executed and, to the extent required by law, as amended.

 

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“Trustee” initially means [                                        ] and any other Person or Persons appointed as such from time to time pursuant to Section 7.8, and, subject to the provisions of Article VII, includes its or their successors and assigns. If at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Debt Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of that series.

“Trust Officer” means any officer or assistant officer of the Trustee assigned by the Trustee to administer its corporate trust matters.

“United States” means the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.

“U.S. Government Obligations” means direct obligations of the United States of America, obligations on which the payment of principal and interest is fully guaranteed by the United States of America or obligations or guarantees for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged.

“Yield to Maturity” means the yield to maturity, calculated at the time of issuance of a series of Debt Securities, or, if applicable, at the most recent redetermination of interest on such series and calculated in accordance with accepted financial practice.

Section 1.2 Other Definitions.

 

Term

   Defined in Section

“Debt Security Register”

     2.7

“Defaulted Interest”

     2.17

“Event of Default”

     6.1

“Funding Guarantor”

   14.5

“Guarantee”

   14.1

“Place of Payment”

     2.3

“Registrar”

     2.7

“Subordinated Debt Securities”

   12.1

“Successor Partnership”

   10.1

Section 1.3 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.

All terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA have the meanings so assigned to them.

Section 1.4 Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires:

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

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

 

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(c) “or” is not exclusive;

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

(e) all references in this instrument to “Articles,” “Sections” and other subdivisions are to the designated Articles, Sections and subdivisions of this instrument as originally executed;

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

(g) “including” means “including without limitation;”

(h) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

(i) if the applicable series of Debt Securities are subordinated pursuant to Article XII, unsecured Debt shall not be deemed to be subordinate or junior to secured Debt merely by virtue of its nature as unsecured Debt; and

(j) the principal amount of any noninterest bearing or other discount security at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP.

ARTICLE II

DEBT SECURITIES

Section 2.1 Forms Generally. The Debt Securities of each series shall be in substantially the form established without the approval of any Holder by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or in one or more Indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as the Partnership may deem appropriate (and, if not contained in a supplemental Indenture entered into in accordance with Article IX, as are not prohibited by the provisions of this Indenture) or as may be required or appropriate to comply with any law or with any rules made pursuant thereto or with any rules of any securities exchange on which such series of Debt Securities may be listed, or to conform to general usage, or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Debt Securities as evidenced by their execution of the Debt Securities.

The definitive Debt Securities of each series shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Debt Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Debt Securities.

 

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Section 2.2 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication. The Trustee’s certificate of authentication on all Debt Securities authenticated by the Trustee shall be in substantially the following form:

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Debt Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

[                                         ],  
As Trustee  

 

By:  

 

 
  Authorized Signatory  

Section 2.3 Principal Amount; Issuable in Series. The aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities which may be issued, executed, authenticated, delivered and outstanding under this Indenture is unlimited.

The Debt Securities may be issued in one or more series in fully registered form. There shall be established, without the approval of any Holders, in or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more Indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Debt Securities of any series any or all of the following:

(a) the title of the Debt Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Debt Securities of the series from all other Debt Securities);

(b) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Debt Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Debt Securities of the series pursuant to this Article II);

(c) the date or dates on which the principal of and premium, if any, on the Debt Securities of the series are payable;

(d) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which the Debt Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method of determining such rate or rates, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the interest payment dates on which such interest shall be payable, or the method by which such date will be determined, the record dates for the determination of Holders thereof to whom such interest is payable; and the basis upon which interest will be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve thirty-day months;

(e) the place or places, if any, in addition to or instead of the corporate trust office of the Trustee, where the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, Debt Securities of the series shall be payable (“Place of Payment”);

 

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(f) the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which Debt Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Partnership or otherwise;

(g) whether Debt Securities of the series are entitled to the benefits of any Guarantee of any Guarantors pursuant to this Indenture;

(h) the obligation, if any, of the Partnership to redeem, purchase or repay Debt Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof, and the price or prices at which and the period or periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which Debt Securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligations;

(i) the terms, if any, upon which the Debt Securities of the series may be convertible into or exchanged for capital stock (which may be represented by depositary shares), other Debt Securities or warrants for capital stock or Debt or other securities of any kind of the Partnership or any other obligor and the terms and conditions upon which such conversion or exchange shall be effected, including the initial conversion or exchange price or rate, the conversion or exchange period and any other provision in addition to or in lieu of those described herein;

(j) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which Debt Securities of the series shall be issuable;

(k) if the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on Debt Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts will be determined;

(l) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of Debt Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to such Stated Maturity, the amount which will be deemed to be such principal amount as of any such date for any purpose, including the principal amount thereof which will be due and payable upon any maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which will be deemed to be Outstanding as of any such date (or, in any such case, the manner in which such deemed principal amount is to be determined);

(m) any changes or additions to Article XI, including the addition of additional covenants that may be subject to the covenant defeasance option pursuant to Section 11.2(b);

(n) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Debt Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.1 or provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 6.2;

(o) the terms, if any, of the transfer, mortgage, pledge or assignment as security for the Debt Securities of the series of any properties, assets, moneys, proceeds, securities or other collateral, including whether certain provisions of the TIA are applicable and any corresponding changes to provisions of this Indenture as currently in effect;

 

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(p) any addition to or change in the Events of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the Holders to declare the principal of, and premium and interest on, such Debt Securities due and payable;

(q) if the Debt Securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security or Securities, the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such Global Security or Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual Debt Securities in definitive registered form; and the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities and the form of any legend or legends to be borne by any such Global Security or Securities in addition to or in lieu of the legend referred to in Section 2.15(a);

(r) any trustees, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars;

(s) the applicability of, and any addition to or change in the covenants and definitions currently set forth in this Indenture or in the terms currently set forth in Article X, including conditioning any merger, conveyance, transfer or lease permitted by Article X upon the satisfaction of any Debt coverage standard by the Partnership and Successor Partnership (as defined in Article X);

(t) the subordination, if any, of the Debt Securities of the series pursuant to Article XII and any changes or additions to Article XII or designation of any Designated Senior Indebtedness;

(u) with regard to Debt Securities of the series that do not bear interest, the dates for certain required reports to the Trustee; and

(v) any other terms of the Debt Securities of the series (which terms shall not be prohibited by the provisions of this Indenture).

All Debt Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such resolution of the Board of Directors and as set forth in such Officers’ Certificate or in any such Indenture supplemental hereto.

Section 2.4 Execution of Debt Securities. The Debt Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Partnership by one the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President of the General Partner and, if the seal of the General Partner is reproduced thereon, it shall be attested by its Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, a Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer. Such signatures upon the Debt Securities may be the manual or facsimile signatures of the present or any future such authorized officers and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Debt Securities. The seal of the General Partner, if any, may be in the form of a facsimile thereof and may be impressed, affixed, imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Debt Securities.

Only such Debt Securities as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form hereinbefore recited, signed manually by the Trustee, shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate by the Trustee upon any Debt Security executed by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall be conclusive evidence that the Debt Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.

 

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In case any officer of the General Partner who shall have signed any of the Debt Securities shall cease to be such officer before the Debt Securities so signed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, or disposed of by the Partnership, such Debt Securities nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the Person who signed such Debt Securities had not ceased to be such officer of the General Partner; and any Debt Security may be signed on behalf of the General Partner by such Persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Debt Security, shall be the proper officers of the General Partner, although at the date of such Debt Security or of the execution of this Indenture any such Person was not such officer.

Section 2.5 Authentication and Delivery of Debt Securities. At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Partnership may deliver to the Trustee for authentication Debt Securities of any series executed by the Partnership, and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver said Debt Securities to or upon a Partnership Order. In authenticating such Debt Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Debt Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon:

(a) a copy of any resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the General Partner, authorizing the terms of issuance of any series of Debt Securities;

(b) an executed supplemental Indenture, if any;

(c) an Officers’ Certificate; and

(d) an Opinion of Counsel prepared in accordance with Section 13.5 which shall also state:

(i) that the form of such Debt Securities has been established by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or by a supplemental Indenture as permitted by Section 2.1 in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(ii) that the terms of such Debt Securities have been established by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or by a supplemental Indenture as permitted by Section 2.3 in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(iii) that such Debt Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Partnership in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Partnership, enforceable in accordance with their terms except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and rights of acceleration and the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability;

 

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(iv) that the Partnership has the partnership power to issue such Debt Securities and has duly taken all necessary partnership action with respect to such issuance;

(v) that the issuance of such Debt Securities will not contravene the organizational documents of the Partnership or result in any material violation of any of the terms or provisions of any law or regulation or of any material indenture, mortgage or other agreement known to such counsel by which the Partnership is bound;

(vi) that authentication and delivery of such Debt Securities and the execution and delivery of any supplemental Indenture will not violate the terms of this Indenture; and

(vii) such other matters as the Trustee may reasonably request.

Such Opinion of Counsel need express no opinion as to whether a court in the United States would render a money judgment in a currency other than that of the United States.

The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Debt Securities under this Section 2.5 if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee or a trust committee of directors, trustees or Officers (or any combination thereof) shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to existing Holders.

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

Unless otherwise provided in the form of Debt Security for any series, each Debt Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

Section 2.6 Denomination of Debt Securities. Unless otherwise provided in the form of Debt Security for any series, the Debt Securities of each series shall be issuable only as fully registered Debt Securities in such Dollar denominations as shall be specified or contemplated by Section 2.3. In the absence of any such specification with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, the Debt Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

Section 2.7 Registration of Transfer and Exchange. The Partnership shall keep or cause to be kept a register for each series of Debt Securities issued hereunder (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Debt Security Register”), in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Partnership shall provide for the registration of all Debt Securities and the transfer of Debt Securities as in this Article II provided. At all reasonable times the Debt Security Register shall be open for inspection by the Trustee. Subject to Section 2.15, upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debt Security at any office or agency to be maintained by the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.2, the

 

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Partnership shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Debt Security or Debt Securities of authorized denominations for a like aggregate principal amount. In no event may Debt Securities be issued as, or exchanged for, bearer securities.

Unless and until otherwise determined by the Partnership by resolution of the Board of Directors, the Debt Security Register shall be kept at the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee and, for this purpose, the Trustee shall be designated “Registrar.”

Debt Securities of any series (other than a Global Security, except as set forth below) may be exchanged for a like aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities of the same series of other authorized denominations. Subject to Section 2.15, Debt Securities to be exchanged shall be surrendered at the office or agency to be maintained by the Partnership as provided in Section 4.2, and the Partnership shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor the Debt Security or Debt Securities which the Holder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive.

(b) All Debt Securities presented or surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange or payment shall (if so required by the Partnership, the Trustee or the Registrar) be duly endorsed or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Partnership, the Trustee and the Registrar, duly executed by the Holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

All Debt Securities issued in exchange for or upon transfer of Debt Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Partnership, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Debt Securities surrendered for such exchange or transfer.

No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Debt Securities (except as provided by Section 2.9), but the Partnership may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee, assessment or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto, other than those expressly provided in this Indenture to be made at the Partnership’s own expense or without expense or without charge to the Holders.

The Partnership shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Debt Securities for a period of 15 days next preceding any mailing of notice of redemption of Debt Securities of such series or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Debt Securities selected, called or being called for redemption.

Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Debt Security, the Partnership, the Guarantors, the Trustee, any paying agent or any Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name a Debt Security is registered as the absolute owner of such Debt Security for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.12) interest on, such Debt Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Debt Security is overdue, and none of the Partnership, the Guarantors, the Trustee, any paying agent or any Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

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None of the Partnership, the Guarantors, the Trustee, any agent of the Trustee, any paying agent or any Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

Section 2.8 Temporary Debt Securities. Pending the preparation of definitive Debt Securities of any series, the Partnership may execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver temporary Debt Securities (printed, lithographed, photocopied, typewritten or otherwise produced) of any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the definitive Debt Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Debt Securities, all as may be determined by the Partnership with the concurrence of the Trustee. Temporary Debt Securities may contain such reference to any provisions of this Indenture as may be appropriate. Every temporary Debt Security shall be executed by the Partnership and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive Debt Securities.

If temporary Debt Securities of any series are issued, the Partnership will cause definitive Debt Securities of such series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Debt Securities of such series, the temporary Debt Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Debt Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Debt Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Partnership at a Place of Payment for such series, without charge to the Holder thereof, except as provided in Section 2.7 in connection with a transfer. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Debt Securities of any series, the Partnership shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Debt Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor. Until so exchanged, temporary Debt Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Debt Securities of such series.

Upon any exchange of a portion of a temporary Global Security for a definitive Global Security or for the individual Debt Securities represented thereby pursuant to Section 2.7 or this Section 2.8, the temporary Global Security shall be endorsed by the Trustee to reflect the reduction of the principal amount evidenced thereby, whereupon the principal amount of such temporary Global Security shall be reduced for all purposes by the amount to be exchanged and endorsed.

Section 2.9 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debt Securities. If (a) any mutilated Debt Security is surrendered to the Trustee at its corporate trust office or (b) the Partnership and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Debt Security, and there is delivered to the Partnership and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any paying agent harmless, and neither the Partnership nor the Trustee receives notice that such Debt Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, then the Partnership shall execute and, upon a Partnership Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security, a new Debt Security of the same series of like tenor, form, terms and

 

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principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously Outstanding. Upon the issuance of any substituted Debt Security, the Partnership or the Trustee may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee, assessment or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses connected therewith. In case any Debt Security which has matured or is about to mature or which has been called for redemption shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Partnership may, instead of issuing a substituted Debt Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Debt Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish the Partnership and the Trustee with such security or indemnity as either may require to save it harmless from all risk, however remote, and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to the satisfaction of the Partnership and the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Debt Security and of the ownership thereof.

