-----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, Gq3zrswYFZLT4abPG1aoLKjbVy15LIzVSYYzqEJyrAWrzOZg77V/2+ff8254ToR7 gVSKA7Qs1WBPmTG+cjY9Sg== 0000950162-04-000032.txt : 20040114 0000950162-04-000032.hdr.sgml : 20040114 20040114162218 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950162-04-000032 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 424B3 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 20040114 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: METALDYNE CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000745448 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: MOTOR VEHICLE PARTS & ACCESSORIES [3714] IRS NUMBER: 382513957 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 424B3 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-99569 FILM NUMBER: 04525154 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 47659 HALYARD DRIVE CITY: PLYMOUTH STATE: MI ZIP: 48170 BUSINESS PHONE: 734-207-6200 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 47659 HALYARD DRIVE CITY: PLYMOUTH STATE: MI ZIP: 48170 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: MASCOTECH INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19930629 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: MASCO INDUSTRIES INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19930629 424B3 1 metal424b3011404.txt PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT NO. 4 Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) of the Rules and Regulations under the Securities Act of 1933 Registration Statement No. 333-99569 PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT NO. 4 (To Prospectus Dated October 2, 2003, Prospectus Supplement No. 1 dated October 14, 2003, Prospectus Supplement No. 2 dated November 10, 2003 and Prospectus Supplement No. 3 dated January 7, 2004) $250,000,000 METALDYNE CORPORATION 11% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012 This prospectus supplement no. 4, together with prospectus supplement no. 3, prospectus supplement no. 2, prospectus supplement no. 1 and the prospectus, is to be used by any Broker-Dealer Subsidiary of Credit Suisse First Boston LLC in connection with offers and sales of the previously issued securities described therein in market-making transactions. There is no public market for our senior subordinated notes and none is expected to develop for any notes offered by this prospectus supplement no. 4, together with prospectus supplement no. 3, prospectus supplement no. 2, prospectus supplement no. 1 and the prospectus, for the foreseeable future. Investing in our notes involves substantial risks. See "Risk Factors" beginning on page 3 of the attached prospectus to read about factors that you should consider before buying shares of our notes. The date of this prospectus supplement is January 14, 2004 ================================================================================ SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 ________________________ FORM 8-K Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 December 31, 2003 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) METALDYNE CORPORATION (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 001-12068 38-2513957 (State or other jurisdiction of (Commission file number) (I.R.S. Employer incorporation or organization) Identification No.) 47659 Halyard Drive, Plymouth, Michigan 48170 (Address of principal executive offices) (734) 207-6200 (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) Not Applicable (Former name or former address, if changed since last report) ================================================================================ Item 2. Acquisition of Assets On January 2, 2004, Metaldyne Corporation announced that on December 31, 2003, it completed a transaction with DaimlerChrysler Corporation that transferred full ownership of New Castle Machining and Forge to Metaldyne. From January 2003 through December 2003, New Castle had been managed as a joint venture between Metaldyne and DaimlerChrysler. The New Castle Machining and Forge plant manufactures suspension and powertrain components for Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles, and Metaldyne Corporation has launched initiatives to expand the customer base beyond DaimlerChrysler. Pursuant to Section 15.1 of the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of NC-M Chassis Systems, LLC, dated as of January 2, 2003 (the form of which was filed as Exhibit 10.2 to Metaldyne's Form 8-K, dated as of December 11, 2002), Metaldyne acquired Class A and Class B Units representing DaimlerChrysler's entire joint venture interest in New Castle. In exchange therefor, Metaldyne delivered to DaimlerChrysler $118,800,000 in cash, issued $31,746,000 in aggregate principal amount of a new issue of its 10% Senior Subordinated Notes and $64,454,000 in aggregate liquidation preference of its Series A-1 Preferred Stock. The cash portion of the consideration was funded in part by the net cash proceeds of approximately $65 million from the sale to and subsequent leaseback of certain equipment from General Electric Capital Corporation, and the remainder was funded through Metaldyne's revolving credit facility. Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits. (c) Exhibits. The following exhibits are filed herewith: 10.1. Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of December 31, 2003. 10.2 Series A-1 Preferred Stock Investor Rights Agreement dated as of December 31, 2003. 10.3 Indenture dated as of December 31, 2003. 10.4 Senior Subordinated Notes Registration Rights Agreement dated as of December 31, 2003. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. Dated: January 14, 2004 METALDYNE CORPORATION By: /s/ Jeffrey M. Stafeil -------------------------------------- Name: Jeffrey M. Stafeil Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer -20- Exhibit 10.1 SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT This SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of December 31, 2003, is by and between METALDYNE CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("Metaldyne"), and DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("DaimlerChrysler"). ARTICLE I Authorization and Sale of the Shares and Notes SECTION 1.1 Authorization. Metaldyne has authorized the sale and issuance to DaimlerChrysler of (a) 644,540 shares (the "Shares") of its Series A-1 Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Series A-1 Preferred Stock"), having the rights, restrictions, privileges and preferences as set forth in the Certificate of Designation of the Powers, Preferences and Relative, Participating, Optional and Other Special Rights of the Series A-1 Preferred Stock and the Series A-2 Preferred Stock and Qualifications, Limitations and Restrictions Thereof (the "Certificate of Designation") filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on December 31, 2003, and (b) $31,746,000 aggregate principal amount of 10% Senior Subordinated Notes (the "Notes"), in the form required by the Indenture, dated the date hereof, by and between Metaldyne and each of the Guarantors named therein (the "Indenture"). SECTION 1.2 Sale and Issuance of the Shares and Notes. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and of the Operating Agreement (as defined below) and in reliance upon the representations, warranties and agreements contained herein, Metaldyne will issue and sell to DaimlerChrysler, and DaimlerChrysler will purchase from Metaldyne, the Shares and the Notes as partial consideration for the sale and transfer to Metaldyne of sixty (60) Class A Units and one hundred (100) Class B Units (collectively, the "Transferred Units") of NC-M Chassis Systems, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the "JV"), each having the terms and conditions set forth in the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of the JV, dated as of January 2, 2003 (the "Operating Agreement"). ARTICLE II Representations and Warranties of Metaldyne Except as set forth in the Metaldyne Schedule of Exceptions attached to this Agreement (the "Metaldyne Schedule of Exceptions"), Metaldyne hereby represents and warrants to DaimlerChrysler as set forth below. SECTION 2.1 Organization and Good Standing. Metaldyne is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its assets and to carry on its business as they are now being owned, leased, operated and conducted. Metaldyne is licensed or qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction where the nature of its assets and business requires such licensing or qualification, except where the failure to be so licensed or qualified would not reasonably be expected to have a Metaldyne Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Operating Agreement). SECTION 2.2 Corporate Power. Metaldyne has all requisite corporate power to enter into and deliver this Agreement, the Indenture, the Series A-1 Preferred Stock Investor Rights Agreement, dated the date hereof, by and between Metaldyne and DaimlerChrysler (the "Investor Rights Agreement") and the Senior Subordinated Notes Registration Rights Agreement, dated the date hereof, by and between Metaldyne and DaimlerChrysler (the "Registration Rights Agreement" and, together with the Indenture and the Investor Rights Agreement, the "Related Agreements"), to issue and sell the Shares and the Notes, and to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of this Agreement, Section 15.1 of the Operating Agreement and the Related Agreements and the transactions contemplated hereunder and thereunder. SECTION 2.3 Capitalization. Giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, on the date hereof, the authorized capital stock of Metaldyne consists of 250,000,000 shares, par value $1.00 per share, of common stock (the "Common Stock"), and 25,000,000 shares, par value $1.00 per share, of preferred stock (the "Preferred Stock"), of which 370,000 shares have been designated as Series A Preferred Stock, 644,540 shares have been designated as Series A-1 Preferred Stock, 644,540 shares have been designated as Series A-2 Preferred Stock and 184,153 shares have been designated as Series B Preferred Stock. Giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, on the date hereof, (i) 43,871,745 shares of Common Stock are issued and outstanding, (ii) 1,189,694 shares of Preferred Stock are issued and outstanding, of which 361,001 shares are shares of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, 644,540 shares are shares of Series A-1 Preferred Stock, none are shares of Series A-2 Preferred Stock and 184,153 shares are shares of Series B Preferred Stock, and (iii) no shares of Common Stock are held by Metaldyne in its treasury. All outstanding shares of capital stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. SECTION 2.4 Authorization. (a) The execution, delivery and performance by Metaldyne of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the sale and issuance of the Shares and Notes, and the Related Agreements, have been duly and validly approved by all corporate actions or proceedings on the part of Metaldyne necessary to authorize this Agreement, including, without limitation, the sale and issuance of the Shares and Notes, and the Related Agreements, and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. Metaldyne has duly and validly executed and delivered this Agreement and the Related Agreements. This Agreement and the Related Agreements constitute (assuming, in each case, due execution and delivery by the other parties thereto) legal, valid and binding obligations of Metaldyne, enforceable against Metaldyne in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent that (i) such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization, fraudulent transfer or other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights from time to time in effect and general principles of equity, including concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, regardless of whether in a proceeding in equity or at law, (ii) any rights to indemnity and contribution thereunder may be limited by federal and state securities laws and public policy considerations and (iii) the enforceability of provisions imposing liquidated damages, penalties or an increase in interest rate upon the occurrence of certain events may be limited in certain circumstances. -2- (b) The Shares and the Notes issuable to DaimlerChrysler have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to DaimlerChrysler. When issued and delivered by Metaldyne pursuant to the Operating Agreement and this Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth herein, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. When issued and delivered by Metaldyne pursuant to the Certificate of Designations and the Investor Rights Agreement, the shares of Series A-2 Preferred Stock issued in exchange for the Shares (the "Exchange Shares") will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. When issued and delivered by Metaldyne pursuant to the Operating Agreement, this Agreement and the Indenture, the Notes will be valid and binding obligations of Metaldyne, enforceable against Metaldyne in accordance with their terms, except to the extent that (1) such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization, fraudulent transfer or other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights from time to time in effect and general principles of equity, including concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, regardless of whether in a proceeding in equity or at law, and (ii) the enforceability of provisions imposing liquidated damages, penalties or an increase in interest rate upon the occurrence of certain events may be limited in certain circumstances. The issuance of the Shares, the Exchange Shares and the Notes is not subject to any preemptive or other similar rights of any security holder of Metaldyne. SECTION 2.5 No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by Metaldyne of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the issuance and sale of the Shares and the Notes, and the Related Agreements, and the consummation by Metaldyne of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, based in part on the truth and accuracy of the representations of DaimlerChrysler contained herein, does not and will not: (i) violate any Law (as defined in the Operating Agreement) applicable to Metaldyne or any of its Subsidiaries (as defined in the Operating Agreement); (ii) violate, result in the breach, acceleration, termination, modification or cancellation of, require any consent under, result in the creation of any lien upon any of the assets of Metaldyne or any of its Subsidiaries under, or give any third party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify or cancel, any contract or other binding arrangement to which Metaldyne or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which Metaldyne or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their assets are bound or subject; (iii) constitute an event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would result in any such violation, breach, acceleration, termination, cancellation, require any such consent, result in any such lien or give rise to any such right; or (iv) violate or conflict with any provision of any of, or cause the dissolution of Metaldyne or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to, the restated certificate of incorporation or bylaws of Metaldyne or any of its Subsidiaries or the Delaware General Corporation Law, with such exceptions, in the case of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Metaldyne Material Adverse Effect. SECTION 2.6 Good Title. The Shares and the Notes, when issued and paid for in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement, will be free to the holders thereof of any liens, encumbrances or restrictions, other than restrictions set forth in this Agreement, the Related Agreements or under applicable state and federal securities laws. SECTION 2.7 Offering. Subject in part to the truth and accuracy of DaimlerChrysler's representations set forth in this Agreement, the offer, sale and issuance of the Shares -3- and the Notes as contemplated by this Agreement constitute transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and any applicable state securities laws. SECTION 2.8 Trust Indenture Act. Subject in part to the truth and accuracy of DaimlerChrysler's representations set forth in this Agreement, it is not necessary in connection with the offer, sale and delivery of the Notes by Metaldyne to DaimlerChrysler pursuant to the Operating Agreement, this Agreement and the Indenture to qualify the Indenture under the United States Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"). ARTICLE III Representations and Warranties of DaimlerChrysler Except as set forth in the DaimlerChrysler Schedule of Exceptions attached to this Agreement (the "DaimlerChrysler Schedule of Exceptions"), DaimlerChrysler hereby represents and warrants to Metaldyne as set forth below. SECTION 3.1 Organization and Good Standing. DaimlerChrysler is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its assets and to carry on its business as they are now being owned, leased, operated and conducted. DaimlerChrysler is licensed or qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction where the nature of its assets and business requires such licensing or qualification, except where the failure to be so licensed or qualified would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Operating Agreement). SECTION 3.2 Corporate Power. DaimlerChrysler has all requisite corporate power to enter into and deliver this Agreement and the Related Agreements, to sell and transfer the Transferred Units to Metaldyne, and to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of this Agreement, Section 15.1 of the Operating Agreement and the Related Agreements and the transactions contemplated hereunder and thereunder. SECTION 3.3 Capitalization of the JV. The authorized Capital Stock (as defined in the Formation Agreement) of the JV consists of 100 Class A Units and 100 Class B Units. Immediately prior to the consummation of the Metaldyne Call Option Closing, there were outstanding 100 Class A Units, 40 of which were held by Metaldyne and 60 of which were held by DaimlerChrysler, and 100 Class B Units, all of which were held by DaimlerChrysler. Following the transfer of the Transferred Units pursuant to Section 15.1 and the terms hereof, Metaldyne will hold all of the outstanding shares of Capital Stock of the JV. SECTION 3.4 Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by DaimlerChrysler of this Agreement and the Related Agreements have been duly and validly approved by all corporate actions or proceedings on the part of DaimlerChrysler necessary to authorize this Agreement and the Related Agreements and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. DaimlerChrysler has duly and validly executed and delivered this Agreement and -4- the Related Agreements. This Agreement and the Related Agreements constitute (assuming, in each case, due execution and delivery by the other parties thereto) legal, valid and binding obligations of DaimlerChrysler, enforceable against DaimlerChrysler in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization, fraudulent transfer or other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights from time to time in effect and general principles of equity, including concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, regardless of whether in a proceeding in equity or at law. SECTION 3.5 No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by DaimlerChrysler of this Agreement and the Related Agreements and the consummation by DaimlerChrysler of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby does not and will not: (i) violate any Law applicable to DaimlerChrysler; (ii) violate, result in the breach, acceleration, termination, modification or cancellation of, require any consent under, result in the creation of any lien upon any of the assets of DaimlerChrysler under, or give any third party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify or cancel, any contract or other binding arrangement to which DaimlerChrysler is a party or by which DaimlerChrysler or any of its assets are bound or subject, (iii) constitute an event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would result in any such violation, breach, acceleration, termination, cancellation, require any such consent, result in any such lien or give rise to any such right or (iv) violate or conflict with any provision of any of, or cause the dissolution of DaimlerChrysler pursuant to, the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of DaimlerChrysler or the Delaware General Corporation Law, with such exceptions, in the case of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. SECTION 3.6 Good Title. DaimlerChrysler has good and marketable title to, is the lawful owner of, and has the right to sell, transfer, assign and deliver to Metaldyne, all of the Transferred Units, free and clear of any Liens. As of the date hereof, DaimlerChrysler will convey the Transferred Units to Metaldyne by instruments of assignment and transfer effective to vest in Metaldyne good and valid record and marketable title to all of the Transferred Units, free and clear of all Liens. SECTION 3.7 Investment. DaimlerChrysler is acquiring the Shares and Notes solely for investment for its own account and not with the view to, or for resale in connection with, any distribution thereof. DaimlerChrysler understands that neither the Shares nor Notes have been registered under the Securities Act and that the Indenture has not been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act by reason of specific exemptions from the registration provisions of the Securities Act and the qualification provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, the availability of which depend upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of DaimlerChrysler's investment intent as expressed herein. SECTION 3.8 Access to Data. DaimlerChrysler is familiar with the business of Metaldyne and has had an opportunity to discuss Metaldyne's business, management and financial affairs with its management, to review Metaldyne's facilities and to obtain (and has obtained to its satisfaction) such information about the business, management and financial affairs as it has requested. -5- SECTION 3.9 Knowledge and Experience. DaimlerChrysler has knowledge and experience in financial and business matters relating to its investment in the Shares and the Notes and is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such investment and protecting its investment in connection with this transaction, and is able to bear the economic risk of such investment for an indefinite period of time. ARTICLE IV Transfer Restrictions SECTION 4.1 Restricted Securities. DaimlerChrysler agrees that, at the time of issuance, the Shares and the Notes to be issued and sold by Metaldyne to DaimlerChrysler hereunder will not be registered under the Securities Act or qualified under any state securities laws. Such Shares and Notes are being issued and sold on the basis that the offering and/or sale by Metaldyne to DaimlerChrysler provided for in this Agreement and the issuance by Metaldyne to DaimlerChrysler of such Shares and Notes to such Seller under this Agreement are exempt from registration under the Securities Act and from applicable state securities laws. DaimlerChrysler agrees that Metaldyne's reliance on such exemptions is predicated, in part, on DaimlerChrysler's representations and warranties and other agreements set forth in this Agreement. SECTION 4.2 Legends. DaimlerChrysler acknowledges and agrees that each certificate representing Notes shall bear any restrictive legend required by the Indenture. DaimlerChrysler acknowledges and agrees that each certificate representing Shares shall bear any restrictive legend required by the Certificate of Designation as well as the following legends: THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO (i) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (ii) AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION THEREUNDER. ANY SALE PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (ii) OF THE PRECEDING SENTENCE MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY (x) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER CORPORATION TO THE EFFECT THAT SUCH EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH SALE, (y) IN THE CASE OF A SALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144, AN EXECUTED COPY OF ANY NOTICE ON FORM 144 REQUIRED TO BE FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION AND (z) SUCH OTHER DOCUMENTATION AS THE ISSUER MAY REASONABLY REQUEST IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH SALE. THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, INCLUDING CERTAIN TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS, OF THE SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT DATED AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2003 WITH THE ISSUER. THE ISSUER WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WHO SO REQUESTS A COPY OF -6- SUCH SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT AS WELL AS THE CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF THE POWERS, PREFERENCES AND RELATIVE, PARTICIPATING, OPTIONAL AND OTHER SPECIAL RIGHTS OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AND THE QUALIFICATIONS, LIMITATIONS OR RESTRICTIONS OF SUCH PREFERENCES AND/OR RIGHTS. SECTION 4.3 Transfer Restrictions. DaimlerChrysler agrees not to offer or sell any of the Shares or the Notes except pursuant to (i) an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or (ii) an applicable exemption from registration thereunder. If any of such Shares or Notes are to be disposed of by DaimlerChrysler pursuant to clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, such Seller shall deliver to Metaldyne, at or prior to the time of such disposition, (x) an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to Metaldyne to the effect that an exemption from registration is available in connection with such disposition, (y) in the case of a disposition pursuant to Rule 144, an executed copy of any notice on Form 144 required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and (z) such other documentation as Metaldyne may reasonably request in connection with such disposition. ARTICLE V Indemnity and Expenses SECTION 5.1 Expenses. In addition to the rights of indemnification granted to DaimlerChrysler under Section 5.2, Metaldyne agrees to pay, as soon as reasonably practicable after demand, all reasonable and documented costs and expenses of DaimlerChrysler incurred in connection with the enforcement of this Agreement and the Related Agreements, including, without limitation, all reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of counsel for DaimlerChrysler incurred by DaimlerChrysler in connection therewith. SECTION 5.2 Indemnity. (a) Metaldyne hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless DaimlerChrysler and its directors, officers, employees, agents, incorporators, Affiliates and stockholders (collectively, the "DaimlerChrysler Indemnified Parties") from and against any and all damages, losses, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorney's fees and expenses) incurred by a DaimlerChrysler Indemnified Party (except to the extent that such damages, losses, liabilities, costs and expenses result from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the DaimlerChrysler Indemnified Party in performing (or failing to perform) its obligations under this Agreement) as a result of, or in connection with, the following: (i) reliance on any representation or warranty made by Metaldyne in this Agreement, which shall have been false or incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made or delivered; and (ii) the failure by Metaldyne to comply with any term, provision or covenant contained in this Agreement or any Related Agreement, or with any applicable Law with respect to the Shares or the Notes, or the nonconformity of the Shares or the Notes with any such applicable Law. -7- A DaimlerChrysler Indemnified Party shall immediately notify Metaldyne of any damage, loss, liability, cost or expense which such DaimlerChrysler Indemnified Party has determined has given, or would give, rise to a right of indemnification under this Agreement and Metaldyne shall have the exclusive right to compromise or defend any such liability or claim at its own expense, which decision shall be binding and conclusive upon such Indemnified Party. Failure to give such notice shall not relieve Metaldyne of its indemnity obligations under this Agreement; provided that Metaldyne shall not be held responsible for any damage, loss, liability, cost or expense resulting from the failure to give such notice. (b) DaimlerChrysler hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Metaldyne and its directors, officers, employees, agents, incorporators, Affiliates and stockholders (collectively, the "Metaldyne Indemnified Parties") from and against any and all damages, losses, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorney's fees and expenses) incurred by a Metaldyne Indemnified Party (except to the extent that such damages, losses, liabilities, costs and expenses result from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Metaldyne Indemnified Party in performing (or failing to perform) its obligations under this Agreement) as a result of, or in connection with, the following: (i) reliance on any representation or warranty made by DaimlerChrysler in this Agreement, which shall have been false or incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made or delivered; and (ii) the failure by DaimlerChrysler to comply with any term, provision or covenant contained in this Agreement or any Related Agreement A Metaldyne Indemnified Party shall immediately notify DaimlerChrysler of any damage, loss, liability, cost or expense which such Metaldyne Indemnified Party has determined has given, or would give, rise to a right of indemnification under this Agreement and DaimlerChrysler shall have the exclusive right to compromise or defend any such liability or claim at its own expense, which decision shall be binding and conclusive upon such Metaldyne Indemnified Party. Failure to give such notice shall not relieve DaimlerChrysler of its indemnity obligations under this Agreement; provided that DaimlerChrysler shall not be held responsible for any damage, loss, liability, cost or expense resulting from the failure to give such notice. ARTICLE VI Miscellaneous Provisions SECTION 6.1 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts thereof. SECTION 6.2 Survival. The representations, warranties, covenants and agreements made herein shall survive (i) any investigation made by DaimlerChrysler or Metaldyne and (ii) the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. -8- SECTION 6.3 Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators of the parties hereto. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors or assigns any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement. SECTION 6.4 Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement and the other documents delivered pursuant hereto constitute the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties with regard to the subjects hereof and thereof. Neither this Agreement nor any term hereof may be amended, waived, charged or terminated, except by a written instrument signed by Metaldyne and DaimlerChrysler. SECTION 6.5 Notices, etc. All notices, requests, instructions, demands or other communications to be given or delivered under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made (a) on the date of receipt if given in person, (b) on the date of transmission if sent by telecopy or e-mail with receipt of delivery confirmation, (c) three (3) business days after being deposited in the U.S. mail, certified or registered mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested), or (d) one (1) business day following sending by overnight delivery via an internationally recognized courier service, in each case, to the applicable party at the following addresses or facsimile numbers (or at such other address or facsimile number for a party as shall be specified by like notice). Such notices, demands and other communications shall be sent to the address for such recipient set forth in the JV's books and records, or to such other address or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party. SECTION 6.6 Delays or Omissions. No delay or omission to exercise any right, power or remedy accruing to any holder of any of the Shares or the Notes or Metaldyne, upon any breach or default under this Agreement of another party hereto, shall impair any such right, power or remedy of such holder nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any such breach or default, or an acquiescence therein, or of or in any similar breach or default thereafter occurring; nor shall any waiver of any single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default theretofore or thereafter occurring. Any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any kind or character on the part of any holder of Shares or Notes or Metaldyne of any breach or default under this Agreement, or any waiver on the part of any holder or Metaldyne of any provisions or conditions of this Agreement, must be made in writing and shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such writing. SECTION 6.7 Expenses. Except as provided in Section 5.1, each party hereto shall bear its own expenses incurred on its behalf with respect to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. SECTION 6.8 Title and Subtitles. The titles of the paragraphs and subparagraphs of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to be considered in construing this Agreement. -9- SECTION 6.9 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. [remainder of page intentionally left blank] -10- IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered as of the date first above written. METALDYNE CORPORATION By: /s/ Timothy D. Leuliette ------------------------------------- Name: Timothy D. Leuliette Title: Chairman, President & CEO DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION By: /s/ John C. Stellman ------------------------------------- Name: John C. Stellman Title: Vice President -21- Exhibit 10.2 INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT This INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of December 31, 2003 (the "Agreement"), is entered into by and among Metaldyne Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and DaimlerChrysler Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Initial Holder"). The Company and the Initial Holder are parties to (i) the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement, dated as of January 2, 2003 (the "Operating Agreement"), and (ii) the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the "Purchase Agreement" and, together with the Operating Agreement, the "Transaction Documents"), which provide for the sale by the Company to the Initial Holders of 644,540 shares of the Company's Series A-1 Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share, having the terms set forth in the Certificate of Designation (as defined below) (the "Securities"). As an inducement to the Initial Holder to enter into the Transaction Documents, the Company has agreed to provide to the Initial Holder and its direct and indirect transferees the investor rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the Metaldyne Call Option Closing (as defined in the Operating Agreement) under the Transaction Documents. In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows: Section 1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings: "Affiliate" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person, where "control" means, with respect to any Person, the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. "Business Day" shall mean any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed. "Certificate of Designation" shall mean the Certificate of Designation of the Powers, Preferences and Relative, Participating, Optional and Other Special Rights of the Series A-1 Preferred Stock and the Series A-2 Preferred Stock and Qualifications, Limitations or Restrictions Thereof, filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on December 31, 2003, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof. "Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include the Company's successors. "Default Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(d) hereof. "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time. "Exchange Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(ii) hereof. "Exchange Indenture" shall have the meaning set forth in the Certificate of Designation. "Exchange Notes" shall mean, individually and collectively, the Series A Notes and the Series B Notes under the Exchange Indenture. "Exchange Offer" shall mean the exchange offer by the Company of Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof. "Exchange Offer Registration" shall mean a registration under the Securities Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof. "Exchange Offer Registration Statement" shall mean an exchange offer registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another appropriate form) and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein. "Exchange Securities" shall mean the Series A-2 Preferred Stock issued by the Company under the Certificate of Designation containing terms identical to the Securities (except for restrictions on transfer) and to be offered to Holders of Securities in exchange for Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer; provided, however, that in the event the Securities have been exchanged for Series A Exchange Notes in accordance with the Certificate of Designation, "Exchange Securities" shall mean the Series B Exchange Notes issued by the Company under the Exchange Indenture containing terms identical to the Series A Exchange Notes (except for restrictions on transfer) and to be offered to Holders of Series A Exchange Notes in exchange for Series A Exchange Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer. "GAAP" shall mean accounting principles generally accepted in the United States as in effect from time to time. "Holders" shall mean the Initial Holders, for so long as it owns any Registrable Securities, and each of its successors, assigns and direct and indirect transferees who become an owner of Registrable Securities. "Indemnified Person" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(c) hereof. "Indemnifying Person" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(c) hereof. "Initial Holder" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble. "Inspector" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(l) hereof. "Majority Holders" shall mean the Holders of a majority of the outstanding Registrable Securities; provided that whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities owned directly or indirectly by the Company or any of its Affiliates shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage or amount. -2- "Person" shall mean an individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof. "Prospectus" shall mean the prospectus included in a Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including a prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements to such prospectus, and in each case including any document incorporated by reference therein. This term, except where the context otherwise requires, shall also include any prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 5 hereof. "Purchase Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble. "Registrable Securities" shall mean the Securities or, in the event the Securities have been exchanged for Series A Exchange Notes in accordance with the Certificate of Designation, the Series A Exchange Notes; provided that the Securities or the Series A Exchange Notes, as the case may be, shall cease to be Registrable Securities (i) when a Registration Statement with respect to such Securities or Series A Exchange Notes, as the case may be, has been declared effective under the Securities Act and such Securities or Series A Exchange Notes, as the case may be, have been exchanged or disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) when such Securities or Series A Exchange Notes, as the case may be, have been sold pursuant to Rule 144 or are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any similar provision then in force, but not Rule 144A) under the Securities Act or (iii) when such Securities or Series A Exchange Notes, as the case may be, cease to be outstanding. "Registration Expenses" shall mean any and all expenses incident to performance of or compliance by the Company with this Agreement, including without limitation: (i) all SEC, stock exchange or National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for any Underwriters or Holders in connection with blue sky qualification of any Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities), (iii) all expenses of any Persons in preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing, printing and distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, any underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements or other similar agreements and any other documents relating to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all rating agency fees, (v) all fees and disbursements relating to the qualification of the Exchange Indenture under applicable securities laws, (vi) the fees and disbursements of the Trustee (as defined below) and its counsel, (vii) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the fees and disbursements of one counsel for the Holders (which counsel shall be selected by the Majority Holders and which counsel may also be counsel for the Initial Holder) and (viii) the fees and disbursements of the independent public accountants of the Company, including the expenses of any special audits or "comfort" letters required by or incident to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, but excluding fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters (other than fees and expenses set forth in clause (ii) above) or the Holders and underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of Registrable Securities by a Holder. -3- "Registration Statement" shall mean any registration statement of the Company that covers any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and all amendments and supplements to any such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein. "SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission. "Securities" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals. "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time. "Series A Exchange Notes" shall mean the Series A Notes under the Exchange Indenture. "Series A-2 Preferred Stock" shall mean the Company's Series A-2 Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share, having the terms set forth in the Certificate of Designation. "Series B Exchange Notes" shall mean the Series B Notes under the Exchange Indenture. "Shelf Registration" shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof. "Shelf Registration Statement" shall mean a "shelf" registration statement of the Company that covers all the Registrable Securities (but no other securities unless approved by the Holders whose Registrable Securities to be covered by such Shelf Registration Statement) on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein. "Staff" shall mean the staff of the SEC. "Transaction Documents" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble. "Trigger Date" shall mean the date on which the Initial Holder makes a written demand of the Company to commence the registration process, which written demand includes a statement that the Initial Holder has sold at least 25% of the outstanding Registrable Securities to any Person or Persons other than Affiliates of the Initial Holder. "Trust Indenture Act" shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended from time to time. "Trustee" shall mean the trustee with respect to the Exchange Notes under the Exchange Indenture. "Underwriter" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3 hereof. "Underwritten Offering" shall mean an offering in which Registrable Securities are sold to an Underwriter for reoffering to the public. -4- Section 2. Registration Under the Securities Act. (a) To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff, following the Trigger Date, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to (i) cause to be filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement covering an offer to the Holders to exchange all the Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities and (ii) have such Registration Statement remain effective until the closing of the Exchange Offer. The Company shall commence the Exchange Offer promptly after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC and use its reasonable best efforts to complete the Exchange Offer not later than 60 days after such effective date. The Company shall commence the Exchange Offer by mailing the related Prospectus, appropriate letters of transmittal and other accompanying documents to each Holder stating, in addition to such other disclosures as are required by applicable law: (i) that the Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to this Agreement and that all Registrable Securities validly tendered and not properly withdrawn will be accepted for exchange; (ii) the dates of acceptance for exchange (which shall be a period of at least 20 Business Days from the date such notice is mailed) (each, an "Exchange Date"); (iii) that any Registrable Security not tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue dividends but will not retain any rights under this Agreement; (iv) that any Holder electing to have a Registrable Security exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be required to surrender such Registrable Security, together with the appropriate letters of transmittal, to the institution and at the address (located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) and in the manner specified in the notice, prior to the close of business on the last Exchange Date; and (v) that any Holder will be entitled to withdraw its election, not later than the close of business on the last Exchange Date, by sending to the institution and at the address (located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) specified in the notice, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the amount of Registrable Securities delivered for exchange and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have such Registrable Securities exchanged. As a condition to participating in the Exchange Offer, a Holder will be required to represent to the Company that (i) any Exchange Securities to be received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of its business, (ii) at the time of the commencement of the Exchange Offer it has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Securities in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act, (iii) it is not an "affiliate" (within the meaning of Rule 405 under Securities Act) of the Company and (iv) if such Holder is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Registrable Securities that were acquired as a result of mar- -5- ket-making or other trading activities, then such Holder will deliver a Prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. As soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date, the Company shall: (i) accept for exchange Registrable Securities or portions thereof validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer; and (ii) cancel all Registrable Securities or portions thereof so accepted for exchange by the Company, and issue and promptly deliver to each Holder Exchange Securities equal in amount to the amount of the Registrable Securities surrendered by such Holder. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to complete the Exchange Offer as provided above and shall comply with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and other applicable laws and regulations in connection with the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any conditions, other than that the Exchange Offer does not violate any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff. (b) In the event that (i) the Company determines that the Exchange Offer Registration provided for in Section 2(a) above is not available or may not be completed as soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date because it would violate any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not for any other reason completed by 210 days after the Trigger Date or (iii) the Exchange Offer has been completed and in the opinion of counsel for the Initial Holder a Registration Statement must be filed and a Prospectus must be delivered by the Initial Holder in connection with any offering or sale of Registrable Securities held by the Initial Holder, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause to be filed as soon as practicable after such determination, date or notice of such opinion of counsel is given to the Company, as the case may be, a Shelf Registration Statement providing for the sale of all the Registrable Securities by the Holders thereof (or Initial Holder that is a holder thereof in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement filed pursuant to clause (iii) of this sentence) and to have such Shelf Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC. In the event that the Company is required to file a Shelf Registration Statement solely as a result of the matters referred to in clause (iii) of the preceding sentence, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to file and have declared effective by the SEC both an Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) with respect to all Registrable Securities and a Shelf Registration Statement (which may be a combined Registration Statement with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) with respect to offers and sales of Registrable Securities held by the Initial Holder after completion of the Exchange Offer. The Company agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective until the expiration of the period referred to in Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act with respect to the Registrable Securities or such shorter period that will terminate when all the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement. The Company further agrees to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement and the related Prospectus if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the -6- Securities Act or by any other rules and regulations thereunder for shelf registration or if reasonably requested by a Holder of Registrable Securities with respect to information relating to such Holder, and to use its reasonable best efforts to cause any such amendment to become effective and such Shelf Registration Statement and Prospectus to become usable as soon as thereafter practicable. The Company agrees to furnish to the Holders of Registrable Securities copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with the SEC. (c) The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with the registration pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof. Each Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder's Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement. (d) An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof or a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof will not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC; provided that if, after it has been declared effective, the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or any court or other governmental or regulatory agency or body, such Registration Statement will be deemed not to have become effective during the period of such interference until the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement may legally resume. In the event that either the Exchange Offer is not completed or a Shelf Registration Statement, if required hereby, is not declared effective by the SEC within 210 days of the Trigger Date, Holders of Registrable Securities will be entitled to liquidated damages on each share of Registrable Securities equal to $0.25 for each 90-day period (pro rated based on the number of days actually elasped) until the Exchange Offer is completed or the Shelf Registration Statement, if required hereby, is declared effective by the SEC or the Registrable Securities become freely tradable under the Securities Act (the period beginning on the 211th day after the Trigger Date and ending on the date of completion of the Exchange Offer or the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement or the date on which the Registrable Securities become freely tradable under the Securities Act, as the case may be, the "Default Period"); provided, however, that if, for any reason, the Company does not pay such liquidated damages within five Business Days after the end of the Default Period, the dividend rate or interest rate, as applicable, on the Registrable Securities will be deemed to have been increased by 1.00% per annum during the Default Period (and the Company shall be released from its obligation to pay such liquidated damages). (e) Without limiting the remedies available to the Initial Holder and the Holders, the Company acknowledges that any failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Holder or the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial Holder or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce the Company's obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof. -7- Section 3. Registration Procedures. In connection with its obligations pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof, the Company shall as expeditiously as possible: (a) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act, which form (x) shall be selected by the Company, (y) shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the selling Holders thereof and (z) shall comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and include all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith; and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective for the applicable period in accordance with Section 2 hereof; (b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable period in accordance with Section 2 hereof and cause each Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement and, as so supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act; and keep each Prospectus current during the period described in Section 4(3) of and Rule 174 under the Securities Act that is applicable to transactions by brokers or dealers with respect to the Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities; (c) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities, to counsel for the Initial Holder, to counsel for such Holders and to each Underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus, including each preliminary Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto in order to facilitate the sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities thereunder; and the Company consents to the use of such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law by each of the selling Holders of Registrable Securities and any such Underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by and in the manner described in such Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law; (d) use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities under all applicable state securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement shall reasonably request in writing by the time the applicable Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC; cooperate with the Holders in connection with any filings required to be made with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.; and do any and all other acts and things that may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each Holder to complete the disposition in each such jurisdiction of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holder; provided that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not so subject; -8- (e) in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Holder of Registrable Securities, counsel for such Holders and counsel for the Initial Holder promptly and, if requested by any such Holder or counsel, confirm such advice in writing (i) when a Registration Statement has become effective and when any post-effective amendment thereto has been filed and becomes effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement and Prospectus or for additional information after the Registration Statement has become effective, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) if, between the effective date of a Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities covered thereby, the representations and warranties of the Company contained in any underwriting agreement, securities sales agreement or other similar agreement, if any, relating to an offering of such Registrable Securities cease to be true and correct in all material respects or if the Company receives any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the happening of any event during the period a Shelf Registration Statement is effective that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement or Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading and (vi) of any determination by the Company that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate; (f) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement at the earliest possible moment and provide immediate notice to each Holder of the withdrawal of any such order; (g) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto (without any documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless requested); (h) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends and enable such Registrable Securities to be issued in such denominations and registered in such names (consistent with the provisions of the Certificate of Designation) as the selling Holders may reasonably request at least one Business Day prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities; (i) in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(e)(iii) or 