Every substituted Debt Security of any series issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.9 by virtue of the fact that any Debt Security is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Partnership, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security shall be found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Debt Securities of that series duly issued hereunder. All Debt Securities shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Securities, and shall preclude any and all other rights or remedies, notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.

 

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Section 2.10 Cancellation of Surrendered Debt Securities. All Debt Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Partnership or any paying agent or a Registrar, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation by it, or if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be canceled by it, and no Debt Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. All canceled Debt Securities held by the Trustee shall be destroyed (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act) and certification of their destruction delivered to the Partnership, unless otherwise directed. On request of the Partnership, the Trustee shall deliver to the Partnership canceled Debt Securities held by the Trustee. If the Partnership shall acquire any of the Debt Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the Debt represented thereby unless and until the same are delivered or surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation. The Partnership may not issue new Debt Securities to replace Debt Securities it has redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 2.11 Provisions of the Indenture and Debt Securities for the Sole Benefit of the Parties and the Holders. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities, expressed or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, the Holders or any Registrar or paying agent, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Indenture, or under any covenant, condition or provision herein contained; all its covenants, conditions and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto, the Holders and any Registrar and paying agents.

Section 2.12 Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

(a) Interest on any Debt Security that is payable and is punctually paid or duly provided for on any interest payment date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Debt Security is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest notwithstanding the cancellation of such Debt Security upon any transfer or exchange subsequent to the regular record date. Payment of interest on Debt Securities shall be made at the corporate trust office of the Trustee (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.3), or at the option of the Partnership, by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Debt Security Register or, if provided pursuant to Section 2.3 and in accordance with arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee, at the option of the Holder by wire transfer to an account designated by the Holder.

(b) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.12 and Section 2.17, each Debt Security of a particular series delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Debt Security of the same series shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Debt Security.

Section 2.13 Securities Denominated in Dollars. Except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.3 for Debt Securities of any series, payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, Debt Securities of such series will be made in Dollars.

Section 2.14 Wire Transfers. Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary in this Indenture, the Partnership may make any payment of moneys required to be deposited with the Trustee on account of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities

 

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(whether pursuant to optional or mandatory redemption payments, interest payments or otherwise) by wire transfer in immediately available funds to an account designated by the Trustee before 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date such moneys are to be paid to the Holders of the Debt Securities in accordance with the terms hereof.

Section 2.15 Securities Issuable in the Form of a Global Security.

(a) If the Partnership shall establish pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.3 that the Debt Securities of a particular series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, then the Partnership shall execute and the Trustee or its agent shall, in accordance with Section 2.5, authenticate and deliver, such Global Security or Securities, which shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series to be represented by such Global Security or Securities, or such portion thereof as the Partnership shall specify in an Officers’ Certificate, shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or its nominee, shall be delivered by the Trustee or its agent to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction and shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect:

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

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

or such other legend as may then be required by the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.15 or of Section 2.7 to the contrary, and subject to the provisions of paragraph (c) below, unless the terms of a Global Security expressly permit such Global Security to be exchanged in whole or in part for definitive Debt Securities in registered form, a Global Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part and in the manner provided in Section 2.7, only by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary for such Global Security, or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary to a successor Depositary for such Global Security selected or approved by the Partnership, or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.

 

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(i) If at any time the Depositary for a Global Security or Securities notifies the Partnership that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or if at any time the Depositary for the Debt Securities for such series shall no longer be eligible or in good standing under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute, rule or regulation, the Partnership shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to such Global Security or Securities. If a successor Depositary for such Global Security or Securities is not appointed by the Partnership within 120 days after the Partnership receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Partnership shall execute, and the Trustee or its agent, upon receipt of a Partnership Order for the authentication and delivery of such individual Debt Securities of such series in exchange for such Global Security or Securities, will authenticate and deliver, individual Debt Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security or Securities in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.

(ii) If an Event of Default occurs and the Depositary for a Global Security or Securities notifies the Trustee of its decision to require that the Debt Securities of any series or portion thereof issued or issuable in the form of one or more Global Securities shall no longer be represented by such Global Security or Securities, the Partnership shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to such Global Security or Securities. In such event the Partnership will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Partnership Order for the authentication and delivery of individual Debt Securities of such series in exchange in whole or in part for such Global Security or Securities, will authenticate and deliver individual Debt Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such series or portion thereof in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.

(iii) If specified by the Partnership pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.3 with respect to Debt Securities issued or issuable in the form of a Global Security, the Depositary for such Global Security may surrender such Global Security in exchange in whole or in part for individual Debt Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form on such terms as are acceptable to the Partnership, the Trustee and such Depositary. Thereupon the Partnership shall execute, and the Trustee or its agent upon receipt of a Partnership Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Debt Securities of such series shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge, to each Person specified by such Depositary a new Debt Security or Securities of the same series of like tenor and terms and of any authorized denomination as requested by such Person in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person’s beneficial interest in the Global Security; and to such Depositary a new Global Security of like tenor and terms and in an authorized denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities delivered to Holders thereof.

(iv) In any exchange provided for in any of the preceding three paragraphs, the Partnership will execute and the Trustee or its agent will authenticate and deliver individual Debt Securities. Upon the exchange of the entire principal amount of a Global Security for individual Debt Securities, such Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee or its agent. Except as

 

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provided in the preceding paragraph, Debt Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security pursuant to this Section 2.15 shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Global Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee or the Registrar. The Trustee or the Registrar shall deliver such Debt Securities to the Persons in whose names such Debt Securities are so registered.

(v) Payments in respect of the principal of and interest on any Debt Securities registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee will be payable to the Depositary or such nominee in its capacity as the registered owner of such Global Security. The Partnership, any Guarantors and the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name the Debt Securities, including the Global Security, are registered as the owner thereof for the purpose of receiving such payments and for any and all other purposes whatsoever. None of the Partnership, any Guarantors, the Trustee, any Registrar, the paying agent or any agent of the Partnership, any Guarantors or the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of the beneficial ownership interests of the Global Security by the Depositary or its nominee or any of the Depositary’s direct or indirect participants, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of the Depositary, its nominee or any of its direct or indirect participants relating to the beneficial ownership interests of the Global Security, the payments to the beneficial owners of the Global Security of amounts paid to the Depositary or its nominee, or any other matter relating to the actions and practices of the Depositary, its nominee or any of its direct or indirect participants. None of the Partnership, any Guarantors, the Trustee or any such agent will be liable for any delay by the Depositary, its nominee, or any of its direct or indirect participants in identifying the beneficial owners of the Debt Securities, and the Partnership, any Guarantors and the Trustee may conclusively rely on, and will be protected in relying on, instructions from the Depositary or its nominee for all purposes (including with respect to the registration and delivery, and the respective principal amounts, of the Debt Securities to be issued).

Section 2.16 Medium Term Securities. Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein, if all Debt Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary for the Partnership to deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate, resolutions of the Board of Directors, supplemental Indenture, Opinion of Counsel or written order or any other document otherwise required pursuant to Sections 2.1, 2.3, 2.5 or 13.5 at or prior to the time of authentication of each Debt Security of such series if such documents are delivered to the Trustee or its agent at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first such Debt Security of such series to be issued; provided, that any subsequent request by the Partnership to the Trustee to authenticate Debt Securities of such series upon original issuance shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Partnership that, as of the date of such request, the statements made in the Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Sections 2.5 or 13.5 shall be true and correct as if made on such date and that the Opinion of Counsel delivered at or prior to such time of authentication of an original issuance of Debt Securities shall specifically state that it shall relate to all subsequent issuances of Debt Securities of such series that are identical to the Debt Securities issued in the first issuance of Debt Securities of such series.

A Partnership Order delivered by the Partnership to the Trustee in the circumstances set forth in the preceding paragraph, may provide that Debt Securities which are the subject thereof

 

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will be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or its agent on original issue from time to time upon the telephonic or written order of Persons designated in such written order (any such telephonic instructions to be promptly confirmed in writing by such Person) and that such Persons are authorized to determine, consistent with the Officers’ Certificate, supplemental Indenture or resolution of the Board of Directors relating to such written order, such terms and conditions of such Debt Securities as are specified in such Officers’ Certificate, supplemental Indenture or such resolution.

Section 2.17 Defaulted Interest. Any interest on any Debt Security of a particular series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on the dates and in the manner provided in the Debt Securities of such series and in this Indenture (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder thereof on the relevant record date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Partnership, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (i) or (ii) below:

(i) The Partnership may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Debt Securities of such series are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Partnership shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Debt Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Partnership shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Partnership of such special record date and, in the name and at the expense of the Partnership, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be mailed, first class postage pre-paid, to each Holder thereof at its address as it appears in the Debt Security Register, not less than 15 days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Debt Securities of such series are registered at the close of business on such special record date.

(ii) The Partnership may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Debt Securities of such series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Debt Securities of such series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Partnership to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

Section 2.18 CUSIP Numbers. The Partnership in issuing the Debt Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state

 

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that no representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Debt Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Debt Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Partnership will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the “CUSIP” numbers.

ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

Section 3.1 Applicability of Article. The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to the Debt Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.3 for Debt Securities of such series.

Section 3.2 Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debt Securities. In case the Partnership shall desire to exercise the right to redeem all or, as the case may be, any part of the Debt Securities of any series in accordance with their terms, by resolution of the Board of Directors or a supplemental Indenture, the Partnership shall fix a date for redemption and shall give notice of such redemption at least 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption to the Holders of Debt Securities of such series so to be redeemed as a whole or in part, in the manner provided in Section 13.3. The notice if given in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Debt Security of a series designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Debt Security of such series.

Each such notice of redemption shall specify (i) the date fixed for redemption, (ii) the redemption price at which Debt Securities of such series are to be redeemed (or the method of calculating such redemption price), (iii) the Place or Places of Payment that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Debt Securities, (iv) that any interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, (v) that the redemption is for a sinking fund payment (if applicable), (vi) that, unless otherwise specified in such notice, if the Partnership defaults in making such redemption payment or if the Debt Securities of that series are subordinated pursuant to the terms of Article XII, the paying agent is prohibited from making such payment pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, (vii) that on and after said date any interest thereon or on the portions thereof to be redeemed will cease to accrue, (viii) that in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities original issue discount accrued after the date fixed for redemption will cease to accrue, (ix) the terms of the Debt Securities of that series pursuant to which the Debt Securities of that series are being redeemed and (x) 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 Debt Securities of that series. If less than all the Debt Securities of a series are to be redeemed the notice of redemption shall specify the certificate numbers of any Debt Securities of that series to be redeemed that are not in global form. In case any Debt Security of a series is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that on and after the date fixed for redemption, upon surrender of such Debt Security, a new Debt Security or Debt Securities of that series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof, will be issued.

 

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At least five days before the giving of any notice of redemption, unless the Trustee consents to a shorter period, the Partnership shall give written notice to the Trustee of the Redemption Date, the principal amount of Debt Securities to be redeemed and the series and terms of the Debt Securities pursuant to which such redemption will occur. Such notice shall be accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel from the Partnership to the effect that such redemption will comply with the conditions herein, and such notice may be revoked at any time prior to the giving of a notice of redemption to the Holders pursuant to this Section 3.2. If fewer than all the Debt Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the record date relating to such redemption shall be selected by the Partnership and given in writing to the Trustee, which record date shall be not less than three days after the date of notice to the Trustee.

By 11 a.m., New York City time, on the Redemption Date for any Debt Securities, the Partnership shall deposit with the Trustee or with a paying agent (or, if the Partnership is acting as its own paying agent, segregate and hold in trust) an amount of money in Dollars (except as provided pursuant to Section 2.3) sufficient to pay the redemption price of such Debt Securities or any portions thereof that are to be redeemed on that date, together with any interest accrued to the Redemption Date.

If less than all the Debt Securities of like tenor and terms of a series are to be redeemed (other than pursuant to mandatory sinking fund redemptions), the Trustee shall select, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as in its sole discretion it shall deem appropriate and fair, the Debt Securities of that series or portions thereof (in multiples of $1,000) to be redeemed. In any case where more than one Debt Security of such series is registered in the same name, the Trustee in its discretion may treat the aggregate principal amount so registered as if it were represented by one Debt Security of such series. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Partnership in writing of the Debt Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Debt Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. If any Debt Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof on such Redemption Date, the principal, premium, if any, and interest shall bear interest until paid from the Redemption Date at the rate borne by the Debt Securities of that series. If less than all the Debt Securities of unlike tenor and terms of a series are to be redeemed, the particular Debt Securities to be redeemed shall be selected by the Partnership. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Debt Securities called for redemption also apply to portions of Debt Securities called for redemption.

Section 3.3 Payment of Debt Securities Called for Redemption. If notice of redemption has been given as provided in Section 3.2, the Debt Securities or portions of Debt Securities of the series with respect to which such notice has been given shall become due and payable on the date and at the Place or Places of Payment stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with any interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption, and on and after said date (unless the Partnership shall default in the payment of such Debt Securities at the applicable redemption price, together with any interest accrued to said date) any interest on the Debt Securities or portions of Debt Securities of any series so called for redemption shall cease to accrue, and any original issue discount in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities shall cease to accrue. On presentation and surrender of such Debt Securities at the Place or Places of Payment in said notice specified, the said Debt Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Partnership at the applicable redemption price, together with any interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption.

 

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Any Debt Security that is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at the Place of Payment with, if the Partnership, the Registrar or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Partnership, the Registrar and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and the Partnership shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Debt Security without service charge, a new Debt Security or Debt Securities of the same series, of like tenor and form, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Debt Security so surrendered; except that if a Global Security is so surrendered, the Partnership shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Depositary for such Global Security, without service charge, a new Global Security in a denomination equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Global Security so surrendered. In the case of a Debt Security providing appropriate space for such notation, at the option of the Holder thereof, the Trustee, in lieu of delivering a new Debt Security or Debt Securities as aforesaid, may make a notation on such Debt Security of the payment of the redeemed portion thereof.

Section 3.4 Mandatory and Optional Sinking Funds. The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Debt Securities of any series, resolution of the Board of Directors or a supplemental Indenture is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Debt Securities of any series, resolution of the Board of Directors or a supplemental Indenture is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.”

In lieu of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to any Debt Securities of a series in cash, the Partnership may at its option (a) deliver to the Trustee Debt Securities of that series theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired by the Partnership or (b) receive credit for the principal amount of Debt Securities of that series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of such Debt Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Debt Securities, resolution or supplemental Indenture; provided, that such Debt Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Debt Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption price specified in such Debt Securities, resolution or supplemental Indenture for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such mandatory sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

Section 3.5 Redemption of Debt Securities for Sinking Fund. Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Debt Securities, the Partnership will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, any resolution or supplemental Indenture, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Debt Securities of that series pursuant to Section 3.4 (which Debt Securities, if not previously redeemed, will accompany such certificate) and whether the Partnership intends to exercise its right to make any permitted

 

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optional sinking fund payment with respect to such series. Such certificate shall also state that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to such series. Such certificate shall be irrevocable and upon its delivery the Partnership shall be obligated to make the cash payment or payments therein referred to, if any, by 11 a.m., New York City time, on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date. Failure of the Partnership to deliver such certificate (or to deliver the Debt Securities specified in this paragraph) shall not constitute a Default, but such failure shall require that the sinking fund payment due on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date for that series shall be paid entirely in cash and shall be sufficient to redeem the principal amount of such Debt Securities subject to a mandatory sinking fund payment without the option to deliver or credit Debt Securities as provided in Section 3.4 and without the right to make any optional sinking fund payment, if any, with respect to such series.

Any sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional) made in cash plus any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made in cash which shall equal or exceed $100,000 (or a lesser sum if the Partnership shall so request) with respect to the Debt Securities of any particular series shall be applied by the Trustee on the sinking fund payment date on which such payment is made (or, if such payment is made before a sinking fund payment date, on the sinking fund payment date following the date of such payment) to the redemption of such Debt Securities at the redemption price specified in such Debt Securities, resolution or supplemental Indenture for operation of the sinking fund together with any accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption. Any sinking fund moneys not so applied or allocated by the Trustee to the redemption of Debt Securities shall be added to the next cash sinking fund payment received by the Trustee for such series and, together with such payment, shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.5. Any and all sinking fund moneys with respect to the Debt Securities of any particular series held by the Trustee on the last sinking fund payment date with respect to Debt Securities of such series and not held for the payment or redemption of particular Debt Securities shall be applied by the Trustee, together with other moneys, if necessary, to be deposited sufficient for the purpose, to the payment of the principal of the Debt Securities of that series at its Stated Maturity.

The Trustee shall select the Debt Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in the last paragraph of Section 3.2 and the Partnership shall cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the manner provided in Section 3.2 except that the notice of redemption shall also state that the Debt Securities are being redeemed by operation of the sinking fund. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Debt Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 3.3.

The Trustee shall not redeem any Debt Securities of a series with sinking fund moneys or mail any notice of redemption of such Debt Securities by operation of the sinking fund for such series during the continuance of a Default in payment of interest on such Debt Securities or of any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default occurring as a consequence of this paragraph) with respect to such Debt Securities, except that if the notice of redemption of any such Debt Securities shall theretofore have been mailed in accordance with the provisions hereof, the Trustee shall redeem such Debt Securities if cash sufficient for that purpose shall be deposited with the Trustee for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Article III. Except as aforesaid, any moneys in the sinking fund for such series at the time when any such Default or Event of Default shall occur and any moneys thereafter paid into such sinking fund

 

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shall, during the continuance of such Default or Event of Default, be held as security for the payment of such Debt Securities; provided, however, that in case such Default or Event of Default shall have been cured or waived as provided herein, such moneys shall thereafter be applied on the next sinking fund payment date for such Debt Securities on which such moneys may be applied pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3.5.

ARTICLE IV

PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE PARTNERSHIP

Section 4.1 Payment of Principal of, and Premium, If Any, and Interest on, Debt Securities. The Partnership, for the benefit of each series of Debt Securities, will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, each of the Debt Securities at the place, at the respective times and in the manner provided herein or in the Debt Securities. Each installment of interest on any Debt Securities not in global form may at the Partnership’s option be paid by mailing checks for such interest payable to the Person entitled thereto pursuant to Section 2.7(a) to the address of such Person as it appears on the Debt Security Register.

Principal of and premium and interest on Debt Securities of any series shall be considered paid on the date due if, by 11 a.m., New York City time, on such date the Trustee or any paying agent holds in accordance with this Indenture money sufficient to pay all principal, premium and interest then due and, in the case of Debt Securities subordinated pursuant to the terms of Article XII, the Trustee or such paying agent, as the case may be, is not prohibited from paying such money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

The Partnership shall pay interest on overdue principal or premium, if any, at the rate specified therefor in the Debt Securities, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.

Section 4.2 Maintenance of Offices or Agencies for Registration of Transfer, Exchange and Payment of Debt Securities. The Partnership will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Debt Securities an office or agency where Debt Securities of such series may be presented or surrendered for payment, and it shall also maintain (in or outside such Place of Payment) an office or agency where Debt Securities of such series may be surrendered for transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Partnership in respect of the Debt Securities of such series and this Indenture may be served. The Partnership 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 Partnership shall 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 office of the Trustee where its corporate trust business is principally administered in the United States, and the Partnership hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

The Partnership may also from time to time designate different or additional offices or agencies to be maintained for such purposes (in or outside of such Place of Payment), and may

 

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from time to time rescind any such designation; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Partnership of its obligations described in the preceding paragraph. The Partnership will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such additional designation or rescission of designation and any change in the location of any such different or additional office or agency.

Section 4.3 Appointment to Fill a Vacancy in the Office of Trustee. The Partnership, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.8, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder with respect to each series of Debt Securities.

Section 4.4 Duties of Paying Agents, etc.

(a) The Partnership shall cause each paying agent, if any, other than the Trustee, to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 4.4,

(i) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities of any series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Partnership or by any other obligor on the Debt Securities of such series) in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series;

(ii) that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Partnership (or by any other obligor on the Debt Securities of such series) to make any payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities of such series when the same shall be due and payable; and

(iii) that it will at any time during the continuance of an Event of Default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held by it as such agent.

(b) If the Partnership shall act as its own paying agent, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities of any series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series a sum sufficient to pay such principal, premium, if any, or interest so becoming due. The Partnership will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure by the Partnership to take such action or the failure by any other obligor on such Debt Securities to make any payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, such Debt Securities when the same shall be due and payable.

(c) Anything in this Section 4.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Partnership may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, or for any other reason, pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee all sums held in trust by it or any paying agent, as required by this Section 4.4, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Partnership or such paying agent.

(d) Whenever the Partnership shall have one or more paying agents with respect to any series of Debt Securities, it will, prior to each due date of the principal of, and premium, if

 

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any, or interest on, any Debt Securities of such series, deposit with any such paying agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal, premium or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto, and (unless any such paying agent is the Trustee) the Partnership will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

(e) Anything in this Section 4.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section 4.4 is subject to the provisions of Section 11.5.

Section 4.5 SEC Reports; Financial Statements. The Partnership shall file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Partnership or any Guarantor is required to file the same with the SEC, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents, and other reports that the Partnership or such Guarantor is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Partnership’s and any Guarantor’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

Section 4.6 Compliance Certificate. The Partnership shall, so long as any of the Debt Securities are Outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, on or before January 31 in each year, a brief certificate from the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the General Partner as to his or her knowledge of the Partnership’s compliance with all conditions and covenants under the Indenture (such compliance to be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under the Indenture).

 

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Section 4.7 Further Instruments and Acts. The Partnership will, upon request of the Trustee, execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may reasonably be necessary or proper to carry out more effectually the purposes of this Indenture.

Section 4.8 Waiver of Certain Covenants. The Partnership and the Guarantors may, with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any covenant made applicable to such Debt Securities pursuant to Section 2.3, if, before or after the time for such compliance, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected, waive such compliance in such instance with such covenant, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such covenant except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Partnership and the Guarantors and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such covenant shall remain in full force and effect.

ARTICLE V

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE

Section 5.1 Partnership to Furnish Trustee Information as to Names and Addresses of Holders; Preservation of Information. The Partnership covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of each series:

(a) not more than 10 days after each record date with respect to the payment of interest, if any, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders as of such record date, and

(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Partnership of any such request, a list of similar form and contents as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished;

provided, however, that so long as the Trustee shall be the Registrar, such lists shall not be required to be furnished.

The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the Holders (i) contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in this Section 5.1 or (ii) received by it in the capacity of paying agent or Registrar (if so acting) hereunder.

The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in this Section 5.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

Section 5.2 Communications to Holders. Holders may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the TIA with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Debt Securities. The Partnership, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the TIA.

Section 5.3 Reports by Trustee. Within 60 days after each January 31, beginning with the first January 31 following the date of this Indenture, and in any event on or before April 1 in

 

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each year, the Trustee shall mail to Holders a brief report dated as of such January 31 that complies with TIA Section 313(a); provided, however, that if no event described in TIA Section 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted. The Trustee also shall comply with TIA Section 313(b).

Reports pursuant to this Section 5.3 shall be transmitted by mail:

(a) to all Holders, as the names and addresses of such Holders appear in the Debt Security Register; and

(b) except in the cases of reports under Section 313(b)(2) of the TIA, to each Holder of a Debt Security of any series whose name and address appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 5.1.

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Holders shall be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and each stock exchange (if any) on which the Debt Securities of any series are listed. The Partnership agrees to notify promptly the Trustee whenever the Debt Securities of any series become listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.

Section 5.4 Record Dates for Action by Holders. If the Partnership shall solicit from the Holders of Debt Securities of any series any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any direction, notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the Partnership may, at its option, by resolution of the Board of Directors, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders of Debt Securities entitled to take such action, but the Partnership shall have no obligation to do so. Any such record date shall be fixed at the Partnership’s discretion. If such a record date is fixed, such action may be sought or given before or after the record date, but only the Holders of Debt Securities of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders of Debt Securities for the purpose of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Debt Securities of such series Outstanding have authorized or agreed or consented to such action, and for that purpose the Debt Securities of such series Outstanding shall be computed as of such record date.

ARTICLE VI

REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND HOLDERS IN EVENT OF DEFAULT

Section 6.1 Events of Default. “Event of Default” with respect to the Debt Securities of any series means each one of the following events which shall have occurred and be continuing:

(a) default in the payment of any installment of interest upon any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable, whether or not such payment shall be prohibited by Article XII, if applicable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

(b) default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable, whether at Stated Maturity, upon redemption, by declaration, upon required repurchase or otherwise, whether or not such payment shall be prohibited by Article XII, if applicable; or

 

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(c) default in the payment of any sinking fund payment with respect to any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable; or

(d) failure on the part of the Partnership or, if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of a Guarantee by a Guarantor, any of the Guarantors, duly to observe or perform any other of the covenants or agreements on the part of the Partnership, or if applicable, any of the Guarantors, in the Debt Securities of that series, in any resolution of the Board of Directors authorizing the issuance of that series of Debt Securities, in this Indenture with respect to such series or in any supplemental Indenture with respect to such series (other than a covenant a default in the performance of which is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with), continuing for a period of 60 days (or 180 days in the case of a Reporting Failure) after the date on which written notice specifying such failure and requiring the Partnership, or if applicable, the Guarantors, to remedy the same and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder shall have been given to the Partnership and if applicable, the Guarantors, by the Trustee or to the Partnership and, if applicable, the Guarantors, and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series at the time Outstanding; or

(e) the Partnership or, if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee by a Guarantor, any of the Guarantors, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law,

(i) commences a voluntary case,

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

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

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

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

(i) is for relief against the Partnership or, if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee by a Guarantor, any of the Guarantors, as debtor in an involuntary case,

(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Partnership or, if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee by a Guarantor, any of the Guarantors, or a Custodian for all or substantially all of the property of the Partnership, or if applicable, any of the Guarantors, or

 

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(iii) orders the liquidation of the Partnership or, if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee by a Guarantor, any of the Guarantors,

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

(g) if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee by a Guarantor, the Guarantee of any of the Guarantors ceases to be in full force and effect with respect to Debt Securities of that series (except as otherwise provided in this Indenture) or is declared null and void in a judicial proceeding or any of the Guarantors denies or disaffirms its obligations under this Indenture or such Guarantee; or

(h) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Debt Securities of that series;

(i) provided, however, that the occurrence of any of the events described in the foregoing clause (d) shall not constitute an Event of Default if such occurrence is the result of changes in generally accepted accounting principles as recognized by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants at the date as of which this Indenture is executed and a certificate to such effect is delivered to the Trustee by the Partnership’s independent public accountants.