3(e)(v) hereof, use its reasonable best efforts to prepare and file with the SEC a supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Registrable Securities, such Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and the Company shall notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to suspend use of the Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an event, and such Holders -9- hereby agree to suspend use of the Prospectus until the Company has amended or supplemented the Prospectus to correct such misstatement or omission; (j) a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Shelf Registration Statement, any related Prospectus, any amendment to a Shelf Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to a related Prospectus or of any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Shelf Registration Statement or a related Prospectus after initial filing of a Shelf Registration Statement, provide copies of such document to the Initial Holder and its counsel and to the Holders of Registrable Securities and their counsel and make such of the representatives of the Company as shall be reasonably requested by the Initial Holder or its counsel or the Holders of Registrable Securities or their counsel available for discussion of such document; and the Company shall not at any time after initial filing of a Shelf Registration Statement file any amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement, any related Prospectus or any amendment of or supplement to a Shelf Registration Statement or a related Prospectus or any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Shelf Registration Statement or a related Prospectus, of which the Initial Holder and its counsel and the Holders of Registrable Securities and their counsel shall not have previously been advised and furnished a copy or to which the Initial Holder or its counsel or the Holders or their counsel shall reasonably object; (k) obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, not later than the effective date of a Registration Statement; (l) in the case of a Shelf Registration, make available for inspection by a representative of the Holders of the Registrable Securities (an "Inspector"), any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, and attorneys and accountants designated by the Holders, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all pertinent financial and other records, pertinent documents and properties of the Company, and cause the respective officers, directors and employees of the Company to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement; provided that if any such information is identified by the Company as being confidential or proprietary, each Person receiving such information shall take such actions as are reasonably necessary to protect the confidentiality of such information to the extent such action is otherwise not inconsistent with, an impairment of or in derogation of the rights and interests of any Inspector, Holder or Underwriter; (m) in the case of a Shelf Registration, use its reasonable best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities to be listed on any securities exchange or any automated quotation system on which similar securities issued or guaranteed by the Company are then listed if requested by the Majority Holders, to the extent such Registrable Securities satisfy applicable listing requirements; (n) if reasonably requested by any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement, promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information with respect to such Holder as such Holder reasonably requests to be included therein and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as the Company has received notification of the matters to be incorporated in such filing; -10- (o) as soon as reasonably practicable following the end of any fiscal year during which a Registration Statement shall have been effective, to make available to its security holders an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act; (p) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing the Registrable Securities sold pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement and not bearing any restrictive legend and to enable certificates for such Registrable Securities to be issued in such denominations and registered in such names as the Holders may reasonably request; and (q) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such customary agreements and take all such other actions in connection therewith (including those requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold) in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities including, but not limited to, an Underwritten Offering and in such connection, (i) to the extent possible, make such representations and warranties to the Holders and any Underwriters of such Registrable Securities with respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by reference, if any, in each case, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings and confirm the same if and when requested, (ii) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company (which counsel and opinions, in form, scope and substance, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Holders and such Underwriters and their respective counsel) addressed to each selling Holder and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings, (iii) obtain "comfort" letters from the independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other certified public accountant of any subsidiary of the Company, or of any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are or are required to be included in the Registration Statement) addressed to each selling Holder and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in "comfort" letters in connection with underwritten offerings and (iv) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold or the Underwriters, and which are customarily delivered in underwritten offerings, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties of the Company made pursuant to clause (i) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in an underwriting agreement. In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may require each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Company such information regarding such Holder and the proposed disposition by such Holder of such Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing. The Holders of Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement who desire to do so may sell such Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers (the "Underwriters") that will administer the offering will be selected by the Majority Holders of the Registrable Securities included in such offering and shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company. -11- At the time of any registration of Securities under this Agreement, the Company shall simultaneously register the Exchange Notes under the same Registration Statement that covers the Securities and qualify the Exchange Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act so as to permit the issuance of the Exchange Notes on a registered basis should the Company subsequently exercise its rights under Section 4 of the Certificate of Designation to effect the exchange of the Securities and Series A-2 Preferred Stock for the Exchange Notes as provided in Section 4 of the Certificate of Designation. Section 4. Suspension. (a) Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this Agreement, but subject to Section 4(c) hereof, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees that, upon receipt of a written notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(e)(iii) or 3(e)(v) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(i) hereof and, if so directed by the Company, such Holder will deliver to the Company all copies in its possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder's possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities that is current at the time of receipt of such written notice. If the Company shall give any such written notice to suspend the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 4(a), the Company shall extend the period during which the Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when the Holders shall have received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions. (b) Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this Agreement, but subject to Section 4(c) hereof, the Company shall have the right on one or more occasions to delay the filing, amendment or effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement or, if the Shelf Registration Statement has become effective, to suspend the distribution or disposition of each Holder's Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement in the event that the board of directors of the Company determines in its reasonable good faith judgment that (i) the filing, declaration of effectiveness or continued effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement at such time would require the Company to disclose therein a proposed or consummated financing, reorganization or recapitalization, or pending or consummated negotiations relating to a merger, consolidation, acquisition or similar transaction or other business transaction, or other material event, which would otherwise adversely affect the Company or (ii) pro forma and/or historical financial statements meeting the requirements of the Securities Act as a result of any transaction described in clause (i) above are not available at such time. Any delay or suspension period pursuant to this Section 4(b) shall begin on the date specified in a written notice given by the Company to the Holders and shall end on the date specified in a subsequent written notice given by the Company to the Holders. If the Company shall exercise its right to delay the filing, amendment or effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement or to suspend the distribution or disposition of each Holder's Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 4(b), the period within which such Shelf Registration Statement must be declared effective or during which the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement must be maintained -12- pursuant to this Agreement shall be extended by the number of days of the delay or suspension period. (c) The Company may give a delay or suspension notice pursuant to Section 4 hereof at any time and from time to time; provided that the aggregate of all delay and suspension periods during any 365-day period shall not exceed 90 days. Section 5. Other Rights. (a) Board Observer Rights. Subject to Sections 5(c), 5(d) and 5(e) below, for so long as the Initial Holder and its Affiliates beneficially own at least $5 million in initial aggregate liquidation preference of Securities or Series A-2 Preferred Stock, the Initial Holder shall be entitled to designate one representative to (i) receive notices of meetings of the Company's Board of Directors at the same time and in the same manner that the members of the Company's Board of Directors shall receive such notices, (ii) attend such meetings and (iii) receive copies of any materials provided to the members of the Company's Board of Directors except to the extent that such materials relate to matters described in Section 5(c) below. The observer rights provided by this Section 5(a) may be declined by the Initial Holder in its sole discretion for such period or periods of time as it wishes; provided that no such decline shall prevent the Initial Holder from electing to exercise such observer rights in future periods. The observer rights provided by this Section 5(a) shall not be assignable to any Person, except to Affiliates of the Initial Holder. (b) Information Rights. Subject to Sections 5(c), 5(d) and 5(e) below, for so long as the Initial Holder and its Affiliates beneficially own at least $5 million in initial aggregate liquidation preference of Securities or Series A-2 Preferred Stock, the Initial Holder will be entitled to receive (i) annual consolidated balance sheets and statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows of the Company within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, prepared in accordance with GAAP; (ii) quarterly consolidated balance sheets and statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows of the Company within 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter of the Company, prepared in accordance with GAAP; and (iii) such other information as the Initial Holder may from time to time reasonably request concerning the condition or operations, financial or otherwise, of the Company; provided, however, that the Company will not be required to provide the Initial Holder with the information contemplated by clauses (i) and (ii) above during any period in which the Company is subject to and in compliance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. (c) Exclusion. Notwithstanding Section 5(a) above, the Company shall be permitted to notify the Initial Holder and its Affiliates that they are to be excluded from any meeting (or any portion thereof) of the Company's Board of Directors that (i) involves matters relating to competitors of the Initial Holder or its Affiliates, (ii) involves matters pertaining to the Company's relationship with the Initial Holder or its Affiliates, (iii) based upon advice of counsel, raises anti-competitive or antitrust concerns, or similar concerns under any laws or policies of any government or instrumentality thereof or (iv) otherwise involves matters that, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, if known to the Initial Holder or its Affiliates, could have an adverse impact on the Company's business, commercial relationships or business plans or strategies. -13- (d) Confidentiality; Limitations on Use. Notwithstanding Sections 5(a) and 5(b) above, the Initial Holder agrees that neither it nor any of its representatives will (i) disclose to any third party any information provided to it or any of its representatives by the Company hereunder which is not generally available to the public, except with the prior express approval of the Company or as may be required by applicable law or (ii) use any information provided to it or any of its representatives by the Company hereunder for any purpose other than monitoring its investment in the Securities or Series A-2 Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any party to this Agreement (and any employee, representative, or other agent of any party to this Agreement) may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (individually and collectively, the "Contemplated Transaction") and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to it relating to such tax treatment and tax structure. Notwithstanding Sections 5(a) and 5(b) above, access to highly confidential proprietary information and facilities need not be provided by the Company, nor shall the Company be required to provide information to the Initial Holder or any other Holder that is a competitor (or an Affiliate of a competitor) or reasonably likely to become a competitor (or an Affiliate of a competitor) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. (e) No Liability for Insider Trading. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in no event shall the Company or any of its Affiliates be responsible for any liability to which any Holder or any of its Affiliates may be subject by reason of trading in securities of the Company at a time when it is in possession of material non-public information. Section 6. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Initial Holder and each Holder, their respective Affiliates and each Person, if any, who controls the Initial Holder or any Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted), joint or several, (i) arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or any Prospectus, (ii) arising out of or based upon any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to the Initial Holder or any Holder furnished to the Company in writing through the Initial Holder or any selling Holder expressly for use therein. In connection with any Underwritten Offering permitted by Section 3, the Company will also indemnify the Underwriters, if any, selling brokers, dealers and similar securities industry professionals participating in the distribution, their respective Affiliates and each Person who controls such Persons (within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act) to the same extent as provided above with -14- respect to the indemnification of the Holders, if requested in connection with any Registration Statement. (b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Initial Holder and the other selling Holders, their respective Affiliates, the directors of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company, the Initial Holder and any other selling Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Holder furnished to the Company in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement and any Prospectus. (c) If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any Person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b) above, such Person (the "Indemnified Person") shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the "Indemnifying Person") in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under this Section 6 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under this Section 6. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 6 that the Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm (x) for the Initial Holder, its Affiliates and any control Persons of such Initial Holder shall be designated in writing by the Initial Holder, (y) for any Holder, its Affiliates and any control Persons of such Holder shall be designated in writing by the Majority Holders and (z) in all other cases shall be designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or -15- if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse the Indemnified Person for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by the Indemnifying Person of such request and (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (A) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person in form and substance satisfactory to such Indemnified Person from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (B) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person. (d) If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company from the offering of the Securities, on the one hand, and by the Holders from receiving Securities or Exchange Securities registered under the Securities Act, on the other hand, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Holders on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Holders on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Holders and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. (e) The Company and the Holders agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 6 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6, in no event shall a Holder be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities or Exchange Securities sold by such Holder exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation -16- (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. (f) The remedies provided for in this Section 6 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies that may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity. (g) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 6 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Initial Holder or Holder, their respective Affiliates or any Person controlling the Initial Holder or any Holder, or by or on behalf of the Company, their respective Affiliates or the officers or directors of or any Person controlling the Company, (iii) acceptance of any of the Exchange Securities and (iv) any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement. Section 7. Miscellaneous. (a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company represents, warrants and agrees that (i) the rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of any other outstanding securities issued or guaranteed by the Company under any other agreement and (ii) the Company has not entered into, or on or after the date of this Agreement will enter into, any agreement that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. (b) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent; provided that no amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent to any departure from the provisions of Section 6 hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of Registrable Securities unless consented to in writing by such Initial Holder. (c) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7(c), which address initially is, with respect to the Initial Holder, DaimlerChrysler Corporation, 1000 Chrysler Drive, Auburn Hills, Michigan 48326, Attention: General Counsel, Facsimile: (248) 512-1771, with a copy to Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue, 77 W. Wacker, Suite 3500, Chicago, Illinois 60601, Attention: Elizabeth C. Kitslaar, Facsimile: (312) 782-8585; and (ii) if to the Company, at the Company's address, which address initially is Metaldyne Corporation, 77603 Halyard Drive, Plymouth, Michigan 48170, Attention: Thomas A. Amato and R. Jeffrey Pollock, Facsimile: (734) 207-6741 and (734) 207-6797, with a copy to Cahill Gordon & Reindel, 80 Pine Street, New York, New York 10005, Attention: W. Leslie Duffy and Jonathan A. Schaffzin, Facsimile: (212) 269-5420, and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is -17- given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7(c). All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next Business Day if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery. (d) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of each of the parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders; provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable Securities in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof. The Initial Holder (in its capacity as Initial Holder) shall have no liability or obligation to the Company with respect to any failure by a Holder to comply with, or any breach by any Holder of, any of the obligations of such Holder under this Agreement. (e) Purchases and Sales of Registrable Securities. The Company shall not, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its affiliates (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) not to, purchase and then resell or otherwise transfer any Registrable Securities. (f) Third Party Beneficiaries. Each Holder shall be a third party beneficiary to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the one hand, and the Initial Holder, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of other Holders hereunder. (g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. (h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof. (i) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE COMPANY HEREBY AGREES TO SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF NEW YORK, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT. (j) Miscellaneous. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all oral statements and prior writings with -18- respect thereto. This Agreement may not be amended or modified except by a writing executed by each of the parties hereto. Section headings herein are for convenience only and are not a part of this Agreement. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction contained in this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable or against public policy, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions contained herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated. The Company and the Initial Holder shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the invalid, void or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, void or unenforceable provisions. [Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank] -19- IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above. METALDYNE CORPORATION By: /s/ Timothy D. Leuliette -------------------------------------- Name: Timothy D. Leuliette Title: Chairman, President & CEO DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION By: /s/ John C. Stellman -------------------------------------- Name: John C. Stellman Title: Vice President -22- Exhibit 10.3 ___________________________________________________________________ _____________________________ Metaldyne Corporation and each of the Guarantors named herein SERIES A AND SERIES B 10% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2014 _____________________________ INDENTURE Dated as of December 31, 2003 ___________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE* Trust Indenture Act Section Indenture Section 310(a)(1)........................................ 7.10 (a)(2)............................... 7.10 (a)(3)............................... N.A. (a)(4)............................... N.A. (a)(5)............................... 7.08; 7.10 (b).................................. 7.03; 7.08; 7.10; 13.02 (c).................................. N.A. 311(a).................................... 7.11 (b).................................. 7.11 (c).................................. N.A. 312(a).................................... 2.05 (b).................................. 13.03 (c).................................. 13.03 313(a).................................... 7.06 (b)(1)............................... N.A. (b)(2)............................... 7.06; 7.07 (c).................................. 7.06; 13.02 (d).................................. 7.06 314(a).................................... 4.03; 4.04; 13.02; 13.05 (b).................................. N.A. (c)(1)............................... 13.04 (c)(2)............................... 13.04 (c)(3)............................... N.A. (d).................................. N.A. (e).................................. 13.04; 13.05 (f).................................. N.A. 315(a).................................... 7.01 (b).................................. 7.05; 13.02 (c).................................. 7.01 (d).................................. 7.01 (e).................................. 6.11 316(a) (last sentence).................... 2.09 (a)(1)(A)............................ 6.05 (a)(1)(B)............................ 6.04 (a)(2)............................... N.A. (b) ................................. 6.07 (c) ................................. N.A. 317(a)(1) ................................ 6.08 (a)(2) .............................. 6.09 (b) ................................. 2.04 318(a) ................................... 13.01 N.A. means not applicable. * This Cross-Reference Table is not part of the Indenture. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE Section 1.01 Definitions................................................1 Section 1.02 Other Definitions.........................................25 Section 1.03 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.........26 Section 1.04 Rules of Construction.....................................26 ARTICLE 2. THE NOTES Section 2.01 Form and Dating...........................................27 Section 2.02 Execution and Authentication..............................28 Section 2.03 Registrar and Paying Agent................................28 Section 2.04 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.......................29 Section 2.05 Holder Lists..............................................29 Section 2.06 Transfer and Exchange.....................................29 Section 2.07 Replacement Notes.........................................37 Section 2.08 Outstanding Notes.........................................38 Section 2.09 Treasury Notes............................................38 Section 2.10 Temporary Notes...........................................38 Section 2.11 Cancellation..............................................38 Section 2.12 Defaulted Interest........................................39 Section 2.13 CUSIP Numbers.............................................39 ARTICLE 3. REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT Section 3.01 Notices to Trustee........................................39 Section 3.02 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased............40 Section 3.03 Notice of Redemption......................................40 Section 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption............................41 Section 3.05 Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price...................41 Section 3.06 Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part.......................42 Section 3.07 Optional Redemption.......................................42 Section 3.08 Mandatory Redemption......................................43 Section 3.09 Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds.......43 -i- Page ARTICLE 4. COVENANTS Section 4.01 Payment of Notes..........................................45 Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency...........................45 Section 4.03 Reports...................................................46 Section 4.04 Compliance Certificate....................................46 Section 4.05 Taxes.....................................................47 Section 4.06 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws............................47 Section 4.07 Restricted Payments.......................................48 Section 4.08 Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries............................................51 Section 4.09 Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock...................................................53 Section 4.10 Asset Sales...............................................57 Section 4.11 Transactions with Affiliates..............................58 Section 4.12 Liens.....................................................60 Section 4.13 Corporate Existence.......................................60 Section 4.14 Offer to Repurchase upon Change of Control................61 Section 4.15 Anti-Layering.............................................63 Section 4.16 Additional Notes Guarantees...............................63 Section 4.17 Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries...63 ARTICLE 5. SUCCESSORS Section 5.01 Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets..................63 Section 5.02 Successor Corporation Substituted.........................64 ARTICLE 6. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES Section 6.01 Events of Default.........................................65 Section 6.02 Acceleration..............................................67 Section 6.03 Other Remedies............................................67 Section 6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults...................................67 Section 6.05 Control by Majority.......................................68 Section 6.06 Limitation on Suits.......................................68 Section 6.07 Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment.............69 Section 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee................................69 Section 6.09 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim..........................69 Section 6.10 Priorities................................................69 Section 6.11 Undertaking for Costs.....................................70 -ii- Page ARTICLE 7. TRUSTEE Section 7.01 Appointment of Trustee; Duties of Trustee.................70 Section 7.02 Rights of Trustee.........................................72 Section 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee..............................73 Section 7.04 Trustee's Disclaimer......................................73 Section 7.05 Notice of Defaults........................................74 Section 7.06 Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes................74 Section 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity................................74 Section 7.08 Replacement of Trustee....................................75 Section 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc..........................76 Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification.............................76 Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.........76 ARTICLE 8. LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE Section 8.01 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance..77 Section 8.02 Legal Defeasance and Discharge............................77 Section 8.03 Covenant Defeasance.......................................77 Section 8.04 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance................78 Section 8.05 Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions...................79 Section 8.06 Repayment to Company......................................80 Section 8.07 Reinstatement.............................................80 ARTICLE 9. AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders of Notes.......................81 Section 9.02 With Consent of Holders of Notes..........................82 Section 9.03 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.......................83 Section 9.04 Revocation and Effect of Consents.........................83 Section 9.05 Notation on or Exchange of Notes..........................83 Section 9.06 Trustee to Sign Amendment, etc............................84 ARTICLE 10. SUBORDINATION Section 10.01 Agreement to Subordinate..................................84 Section 10.02 Certain Definitions.......................................84 Section 10.03 Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy......................85 -iii- Page Section 10.04 Default on Designated Senior Debt.........................86 Section 10.05 Acceleration of Notes.....................................87 Section 10.06 When Distribution Must Be Paid Over.......................87 Section 10.07 Notice by Company.........................................87 Section 10.08 Subrogation...............................................87 Section 10.09 Relative Rights...........................................88 Section 10.10 Subordination May Not Be Impaired by Company..............88 Section 10.11 Distribution or Notice to Representative..................88 Section 10.12 Rights of Trustee and Paying Agent........................88 Section 10.13 Authorization to Effect Subordination.....................89 Section 10.14 Amendments................................................89 ARTICLE 11. NOTE GUARANTEE Section 11.01 Guarantees................................................89 Section 11.02 Subordination of Note Guarantee...........................90 Section 11.03 Limitation on Guarantor Liability.........................90 Section 11.04 Execution and Delivery of Note Guarantee..................91 Section 11.05 Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms........91 Section 11.06 Releases of Guarantees....................................92 ARTICLE 12. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE Section 12.01 Satisfaction and Discharge................................93 Section 12.02 Application of Trust Money................................94 ARTICLE 13. MISCELLANEOUS Section 13.01 Trust Indenture Act Controls..............................95 Section 13.02 Notices...................................................95 Section 13.03 Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes...................................................96 Section 13.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent........96 Section 13.05 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.............96 Section 13.06 Rules by Trustee and Agents...............................97 Section 13.07 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders.....................................97 Section 13.08 Governing Law.............................................97 Section 13.09 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.............97 Section 13.10 Successors................................................97 Section 13.11 Severability..............................................97 -iv- Page Section 13.12 Counterpart Originals.....................................98 Section 13.13 Table of Contents, Headings, etc..........................98 EXHIBITS Exhibit A FORM OF NOTE Exhibit B FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER Exhibit C FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE Exhibit D FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR Exhibit E FORM OF NOTE GUARANTEE Exhibit F FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE -v- INDENTURE dated as of December 31, 2003 among Metaldyne Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), the Guarantors (as defined below) and, following the appointment of a trustee as contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined herein) and Section 7.01(a) hereof, the trustee so appointed (the "Trustee"). The Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, if appointed, agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined below) of the 10% Series A Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 (the "Series A Notes") and the 10% Series B Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 (the "Series B Notes" and, together with the Series A Notes, the "Notes"): ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE Section 1.01 Definitions. "2002 Indenture" means the Indenture, dated as of June 20, 2002, by and among the Company, the guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York, as trustee, governing the 2012 Notes, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time. "2012 Notes" means the Company's 11% senior subordinated notes due 2012 issued from time to time under the 2002 Indenture. "Acquired Debt" means, with respect to any specified Person: (1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into, or becoming a Subsidiary of, such specified Person; and (2) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person. "Adjusted Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date, plus 50 basis points. "Advisory Agreement" means that certain monitoring agreement between the Company and Heartland, as in effect on the date of this Indenture, or any amendment or supplement thereto that, taken in its entirety, is no less favorable to the Company than such agreement as in effect on the date of this Indenture. "Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, "control," as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise. For purposes of this definition, the terms "controlling," "controlled by" and "under common control with" have correlative meanings. No Person (other than the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company) in whom a Receivables Subsidiary makes an Investment in connection with a Qualified Receivables Transaction will be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries solely by reason of such Investment. "Agent" means any Registrar, co-registrar, Paying Agent or additional paying agent. "Applicable Procedures" means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and procedures of the Depositary, Euroclear and Clearstream that apply to such transfer or exchange. "Asset Sale" means: (1) the sale, lease conveyance or other disposition of any assets or rights, other than dispositions in the ordinary course of business; provided that the sale, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be governed by Section 4.14 hereof and/or Section 5.01 hereof and not by Section 4.10 hereof; and (2) the issuance of Equity Interests in any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or the sale of Equity Interests in any of the Restricted Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the preceding, none of the following items will be deemed to be an Asset Sale: (1) any single transaction or series of related transactions that involves assets having a fair market value of less than $2.5 million; (2) a transfer of assets between or among the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries; (3) an issuance of Equity Interests by a Subsidiary to the Company or to another Restricted Subsidiary or any issuance of directors' qualifying shares; (4) the sale or other disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents; (5) sales of accounts receivable and related assets of the type specified in the definition of "Qualified Receivables Transaction" to a Receivables Subsidiary or sales of accounts receivable by any Foreign Subsidiary in the ordinary course for financing purposes; (6) the surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release or surrender of contract, tort or other claims of any kind; -2- (7) the grant in the ordinary course of business of licenses of patents, trademarks and similar intellectual property; (8) a disposition of obsolete or worn out equipment or equipment that is no longer useful in the conduct of the business of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries and that is disposed of in each case in the ordinary course of business; (9) a Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment that is permitted by Section 4.07 hereof; and (10) any issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiary. "Bankruptcy Law" means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors. "Beneficial Owner" has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular "person" (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such "person" will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such "person" has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition. The terms "Beneficially Owns" and "Beneficially Owned" have a corresponding meaning. "Board of Directors" means: (1) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation; (2) with respect to a partnership, the board of directors of the general partner of the partnership; and (3) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function. "Broker-Dealer" has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement. "Business Day" means any day other than a Legal Holiday. "Capital Lease Obligation" means, at the time any determination is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP. "Capital Stock" means: (1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock; (2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock; -3- (3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and (4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person. "Cash Equivalents" means: (1) cash; (2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States, British or European Union government or any agency or instrumentality of the United States, British or European Union government (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States, British or European Union government, as applicable, is pledged in support of those securities) having maturities of not more than six months from the date of acquisition; (3) certificates of deposit and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition, bankers' acceptances with maturities not exceeding six months and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any lender party to the Credit Agreement or with any domestic, British or European Union commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $150.0 million; (4) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 30 days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2) and (3) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above; (5) commercial paper with a maturity of 365 days or less from the date of acquisition issued by a corporation organized under the laws of any state of the United States of America or the District of Columbia or any foreign country recognized by the United States of America whose debt rating, at the time as of which such investment is made, is at least "A-1" by Standard & Poor's Corporation or at least "P-1" by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or rated at least an equivalent rating category of another nationally recognized securities rating agency; (6) any security, maturing not more than 365 days after the date of acquisition, backed by standby or direct pay letters of credit issued by a bank meeting the qualifications described in clause (3) above; (7) any security, maturing not more than 365 days after the date of acquisition, issued or fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America, or by any political subdivision thereof, and rated at least "A" by Standard & Poor's Corporation or at least "A" by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or rated at least an equivalent rating category of another nationally recognized securities rating agency; and (8) money market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (1) through (7) of this definition. -4- "Clearstream" means Clearstream Banking, S.A. "Change of Control" means the occurrence of any of the following: (1) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any "person" (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than a Principal; (2) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company; (3) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any "person" (as defined above), other than the Principals or a Permitted Group, becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the Company, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; or (4) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company are not Continuing Directors. "Company" means Metaldyne Corporation, and any and all successors thereto. "Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury Security selected by the Reference Treasury Dealer as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Notes. "Comparable Treasury Price" means with respect to any redemption date: (1) the average of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) on the third Business Day preceding such redemption date, as set forth in the daily statistical release (or any successor release) published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and designated "Composite 3:30 p.m. Quotations for U.S. Government Securities"; or (2) if such release (or any successor release) is not published or does not contain such prices on such Business Day, (A) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations or (B) if the Trustee or Company obtains fewer than three such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Quotations. "Consolidated Assets" of any Person as of any date of determination means the total assets of such Person as reflected on the most recently prepared balance sheet of such Person, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP. -5- "Consolidated Cash Flow" means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period plus: (1) an amount equal to any extraordinary loss plus any net loss realized by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale, to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus (2) provision for taxes based on income or profits of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such provision for taxes was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus (3) consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued and whether or not capitalized (including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers' acceptance financings, and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to Hedging Obligations), to the extent that any such expense was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus (4) the loss on Qualified Receivables Transactions; plus (5) dividends on preferred stock or accretion of discount on preferred stock to the extent reducing Consolidated Net Income; plus (6) depreciation, amortization (including amortization of goodwill and other intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period) and other non-cash items (excluding any such non-cash expense to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such depreciation, amortization and other non-cash items were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; minus (7) non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, other than the accrual of revenue in the ordinary course of business; plus (8) non-cash gains or losses resulting from fluctuations in currency exchange rates will be excluded; plus (9) the disposition of any securities or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness will be excluded; in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that the provision for taxes based on the income or profits of, the consolidated depreciation and amortization expense and such items of expense or income attributable to, a Restricted Subsidiary shall be added to or subtracted from Consolidated Net Income to compute Fixed Charge -6- Coverage Ratio only to the extent (and in the same proportion) that the net income of such Restricted Subsidiary was included in calculating Consolidated Net Income. "Consolidated Net Income" means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that: (1) the Net Income of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting will be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the specified Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Person; (2) the Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary will be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders; provided that if the Net Income of a Foreign Subsidiary for any period would be excluded from the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for such period under this clause (2) solely due to the effect of a restriction on the payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Foreign Subsidiary under the terms of Indebtedness of such Foreign Subsidiary incurred in accordance with the terms of this Indenture (including if such Indebtedness incurrence is being tested), such Net Income shall not be excluded from such Consolidated Net Income if (x) the ratio of Consolidated Cash Flow of such Foreign Subsidiary to the Fixed Charges of such Foreign Subsidiary, determined at the time of the incurrence of such Indebtedness, was at least 2.0 to 1.0, and (y) the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Foreign Subsidiary for the period under determination exceeds the Fixed Charges of such Foreign Subsidiary for such period; (3) the Net Income of any Person acquired in a pooling of interests transaction for any period prior to the date of such acquisition will be excluded; and (4) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles will be excluded. "Continuing Directors" means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors of the Company who: (1) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date of this Indenture; or (2) was nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board at the time of such nomination or election or designated as a Director under the Shareholders Agreement. "Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee" means the principal office of the Trustee at which at any time its corporate trust business shall be administered or such other address as the Trustee -7- may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company). "Credit Agreement" means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of November 28, 2000, as amended and restated as of June 20, 2002, and as further amended as of July 15, 2003, by and among the Company, certain of its subsidiaries and JP Morgan Chase Bank (formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank), as administrative agent and collateral agent, Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, as syndication agent, Comerica Bank, as documentation agent, National City Bank, as documentation agent, Bank One, N.A., as documentation agent, and the other lenders party thereto, as amended, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time (including any increases in amount permitted by this Indenture). "Credit Facilities" means one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the Credit Agreement) or commercial paper facilities, in each case with banks or other institutional lenders providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time. "Custodian" means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Notes in global form, or any successor entity thereto. "Default" means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default. "Definitive Note" means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Sections 2.01 and 2.02 or 2.06 hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note" attached thereto. "Depositary" means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.03 hereof as the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture. "Disqualified Stock" means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable, in each case at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date on which the Notes mature. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders of the Capital Stock have the right to require the Company to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the Company may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption complies with Section 4.07 hereof. Disqualified Stock -8- shall not include the existing restricted stock obligations of the Company and the Existing Preferred Stock. "Domestic Subsidiary" means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that was formed under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States or the District of Columbia or that guarantees or otherwise provides direct credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company. "Equity Interests" means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock). "Equity Offering" means a primary sale of Capital Stock of the Company or, to the extent the net cash proceeds thereof are paid to the Company as a capital contribution, Capital Stock for cash to a Person or Persons other than a Subsidiary of the Company. "Euroclear" means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear system. "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. "Exchange Notes" means the Notes issued in the Exchange Offer pursuant to Section 2.06 hereof. "Exchange Offer" has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement. "Exchange Offer Registration Statement" has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement. "Existing Indebtedness" means the Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement) in existence on the date of this Indenture, until such amounts are repaid. "Existing Preferred Stock" means the issued and outstanding series of preferred stock of the Company as of the date of this Indenture, including the series of preferred stock issued on the date hereof in connection with the exercise of the Company's call option under the Operating Agreement of NC-M Chassis Systems, LLC, dated as of January 2, 2003, among NC-M Chassis Systems, LLC and the Unitholders, as defined therein. "Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" means with respect to any specified Person for any period, the ratio of the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period. In the event that the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, repays, repurchases, redeems, defeases or otherwise retires any Indebtedness (other than ordinary working capital borrowings) or issues, repurchases or redeems preferred stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated and on or prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the "Calculation Date"), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio will be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, repayment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or -9- other retirement of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of preferred stock, and the use of the proceeds therefrom as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter reference period. In addition, for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio: (1) acquisitions of a business or operations that have been made by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers or consolidations and including any related financing transactions, during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date will be given pro forma effect as if they had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period and Consolidated Cash Flow for such reference period will be calculated on a pro forma basis determined in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company (and such calculations may include such pro forma adjustments for non-recurring items that the Company considers reasonable in order to reflect the ongoing impact of any such transaction on the Company's results of operations), but without giving effect to clause (3) of the proviso set forth in the definition of Consolidated Net Income; (2) the Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded; and (3) the Fixed Charges attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded but only to the extent that the obligations giving rise to such Fixed Charges will not be obligations of the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries following the Calculation Date. "Fixed Charges" means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of: (1) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued, including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers' acceptance financings, and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to Hedging Obligations, to the extent deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income; provided, however, that with respect to any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, if the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Restricted Subsidiary for such period is greater than or equal to such consolidated interest expense of such Restricted Subsidiary for such period, then such Person shall only include the consolidated interest expense of such Restricted Subsidiary to the extent of the equity ownership of such Person in such Restricted Subsidiary (calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act); plus -10- (2) the consolidated interest of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period, to the extent deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus (3) any interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person that is Guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether or not such Guarantee or Lien is called upon; plus (4) the loss on Qualified Receivables Transactions; plus (5) all