(j) If an Event of Default described in clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (g), or (h) with respect to Debt Securities of that series at the time Outstanding occurs with respect to the Partnership or any Guarantor and is continuing, unless the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Debt Securities of that series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Partnership and the Guarantor (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), may declare the principal of (or, if the Debt Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Debt Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series), premium, if any, and interest on all the Debt Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable, anything in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities of that series contained to the contrary notwithstanding. If an Event of Default described in clause (e) or (f) occurs with respect to the Partnership, then and in each and every such case, unless the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Debt Securities shall have become due and payable, the principal of (or, if the Debt Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Debt Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms thereof), premium, if any, and interest on all the Debt Securities then Outstanding hereunder shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders, anything in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of a particular series by written notice to the Trustee may rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction already rendered and if all existing Events of Default with respect to that series have been cured or waived except nonpayment of principal, premium, if any, or interest that has become due solely because of acceleration. Upon any such rescission, the parties hereto

 

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shall be restored respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the parties hereto shall continue as though no such proceeding had been taken.

Section 6.2 Collection of Debt by Trustee, etc. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid or enforce the performance of any provision of the Debt Securities of the affected series or this Indenture, and may prosecute any such action or proceedings to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against any of the Guarantors or the Partnership or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of such series (and collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of any of the Guarantors or the Partnership or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of such series wherever situated the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable).

In case there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for the reorganization of any of the Guarantors or the Partnership or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of any series under any Bankruptcy Law, or in case a Custodian shall have been appointed for its property, or in case of any other similar judicial proceedings relative to any of the Guarantors or the Partnership or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of any series, its creditors or its property, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of Debt Securities of any series shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6.2, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise, to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal, premium, if any, and interest (or, if the Debt Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Debt Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) owing and unpaid in respect of the Debt Securities of such series, and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and for reimbursement of all expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee except as a result of its negligence or bad faith) and of the Holders thereof allowed in any such judicial proceedings relative to any of the Guarantors or the Partnership, or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of such series, its creditors or its property, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute all amounts received with respect to the claims of such Holders and of the Trustee on their behalf, and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of such Holders to make payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of payments directly to such Holders, to pay to the Trustee such amount as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other reasonable expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee except as a result of its negligence or bad faith.

All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Debt Securities of any series, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any such Debt Securities, or the production thereof in any trial or other proceedings relative thereto, and any such action or proceedings instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee

 

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of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment (except for any amounts payable to the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.6) shall be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of all the Debt Securities in respect of which such action was taken.

In case of an Event of Default hereunder the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.

Section 6.3 Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee. Any moneys or other property collected by the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.2 with respect to Debt Securities of any series shall be applied, after giving effect to the provisions of Article XII, if applicable, in the order following, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys or other property, upon presentation of the several Debt Securities of such series in respect of which moneys or other property have been collected, and the notation thereon of the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

FIRST: To the payment of all money due the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.6;

SECOND: In case the principal of the Outstanding Debt Securities in respect of which such moneys have been collected shall not have become due, to the payment of interest on the Debt Securities of such series in the order of the maturity of the installments of such interest, with interest (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon the overdue installments of interest at the rate or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Debt Securities) borne by the Debt Securities of such series, such payments to be made ratably to the Persons entitled thereto, without discrimination or preference;

THIRD: In case the principal of the Outstanding Debt Securities in respect of which such moneys have been collected shall have become due, by declaration or otherwise, to the payment of the whole amount then owing and unpaid upon the Debt Securities of such series for principal and premium, if any, and interest, with interest on the overdue principal and premium, if any, and (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon overdue installments of interest at the rate or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Debt Securities) borne by the Debt Securities of such series; and, in case such moneys shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amount so due and unpaid upon the Debt Securities of such series, then to the payment of such principal and premium, if any, and interest, without preference or priority of principal and premium, if any, over interest, or of interest over principal and premium, if any, or of any installment of interest over any other installment of interest, or of any Debt Security of such series over any Debt Security of such series, ratably to the aggregate of such principal and premium, if any, and interest; and

FOURTH: The remainder, if any, shall be paid to the Guarantors or the Partnership, as applicable, its successors or assigns, or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

 

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The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.3. At least 15 days before such record date, the Partnership shall mail to each Holder and the Trustee a notice that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.

Section 6.4 Limitation on Suits by Holders. No Holder of any Debt Security of any series shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any action or proceeding at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, upon or under or with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless such Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default with respect to Debt Securities of that same series and of the continuance thereof and unless the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action or proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder and shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity or security as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, and the Trustee, for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity or security shall have failed to institute any such action or proceedings and no direction inconsistent with such written request shall have been given to the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.6; it being understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by the Holder of every Debt Security with every other Holder and the Trustee, that no one or more Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any Holders, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such Holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all such Holders. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section 6.4, each and every Holder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, however, the right of any Holder of any Debt Security to receive payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.12) interest on, such Debt Security, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Debt Security, and to institute 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.

 

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Section 6.5 Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission in Exercise of Rights Not a Waiver of Default. All powers and remedies given by this Article VI to the Trustee or to the Holders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any thereof or of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the Holders, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture, and no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid, shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such Default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.4, every power and remedy given by this Article VI or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders.

Section 6.6 Rights of Holders of Majority in Principal Amount of Debt Securities to Direct Trustee and to Waive Default. The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series at the time Outstanding shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or of exercising any right, trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Debt Securities of such series; provided, however, that such direction shall not be otherwise than in accordance with law and the provisions of this Indenture, and that subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee being advised by counsel shall determine that the action so directed may not lawfully be taken or is inconsistent with any provision of this Indenture, or if the Trustee shall by a responsible officer or officers determine that the action so directed would involve it in personal liability or would be unduly prejudicial to Holders of Debt Securities of such series not taking part in such direction; and provided, further, however, that nothing in this Indenture contained shall impair the right of the Trustee to take any action deemed proper by the Trustee and which is not inconsistent with such direction by such Holders. The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series at the time Outstanding may on behalf of the Holders of all the Debt Securities of that series waive any past Default or Event of Default and its consequences for that series, except a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, any of the Debt Securities and a Default or Event of Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.2 cannot be amended without the consent of each Holder affected thereby. In case of any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture, and the Guarantors, the Partnership, the Trustee and the Holders of the Debt Securities of that series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 6.7 Trustee to Give Notice of Events of Defaults Known to It, but May Withhold Such Notice in Certain Circumstances. The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of an Event of Default, or if later, within 30 days after the Trustee obtains actual knowledge of the Event of Default, with respect to a series of Debt Securities give to the Holders thereof, in the manner provided in Section 13.3, notice of all Events of Default with respect to such series known to the Trustee, unless such Events of Default shall have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice; provided, that, except in the case of an Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any of the Debt Securities of such

 

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series or in the making of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a committee of directors or responsible officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders thereof.

Section 6.8 Requirement of an Undertaking to Pay Costs in Certain Suits under the Indenture or Against the Trustee. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Debt Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit in the manner and to the extent provided in the TIA, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 6.8 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 25 percent in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any Debt Security on or after the due date for such payment expressed in such Debt Security.

ARTICLE VII

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

Section 7.1 Certain Duties and Responsibilities. The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture. In case an Event of Default has occurred (which has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, its own bad faith or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(a) this paragraph shall not be construed to limit the effect of the first paragraph of this Section 7.1;

(b) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of a series and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default with respect to such series which may have occurred:

(i) the duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect to Debt Securities of any series shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations with respect to such series as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to such series shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee;

 

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(ii) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture; but the Trustee shall examine the evidence furnished to it pursuant to Sections 4.5 and 4.6 to determine whether or not such evidence conforms to the requirement of this Indenture;

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable for an error of judgment made in good faith by a responsible officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

(iv) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it with respect to Debt Securities of any series in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to Debt Securities of such series.

None of the provisions of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

Section 7.2 Certain Rights of Trustee. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.1:

(a) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note or other paper or document (whether in its original or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

(b) any request, direction, order or demand of the Partnership mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Partnership Order (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the General Partner;

 

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(c) 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 in respect of any action taken or suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;

(d) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders of Debt Securities of any series pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby;

(e) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;

(f) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing of all Events of Default which may have occurred, the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, approval or other paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Debt Securities of a series affected by such matter; provided, however, that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is not, in the opinion of the Trustee, reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require reasonable indemnity against such costs, expenses or liabilities as a condition to so proceeding, and the reasonable expense of every such investigation shall be paid by the Partnership or, if paid by the Trustee, shall be repaid by the Partnership upon demand;

(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed by it with due care hereunder; and

(h) if any property other than cash shall at any time be subject to a Lien in favor of the Holders, the Trustee, if and to the extent authorized by a receivership or bankruptcy court of competent jurisdiction or by the supplemental instrument subjecting such property to such Lien, shall be entitled to make advances for the purpose of preserving such property or of discharging tax Liens or other prior Liens or encumbrances thereon.

Section 7.3 Trustee Not Liable for Recitals in Indenture or in Debt Securities. The recitals contained herein and in the Debt Securities (except the Trustee’s certificate of authentication) shall be taken as the statements of the Partnership, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Debt Securities of any series, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Debt Securities and perform its obligations hereunder, and that the statements made by it or to be made by it in a Statement of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1 supplied to the Partnership are true and accurate. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Partnership of any of the Debt Securities or of the proceeds thereof.

 

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Section 7.4 Trustee, Paying Agent or Registrar May Own Debt Securities. The Trustee or any paying agent or Registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Debt Securities and subject to the provisions of the TIA relating to conflicts of interest and preferential claims may otherwise deal with the Partnership with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, paying agent or Registrar.

Section 7.5 Moneys Received by Trustee to Be Held in Trust. Subject to the provisions of Section 11.5, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder. So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, all interest allowed on any such moneys shall be paid from time to time to the Partnership upon a Partnership Order.

Section 7.6 Compensation and Reimbursement. The Partnership covenants and agrees to pay in Dollars to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust), and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Partnership will pay or reimburse in Dollars the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents, attorneys and counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ), including without limitation, Section 6.2, except any such expense, disbursement or advances as may arise from its negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Partnership also covenants to indemnify in Dollars the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust or trusts hereunder, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The obligations of the Partnership under this Section 7.6 to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional Debt hereunder and shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture. The Partnership and the Holders agree that such additional Debt shall be secured by a Lien prior to that of the Debt Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee, as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, particular Debt Securities.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.1(e) or 6.1(f) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

Section 7.7 Right of Trustee to Rely on an Officers’ Certificate Where No Other Evidence Specifically Prescribed. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.1, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable

 

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that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering or omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

Section 7.8 Separate Trustee; Replacement of Trustee. The Partnership may, but need not, appoint a separate Trustee for any one or more series of Debt Securities. The Trustee may resign with respect to one or more or all series of Debt Securities at any time by giving notice to the Partnership. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debt Securities of a particular series may remove the Trustee for such series and only such series by so notifying the Trustee and may appoint a successor Trustee. The Partnership shall remove the Trustee if:

 

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

 

  (b)   the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

 

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

 

  (d)   the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.

If the Trustee resigns, is removed by the Partnership or by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debt Securities of a particular series and such Holders do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Partnership shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of this Section 7.8.

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Partnership. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders of Debt Securities of each applicable series. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.6.

If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee gives notice of resignation or is removed, the retiring Trustee or the Holders of 25% in principal amount of the Debt Securities of any applicable series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee for the Debt Securities of such series.

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

 

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Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.8, the Partnership’s obligations under Section 7.6 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

In the case of the appointment hereunder of a separate or successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more series, the Partnership, any retiring Trustee and each successor or separate Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of any applicable series shall execute and deliver an Indenture supplemental hereto (i) which shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of any retiring Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of any series as to which any such retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in such retiring Trustee and (ii) that shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental Indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such separate, retiring or successor Trustee shall be Trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee.

Section 7.9 Successor Trustee by Merger. If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation or banking association without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

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

 

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Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification. The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of Section 310(a) of the TIA. The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. No obligor upon the Debt Securities of a particular series or Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such obligor shall serve as Trustee for the Debt Securities of such series. The Trustee shall comply with Section 310(b) of the TIA; provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA this Indenture or any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Partnership are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA are met.

Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Partnership. The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the TIA, excluding any creditor relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the TIA. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the TIA to the extent indicated therein.

Section 7.12 Compliance with Tax Laws. The Trustee hereby agrees to comply with all U.S. Federal income tax information reporting and withholding requirements applicable to it with respect to payments of premium (if any) and interest on the Debt Securities, whether acting as Trustee, Registrar, paying agent or otherwise with respect to the Debt Securities.

ARTICLE VIII

CONCERNING THE HOLDERS

Section 8.1 Evidence of Action by Holders. Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any or all series may take action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any direction, notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action) the fact that at the time of taking any such action the Holders of such specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced (a) by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by Holders in Person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, (b) by the record of the Holders voting in favor thereof at any meeting of Holders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.2, (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of Holders or (d) in the case of Debt Securities evidenced by a Global Security, by any electronic transmission or other message, whether or not in written format, that complies with the Depositary’s applicable procedures.

Section 8.2 Proof of Execution of Instruments and of Holding of Debt Securities. Subject to the provisions of Sections 7.1, 7.2 and 13.9, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Holder or his agent or proxy shall be sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. The ownership of Debt Securities of any series shall be proved by the Debt Security Register or by a certificate of the Registrar for such series. The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section 8.2 as it shall deem necessary.

 

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Section 8.3 Who May Be Deemed Owner of Debt Securities. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debt Security, the Partnership, the Guarantors, the Trustee, any paying agent and any Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Debt Security shall be registered upon the books of the Partnership as the absolute owner of such Debt Security (whether or not such Debt Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.12) interest on such Debt Security and for all other purposes, and none of the Partnership, the Guarantors or the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary; and all such payments so made to any such Holder for the time being, or upon his order, shall be valid and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Debt Security.

None of the Partnership, the Guarantors, the Trustee, any paying agent or any Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

Section 8.4 Instruments Executed by Holders Bind Future Holders. At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 8.1, of the taking of any action by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action and subject to the following paragraph, any Holder of a Debt Security which is shown by the evidence to be included in the Debt Securities the Holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at its corporate trust office and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.2, revoke such action so far as concerns such Debt Security. Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the Holder of any Debt Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of such Debt Security and of any Debt Security issued upon transfer thereof or in exchange or substitution therefor, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Debt Security or such other Debt Securities. Any action taken by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Partnership, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders of all the Debt Securities of such series.

The Partnership may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Debt Securities entitled to give their consent or take any other action required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders of Debt Securities at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders of Debt Securities after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date unless the consent of the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of such series specified in this Indenture shall have been received within such 120-day period.

 

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ARTICLE IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 9.1 Purposes for Which Supplemental Indenture May Be Entered into Without Consent of Holders. The Partnership and any Guarantors, when authorized by resolutions of the Board of Directors, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time, without the consent of Holders, enter into an Indenture or Indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the TIA as in force at the date of the execution thereof) for one or more of the following purposes:

(a) to evidence the succession pursuant to Article X of another Person to the Partnership, or successive successions, and the assumption by the Successor Partnership (as defined in Section 10.1) of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Partnership in this Indenture and in the Debt Securities;

(b) to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Partnership or the Guarantors, to add to the covenants of the Partnership or the Guarantors such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the protection of the Holders of all or any series of Debt Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Debt Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) as the Board of Directors shall consider to be for the protection of the Holders of such Debt Securities, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a Default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions a Default or an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in this Indenture; provided, that in respect of any such additional covenant, restriction, condition or provision such supplemental Indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after Default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other Defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such Default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such Default or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of any or all series of Debt Securities to waive such Default;

(c) to cure any ambiguity or omission or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein, in any supplemental Indenture or in any Debt Securities of any series that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein, in any supplemental Indenture or in the Debt Securities of such series; to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to or with the Trustee, or to make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under this Indenture as shall not adversely affect the interests of any Holders of Debt Securities of any series;

(d) to permit the qualification of this Indenture or any Indenture supplemental hereto under the TIA as then in effect, except that nothing herein contained shall permit or authorize the inclusion in any Indenture supplemental hereto of the provisions referred to in Section 316(a)(2) of the TIA;

(e) to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, on, Debt Securities; provided, that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Debt Securities of any series in any material respect or permit or facilitate the issuance of Debt Securities of any series in uncertificated form;

 

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(f) to reflect the release of any Guarantor in accordance with Article XIV;

(g) in the case of any Debt Securities subordinated pursuant to Article XII, to make any change in Article XII that would limit or terminate the benefits available to any holder of Senior Indebtedness (or Representatives therefor) under Article XII;

(h) to add Guarantors with respect to any or all of the Debt Securities or to secure any or all of the Debt Securities or the Guarantee;

(i) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights hereunder of any Holder;

(j) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Debt Securities; provided, however, that any such addition, change or elimination not otherwise permitted under this Section 9.1 shall neither apply to any Debt Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental Indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor modify the rights of the Holder of any such Debt Security with respect to such provision or shall become effective only when there is no such Debt Security Outstanding;

(k) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor or separate Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee; and

(l) to establish the form or terms of Debt Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 2.1 and 2.3.

The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Partnership and the Guarantors in the execution of any such supplemental Indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer, assignment, mortgage or pledge of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental Indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Any supplemental Indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 9.1 may be executed by the Partnership, the Guarantors and the Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any of the Debt Securities at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.2.

In the case of Debt Securities subordinated pursuant to Article XII, an amendment under this Section 9.1 may not make any change that adversely affects the rights under Article XII of any holder of Senior Indebtedness then outstanding unless the holders of such Senior Indebtedness (or any group or Representative thereof authorized to give a consent) consent to such change.

 

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Section 9.2 Modification of Indenture with Consent of Holders of Debt Securities. Without notice to any Holder but with the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 8.1) of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected by such supplemental Indenture (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for any such series of Debt Securities), the Partnership and the Guarantors, when authorized by resolutions of the Board of Directors, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an Indenture or Indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the TIA as in force at the date of execution thereof) for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series; provided, that no such supplemental Indenture, without the consent of the Holders of each Debt Security so affected, shall: reduce the percentage in principal amount of Debt Securities of any series whose Holders must consent to an amendment; reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any Debt Security; reduce the principal of or extend the Stated Maturity of any Debt Security; reduce any premium payable upon the redemption of any Debt Security or change the time at which any Debt Security may or shall be redeemed in accordance with Article III; make any Debt Security payable in currency other than the Dollar; impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of premium, if any, principal of and interest on such Holder’s Debt Securities on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Debt Securities; in the case of any Debt Security subordinated pursuant to Article XII, make any change in Article XII that adversely affects the rights of any Holder under Article XII; release any security that may have been granted in respect of the Debt Securities, other than in accordance with this Indenture; make any change in Section 6.6 or this Section 9.2; or, except as provided in Section 11.2(b) or Section 14.4, release the Guarantors other than as provided in this Indenture or modify the Guarantee in any manner adverse to the Holders.

A supplemental Indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has been expressly included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Debt Securities or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Debt Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Debt Securities of any other series.

Upon the request of the Partnership and the Guarantors, accompanied by a copy of resolutions of the Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such supplemental Indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Holders as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Partnership in the execution of such supplemental Indenture unless such supplemental Indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion but shall not be obligated to enter into such supplemental Indenture.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental Indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.

 

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In the case of any Debt Securities subordinated pursuant to Article XII, an amendment under this Section 9.2 may not make any change that adversely affects the rights under Article XII of any holder of Senior Indebtedness then outstanding unless the holders of such Senior Indebtedness (or any group or Representative thereof authorized to give a consent) consent to such change.

After an amendment under this Section 9.2 requiring the consent of the Holders of any series of Debt Securities becomes effective, the Partnership shall mail to Holders of that series of Debt Securities of each series affected thereby a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to any such Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.2 with respect to other Holders.

Section 9.3 Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of any supplemental Indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Partnership, the Guarantors and the Holders shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental Indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 7.1 and 7.2, may receive an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such supplemental Indenture complies with the provisions of this Article IX.

Section 9.4 Debt Securities May Bear Notation of Changes by Supplemental Indentures. Debt Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental Indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental Indenture. New Debt Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental Indenture may be prepared and executed by the Partnership, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Debt Securities of such series then Outstanding. Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Debt Security of such series shall not affect the validity of such amendment.

ARTICLE X

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE

Section 10.1 Consolidations and Mergers of the Partnership. The Partnership shall not consolidate or amalgamate with or merge with or into any Person, or sell, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all its assets to any Person, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, unless: (a) either (i) the Partnership shall be the surviving Person in the case of a merger or (ii) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person if other than the Partnership (the “Successor Partnership”), shall be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and the

 

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Successor Partnership shall expressly assume, by an Indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Partnership under this Indenture and the Debt Securities according to their tenor; (b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of transactions (and treating any Debt which becomes an obligation of the Successor Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the Successor Partnership or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction or series of transactions), no Default or Event of Default would occur or be continuing; (c) if the Partnership is not the continuing Person, then each Guarantor, unless it has become the Successor Partnership, shall confirm that its Guarantee shall continue to apply to the obligations under the Debt Securities and this Indenture; and (d) the Partnership shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or disposition and such supplemental Indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture.

Section 10.2 Rights and Duties of Successor Partnership. In case of any consolidation, amalgamation or merger where the Partnership is not the continuing Person, or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership in accordance with Section 10.1, the Successor Partnership shall succeed to and be substituted for the Partnership with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the respective party to this Indenture, and the predecessor entity shall be released from all liabilities and obligations under this Indenture and the Debt Securities, except that no such release will occur in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of the Partnership’s assets. The Successor Partnership thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of the Partnership, any or all the Debt Securities issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by or on behalf of the Partnership and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of the Successor Partnership, instead of the Partnership, and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall deliver any Debt Securities which previously shall have been signed and delivered by or on behalf of the Partnership to the Trustee for authentication, and any Debt Securities which the Successor Partnership thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee for that purpose. All the Debt Securities so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Debt Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all such Debt Securities had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

In case of any such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, sale or disposition such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Debt Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.

 

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ARTICLE XI

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF

INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS

Section 11.1 Applicability of Article. The provisions of this Article XI relating to discharge or defeasance of Debt Securities shall be applicable to each series of Debt Securities except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.3 for Debt Securities of such series.

Section 11.2 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance.

(a) If at any time the Partnership shall have delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all Debt Securities of any series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than any Debt Securities of such series which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.9 and Debt Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Partnership as provided in Section 11.5) or all Debt Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Partnership shall deposit with the Trustee as trust funds the entire amount in cash sufficient to pay at final maturity or upon redemption all Debt Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal and premium, if any, and interest due or to become due on such date of maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be, and if in either case the Partnership shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Partnership, then this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of such Debt Securities herein expressly provided for) with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, and the Trustee, on demand of the Partnership accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel and at the cost and expense of the Partnership, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of such series.

(b) Subject to Sections 11.2(c), 11.3 and 11.7, the Partnership at any time may terminate, with respect to Debt Securities of a particular series, all its obligations under the Debt Securities of such series and this Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of such series (“legal defeasance option”) or the operation of (x) any covenant made applicable to such Debt Securities pursuant to Section 2.3, (y) Sections 6.1(d), 6.1(g) and 6.1(h) and (z) as they relate to the Guarantors only, Sections 6.1(e) and 6.1(f) (“covenant defeasance option”). If the Partnership exercises either its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option with respect to Debt Securities of a particular series that are entitled to the benefit of the Guarantee, the Guarantee will terminate with respect to that series of Debt Securities. The Partnership may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option.

If the Partnership exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of the Debt Securities of the defeased series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If the Partnership

 

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exercises its covenant defeasance option, payment of the Debt Securities of the defeased series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.1(d), 6.1(g) and 6.1(h) and, with respect to the Guarantors only, Sections 6.1(e) and 6.1(f).

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

(c) Notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, the Partnership’s obligations in Sections 2.7, 2.9, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 5.1, 7.6, 11.5, 11.6 and 11.7 shall survive until the Debt Securities of the defeased series have been paid in full. Thereafter, the Partnership’s obligations in Sections 7.6, 11.5 and 11.6 shall survive.

Section 11.3 Conditions of Defeasance. The Partnership may exercise its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option with respect to Debt Securities of a particular series only if:

(a) the Partnership irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Debt Securities of such series to final maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

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

(c) 91 days pass after the deposit is made and during the 91-day period no Default specified in Sections 6.1(e) or 6.1(f) with respect to the Partnership occurs which is continuing at the end of the period;

(d) no Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit and after giving effect thereto;

(e) the deposit does not constitute a default under any other agreement binding on the Partnership and, if the Debt Securities of such series are subordinated pursuant to Article XII, is not prohibited by Article XII;

(f) the Partnership delivers to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the trust resulting from the deposit does not constitute, or is qualified as, a regulated investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940;

(g) in the event of the legal defeasance option, the Partnership shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that the Partnership has received from the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of Debt Securities of such series will not

 

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recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such 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 defeasance had not occurred;

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

(i) the Partnership delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance and discharge of the Debt Securities of such series as contemplated by this Article XI have been complied with.

Before or after a deposit, the Partnership may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Debt Securities of such series at a future date in accordance with Article III.

Section 11.4 Application of Trust Money. The Trustee shall hold in trust money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to this Article XI. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from U.S. Government Obligations through any paying agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Debt Securities of the defeased series. In the event the Debt Securities of the defeased series are subordinated pursuant to Article XII, money and securities so held in trust are not subject to Article XII.

Section 11.5 Repayment to Partnership. The Trustee and any paying agent shall promptly turn over to the Partnership upon request any excess money or securities held by them at any time.

Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and any paying agent shall pay to the Partnership upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal, premium or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, and, thereafter, Holders entitled to such money must look to the Partnership for payment as general creditors.

Section 11.6 Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations. The Partnership shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee and the Holders against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against deposited U.S. Government Obligations or the principal and interest received on such U.S. Government Obligations.

Section 11.7 Reinstatement. If the Trustee or any paying agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article XI by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or government authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Partnership’s obligations under this Indenture and the Debt Securities of the defeased series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article XI until such time as the Trustee or any paying agent is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article XI.

 

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ARTICLE XII

SUBORDINATION OF DEBT SECURITIES AND GUARANTEE

Section 12.1 Applicability of Article; Agreement to Subordinate. The provisions of this Article XII shall only be applicable to the Debt Securities of any series (Debt Securities of such series referred to in this Article XII as “Subordinated Debt Securities”) designated, pursuant to Section 2.3, as subordinated to Senior Indebtedness and any related Guarantee of such Subordinated Debt Securities. Each Holder by accepting a Subordinated Debt Security agrees that the Debt evidenced by such Subordinated Debt Security and any related Guarantee of such Subordinated Debt Security is subordinated in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner provided in this Article XII, to the prior payment of all Senior Indebtedness and that the subordination is for the benefit of and enforceable by the holders of Senior Indebtedness. All provisions of this Article XII shall be subject to Section 12.12.