dividends, whether paid in cash, assets or securities on any series of preferred stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, other than dividends on Equity Interests payable solely in Equity Interests of the Company or a Guarantor (other than Disqualified Stock) or to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; excluding, to the extent included in such consolidated interest expense, any of the foregoing items of any Person acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company in a pooling-of-interests transaction for any period prior to the date of such transaction. "Foreign Subsidiary" means a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary and that is organized under the laws of any country other than the United States and substantially all the assets of which are located outside the United States. "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect from time to time. "Global Note Legend" means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(2), which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture. "Global Notes" means, individually and collectively, each of the permanent global Notes, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, issued in accordance with Sections 2.01 and 2.02, 2.06(b), 2.06(d) or 2.06(f) hereof. Each Global Note shall bear the Global Note Legend, shall have the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note" attached thereto, shall be deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary, and shall represent a series of Notes that do not bear the Private Placement Legend. "Government Securities" means direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America, and the payment for which the United States pledges its full faith and credit. "Guarantee" means a guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business, direct or indirect, in any manner including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness. -11- "Guarantors" means each of: (1) the Domestic Subsidiaries of the Company as of the date of this Indenture, other than the Receivables Subsidiary; and (2) any other subsidiary that executes a Note Guarantee in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, and their respective successors and assigns. "Heartland" means Heartland Industrial Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and its successors. "Hedging Obligations" means, with respect to any Person, all Obligations of such Person in respect of: (1) interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements; and (2) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in interest rates, commodity prices or currency risks incurred in the ordinary course of business. "Holder" means a Person in whose name a Note is registered. "Indebtedness" means, with respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent: (1) in respect of borrowed money; (2) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof); (3) in respect of banker's acceptances; (4) representing Capital Lease Obligations; (5) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable or non-competition or trade name licensing arrangements on customary terms entered into in connection with an acquisition; or (6) representing any Hedging Obligations, if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the term "Indebtedness" includes all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is as- -12- sumed by the specified Person) and, to the extent not otherwise included, the Guarantee by the specified Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person. The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date will be: (1) the accreted value of the Indebtedness, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount; and (2) the principal amount of the Indebtedness, together with any interest on the Indebtedness that is more than 30 days past due, in the case of any other Indebtedness. "Indenture" means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time. "Indirect Participant" means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Global Note through a Participant. "Initial Holder" means DaimlerChrysler Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and any and all successors thereof. "Institutional Accredited Investor" means an institution that is an "accredited investor" as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act, who is not also a QIB. "Investments" means, with respect to any Person, all direct or indirect investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of loans (including Guarantees or other obligations), advances or capital contributions (excluding commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP. If the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Subsidiary of the Company, the Company will be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition equal to the fair market value of the Company's Investments in such Subsidiary that were not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of Section 4.07. The acquisition by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company of a Person that holds an Investment in a third Person will be deemed to be an Investment by the Company or such Subsidiary in such third Person in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Investments held by the acquired Person in such third Person in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of Section 4.07. "Legal Holiday" means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York or at a place of payment are authorized by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the intervening period. "Letter of Transmittal" means the letter of transmittal to be prepared by the Company and sent to all Holders of the Notes for use by such Holders in connection with the Exchange Offer. -13- "Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and, except in connection with any Qualified Receivables Transaction, any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction. "Liquidated Damages" means all liquidated damages then owing pursuant to Section 2(d) of the Registration Rights Agreement. "Net Income" means, with respect to any specified Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends, excluding, however: (1) any gain or loss, together with any related provision for taxes on such gain or loss, realized in connection with: (a) any Asset Sale or (b) the disposition of any securities by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and (2) any extraordinary gain or loss, together with any related provision for taxes on such extraordinary gain or loss. "Net Proceeds" means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale, including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions, and any relocation expenses incurred as a result of the Asset Sale, taxes paid or payable as a result of the Asset Sale, in each case, after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements, and amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness, other than Indebtedness under a Credit Facility, secured by a Lien on the asset or assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale and any reserve for adjustment in respect of the sale price of such asset or assets established in accordance with GAAP. "Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries" means MTSPC, Inc. and any other Receivables Subsidiary, each Foreign Subsidiary and Domestic Subsidiary not required to provide Guarantees under the Credit Agreement. "Non-U.S. Person" means a Person who is not a U.S. Person. "Note Guarantee" means the Guarantee by each Guarantor of the Company's payment obligations under this Indenture and on the Notes, executed pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture. -14- "Notes" has the meaning assigned to it in the preamble to this Indenture. "Obligations" means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness. "Officer" means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary or any Vice-President of such Person. "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by two Officers of the Company, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Company, that meets the requirements of Section 13.05 hereof. "Opinion of Counsel" means an opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of Section 13.05 hereof. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or the Trustee. "Participant" means, with respect to the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, a Person who has an account with the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, respectively (and, with respect to DTC, shall include Euroclear and Clearstream). "Permitted Acquired Investment" means any Investment by any Person (the "Subject Person") in another Person made prior to the time: (1) the Subject Person became a Restricted Subsidiary, (2) the Subject Person merged into or consolidated with a Restricted Subsidiary, or (3) another Restricted Subsidiary merged into or was consolidated with the Subject Person (in a transaction in which the Subject Person became a Restricted Subsidiary), provided that such Investment was not made in anticipation of any such transaction and was outstanding prior to such transaction; provided, further, that the book value of such Investments (excluding all Permitted Investments (other than those referred to in clause (14) of the definition thereof)) do not exceed 5% of the Consolidated Assets of the Subject Person immediately prior to the Subject Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary. "Permitted Group" means any group of investors that is deemed to be a "person" (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) at any time prior to an underwritten initial public offering of common stock of the Company, by virtue of the Stockholders Agreement, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, provided that no single Person (other than the Principals) Beneficially Owns (together with its Affiliates) more of the -15- Voting Stock of the Company that is Beneficially Owned by such group of investors than is then collectively Beneficially Owned by the Principals in the aggregate. "Permitted Investments" means: (1) any Investment in the Company or in a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; (2) any Investment in Cash Equivalents; (3) any Investment by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in a Person, if as a result of such Investment: (a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; or (b) such Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; (4) any Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.10 hereof; (5) any acquisition of assets to the extent in exchange for the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company; (6) any Investments received in compromise of obligations of such persons incurred in the ordinary course of trade creditors or customers that were incurred in the ordinary course of business, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer; (7) Hedging Obligations; (8) lease, utility and other similar deposits in the ordinary course of business; (9) Investments existing on the date of this Indenture; (10) loans or advances to employees for purposes of purchasing Capital Stock of the Company in an aggregate amount outstanding at any one time not to exceed $7.5 million and other loans and advances to employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and on terms consistent with practices in effect prior to the date of this Indenture, including travel, moving and other like advances; (11) loans or advances to vendors or contractors of the Company in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices; (12) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries, partnerships or joint ventures involving the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, if the amount of such Investment (af- -16- ter taking into account the amount of all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (12), less any return of capital realized or any repayment of principal received on such Permitted Investments, or any release or other cancellation of any Guarantee constituting such Permitted Investment, which has not at such time been reinvested in Permitted Investments made pursuant to this clause (12)), does not exceed 2.5% of the Company's Consolidated Assets); (13) the acquisition by a Receivables Subsidiary in connection with a Qualified Receivables Transaction of Equity Interests of a trust or other Person established by such Receivables Subsidiary to effect such Qualified Receivables Transaction; and any other Investment by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company in a Receivables Subsidiary or any Investment by a Receivables Subsidiary in any other Person in connection with a Qualified Receivables Transaction; and (14) Permitted Acquired Investments. "Permitted Liens" means: (1) Liens to secure Senior Debt of the Company and any Guarantor or to secure Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, including, without limitation, Indebtedness and other Obligations under Credit Facilities; (2) Liens in favor of the Company or the Guarantors; (3) Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged with or into or consolidated with the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such merger or consolidation and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person merged into or consolidated with the Company or the Subsidiary; (4) Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition of the property by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such acquisition; (5) Liens to secure the performance of statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds, performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business; (6) Liens to secure Indebtedness (including Capital Lease Obligations) and related Obligations permitted by clause (4) of the second paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof covering only the assets acquired with such Indebtedness; (7) Liens existing on the date of this Indenture; (8) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently concluded, provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision as is required in conformity with GAAP has been made therefor; -17- (9) Liens on assets of the Company or a Receivables Subsidiary incurred in connection with a Qualified Receivables Transaction; (10) Liens replacing any of the items set forth in clauses (1), (3), (4) and (7) above, provided that (A) the principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by such Liens shall not be increased (except with respect to premiums or other payments paid in connection with a concurrent Refinancing of such Indebtedness and the expenses incurred in connection therewith), (B) the principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by such Liens, determined as of the date of incurrence, has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at least equal to the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness being Refinanced or repaid, (C) the maturity of the Indebtedness secured by such Liens is not earlier than that of the Indebtedness to be Refinanced, (D) such Liens have the same or a lower ranking and priority as the Liens being replaced, and (E) such Liens shall be limited to the property or assets encumbered by the Lien so replaced; (11) Liens encumbering cash proceeds (or securities purchased therewith) from Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09 hereof which are set aside at the time of such incurrence in order to secure an escrow arrangement pursuant to which such cash proceeds (or securities purchased therewith) are contemplated to ultimately be released to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or returned to the creditors with respect to such Indebtedness, provided that such Liens are automatically released concurrently with the release of such cash proceeds (or securities purchased therewith) from such escrow arrangement; (12) Liens (including extensions, renewals and replacements thereof) upon property or assets created for the purpose of securing Indebtedness incurred to finance or Refinance the cost (including the cost of construction) of such property or assets, provided that (A) the principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by such Lien does not exceed 100% of the cost of such property or assets, (B) such Lien does not extend to or cover any property or assets other than the property or assets being financed or Refinanced by such Indebtedness and any improvements thereon, and (C) the incurrence of such Indebtedness is permitted by Section 4.09 hereof; (13) Liens securing Indebtedness and other Obligations of Foreign Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred under Section 4.09 hereof; (14) Liens (other than Liens securing subordinated Indebtedness) which, when the Indebtedness relating to those Liens is added to all other then outstanding Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries secured by Liens and not listed in clauses (1) through (13) above or (15) through (26) below, does not exceed 5% of the Consolidated Assets of the Company; (15) Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers' compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security or similar obligations, including any Lien securing letters of credit issued in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice in connection therewith, or to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, bids, -18- leases, government contracts, performance and return-of-money bonds and other similar obligations (exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money); (16) judgment Liens not accompanied by an Event of Default of the type described in clause (6) under Section 6.01 hereof arising from such judgment; (17) easements, rights-of-way, zoning restrictions, minor defects or irregularities in title and other similar charges or encumbrances in respect of real property not interfering in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; (18) any interest or title of a lessor under any lease, whether or not characterized as capital or operating; provided that such Liens do not extend to any property or assets which is not leased property subject to such lease; (19) Liens upon specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person's obligations in respect of bankers' acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods; (20) Liens securing reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit which encumber documents and other property relating to such letters of credit and products and proceeds thereof; (21) Liens encumbering deposits made to secure obligations arising from statutory, regulatory, contractual, or warranty requirements of the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, including rights of offset and set-off; (22) leases or subleases granted to others not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries; (23) Liens securing Hedging Obligations; (24) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of custom duties in connection with importation of goods; (25) Liens encumbering initial deposits and margin deposits, and other Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business and that are within the general parameters customary in the industry; and (26) Liens arising from filing Uniform Commercial Code financing statements regarding leases. "Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness" means any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany Indebtedness); provided that: -19- (1) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded (plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of all expenses and premiums incurred in connection therewith); (2) such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; (3) if the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of, and is subordinated in right of payment to, the Notes on terms at least as favorable to the Holders of Notes as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; and (4) such Indebtedness is incurred either by the Company, a Guarantor or by the Restricted Subsidiary who is the obligor on the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded. "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company or government or other entity. "Principals" means Heartland and any of its Affiliates. "Private Placement Legend" means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(1) to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture except where otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Indenture. "QIB" means a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined in Rule 144A. "Qualified Receivables Transaction" means any transaction or series of transactions entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries sells, conveys or otherwise transfers to (i) a Receivables Subsidiary (in the case of a transfer by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) and (ii) any other Person (in the case of a transfer by a Receivables Subsidiary), or grants a security interest in, any accounts receivable (whether now existing or arising in the future) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and any assets related thereto including, without limitation, all collateral securing such accounts receivable, all contracts and all guarantees or other obligations in respect of such accounts receivable, proceeds of such accounts receivable and other assets which are customarily transferred or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted in connection with asset securitization transactions involving accounts receivable. -20- "Recapitalization Agreement" means that certain recapitalization agreement dated August 1, 2000 between MascoTech, Inc. (now known as the Company) and Riverside Company LLC, as amended. "Receivables" means receivables, chattel paper, instruments, documents or intangibles evidencing or relating to the right to payment of money. "Receivables" shall include the indebtedness and payment obligations of any Person to the Company or a Subsidiary arising from a sale of merchandise or services by the Company or such Subsidiary in the ordinary course of its business, including any right to payment for goods sold or for services rendered, and including the right to payment of any interest, finance charges, returned check or late charges and other obligations of such Person with respect thereto. Receivables shall also include (a) all of the Company's or such Subsidiary's interest in the merchandise (including returned merchandise), if any, relating to the sale which gave rise to such Receivable, (b) all other security interests or Liens and property subject thereto from time to time purporting to secure payment of such Receivable, whether pursuant to the contract related to such Receivable or otherwise, together with all financing statements signed by an Obligor describing any collateral securing such Receivable, and (c) all guarantees, insurance, letters of credit and other agreements or arrangements of whatever character from time to time supporting or securing payment of such Receivable whether pursuant to the contract related to such Receivable or otherwise. "Receivables Facility" means the Receivables Transfer Agreement, dated as of November 28, 2000, as amended from time to time, by and among MTSPC, Inc., Metaldyne Corporation, JP Morgan Chase Bank, and the other parties named therein. "Receivables Subsidiary" means a Subsidiary of the Company which engages in no activities other than in connection with the financing of accounts receivable and which is designated by the Board of Directors of the Company (as provided below) as a Receivables Subsidiary (a) no portion of the Indebtedness or any other Obligations (contingent or otherwise) of which (i) is guaranteed by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (excluding guarantees of Obligations (other than the principal of, and interest on, Indebtedness) pursuant to representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities entered into in the ordinary course of business in connection with a Qualified Receivables Transaction), (ii) is recourse to or obligates the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in any way other than pursuant to representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities entered into in the ordinary course of business in connection with a Qualified Receivables Transaction or (iii) subjects any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (other than accounts receivable and related assets as provided in the definition of "Qualified Receivables Transaction"), directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to representations, warranties, covenants, limited repurchase obligations and indemnities entered into in the ordinary course of business in connection with a Qualified Receivables Transaction, (b) with which neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of the Company has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding other than on terms no less favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company, other than fees payable in the ordinary course of business in connection with servicing accounts receivable and (c) with which neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of the Company has any obligation to maintain or preserve such Subsidiary's financial condition or cause such Subsidiary to achieve certain levels of operating results. Any such designation by the Board of Directors of -21- the Company will be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors (which resolution shall be conclusive) of the Company giving effect to such designation and an Officers' Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing conditions. "Reference Treasury Dealer" means Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation and its successors; provided, however, that if Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation shall cease to be a primary U.S. government securities dealer in New York City (a "Primary Treasury Dealer"), the Company shall substitute therefor another primary U.S. government securities dealer to be the Primary Treasury Dealer. "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to any redemption date, the average as determined by the Trustee or, if no Trustee has been appointed, the Company, of the bid and asked prices of the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by the Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the third Business Day preceding such redemption date. "Refinance" means, with respect to any security or Indebtedness, a renewal, extension, refinancing, replacement, amendment, restatement or refunding of such security or Indebtedness, and shall include any successive Refinancing of any of the foregoing. "Refinanced" and "Refinancing" shall have correlative meanings. "Registration Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Holder, as such agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time. "Regulation S" means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act. "Remaining Scheduled Payments" means, with respect to each Note to be redeemed, the sum of (a) the redemption price of such Note on January 15, 2009 and (b) the remaining scheduled payments of interest thereon that would be due on or prior to January 15, 2009 (but after the related redemption date but for such redemption); provided, however, that if such redemption date is not an interest payment date on the Notes, the amount of the next succeeding scheduled interest payment on the Notes to be redeemed will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued on those Notes to such redemption date. "Responsible Officer," when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the Corporate Trust Administration of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee), including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject. "Restricted Definitive Note" means a Definitive Note bearing the Private Placement Legend. "Restricted Investment" means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment. -22- "Restricted Subsidiary" of a Person means any Subsidiary of the referent Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary. "Rule 144" means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act. "Rule 144A" means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act. "Rule 903" means Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act. "Rule 904" means Rule 904 promulgated the Securities Act. "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission. "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. "Shareholders Agreement" means that certain shareholders agreement by and among Heartland, Credit Suisse First Boston Equity Partners, L.P., Masco Corporation, Richard Manoogian, their various affiliates and certain other stockholders of the Company relating to their ownership in the Company. "Shelf Registration Statement" means the Shelf Registration Statement as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement. "Significant Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary that would be a "significant subsidiary" as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Regulation is in effect on the date of this Indenture. "stated maturity" means, with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which the payment of interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the original documentation governing such Indebtedness, and shall not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof. "Stock Purchase Agreement" means that certain stock purchase agreement, dated May 17, 2002, by and among the Company, TriMas and Heartland under which Heartland and other investors acquired a majority of the common stock of the Company. "Subsidiary" means, with respect to any specified Person: (1) any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees of the corporation, association or other business entity is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and (2) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general part- -23- ners of which are that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person (or any combination thereof). "TIA" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. ss.ss. 