Section 12.2 Liquidation, Dissolution, Bankruptcy. Upon any payment or distribution of the assets of the Partnership or the Guarantors, as the case may be, to creditors, upon a liquidation or a dissolution of the Partnership or the Guarantors, as the case may be, or in a bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding relating to the Partnership or the Guarantors, as the case may be, or their respective property:

(a) holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Partnership or any Guarantor, as the case may be, shall be entitled to receive payment in full in cash of such Senior Indebtedness of such Person (including interest (if any), accruing on or after the commencement of a proceeding in bankruptcy, whether or not allowed as a claim against the Partnership or the Guarantors, as the case may be, in such bankruptcy proceeding) before Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities and any related Guarantee shall be entitled to receive any payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Subordinated Debt Securities from the Partnership, or any payment in respect of the Guarantee from the Guarantors; and

(b) until the Senior Indebtedness of the Partnership or any Guarantor, as the case may be, is paid in full, any distribution to which Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities and any related Guarantee would be entitled but for this Article XII shall be made to holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Partnership or the Guarantors, as the case may be, as their interests may appear, except that such Holders may receive capital stock and any debt securities that are subordinated to Senior Indebtedness of the Partnership or the Guarantors, as the case may be, to at least the same extent as the Subordinated Debt Securities of the Partnership or the related Guarantee of any Guarantor, respectively.

Section 12.3 Default on Senior Indebtedness. The Partnership and the Guarantors may not pay the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Subordinated Debt Securities or any related Guarantee or make any deposit pursuant to Article XI and may not repurchase, redeem or otherwise retire (except, in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities that provide for a mandatory sinking fund pursuant to Section 3.5, by the delivery of Subordinated Debt Securities

 

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by the Partnership to the Trustee pursuant to the first paragraph of Section 3.5) any Subordinated Debt Securities (collectively, “pay the Subordinated Debt Securities”) if any principal, premium or interest in respect of Senior Indebtedness of such Person is not paid within any applicable grace period (including at maturity) or any other default on Senior Indebtedness of such Person occurs and the maturity of such Senior Indebtedness is accelerated in accordance with its terms unless, in either case, the default has been cured or waived and any such acceleration has been rescinded or such Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full in cash; provided, however, that the Partnership and the Guarantors may make payments on the Subordinated Debt Securities or any related Guarantee without regard to the foregoing if the Partnership and the Trustee receive written notice approving such payment from the Representative of each issue of Designated Senior Indebtedness. During the continuance of any other default with respect to any Designated Senior Indebtedness pursuant to which the maturity thereof may be accelerated immediately without further notice (except such notice as may be required to effect such acceleration) or the expiration of any applicable grace periods, the Partnership and the Guarantors may not make payments on the Subordinated Debt Securities or any related Guarantee for a period (a “Payment Blockage Period”) commencing upon the receipt by the Partnership and the Trustee (and if such Designated Senior Indebtedness is Debt of a Guarantor, the Guarantor) of written notice of such default from the Representative of any Designated Senior Indebtedness specifying an election to effect a Payment Blockage Period (a “Blockage Notice”) and ending 179 days thereafter (or earlier if such Payment Blockage Period is terminated by written notice to the Trustee and the Partnership (and if such Designated Senior Indebtedness is Debt of a Guarantor, the Guarantor) from the Person or Persons who gave such Blockage Notice, by repayment in full in cash of such Designated Senior Indebtedness or because the default giving rise to such Blockage Notice is no longer continuing). Notwithstanding the provisions described in the immediately preceding sentence (but subject to the provisions contained in Section 12.2 and the first sentence of this Section 12.3), unless the holders of such Designated Senior Indebtedness or the Representative of such holders shall have accelerated the maturity of such Designated Senior Indebtedness, the Partnership and the Guarantors may resume payments on the Subordinated Debt Securities and related Guarantees after such Payment Blockage Period. Not more than one Blockage Notice may be given in any consecutive 360-day period, irrespective of the number of defaults with respect to any number of issues of Designated Senior Indebtedness during such period, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.3 for the Subordinated Debt Securities of a series; provided, however, that in no event may the total number of days during which any Payment Blockage Period or Periods is in effect exceed 179 days in the aggregate during any 360 consecutive day period. For purposes of this Section 12.3, no default or event of default which existed or was continuing on the date of the commencement of any Payment Blockage Period with respect to the Designated Senior Indebtedness initiating such Payment Blockage Period shall be, or be made, the basis of the commencement of a subsequent Payment Blockage Period by the Representative of such Designated Senior Indebtedness, whether or not within a period of 360 consecutive days, unless such default or event of default shall have been cured or waived for a period of not less than 90 consecutive days.

Section 12.4 Acceleration of Payment of Debt Securities. If payment of the Subordinated Debt Securities is accelerated because of an Event of Default, the Partnership shall promptly notify the holders of the Designated Senior Indebtedness (or their Representatives) of the acceleration.

 

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Section 12.5 When Distribution Must Be Paid Over. If a distribution is made to Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities or a related Guarantee that because of this Article XII should not have been made to them, the Holders who receive such distribution shall hold it in trust for holders of Senior Indebtedness and pay it over to them as their interests may appear.

Section 12.6 Subrogation. After all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full and until the Subordinated Debt Securities are paid in full, Holders thereof shall be subrogated to the rights of holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive distributions applicable to Senior Indebtedness. A distribution made under this Article XII to holders of Senior Indebtedness which otherwise would have been made to Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities is not, as between the Partnership or the Guarantors, as the case may be, and such Holders, a payment by the Partnership or the Guarantors, as the case may be, on Senior Indebtedness.

Section 12.7 Relative Rights. This Article XII defines the relative rights of Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities and holders of Senior Indebtedness. Nothing in this Indenture shall:

(a) impair, as between the Partnership or the Guarantors, as the case may be, and Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities, the obligation of the Partnership or the Guarantors, as the case may be, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Subordinated Debt Securities in accordance with their terms; or

(b) prevent the Trustee or any Holder of Subordinated Debt Securities from exercising its available remedies upon an Event of Default, subject to the rights of holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive distributions otherwise payable to Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities.

Section 12.8 Subordination May Not Be Impaired by Partnership. No right of any holder of Senior Indebtedness to enforce the subordination of the Debt evidenced by the Subordinated Debt Securities and the Guarantee in respect thereof shall be impaired by any act or failure to act by the Partnership or the Guarantors or by its failure to comply with this Indenture.

Section 12.9 Rights of Trustee and Paying Agent. Notwithstanding Sections 12.2 and 12.3, the Trustee or any paying agent may continue to make payments on Subordinated Debt Securities and shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of facts that would prohibit the making of any such payments unless, not less than two Business Days prior to the date of such payment, a responsible officer of the Trustee receives notice satisfactory to it that payments may not be made under this Article XII. The Partnership, the Registrar, any paying agent, a Representative or a holder of Senior Indebtedness may give the notice; provided, however, that, if an issue of Senior Indebtedness has a Representative, only the Representative may give the notice on behalf of the Holders of the Senior Indebtedness of that issue.

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may hold Senior Indebtedness with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. The Registrar and any paying agent may do the same with like rights. The Trustee shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article XII with respect to any Senior Indebtedness which may at any time be held by it, to the same extent

 

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as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness; and nothing in Article VII shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder. Nothing in this Article XII shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 7.6.

Section 12.10 Distribution or Notice to Representative. Whenever a distribution is to be made or a notice given to holders of Senior Indebtedness, the distribution may be made and the notice given to their Representative (if any).

Section 12.11 Article XII Not to Prevent Defaults or Limit Right to Accelerate. The failure to make a payment pursuant to the Subordinated Debt Securities, whether directly or pursuant to the Guarantee, by reason of any provision in this Article XII shall not be construed as preventing the occurrence of a Default. Nothing in this Article XII shall have any effect on the right of the Holders or the Trustee to accelerate the maturity of either the Subordinated Debt Securities or the Debt Securities, as the case may be.

Section 12.12 Trust Moneys Not Subordinated. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, payments from money or the proceeds of U.S. Government Obligations held in trust under Article XI by the Trustee for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Subordinated Debt Securities or the Debt Securities shall not be subordinated to the prior payment of any Senior Indebtedness or subject to the restrictions set forth in this Article XII, and none of the Holders thereof shall be obligated to pay over any such amount to the Partnership, the Guarantors or any holder of Senior Indebtedness of the Partnership or the Guarantors or any other creditor of the Partnership or the Guarantors.

Section 12.13 Trustee Entitled to Rely. Upon any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article XII, the Trustee and the Holders shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction in which any proceedings of the nature referred to in Section 12.2 are pending, upon a certificate of the liquidating trustee or agent or other Person making such payment or distribution to the Trustee or to such Holders or upon the Representatives for the holders of Senior Indebtedness for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and other Debt of the Partnership or the Guarantors, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XII. In the event that the Trustee determines, in good faith, that evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article XII, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article XII, and, if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment. The provisions of Sections 7.1 and 7.2 shall be applicable to all actions or omissions of actions by the Trustee pursuant to this Article XII.

Section 12.14 Trustee to Effectuate Subordination. Each Holder by accepting a Subordinated Debt Security authorizes and directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the subordination between the Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities and the holders of Senior Indebtedness as provided in this Article XII and appoints the Trustee as attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

 

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Section 12.15 Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness and shall not be liable to any such holders if it shall mistakenly pay over or distribute to Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities or the Partnership or the Guarantors or any other Person, money or assets to which any holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article XII or otherwise.

Section 12.16 Reliance by Holders of Senior Indebtedness on Subordination Provisions. Each Holder by accepting a Subordinated Debt Security acknowledges and agrees that the foregoing subordination provisions are, and are intended to be, an inducement and a consideration to each holder of any Senior Indebtedness, whether such Senior Indebtedness was created or acquired before or after the issuance of the Subordinated Debt Securities, to acquire and continue to hold, or to continue to hold, such Senior Indebtedness and such holder of Senior Indebtedness shall be deemed conclusively to have relied on such subordination provisions in acquiring and continuing to hold, or in continuing to hold, such Senior Indebtedness.

ARTICLE XIII

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 13.1 Successors and Assigns of Partnership Bound by Indenture. All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained by or in behalf of the Partnership, the Guarantors or the Trustee shall bind their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

Section 13.2 Acts of Board, Committee or Officer of Successor Partnership Valid. Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Partnership shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the like board, committee or officer of any Successor Partnership.

Section 13.3 Required Notices or Demands. Any notice or communication by the Partnership, the Guarantors or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in Person or mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the other’s address:

If to the Partnership or any Guarantor:

Rayonier Forest Resources, L.P.

50 North Laura Street

Jacksonville, FL 32202

Attn: Chief Financial Officer

Telephone No.: (904) 357-9100

If to the Trustee:

[                                                     ]

 

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

All notices and communications 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; on the first Business Day on or after being sent, if telecopied and the sender receives confirmation of successful transmission; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

Any notice required or permitted to a Holder by the Partnership, any Guarantor or the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture shall be deemed to be properly mailed by being deposited postage prepaid in a post office letter box in the United States addressed to such Holder at the address of such Holder as shown on the Debt Security Register. Any report pursuant to Section 313 of the TIA shall be transmitted in compliance with subsection (c) therein.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any notice to Holders of Floating Rate Securities regarding the determination of a periodic rate of interest, if such notice is required pursuant to Section 2.3, shall be sufficiently given if given in the manner specified pursuant to Section 2.3.

In the event of suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give notice by mail, then such notification as shall be given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice for every purpose hereunder.

In the event it shall be impracticable to give notice by publication, then such notification as shall be given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice for every purpose hereunder.

Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it or any defect in any notice by publication as to a Holder shall not affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. If a notice or communication is mailed or published in the manner provided above, it is conclusively presumed duly given.

Section 13.4 Indenture and Debt Securities to Be Construed in Accordance with the Laws of the State of New York. THIS INDENTURE, EACH DEBT SECURITY AND THE GUARANTEE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE NEW YORK CONTRACTS, AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF SAID STATE.

Section 13.5 Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to Be Furnished upon Application or Demand by the Partnership. Upon any application or demand by the Partnership to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Partnership shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent provided

 

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for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or demand as to which the furnishing of such document is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include (a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition, (b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based, (c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he 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.

 

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Section 13.6 Payments Due on Legal Holidays. In any case where the date of maturity of interest on or principal of and premium, if any, on the Debt Securities of a series or the date fixed for redemption or repayment of any Debt Security or the making of any sinking fund payment shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment for the Debt Securities of such series, then payment of interest or principal and premium, if any, or the making of such sinking fund payment need not be made on such date at such Place of Payment, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the date of maturity or the date fixed for redemption, and no interest shall accrue for the period after such date. If a record date is not a Business Day, the record date shall not be affected.

Section 13.7 Provisions Required by TIA to Control. If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision included in this Indenture which is required to be included in this Indenture by any of Sections 310 to 318, inclusive, of the TIA, such required provision shall control.

Section 13.8 Computation of Interest on Debt Securities. Interest, if any, on the Debt Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to Section 2.3.

Section 13.9 Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Holders. The Registrar and any paying agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.

Section 13.10 No Recourse Against Others. The General Partner and its directors, officers, employees, incorporators and capital stockholders, as such, shall have no liability for any obligations of the Guarantors or the Partnership under the Debt Securities, this Indenture or the Guarantee or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Debt Security, each Holder shall be deemed to have waived and released all such liability. The waiver and release shall be part of the consideration for the issue of the Debt Securities.

Section 13.11 Severability. In case any provision in this Indenture or the Debt Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 13.12 Effect of Headings. The article and section headings herein and in the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

Section 13.13 Indenture May Be Executed in Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original; but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

ARTICLE XIV

GUARANTEE

Section 14.1 Unconditional Guarantee.

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Article XIV to the contrary, the provisions of this Article XIV shall be applicable only to, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Debt Securities of any series designated, pursuant to Section 2.3, as entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee of each of the Guarantors.

 

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(b) For value received, each of the Guarantors hereby fully, unconditionally and absolutely guarantees (the “Guarantee”) to the Holders and to the Trustee the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Debt Securities and all other amounts due and payable under this Indenture and the Debt Securities by the Partnership, when and as such principal, premium, if any, and interest shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, according to the terms of the Debt Securities and this Indenture, subject to (i) the limitations set forth in Section 14.3 and (ii) in the case of the Guarantee of the Subordinated Debt Securities, to the subordination provisions contained in Article XII.

(c) Failing payment when due of any amount guaranteed pursuant to the Guarantee, for whatever reason, each of the Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately , subject, in the case of the Guarantee of the Subordinated Debt Securities, to the subordination provisions contained in Article XII. The Guarantee hereunder (other than the Guarantee of Subordinated Debt Securities) is intended to be a general, unsecured, senior obligation of each of the Guarantors and will rank pari passu in right of payment with all Debt of each Guarantor that is not, by its terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee. Each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be full, unconditional and absolute, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Debt Securities, the Guarantee (including the Guarantee of any other Guarantor) or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Debt Securities with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Partnership or any other Guarantor, or any action to enforce the same or any other circumstances which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of any of the Guarantors. Each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that in the event of a default in payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Debt Securities, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, legal proceedings may be instituted by the Trustee on behalf of the Holders or, subject to Section 6.4, by the Holders, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Indenture, directly against such Guarantor to enforce the Guarantee without first proceeding against the Partnership or any other Guarantor.

(d) The obligations of each of the Guarantors under this Article XIV shall be as aforesaid full, unconditional and absolute and shall not be impaired, modified, released or limited by any occurrence or condition whatsoever, including, without limitation, (i) any compromise, settlement, release, waiver, renewal, extension, indulgence or modification of, or any change in, any of the obligations and liabilities of the Partnership or any of the Guarantors contained in the Debt Securities or this Indenture, (ii) any impairment, modification, release or limitation of the liability of the Partnership, any of the Guarantors or any of their estates in bankruptcy, or any remedy for the enforcement thereof, resulting from the operation of any present or future provision of any applicable Bankruptcy Law, as amended, or other statute or from the decision of any court, (iii) the assertion or exercise by the Partnership, any of the Guarantors or the Trustee of any rights or remedies under the Debt Securities or this Indenture or their delay in or failure to

 

61


assert or exercise any such rights or remedies, (iv) the assignment or the purported assignment of any property as security for the Debt Securities, including all or any part of the rights of the Partnership or any of the Guarantors under this Indenture, (v) the extension of the time for payment by the Partnership or any of the Guarantors of any payments or other sums or any part thereof owing or payable under any of the terms and provisions of the Debt Securities or this Indenture or of the time for performance by the Partnership or any of the Guarantors of any other obligations under or arising out of any such terms and provisions or the extension or the renewal of any thereof, (vi) the modification or amendment (whether material or otherwise) of any duty, agreement or obligation of the Partnership or any of the Guarantors set forth in this Indenture, (vii) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets, marshaling of assets and liabilities, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of, or other similar proceeding affecting, the Partnership or any of the Guarantors or any of their respective assets, or the disaffirmance of the Debt Securities, the Guarantee or this Indenture in any such proceeding, (viii) the release or discharge of the Partnership or any of the Guarantors from the performance or observance of any agreement, covenant, term or condition contained in any of such instruments by operation of law, (ix) the unenforceability of the Debt Securities, the Guarantee or this Indenture or (x) any other circumstances (other than payment in full or discharge of all amounts guaranteed pursuant to the Guarantee) which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a surety or guarantor.

(e) Each of the Guarantors hereby (i) waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of the merger, insolvency or bankruptcy of the Partnership or any of the Guarantors, and all demands whatsoever, (ii) acknowledges that any agreement, instrument or document evidencing the Guarantee may be transferred and that the benefit of its obligations hereunder shall extend to each holder of any agreement, instrument or document evidencing the Guarantee without notice to it and (iii) covenants that the Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the Guarantee. Each of the Guarantors further agrees that if at any time all or any part of any payment theretofore applied by any Person to the Guarantee is, or must be, rescinded or returned for any reason whatsoever, including without limitation, the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Partnership or any of the Guarantors, the Guarantee shall, to the extent that such payment is or must be rescinded or returned, be deemed to have continued in existence notwithstanding such application, and the Guarantee shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, as though such application had not been made.

(f) Each of the Guarantors shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holders and the Trustee against the Partnership in respect of any amounts paid by such Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, provided, however, that such Guarantor, shall not be entitled to enforce or to receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all of the Debt Securities and the Guarantee shall have been paid in full or discharged.

Section 14.2 Execution and Delivery of Guarantee. To further evidence the Guarantee set forth in Section 14.1, each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that a notation relating to such Guarantee, substantially in the form attached hereto as Annex A, shall be endorsed on each Debt Security entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and executed by either manual or facsimile signature of an officer of such Guarantor, or in the case of

 

62


a Guarantor that is a limited partnership, an officer of the general partner of each Guarantor. Each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that the Guarantee set forth in Section 14.1 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Debt Security a notation relating to the Guarantee. If any officer of any Guarantor, or in the case of a Guarantor that is a limited partnership, any officer of the general partner of the Guarantor, whose signature is on this Indenture or a Debt Security no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates such Debt Security or at any time thereafter, the Guarantee of such Debt Security shall be valid nevertheless. The delivery of any Debt Security by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.

The Trustee hereby accepts the trusts in this Indenture upon the terms and conditions herein set forth.

Section 14.3 Limitation on Guarantors’ Liability. Each Guarantor and by its acceptance hereof each Holder of a Debt Security entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee hereby confirm that it is the intention of all such parties that the guarantee by such Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of any Federal or state law. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Holders of a Debt Security entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each Guarantor under the Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor and to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under the Guarantee, not result in the obligations of such Guarantor under the Guarantee constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under Federal or state law.

Section 14.4 Release of Guarantors from Guarantee.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Guarantee of any Guarantor may be released upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 11.2(b) and in this Section 14.4. Provided that no Default shall have occurred and shall be continuing under this Indenture, the Guarantee incurred by a Guarantor pursuant to this Article XIV shall be unconditionally released and discharged (i) automatically upon (A) any sale, exchange or transfer, whether by way of merger or otherwise, to any Person that is not an Affiliate of the Partnership, of all of the Partnership’s direct or indirect limited partnership or other equity interests in such Guarantor (provided such sale, exchange or transfer is not prohibited by this Indenture) or (B) the merger of such Guarantor into the Partnership or any other Guarantor or the liquidation and dissolution of such Guarantor (in each case to the extent not prohibited by this Indenture) or (ii) following delivery of a written notice of such release or discharge by the Partnership to the Trustee, upon the release or discharge of all guarantees by such Guarantor of any Debt of the Partnership other than obligations arising under this Indenture and any Debt Securities issued hereunder, except a discharge or release by or as a result of payment under such guarantees.

(b) The Trustee shall deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing any release of a Guarantor from the Guarantee upon receipt of a written request of the Partnership accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Guarantor is entitled

 

63


to such release in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture. Any Guarantor not so released shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debt Securities entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee as provided in this Indenture, subject to the limitations of Section 14.3.

Section 14.5 Guarantor Contribution. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution among the Guarantors, the Guarantors hereby agree, inter se, that in the event any payment or distribution is made by any Guarantor (a “Funding Guarantor”) under the Guarantee, such Funding Guarantor shall be entitled to a contribution from each other Guarantor (if any) in a pro rata amount based on the net assets of each Guarantor (including the Funding Guarantor) for all payments, damages and expenses incurred by that Funding Guarantor in discharging the Partnership’s obligations with respect to the Debt Securities or any other Guarantor’s obligations with respect to the Guarantee.

[Remainder of This Page Intentionally Left Blank.]

 

64


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

 

RAYONIER FOREST RESOURCES, LP  
By:  

Rayonier Timberlands Management, Inc.

Its General Partner

 
By:  

 

 
Name:    
Title:    
[NAME OF GUARANTOR(S)]  
By:  

 

 
Name:    
Title:    
[                                         ], as Trustee  
By:  

 

 
Name:    
Title:    

SIGNATURE PAGES


ANNEX A

NOTATION OF GUARANTEE

Each of the Guarantors (which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture), has fully, unconditionally and absolutely guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Debt Securities and all other amounts due and payable under the Indenture and the Debt Securities by the Partnership.

The obligations of the Guarantors to the Holders of Debt Securities and to the Trustee pursuant to the Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article XIV of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Guarantee.

 

[NAME OF GUARANTOR(S)]  

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

A-1

EX-5.1 8 dex51.htm OPINION OF ALSTON & BIRD LLP Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP

Exhibit 5.1

ALSTON&BIRD LLP

Bank of America Plaza

101 South Tryon Street, Suite 4000

Charlotte, NC 28280-4000

704-444-1000

Fax: 704-444-1111

www.alston.com

May 22, 2007

Rayonier Inc.

Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc.

Rayonier Forest Resources, L.P.

50 North Laura Street

Jacksonville, Florida 32202

 

  Re: Automatic Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on May 22, 2007

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Rayonier Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the “Company”), Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation (“TRS”), and Rayonier Forest Resources, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“RFR,” and together with TRS and the Company, the “Rayonier Entities”), in connection with the filing of the above-referenced Registration Statement (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 16 of Form S-3 and Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.

The Registration Statement relates to the proposed issuance and sale from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of the following securities (the “Registered Securities”):

 

  (i) shares of the Company’s common stock, no par value (the “Common Stock”);

 

  (ii) shares of the Company’s preferred stock (the “Preferred Stock”) (including shares convertible into or exchangeable for other securities), with such preferences and other terms as determined in accordance with the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, as amended, each as may be further amended and/or restated;

 

  (iii) senior debt securities of the Company (the “Company Senior Debt Securities”);

 

  (iv) subordinated debt securities of the Company (the “Company Subordinated Debt Securities,” and together with the Company Senior Debt Securities, the “Company Debt Securities”);

 

  (v) senior debt securities of TRS (the “TRS Senior Debt Securities”);

 

  (vi) subordinated debt securities of TRS (the “TRS Subordinated Debt Securities,” and together with the TRS Senior Debt Securities, the “TRS Debt Securities”);

 

 

One Atlantic Center

1201 West Peachtree Street

Atlanta, GA 30309-3424

404-881-7000

Fax: 404-881-7777

  

90 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10016

212-210-9400

Fax: 212-210-9444

   3201 Beechleaf Court, Suite 600
Raleigh, NC 27604-1062
919-862-2200
Fax: 919-862-2260
   The Atlantic Building
950 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20004-1404
202-756-3300
Fax: 202-756-3333

 


May 22, 2007

Page 2

 

  (vii) senior debt securities of RFR (the “RFR Senior Debt Securities”);

 

  (viii) subordinated debt securities of RFR (the “RFR Subordinated Debt Securities,” and together with the RFR Senior Debt Securities, the “RFR Debt Securities”);

 

  (ix) warrants to purchase any of the securities described in clauses (i) and (ii) above (collectively, the “Warrants”);

 

  (x) guarantees by the Company of payments of the principal of, and any premium and interest on one or more series of the TRS Debt Securities or the RFR Debt Securities (the “Company Guarantees”);

 

  (xi) guarantees by TRS of payments of the principal of, and any premium and interest on one or more series of the Company Debt Securities or the RFR Debt Securities (the “TRS Guarantees”); and

 

  (xii) guarantees by RFR of payments of the principal of, and any premium and interest on one or more series of the Company Debt Securities or TRS Debt Securities (the “RFR Guarantees”).

The Registered Securities will be offered in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined in light of market conditions at the time of sale and to be set forth in supplements to the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement, as it may be amended from time to time.

Each series of Company Debt Securities is to be issued pursuant to an indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time, relating to the Company Debt Securities between the Company and a trustee to be appointed by the Company; each series of TRS Debt Securities is to be issued pursuant to an indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time, relating to the TRS Debt Securities between TRS and a trustee to be appointed by TRS; each series of RFR Debt Securities is to be issued pursuant to an indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time, relating to the RFR Debt Securities between RFR and a trustee to be appointed by RFR; each Warrant is to be issued pursuant to a warrant agreement; and each such indenture or warrant agreement is to be substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or as an exhibit to a document filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and incorporated into the Registration Statement by reference. The Company Debt Securities, the TRS Debt Securities and the RFR Debt Securities are together “Debt Securities,” and the Company Guarantees, the TRS Guarantees and the RFR Guarantees are together “Guarantees.”