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA. "TriMas" means TriMas Corporation, a Delaware corporation. "TriMas Corporate Services Agreement" means that certain corporate services agreement by and between the Company and TriMas pursuant to which the Company and its subsidiaries will provide management information systems, legal, tax, accounting, human resources and other support services to TriMas. "TriMas Shareholders Agreement" means that certain shareholders agreement by and among TriMas, Heartland, Metaldyne Company LLC and other investors party thereto relating to their ownership in TriMas. "Trustee" means the party named as such in the preamble to this Indenture until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder. "Unrestricted Definitive Note" means one or more Definitive Notes that do not bear and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend. "Unrestricted Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of the Company that is designated by the Board of Directors as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Board Resolution, but only to the extent that such Subsidiary is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company unless the terms of all such agreements, contracts, arrangements or understandings are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company. Any designation of a Subsidiary of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of the Board Resolution giving effect to such designation and an officers' certificate certifying that such designation complied with the preceding conditions and was permitted by Section 4.07 hereof. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it will thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of the indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary will be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as of such date and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as of such date under Section 4.09 hereof, the Company will be in default of such covenant. The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such designation will be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary and such designation will only be permitted if (1) such Indebtedness is permitted under the Section 4.09 hereof, calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the four-quarter reference period; and (2) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such designation. -24- "U.S. Person" means a U.S. Person as defined in Rule 902(o) under the Securities Act. "Voting Stock" of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person. "Weighted Average Life to Maturity" means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (1) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect of the Indebtedness, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by (2) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness. "Wholly-Owned Subsidiary" of any specified Person means a Subsidiary of such Person all of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors' qualifying shares) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person. Section 1.02 Other Definitions. Defined in Term Section "Acceleration Notice"............................ 6.02 "Affiliate Transaction".......................... 4.11(a) "Asset Sale Offer"............................... 3.09 "Authentication Order"........................... 2.02 "Capital Spending"............................... 4.09(b)(4) "Change of Control Offer"........................ 4.14(a) "Change of Control Payment"...................... 4.14(a) "Change of Control Payment Date"................. 4.14(a)(2) "Covenant Defeasance"............................ 8.03 "Designated Senior Debt"......................... 10.02 "DTC"............................................ 2.03 "Event of Default"............................... 6.01 "Excess Proceeds"................................ 4.10 "incur".......................................... 4.09(a) "Legal Defeasance"............................... 8.02 "Offer Amount"................................... 3.09 "Offer Period"................................... 3.09 "Paying Agent"................................... 2.03 "Payment Blockage Notice"........................ 10.04(a)(2) "Payment Default"................................ 6.01 "Permitted Debt"................................. 4.09(b) -25- Defined in Term Section "Permitted Junior Securities".................... 10.02 "Purchase Date".................................. 3.09 "Registrar"...................................... 2.03 "Representative"................................. 10.02 "Restricted Payments"............................ 4.07 "Senior Debt".................................... 10.02 Section 1.03 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings: "indenture securities" means the Notes; "indenture security holder" means a Holder of a Note; "indenture to be qualified" means this Indenture; "indenture trustee" or "institutional trustee" means the Trustee; and "obligor" on the Notes and the Note Guarantees means the Company and the Guarantors, respectively, and any successor obligor upon the Notes and the Note Guarantees, respectively. All other 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 1.04 Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires: (1) a term has the meaning assigned to it; (2) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP; (3) "or" is not exclusive; (4) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular; (5) "will" shall be interpreted to express a command; -26- (6) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; and (7) references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act will be deemed to include substitute, replacement or successor sections or rules adopted by the SEC from time to time. ARTICLE 2. THE NOTES Section 2.01 Form and Dating. (a) General. The Notes and, if required, the Trustee's certificate of authentication will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Note will be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof. The terms and provisions contained in the Notes will constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, if applicable, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling. (b) Global Notes. Notes issued in global form will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note" attached thereto). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, Notes shall not be issued in global form except in connection with an exchange or transfer effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement. Notes issued in definitive form will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and without the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note" attached thereto). Each Global Note will represent such of the outstanding Notes as will be specified therein and each shall provide that it represents the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby will be made by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.06 hereof. (c) Euroclear and Clearstream Procedures Applicable. The provisions of the "Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System" and "Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear" and the "General Terms and Conditions of Clearstream Banking" and "Customer Handbook" of Clearstream will be applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in Global Notes that are held by Participants through Euroclear or Clearstream. -27- Section 2.02 Execution and Authentication. One Officer must sign the Notes for the Company by manual or facsimile signature. If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time a Note is authenticated, the Note will nevertheless be valid. Except for Notes issued prior to the appointment of the Trustee under Section 7.01(a), a Note will not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee. The signature, if required, will be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture. Following such appointment of the Trustee, the Company will be required to exchange Notes so authenticated for previously issued non-authenticated Notes within a reasonable period of time following a written request by a Holder that has delivered all reasonably required documentation, including the non-authenticated Note, subject to the provisions applicable to Global Notes. The absence of an authentication on a Note issued prior to the appointment of a Trustee will not affect the validity of the enforceability of the Note. If required, the Trustee shall, upon written order of the Company signed by an Officer (an "Authentication Order"), authenticate Notes for original or replacement issue of up to $31,746,000 in aggregate principal amount and, upon delivery of any Authentication Order at any time and from time to time thereafter, the Trustee shall authenticate Notes and Exchange Notes for original issue in an aggregate principal amount specified in such Authentication Order. The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Notes. An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or an Affiliate of the Company. Section 2.03 Registrar and Paying Agent. The Company will maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange ("Registrar") and an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment ("Paying Agent"). The Registrar will keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term "Registrar" includes any co-registrar and the term "Paying Agent" includes any additional paying agent. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company will notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may (and shall initially) act as Paying Agent or Registrar. The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") to act as Depositary with respect to any Global Note, effective upon issuance of such Global Note. The Company will initially appoint the Trustee, upon issuance of any Global Note, to act as Custodian with respect to such Global Notes. -28- Section 2.04 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. The Company will require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal, premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on the Notes, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary) will have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it will segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Company, the Trustee will serve as Paying Agent for the Notes. Section 2.05 Holder Lists. The Trustee will preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA ss. 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company will furnish to the Trustee (once appointed) at least seven Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of Notes and the Company shall otherwise comply with TIA ss. 312(a). Section 2.06 Transfer and Exchange. (a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. A Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. All Global Notes will be exchanged by the Company for Definitive Notes if: (1) the Company delivers to the Trustee notice from the Depositary that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as Depositary or that it is no longer a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 120 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary; or (2) the Company in its sole discretion determines that the Global Notes (in whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and delivers a written notice to such effect to the Trustee. Upon the occurrence of either of the preceding events in (1) or (2) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee. Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and 2.10 hereof. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or Section 2.07 or 2.10 hereof, shall be authen- -29- ticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.06(a), however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.06(b), (c) or (f) hereof. (b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also will require compliance with either subparagraph (1) or (2) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable: (1) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note. Beneficial interests in any Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.06(b)(1). (2) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 2.06(b)(1) above, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either: (A) both: (i) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and (ii) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase; or (B) both: (i) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and (ii) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (i) above. -30- Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof. (c) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes for Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.06(b)(2) hereof, the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06 will be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest requests through instructions to the Registrar from or through the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee will deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06 will not bear the Private Placement Legend. (d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. (1) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. A Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Global Note or transfer such Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Global Note only if: (A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (i) a Broker-Dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company; (B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; (C) such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or (D) the Registrar receives the following: (i) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in the Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof; or -31- (ii) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Note proposes to transfer such Note to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof; and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in this Section 2.06(d)(1), the Trustee will cancel the Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Global Note. (2) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. A Holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Global Note or transfer such Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee will cancel the applicable Unrestricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Global Note. If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial interest in a Global Note is effected pursuant to subparagraph (1)(B), (1)(D) or (2) above at a time when a Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee will authenticate one or more Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive Notes so transferred. (e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder's compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.06(e), the Registrar will register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder must present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting Holder must provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.06(e). (1) Restricted Definitive Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be transferred to and registered in the name of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following: -32- (A) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof; (B) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; and (C) if the transfer will be made pursuant to any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable. (2) Restricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person or Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note if: (A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (i) a broker-dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company; (B) any such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; (C) any such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or (D) the Registrar receives the following: (i) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; or (ii) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Note proposes to transfer such Note to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof; and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Company to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement -33- Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. (3) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A Holder of Unrestricted Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note. Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Unrestricted Definitive Notes pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof. (f) Exchange Offer. Upon the occurrence of the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee will authenticate: (1) one or more Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interests in the Restricted Definitive Notes tendered into the Exchange Offer by Persons that certify in the applicable Letters of Transmittal that (A) they are not Broker-Dealers, (B) they are not participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes and (C) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company; and (2) Unrestricted Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Restricted Definitive Notes tendered into the Exchange Offer by all other Persons. Concurrently with the issuance of such Notes, the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver to the Persons designated by the Holders of Definitive Notes so tendered Unrestricted Definitive Notes in the appropriate principal amount. (g) Legends. The following legends will appear on the face of all Notes issued under this Indenture unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this Indenture. (1) Private Placement Legend. (A) Except as permitted by subparagraph (B) below, each Note (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the legend in substantially the following form: "THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THIS NOTE MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER. -34- THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ISSUERS THAT (A) THIS NOTE MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (I) IN THE UNITED STATES TO A PERSON WHO THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (II) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (III) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE), (IV) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, (V) TO THE ISSUERS OR ANY OF THEIR SUBSIDIARIES OR (VI) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (VI) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE." (B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraph (b), (c), (d), (e)(2), (e)(3) or (f) of this Section 2.06 (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) will not bear the Private Placement Legend. (2) Global Note Legend. Each Global Note will bear a legend in substantially the following form: "THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (1) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (3) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (4) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF METALDYNE CORPORATION. UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO -35- THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) ("DTC") TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN." (h) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes. At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note will be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note will be reduced accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note will be increased accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase. (i) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges. (1) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company will execute and the Trustee (if appointed) will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 or at the Registrar's request. (2) No service charge will be made to a Holder of a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.10, 3.06, 3.09, 4.10, 4.14 and 9.05 hereof). The Registrar will not be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. -36- (3) All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes will be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange. (4) The Company will not be required: (A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of selection; (B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part; or (C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a record date and the next succeeding interest payment date. (5) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Company may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Company shall be affected by notice to the contrary. (6) The Trustee (if appointed) will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof. (7) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.06 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile. Section 2.07 Replacement Notes. If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company and the Trustee (if appointed) and the Company receives evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Note, the Company will issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, will authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee's (if appointed) and the Company's requirements are met. If required by the Trustee or the Company, an indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Company may charge for its expenses in replacing a Note. Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company and will be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder. -37- Section 2.08 Outstanding Notes. The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes issued by the Company and, if requested, authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in this Section as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.09 hereof, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note; however, Notes held by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company shall not be deemed to be outstanding for purposes of Section 3.07(c) hereof. If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser. If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.01 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue. If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on a redemption date or maturity date, money sufficient to pay Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes will be deemed to be no longer outstanding and will cease to accrue interest. Section 2.09 Treasury Notes. In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Company, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company, will be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee will be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that the Trustee knows are so owned will be so disregarded. Section 2.10 Temporary Notes. Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, will authenticate temporary notes. Temporary notes will be substantially in the form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes and as may be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Company will prepare and the Trustee will authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary notes. Holders of temporary notes will be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture. Section 2.11 Cancellation. The Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation, or if a Trustee is not appointed, it may cancel Notes. If a Trustee has been appointed, the Registrar and Paying Agent will forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, -38- exchange or payment. If a Trustee has been appointed, the Trustee and no one else will cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and will dispose of canceled Notes (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act). The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or have been cancelled. Section 2.12 Defaulted Interest. If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it will pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Company will notify the Trustee or Holders in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment. The Company will fix or cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date, provided that no such special record date may be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest. At least 15 days before the special record date, the Company (or, upon the written request of the Company, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company) will mail or cause to be mailed to Holders a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid. Section 2.13 CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing the Notes may use "CUSIP" numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, "CUSIP" numbers shall be used in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee (if any) of any change in the "CUSIP" numbers. ARTICLE 3. REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT Section 3.01 Notices to Trustee. If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 3.07 hereof, if a Trustee has been appointed, it must furnish to the Trustee, at least 45 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, an Officers' Certificate setting forth: (1) the clause of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur; (2) the redemption date; (3) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed; and (4) the redemption price. -39- Section 3.02 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased. If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed or purchased in an offer to purchase at any time, the Trustee (or, if no Trustee has been appointed, the Company) will select Notes for redemption or purchase as follows: (1) if the Notes are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the Notes are listed; or (2) if the Notes are not listed on any national securities exchange, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such method as the Trustee (or, if no Trustee has been appointed, the Company) shall deem fair and appropriate. In the event of partial redemption or purchase by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed or purchased will be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption or purchase date by the Trustee (or, if no Trustee has been appointed, by the Company) from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption or purchase. The Trustee (if appointed) will promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes selected for redemption or purchase and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption or purchase, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed or purchased. Notes and portions of Notes selected will be in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000; except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed or purchased, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed or purchased. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption or purchase also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase. Section 3.03 Notice of Redemption. Subject to the provisions of Section 3.09 hereof, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company will mail or cause to be mailed, by first class mail, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Article 8 or 12 of this Indenture. The notice will identify the Notes to be redeemed (including the CUSIP or ISIN number) and will state: (1) the redemption date; (2) the redemption price; (3) if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such -40- Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion will be issued upon cancellation of the original Note; (4) the name and address of the Paying Agent; (5) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price; (6) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date; (7) the paragraph of the Notes and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed; and (8) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes. At the Company's request, if a Trustee has been appointed, the Trustee will give the notice of redemption in the Company's name and at its expense; provided, however, that the Company has delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the redemption date, an Officers' Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph. Section 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption. Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price. A notice of redemption may not be conditional. Section 3.05 Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price. Prior to 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) on the redemption or purchase price date, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption or purchase price of and accrued interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased on that date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent will promptly return to the Company any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption or purchase price of, and accrued interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on, all Notes to be redeemed or purchased. If the Company complies with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the redemption or purchase date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase. If a Note is redeemed or purchased on or after an interest record date but on or prior to the related interest payment date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such record date. If any Note called for redemption or purchase is not so paid upon surrender for redemption or purchase because of the failure of the Company to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption or purchase date -41- until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof. Section 3.06 Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part. Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed or purchased in part, the Company will issue and, if a Trustee has been appointed, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee will authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Company a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. Section 3.07 Optional Redemption. (a) The Notes will not be subject to any redemption at the option of the Company except as set forth in the following paragraphs. (b) The Notes may be redeemed, in whole part or in part, at any time prior to January 15, 2009, at the option of the Company upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' prior notice mailed by first-class mail to each Holder's registered address, at a redemption price equal to, as determined by the Reference Treasury Dealer, the sum of the present values of the Remaining Scheduled Payments discounted to the redemption date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the applicable date of redemption. (c) At any time prior to January 15, 2009, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture at a redemption price of 110% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings; provided that: (1) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption (excluding Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries); and (2) the redemption must occur within 120 days of the date of the closing of such Equity Offering. (d) After January 15, 2009, the Company may redeem all or a part of the Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on January 15th of the years indicated below: Year Percentage ---- ---------- 2009........................................ 105.000% 2010........................................ 103.333% 2011........................................ 101.667% 2012........................................ 100.000% -42- (e) Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof. Section 3.08 Mandatory Redemption. The Company is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes. Section 3.09 Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds. In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof, the Company is required to commence an offer to all Holders to purchase Notes (an "Asset Sale Offer"), it will follow the procedures specified below. The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders and all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets. The Asset Sale Offer will remain open for a period of at least 20 Business Days following its commencement and not more than 30 Business Days, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the "Offer Period"). No later than three Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the "Purchase Date"), the Company will apply all Excess Proceeds (the "Offer Amount") to the purchase of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness (on a pro rata basis, if applicable) or, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes and other Indebtedness tendered in response to the Asset Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased will be made in the same manner as interest payments are made. If the Purchase Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest, and Liquidated Damages, if any, will be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such record date, and no additional interest will be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer. Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company will send, by first class mail, a notice to the Trustee, if applicable, and each of the Holders, with a copy to the Trustee. The notice will contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer. The notice, which will govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, will state: (1) that the Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.09 and Section 4.10 hereof and the length of time the Asset Sale Offer will remain open; (2) the Offer Amount, the purchase price and the Purchase Date; (3) that any Note not tendered or accepted for payment will continue to accrue interest; (4) that, unless the Company defaults in making such payment, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer will cease to accrue interest after the Purchase Date; (5) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer may elect to have Notes purchased in integral multiples of $1,000 only; (6) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to any Asset Sale Offer will be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled "Option of Holder to Elect Purchase" on the reverse of the Note completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Company, a Depositary, if appointed by the Company, or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice at least three days before the Purchase Date; (7) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Company, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than the expiration of the Offer Period, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased; (8) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness surrendered by Holders exceeds the Offer Amount, the Company will select the Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the principal amount of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness surrendered (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in denominations of $1,000, or integral multiples thereof, will be purchased); and (9) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer). On or before the Purchase Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful, accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary, the Offer Amount of Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer, or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered, and will deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that such Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Company in accordance with the terms of this Section 3.09. The Company, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, will promptly (but in any case not later than five days after the Purchase Date) mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Company for purchase, and the Company will promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee, upon written request from the Company will authenticate and mail or deliver, or if prior to the appointment of the Trustee, the Company shall mail or deliver, such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof. The Company will publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on the Purchase Date. Other than as specifically provided in this Section 3.09, any purchase pursuant to this Section 3.09 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof. ARTICLE 4. COVENANTS Section 4.01 Payment of Notes. The Company shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any will be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) on the due date money deposited by the Company in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due. The Company shall pay all Liquidated Damages, if any, in the same manner on the dates and in the amounts set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement. The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to 1% per annum in excess of the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Liquidated Damages (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful. Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency. Upon appointment of a Trustee, the Company will maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee (if appointed) of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company fails to maintain any such required office or agency or fails to furnish the Trustee (if appointed) with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee (if a Trustee has been appointed). The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission will in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York for such purposes following the appointment of a Trustee. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee (if appointed) of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency. Upon appointment of a Trustee, the Company will designate the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof. Section 4.03 Reports. (a) Whether or not required by rules and regulations of the SEC, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee (if appointed) and Holders of Notes, within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and regulations: (1) all quarterly and annual financial information that would be required to be contained in a filing with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company were required to file such forms, including a "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and, with respect to the annual information only, a report on the annual financial statements by the Company's certified independent accountants; and (2) all current reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K if the Company were required to file such reports. In addition, following the consummation of the Exchange Offer contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement, whether or not required by the SEC, the Company shall file a copy of all of the information and reports referred to in clauses (1) and (2) above with the SEC for public availability within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and regulations (unless the SEC will not accept such a filing) and make such information available to securities analysts and prospective investors upon request. In addition, the Company and the Guarantors have agreed that, for so long as any Notes remain outstanding, they shall furnish to the Holders and to securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act. The Company will at all times comply with TIA ss. 314(a). 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 compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers' Certificates). Section 4.04 Compliance Certificate. (a) Once required by the TIA, the Company and each Guarantor (to the extent that such Guarantor is so required under the TIA) shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year (commencing with the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004), an Officers' Certificate, one of the signers of which is the chief executive, chief principal or chief accounting officer, stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each -46- and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default or Event of Default has occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto) and that to the best of his or her knowledge no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which payments on account of the principal of or interest, if any, on the Notes is prohibited or if such event has occurred, a description of the event and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. (b) So long as not contrary to the then current recommendations of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the year-end financial statements delivered to the Trustee (if appointed) pursuant to Section 4.03(a) above shall be accompanied by a written statement of the Company's independent public accountants (who shall be a firm of established national reputation) that in making the examination necessary for certification of such financial statements, nothing has come to their attention that would lead them to believe that the Company has violated any provisions of Article 4 or Article 5 hereof or, if any such violation has occurred, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof, it being understood that such accountants shall not be liable directly or indirectly to any Person for any failure to obtain knowledge of any such violation. (c) So long as any of the Notes are outstanding, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee (if appointed) or, if no Trustee is appointed, the Holders, forthwith upon any Officer becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers' Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. Section 4.05 Taxes. The Company shall pay, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental levies except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes. Section 4.06 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. The Company and each of the Guarantors covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company and each of the Guarantors (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted. -47- Section 4.07 Restricted Payments. (a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly: (1) declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment or distribution on account of the Company's Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) or to the direct or indirect holders of the Company's Equity Interests in their capacity as such (other than dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company); (2) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value (including, without limitation, in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company) any Equity Interests of the Company; (3) purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Indebtedness that is subordinated to the Notes or the Note Guarantees, except a purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of such acquisition or retirement; or (4) make any Restricted Investment (all such payments and other actions set forth in these clauses (1) through (4) above being collectively referred to as "Restricted Payments"), unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment: (1) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a consequence of such Restricted Payment; and (2) the Company would, after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Restricted Payment had been made at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, have been permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof; and (3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries after June 20, 2002 (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2), (3), (4), (8), (9) and, to the extent reducing Consolidated Net Income, (10) of paragraph (b) below), is less than the sum, without duplication of: (A) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period (taken as one accounting period) from January 1, 2004 to the end of the Company's most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial state- -48- ments are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, if such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, less 100% of such deficit), plus (B) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Company since June 30, 2002, including the fair market value of property other than cash (determined in good faith by the Board of Directors), as a contribution to its common equity capital or from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or from the issue or sale of convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Stock or convertible or exchangeable debt securities of the Company that have been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or Disqualified Stock or convertible debt securities) sold to a Subsidiary of the Company), provided that (1) any such net proceeds received, directly or indirectly, by the Company from an employee stock ownership plan financed by loans from the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company shall be included only to the extent such loans have been repaid with cash on or prior to the date of determination and (2) any net proceeds received in a form other than cash (other than on conversion or in exchange for a security issued for cash to the extent of the cash received) from a person that is an Affiliate of the Company prior to such receipt shall be excluded from this clause (3)(B); plus (C) the amount by which Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary is reduced on the Company's balance sheet upon the conversion or exchange (other than by a Restricted Subsidiary) subsequent to June 30, 2002 of any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary into Capital Stock (other than Redeemable Stock) of the Company (less the amount of any cash or other property (other than such Capital Stock) distributed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary upon such conversion or exchange); plus (D) to the extent that any Restricted Investment that was made after June 30, 2002 is sold for cash or otherwise liquidated or repaid for cash, the lesser of (i) the cash return of capital with respect to such Restricted Investment (less the cost of disposition, if any) and (ii) the initial amount of such Restricted Investment; plus (E) to the extent that any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary after June 30, 2002, the lesser of (i) the fair market value of the Company's Investment in such Subsidiary as of the date of such redesignation or (ii) such fair market value as of the date on which such Subsidiary was originally designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary. (b) So long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby (except as to clauses (1) through (4), (6), (9), (10), (11) and (12) below), the provisions of Section 4.07(a) will not prohibit: (1) the payment of any dividend within 60 days after the date of declaration of the dividend, if at the date of declaration the dividend payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture; -49- (2) the redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition of any subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor or of any Equity Interests of the Company in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of, Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or a substantially concurrent capital contribution to the Company; provided that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition shall be excluded from clause (3)(B) of the preceding paragraph; (3) the defeasance, redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor in exchange for, or with the net cash proceeds from, an incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness or other Indebtedness incurred under Section 4.09(a) hereof; (4) the defeasance, redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of subordinated Indebtedness from Net Proceeds to the extent not prohibited under Section 4.10 hereof, provided that such purchase or redemption shall be excluded from the calculation of the amount available for Restricted Payments pursuant to the preceding paragraph; (5) the defeasance, redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of subordinated Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or any Guarantor following a Change of Control after the Company shall have complied with the provisions under Section 4.14 hereof, including payment of the applicable Change of Control Payment; (6) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Company held by any member of the Company's (or any of its Subsidiaries') management pursuant to any management equity subscription agreement, stock option agreement or other equity incentive agreement or plan or held by any former owners of a business acquired by the Company or former employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and, in either case, acquired in connection with a sale of a business to the Company; provided that the aggregate price paid for all such repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests may not exceed $7.5 million in any twelve-month period plus any unutilized portion of such amount in any prior fiscal year; (7) any Investment made by the exchange for, or out of the proceeds of, a capital contribution in respect of or the substantially concurrent sale of, Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company to the extent the net cash proceeds thereof are received by the Company, provided that the amount of such capital contribution or proceeds used to make such Investment shall be excluded from the calculation of the amount available for Restricted Payments pursuant to the preceding paragraph; (8) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $30.0 million; (9) payments required or contemplated by the terms of the Recapitalization Agreement and related documentation as in effect on the date of issuance of the Notes, including in respect of restricted stock awards of the Company; -50- (10) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement of Existing Preferred Stock; provided that the aggregate amount of such payments under this clause (10) shall not exceed $15.0 million since June 20, 2002; (11) Restricted Investments in an aggregate amount not to exceed the net cash proceeds received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (calculated on an after-tax basis) from the sale of common stock of TriMas owned by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries after June 20, 2002; and (12) the payment of the Saturn Proceeds (as defined in the Recapitalization Agreement) under the Recapitalization Agreement. The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the fair market value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The fair market value of any assets or securities that are required to be valued by this Section 4.07 will be determined by the Board of Directors acting in good faith whose resolution with respect thereto shall be conclusive. Any payments hereunder shall be calculated net of amounts for which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary is reimbursed under the Stock Purchase Agreement. Section 4.08 Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries. (a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to: (1) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or pay any indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; (2) make loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or (3) transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries. (b) However, the preceding restrictions in Section 4.08(a) will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of: (1) agreements governing Existing Indebtedness and Credit Facilities as in effect on the date of this Indenture and any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of those agreements, provided that the amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, with respect to such dividend and other payment restrictions than those contained in those agreements on the date of this Indenture; -51- (2) this Indenture, the Notes and the Note Guarantees; (3) applicable law; (4) customary non-assignment provisions in leases entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices; (5) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions on the property of the nature described in clause (3) of Section 4.08(a); (6) any agreement for the sale or other disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary that restricts distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary pending its sale or other disposition; (7) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, provided that the restrictions contained in the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being Refinanced; (8) Liens securing Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred under the provisions of Section 4.12 hereof that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets subject to such Liens; (9) provisions with respect to the disposition or distribution of assets or property in joint venture agreements, assets sale agreements, stock sale agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business; (10) any agreement relating to any Indebtedness or Liens incurred by a Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company that is a Subsidiary of the Company on the date of this Indenture or any Subsidiary carrying on any of the businesses of any such Subsidiary) prior to the date on which such Person became a Subsidiary of the Company and outstanding on such date and not incurred in anticipation of becoming a Subsidiary and not incurred to provide all or any portion of the funds utilized to consummate such acquisition, which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person so acquired; (11) any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a Foreign Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement relating to Indebtedness which is permitted under Section 4.09 hereof or Liens incurred by such Foreign Subsidiary; (12) Indebtedness or other contractual requirements of a Receivables Subsidiary in connection with a Qualified Receivables Transaction, provided that such restrictions apply only to such Receivables Subsidiary; and (13) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business. -52- Section 4.09 Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock. (a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to (collectively, "incur") any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt), and the Company will not issue any Disqualified Stock and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor to issue any shares of preferred stock; provided, however, that the Company may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue Disqualified Stock, and the Restricted Subsidiaries may incur Indebtedness or Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors may issue preferred stock, if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company's most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock is issued would have been at least 2.25 to 1.0, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred or the preferred stock or Disqualified Stock had been issued, as the case may be, at the beginning of such four-quarter period. (b) The provisions of Section 4.09(a) will not prohibit the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness (collectively, "Permitted Debt"): (1) (a) the incurrence by the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness and letters of credit under the revolving facility component of the Credit Facilities in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding under this clause (1)(a) (with letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the maximum potential liability of the Company and its Subsidiaries thereunder) not to exceed $250.0 million; and (b) the incurrence by the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness under the term loan components of the Credit Facilities in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding under this clause (1)(b) not to exceed $400.0 million, less the aggregate amount of all Net Proceeds of Asset Sales applied by the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to repay the principal of any term Indebtedness under a Credit Facility since the date of this Indenture; and (c) the incurrence of Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary under one or more receivables financing facilities pursuant to which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary pledges or otherwise borrows against its Receivables in an aggregate principal amount which, when taken together with all other Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (c) and then outstanding, does not exceed 85% of the consolidated book value of the Receivables of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries (to the extent such Receivables or any other Receivables of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, are not then being financed pursuant to a Qualified Receivables Transaction or as a basis for Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to clause (10) of this Section 4.09(b)); -53- (2) the incurrence by the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Existing Indebtedness; (3) the incurrence by the Company and the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by the Notes and the related Note Guarantees to be issued on the date of this Indenture and the Exchange Notes and the related Note Guarantees