In the capacity described above, we have considered such matters of law and of fact, including the examination of originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such records and documents of the Rayonier Entities, including, without limitation, the organizational documents of the Rayonier Entities, resolutions adopted by the boards of directors or other governing bodies or controlling entities of the Rayonier Entities, the forms of indentures filed as Exhibits 4.2 – 4.7 to the Registration Statement, certificates of officers and representatives (who, in our judgment, are likely to know the facts upon which the opinion or confirmation will be based) of the Rayonier Entities, certificates of public officials and such other documents as we have deemed appropriate as a basis for the opinions hereinafter set forth. We also have made such further legal and factual examinations and investigations as we deemed necessary for purposes of expressing the opinion set forth herein.

As to certain factual matters relevant to this opinion letter, we have relied conclusively upon originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such records, agreements, documents and instruments, including certificates or comparable documents of officers of the Rayonier Entities and of public officials, as we have deemed appropriate as a basis for the opinion hereinafter set forth. Except to the extent expressly set forth herein, we have made no independent investigations with


May 22, 2007

Page 3

regard to matters of fact, and, accordingly, we do not express any opinion as to matters that might have been disclosed by independent verification.

We have assumed with your permission that (i) all Registered Securities will be issued and sold in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the applicable prospectus supplement and in accordance with the applicable authorization and approval by the boards of directors (which term, as used elsewhere in this opinion letter, includes duly authorized committees of such boards of directors) or other governing bodies or controlling entities of the Rayonier Entities; (ii) at the time of any offering or sale of any shares of the Common Stock or the Preferred Stock, the Company will have such number of shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock authorized and available for issuance; (iii) Registered Securities issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Registered Securities being offered will have been duly authorized, established (if appropriate) and reserved for issuance upon such conversion, exchange or exercise (if appropriate); (iv) the terms of any Debt Securities and any Guarantees and of the offering and sale thereof are in conformity with the applicable indenture and will not result in a default under or a breach of any agreement or instrument binding on the Company, TRS or RFR, as applicable, or a violation of any applicable law or order, restriction or condition imposed by any court or governmental agency or body; and (v) to the extent applicable, a definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement with respect to any Registered Securities offered will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company, TRS, or RFR, as applicable, and the other parties thereto. Further, to the extent that the obligations of the Company, TRS or RFR under any indenture or warrant agreement may be dependent upon such matters, we have assumed with your permission that at the time of execution thereof: (vi) the applicable trustee or warrant agent will be duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization; (vii) the trustee or warrant agent will have the requisite organizational and legal power and authority to perform its obligations under the indenture or warrant agreement, as applicable; (viii) the indenture or warrant agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, TRS or RFR, as applicable, and by the trustee or warrant agent, as applicable, and will constitute the valid and binding obligation of the trustee or warrant agent, as applicable, enforceable against the trustee or warrant agent, as applicable, in accordance with its terms; and (ix) the trustee or warrant agent will be in compliance, with respect to acting as a trustee or warrant agent under the indenture or warrant agreement, as applicable, with all applicable laws and regulations. Finally, we have assumed with your permission (x) the genuineness of all signatures and the legal competence of all signatories; (xi) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies; and (xii) the proper issuance and accuracy of certificates of public officials and officers and agents of the Company, TRS or RFR, as applicable.

Our opinion set forth below is limited to the laws of the State of North Carolina (excluding local laws of the State of North Carolina (i.e., the statutes and ordinances, the administrative decisions and the rules and regulations of counties, towns, municipalities and special political subdivisions of, or authorities or quasi-governmental bodies constituted under the laws of, the State of North Carolina and judicial decisions to the extent they deal with any of the foregoing)), the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, applicable provisions of the Constitution of the State of Delaware and reported judicial decisions interpreting such General Corporation Law, Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, and Constitution of the State of Delaware, the laws of the State of New York as they relate to the enforceability of documents, agreements and instruments referred to herein and federal laws of the United States of America to the extent referred to specifically herein, in each case that are, in our experience, normally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by the Registration Statement.

This opinion letter is provided for use solely in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement and may not be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise relied upon for any other purpose without our express written consent. No opinion may be implied or inferred beyond the opinion expressly stated in the numbered paragraphs below. Our opinion expressed herein is as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to advise you of any changes in applicable law or any other matters that may come to our attention after the date hereof that may affect our opinion expressed herein.

 


May 22, 2007

Page 4

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the limitations, qualifications, exceptions and assumptions set forth herein, it is our opinion that:

1. When (a) appropriate corporate action has been taken by the Company to authorize and approve the issuance and terms of the offering of the shares of the Common Stock, whether in certificated or uncertificated form, and related matters, (b) if such Common Stock is in certificated form, certificates representing the shares of Common Stock have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered either (i) in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board of Directors of the Company or (ii) upon conversion or exercise of any Registered Securities, in accordance with the terms of such Registered Securities or the instrument governing such Registered Securities providing for such conversion or exercise as approved by the Board of Directors of the Company, and (c) the Company has received the consideration approved by the Board of Directors of the Company therefor as provided in the applicable agreement (not less than the stated value of the Common Stock as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company), then, upon the happening of such events, such Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

2. When (a) appropriate corporate action has been taken by the Company to designate the preferences, limitations and relative rights of the Preferred Stock and to authorize and approve the issuance and terms of the offering of the shares of the Preferred Stock, whether in certificated or uncertificated form, and related matters, including the adoption of an amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company relating to such Preferred Stock (“Amendment”) and filing of such Amendment relating thereto with the Secretary of State of the State of North Carolina, (b) such Amendment has been executed by duly authorized officers of the Company and so filed by the Company, all in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina, (c) if such Preferred Stock is in certificated form, certificates representing the shares of Preferred Stock have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered either (i) in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board of Directors of the Company or (ii) upon conversion or exercise of any Registered Securities, in accordance with the terms of such Registered Securities or the instrument governing such Registered Securities providing for such conversion or exercise as approved by the Board of Directors of the Company, and (d) the Company has received the consideration approved by the Board of Directors of the Company therefor as provided in the applicable agreement (not less than the stated value of the Preferred Stock as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company), then, upon the happening of such events, such Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

3. When (a) appropriate corporate action has been taken by the Company to authorize the form and terms of any series of Company Debt Securities and Company Guarantees and to approve the issuance and terms of the offering of the Company Debt Securities and Company Guarantees and related matters, (b) if such Company Debt Securities and Company Guarantees are in certificated form, certificates representing the Company Debt Securities and Company Guarantees have been duly executed and registered by the Company and, with regard to the Company Debt Securities, authenticated by the applicable trustee in accordance with the applicable indenture, and delivered in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board of Directors of the Company, and (c) the Company has received the consideration approved by the Board of Directors for the Company Debt Securities as provided in the applicable indenture and other applicable agreements, then, upon the happening of such events, such Company Debt Securities and Company Guarantees will be validly issued and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally, and to the limitation that the enforceability thereof (including by means of specific performance) may be subject to certain equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which proceedings may be brought including traditional equitable defenses such as waiver, laches and estoppel; good faith and fair dealing; reasonableness; materiality of the breach; impracticability or impossibility of performance; and the effect of obstruction or failure to perform or otherwise act in accordance with an agreement by any person other than the obligor thereunder (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law )(the “Bankruptcy and Equity Exception”).

 


May 22, 2007

Page 5

4. When (a) the appropriate corporate action has been taken by TRS to authorize the form and terms of any series of the TRS Debt Securities and TRS Guarantees and to approve the issuance and terms of the offering of the TRS Debt Securities and TRS Guarantees and related matters, (b) if such TRS Debt Securities and TRS Guarantees are in certificated form, certificates representing the TRS Debt Securities and TRS Guarantees have been duly executed and registered by TRS and, with regard to the TRS Debt Securities, authenticated by the applicable trustee in accordance with the applicable indenture, and delivered in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board of Directors of TRS, and (c) TRS has received the consideration approved by the Board of Directors of TRS for the TRS Debt Securities as provided in the applicable indenture and other applicable agreements, then, upon the happening of such events, such TRS Debt Securities and TRS Guarantees will be validly issued and will constitute valid and binding obligations of TRS, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception.

5. When (a) appropriate partnership action has been taken by RFR to authorize the form and terms of any series of the RFR Debt Securities and RFR Guarantees and to approve the issuance and terms of the offering of the RFR Debt Securities and RFR Guarantees and related matters, (b) if such RFR Debt Securities and RFR Guarantees are in certificated form, certificates representing the RFR Debt Securities and RFR Guarantees have been duly executed and registered by RFR and, with regard to the RFR Debt Securities, authenticated by the applicable trustee in accordance with the applicable indenture, and delivered in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Managing General Partner of RFR, and (c) RFR has received the consideration approved by the Managing General Partner of RFR for the RFR Debt Securities as provided in the applicable indenture and other applicable agreements, then, upon the happening of such events, such RFR Debt Securities and RFR Guarantees will be validly issued and will constitute valid and binding obligations of RFR, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception.

6. When (a) appropriate corporate action has been taken by the Company to approve the issuance and terms of the offering of the Warrants, including the authorization of the warrant agreement and the underlying securities, and related matters, (b) the warrant agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the warrant agent, and (c) certificates or other instruments or documents, if any, representing the Warrants have been duly executed, registered and delivered in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board of Directors of the Company, and (d) the Company has received the consideration approved by the Board of Directors of the Company therefor as provided in the applicable agreement, then, upon the happening of such events, such Warrants will be validly issued and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception.

The opinions expressed above relating to enforceability of the Company Debt Securities, the TRS Debt Securities and the RFR Debt Securities are also subject to the following:

 

  (i) The possible unenforceability of provisions requiring indemnification for violations of the securities laws;

 

  (ii) The possible unenforceability of provisions that waivers or consents by a party may not be given effect unless in writing or in compliance with particular requirements or that a person’s course of dealing, course of performance, or the like or failure or delay in taking action may not constitute a waiver of related rights or provisions or that one or more waivers may not under certain circumstances constitute a waiver of other matters of the same kind;

 

  (iii) The effect of course of dealing, course of performance, or the like, that would modify the terms of an agreement or the respective rights or obligations of the parties under an agreement;

 


May 22, 2007

Page 6

 

  (iv) The possible unenforceability of provisions that determinations by a party or a party’s designee are conclusive or deemed conclusive in the absence of commercial reasonableness or good faith;

 

  (v) The possible unenforceability of provisions permitting modifications or amendments of an agreement only in writing; and

 

  (vi) The possible unenforceability of provisions that the provisions of an agreement are severable.

We consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus constituting a part thereof. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

ALSTON & BIRD LLP
By:   /s/ Gary C. Ivey
  Gary C. Ivey, A Partner

IRS Circular 230 disclosure: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS, we inform you that any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.

EX-8.1 9 dex81.htm OPINION OF VINSON & ELKINS L.L.P. Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

LOGO

Exhibit 8.1

May 22, 2007

Rayonier Inc.

50 North Laura Street

Jacksonville, Florida 32202

Ladies and Gentlemen:

You have requested our opinion concerning the accuracy of the tax discussion in the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed by Rayonier Inc. (“Rayonier”), Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc. (“TRS”), and Rayonier Forest Resources, L.P. (“Forest”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on May 22, 2007 (the “Registration Statement”), relating to the offering of:

 

  (1) common shares of Rayonier;

 

  (2) preferred shares of Rayonier;

 

  (3) warrants to acquire preferred or common shares of Rayonier;

 

  (4) debt securities of Rayonier, TRS and/or Forest; and

 

  (5) guarantees of the Debt Securities issued by Rayonier, TRS and/or Forest.

We have examined the Registration Statement and such other documents as we have considered necessary or appropriate for purposes of issuing our opinions. We also have received certain representations from officers of Rayonier. In rendering the opinions set forth below, we have relied upon those representations, and the information presented in the Registration Statement and other documents, without undertaking any independent verification of the accuracy or completeness of those matters.

In our review, we have assumed that each representation and all other information that we reviewed is true and correct in all material respects and will remain true and correct, that all obligations imposed by any documents on the parties have been or will be performed, that the Registration Statement and the other information fairly describes the past and expected future actions of the parties, that Rayonier has been and will be operated in a fashion consistent with the expectations described in the Registration Statement and the representations and that we will be asked to redeliver this opinion prior to the issuance of any securities pursuant to the Registration Statement based on the facts, conditions and circumstances existing on the date of such redelivery. We have not made an independent investigation of the accuracy or completeness of those matters and have assumed that the

 

 

Vinson & Elkins LLP Attorneys at Law

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Houston, TX 77002-6760

Tel 713.758.2222   Fax 713.758.2346   www.velaw.com


LOGO    Rayonier Inc.         May 22, 2007     Page 2

information made available to us accurately and completely describes all material facts relevant to our opinion.

Based on the facts, assumptions and representations referred to above, and subject to the analysis, qualifications and assumptions presented under the heading “Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences” in the Registration Statement, all statements of legal conclusions contained in that section, except where noted, are our opinion with respect to the matters set forth therein as of the effective date of the Registration Statement.

Our opinions are based on our interpretation of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), applicable Treasury Regulations, judicial authority and administrative rulings and practice, all as in effect as of the date hereof. There can be no assurance that future legislative, judicial or administrative changes or interpretations, either prospective or retroactive in application, will not adversely affect the accuracy or applicability of the conclusions set forth herein. We do not undertake to advise you as to any such future changes or interpretations unless we are specifically retained to do so. Our opinion will not be binding upon the Internal Revenue Service or the courts, and neither will be precluded from adopting a contrary position.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the references to us in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

EX-23.1 10 dex231.htm CONSENT OF DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our reports dated February 26, 2007, relating to the financial statements and financial statement schedules of Rayonier Inc., and management’s report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Rayonier Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2006 and to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Jacksonville, Florida

May 21, 2007

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