to be issued pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement; (4) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings, purchase money obligations or otherwise, in each case, incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of construction or improvement of property, plant or equipment used in the business of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary ("Capital Spending") and incurred no later than 270 days after the date of such acquisition or the date of completion of such construction or improvement, provided that the principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (4) (other than Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness) at any time during a single fiscal year shall not exceed 30% of the total Capital Spending of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries made during the period of the most recently completed four consecutive fiscal quarters prior to the date of such incurrence; (5) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to refund, refinance or replace Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness) that was permitted by this Indenture to be incurred under Section 4.09(a) or clause (2), (3), (4), (5), (8), (9) or (15) of this Section 4.09(b); (6) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that: (a) if the Company or any Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness, such Indebtedness must be (i) unsecured and (ii) if the obligee is neither the Company nor a Guarantor, expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations with respect to the Notes (in the case of the Company) (or the Note Guarantee, in the case of a Guarantor); and (b) (i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and (ii) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by this clause (6); (7) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Hedging Obligations that are incurred for the purpose of hedging (i) interest rate risk or -54- the impact of interest rate fluctuations on the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries and (ii) in the case of currency or commodity protection agreements, against currency exchange rate or commodity price fluctuations in the ordinary course of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries' respective businesses and, in the case of both (i) and (ii), not for purposes of speculation; (8) the guarantee by the Company or any of the Guarantors of Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this Section 4.09; (9) the accrual of interest, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, and the payment of dividends on Disqualified Stock in the form of additional shares of similar Disqualified Stock shall not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Stock for purposes of this Section 4.09; provided, in each such case, that the amount thereof is included in Fixed Charges of the Company as accrued; (10) Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries incurred for working capital purposes if, at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness, and after giving effect thereto, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Foreign Subsidiaries incurred pursuant to this clause (10) and then outstanding does not exceed the amount equal to the sum of (x) 80% the consolidated book value of the accounts receivable of the Foreign Subsidiaries and (y) 60% the consolidated book value of the inventories of the Foreign Subsidiaries; (11) Indebtedness incurred in respect of (a) workers' compensation claims, self-insurance obligations, bankers' acceptances, performance, surety and similar bonds and completion guarantees provided by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business, (b) in respect of performance bonds or similar obligations of the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries for or in connection with pledges, deposits or payments made or given in the ordinary course of business and not for money borrowed in connection with or to secure statutory, regulatory or similar obligations, including obligations under health, safety or environmental obligations, and (c) arising from guarantees to suppliers, lessors, licensees, contractors, franchises or customers of obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for money borrowed; (12) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, provided that the maximum aggregate liability in respect of all such Indebtedness shall at no time exceed the gross proceeds actually received by the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such disposition; (13) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument (except in the case of daylight overdrafts) -55- drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business, provided, however, that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of incurrence; (14) the incurrence by a Receivables Subsidiary of Indebtedness in a Qualified Receivables Transaction that is without recourse to the Company or to any other Subsidiary of the Company or their assets (other than such Receivables Subsidiary and its assets and, as to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, other than pursuant to representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities customary for such transactions) and is not guaranteed by any such Person; (15) the issuance and sale of preferred stock (a) by a Foreign Subsidiary in lieu of the issuance of non-voting common stock if (i) the laws of the jurisdiction of incorporation of such Subsidiary precludes the issuance of non-voting common stock and (ii) the preferential rights afforded to the holders of such preferred stock are limited to those customarily provided for in such jurisdiction in respect of the issuance of non-voting stock, (b) by a Restricted Subsidiary which is a joint venture with a third party which is not an Affiliate of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, and (c) by a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to obligations with respect to the issuance or sale of Preferred Stock which exist at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary and which were not created in connection with or in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary; and (16) the incurrence by the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of additional Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) at any time outstanding, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, incurred to refund, refinance or replace any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (16), not to exceed $50.0 million. For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09, in the event that an item of proposed Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (1) through (16) above, or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a), the Company will be permitted to classify such item of Indebtedness on the date of its incurrence, or later reclassify all or a portion of such item of Indebtedness, in any manner that complies with this Section 4.09. Indebtedness under Credit Facilities outstanding on the date on which Notes are first issued and authenticated under this Indenture will be deemed to have been incurred on such date in reliance on the exception provided by clauses (1) and (2) of the definition of "Permitted Debt". It is understood that Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clauses (1) and (2) of the definition of "Permitted Debt" may be refinanced, replaced, renewed or refunded with any other Indebtedness under clauses (1) or (2), whether or not in the form of a bank credit facility. For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term Indebtedness, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit Indebtedness; provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to Refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such Refinanc- -56- ing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such Refinancing, such U.S. dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being Refinanced. Notwithstanding any other provision of this covenant, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Company may incur pursuant to this covenant shall not be deemed to be exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies. The principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred to Refinance other Indebtedness, if incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being Refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such Refinancing Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such Refinancing. Section 4.10 Asset Sales. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale unless: (1) the Company (or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration at the time of the Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of; (2) the fair market value is determined by the Company's Board of Directors and evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors set forth in an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee; and (3) either (a) at least 75% of the consideration received in the Asset Sale by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary (other than the sale of equity securities of TriMas owned by the Company on the date of this Indenture) is in the form of cash or (b) the aggregate non-cash consideration for all Asset Sales not meeting the criteria set forth in the preceding clause (a) does not exceed a fair market value in excess of $20.0 million. For purposes of this provision, each of the following shall be deemed to be cash: (A) any liabilities, as shown on the Company's or such Restricted Subsidiary's most recent consolidated balance sheet, of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or any Note Guarantee) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation agreement that releases the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from further liability; and (B) any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee to the extent within 60 days, subject to ordinary settlement periods, they are converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash. Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale, the Company may apply such Net Proceeds at its option: -57- (1) to permanently repay Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness that is by its terms subordinated to, or pari passu with, the Notes or any Note Guarantee) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, including any Obligations under a Credit Facility and, if the Indebtedness repaid is revolving credit Indebtedness, to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto or to reduce receivables advances and reduce commitments in respect of a Receivables Facility; (2) to acquire assets of, or a majority of the Voting Stock of, any person owning assets used or usable in a business of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiary; or (3) to make a capital expenditure. Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds, the Company may temporarily reduce revolving credit borrowings or otherwise invest or use the Net Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture. Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in the preceding paragraph (other than Net Proceeds from the sale of the common stock of TriMas after the date of this Indenture) will constitute "Excess Proceeds." When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $25.0 million, within five days thereof, the Company will make an Asset Sale Offer to all Holders of Notes and all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets in accordance with Section 3.09 hereof to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds. The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the date of purchase, and will be payable in cash. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company may use those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes, or if no Trustee has been appointed, the Company shall select the Notes, and such other pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero. The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with each repurchase of Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of Sections 3.09 or 4.10 of this Indenture, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under those provisions of this Indenture by virtue of such conflict. Section 4.11 Transactions with Affiliates. (a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, -58- contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate (each, an "Affiliate Transaction"), unless: (1) the Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are not materially less favorable, taken as a whole, to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained at the time in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unaffiliated Person; and (2) the Company delivers to the Trustee: (A) except when the opinion referred to in the following clause (b) is delivered, with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $5.0 million, a resolution of the Board of Directors set forth in an Officers' Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with Section 4.11(a) and that such Affiliate Transaction has been approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors; and (B) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $25.0 million, an opinion as to the fairness to the Company of such Affiliate Transaction from a financial point of view issued by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing. (b) The following items will not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions and, therefore, will not be subject to the provisions of Section 4.11(a): (1) loans or advances to employees, indemnification agreements with and the payment of fees and indemnities to directors, officers and full-time employees of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries and employment, non-competition or confidentiality agreements entered into with any such person in the ordinary course of business; (2) any issuance of securities, or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment, compensation or indemnification arrangements, stock options and stock ownership plans in the ordinary course of business to or with officers, directors or employees of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, or approved by the Board of Directors; (3) transactions between or among the Company and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries; (4) transactions with a Person that is an Affiliate of the Company solely because the Company owns an Equity Interest in, or controls, such Person; (5) transactions pursuant to agreements existing on the date of this Indenture, including, without limitation, the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Shareholders Agreement, the TriMas Shareholders Agreement and the TriMas Corporate Services Agreement, and, in each case, any amendment or supplement thereto that, taken in its entirety, -59- is no less favorable to the Company than such agreement as in effect on the date of this Indenture; (6) sales of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company to Affiliates of the Company or the receipt of capital contributions by the Company; (7) payment of certain fees under the Advisory Agreement; (8) transactions (in connection with a Qualified Receivables Transaction) between or among the Company and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries or transactions between a Receivables Subsidiary and any Person in which the Receivables Subsidiary has an Investment; (9) any management, service, purchase, lease, supply or similar agreement entered into in the ordinary course of the Company's business between the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Affiliate, so long as the Company determines in good faith (which determination shall be conclusive) that any such agreement is on terms no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that could be obtained in a comparable arm's-length transaction with an entity that is not an Affiliate; and (10) Restricted Payments and Permitted Investments that are permitted by Section 4.07 hereof. Section 4.12 Liens. The Company shall not and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any Lien of any kind securing Indebtedness (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of their property or assets, now owned or hereafter acquired to secure any Indebtedness without making, or causing such Subsidiary to make, effective provision for securing the Notes or, in respect of Liens on any Guarantor's property or assets, any Guarantee of such Guarantor, (x) equally and ratably with such Indebtedness as to such property or assets for so long as such Indebtedness will be so secured or (y) in the event such Indebtedness is subordinated Indebtedness, prior to such Indebtedness as to such property or assets for so long as such Indebtedness will be so secured. Section 4.13 Corporate Existence. Subject to Article 5 hereof, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect: (1) its corporate existence, and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each of its Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Company or any such Subsidiary; and (2) the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries; -60- provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any of its Subsidiaries, if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes. Section 4.14 Offer to Repurchase upon Change of Control. (a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company shall make an offer (a "Change of Control Offer") to each Holder to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000) of each Holder's Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages on the Notes repurchased, if any, to the date of purchase (the "Change of Control Payment"). Within 15 days following any Change of Control, the Company shall mail a notice to each Holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and stating: (1) that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.14 and that all Notes tendered will be accepted for payment; (2) the purchase price and the purchase date, which shall be no later than 30 Business Days from the date such notice is mailed (the "Change of Control Payment Date"); (3) that any Note not tendered will continue to accrue interest; (4) that, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer will cease to accrue interest after the Change of Control Payment Date; (5) that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender the Notes, with the form entitled "Option of Holder to Elect Purchase" on the reverse of the Notes completed, to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date; (6) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on the second Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of Notes delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have the Notes purchased; and (7) that Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, which unpurchased portion must be equal to $1,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple thereof. -61- The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of Section 3.09 or this Section 4.14, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under Section 3.09 or this Section 4.14 by virtue of such conflict. (b) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful: (1) accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer; (2) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered; and (3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an Officers' Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased by the Company. The Paying Agent will promptly mail to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each new Note will be in a principal amount of $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof. The Company will publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date. Prior to complying with any of the provisions of this Section 4.14, but in any event within 90 days following a Change of Control, the Company will either repay all outstanding Senior Debt or obtain the requisite consents, if any, under all agreements governing outstanding Senior Debt to permit the repurchase of notes required by this Section 4.14. (c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.14, the Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section 4.14 and Section 3.09 hereof and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under the Change of Control Offer. Alternatively, the Company may assign all or part of its obligations to purchase all Notes validly tendered and not properly withdrawn under a Change of Control Offer to a third party. In the event of such an assignment, the Company shall be released from its obligations to purchase the Notes as to which the assignment relates subject to the third party purchasing such Notes. A Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, and conditioned upon such Change of Control if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making of the Change of Control Offer. Notes repurchased by the Company pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will have the status of Notes issued but not outstanding or will be retired and canceled, at -62- the option of the Company. Notes purchased by a third party upon assignment will have the status of Note issued and outstanding. Section 4.15 Anti-Layering. The Company shall not incur, create, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness that is subordinate or junior in right of payment to any Senior Debt of the Company and senior in any respect in right of payment to the Notes. No Guarantor shall incur, create, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness that is subordinate or junior in right of payment to the Senior Debt of such Guarantor and senior in any respect in right of payment to such Guarantor's Note Guarantee. The foregoing shall not affect the Company's 11% senior subordinated notes due 2012, outstanding on the date of this Indenture. Section 4.16 Additional Notes Guarantees. After the date of original issuance of the Notes, the Company shall cause each Restricted Subsidiary, other than a Subsidiary which is a Subsidiary Guarantor, that becomes a guarantor with respect to the obligations of the Company or a Domestic Restricted Subsidiary under the Credit Agreement to execute and deliver to the trustee a Guarantee pursuant to which such Guarantor shall unconditionally Guarantee, on a joint and several basis, the full and prompt payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on a senior subordinated basis. Each Guarantor is subject to release of its obligations under a Guarantee pursuant to Section 11.06. Section 4.17 Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries. The Board of Directors may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if that designation would not cause a Default. If a Restricted Subsidiary is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the aggregate fair market value of all outstanding Investments owned by the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the Subsidiary properly designated will be deemed to be an Investment made as of the time of the designation and will reduce the amount available for Restricted Payments under the first paragraph of Section 4.07 hereof or Permitted Investments, as determined by the Company. That designation will only be permitted if the Investment would be permitted at that time and if the Restricted Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The Board of Directors may redesignate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary if the redesignation would not cause a Default. ARTICLE 5. SUCCESSORS Section 5.01 Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets. The Company shall not, directly or indirectly: (1) consolidate or merge with or into another Person (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation), or (2) sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Com- -63- pany and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, in one or more related transactions, to another Person; unless: (1) either: (A) the Company is the surviving corporation; or (B) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made is a corporation organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia; (2) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Notes, this Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement pursuant to agreements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee; (3) immediately after such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and (4) the Company or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made will, on the date of such transaction after giving pro forma effect thereto and any related financing transactions as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a) hereof. In addition, the Company shall not, directly or indirectly, lease all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any other Person. This Section 5.01 will not apply to a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of assets between or among the Company and any of the Guarantors. Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture, a Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate with, merge into or convey, lease, sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or part of its properties and assets to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; and the Company may merge with an Affiliate incorporated solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Company in another jurisdiction in the United States to realize tax or other benefits. Section 5.02 Successor Corporation Substituted. Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, Section 5.01 hereof, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, -64- and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the "Company" shall refer instead to the successor corporation and not to the Company), and may exercise every right and power of the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein; provided, however, that the predecessor Company shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes except in the case of a sale of all of the Company's assets in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, Section 5.01 hereof. ARTICLE 6. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES Section 6.01 Events of Default. Each of the following is an "Event of Default": (1) the Company defaults for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on, or Liquidated Damages with respect to, the Notes whether or not prohibited by the subordination provisions of this Indenture; (2) the Company defaults in the payment when due (at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise) of the principal of, or premium, if any, on the Notes, whether or not prohibited by the subordination provisions of this Indenture; (3) failure by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to comply with the provisions of Section 4.14 or 5.01 hereof after written notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes; (4) failure by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to comply with any of the other agreements in this Indenture continued for 60 days after written notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes; (5) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is created after the date of this Indenture, if that default: (A) is caused by a failure to pay principal of such Indebtedness at the final maturity thereof (a "Payment Default"); or (B) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity, and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $20.0 million or more; -65- (6) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $20.0 million (net of any insurance proceeds available to pay such judgment), which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days; (7) except as permitted by this Indenture, any Note Guarantee shall be held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, shall deny or disaffirm its obligations under its Note Guarantee; (8) the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law: (A) commences a voluntary case, (B) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case, (C) consents to the appointment of a custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property, (D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or (E) generally is not paying its debts as they become due; or (9) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that: (A) is for relief against the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case; (B) appoints a custodian of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; or (C) orders the liquidation of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days. -66- Section 6.02 Acceleration. In the case of an Event of Default specified in clause (8) or (9) of Section 6.01 hereof, with respect to the Company, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately by giving notice in writing to the Company and the Trustee specifying the respective Event of Default (the "Acceleration Notice") or if there are any amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement, it shall become immediately due and payable upon the first to occur of an acceleration under the Credit Agreement or five Business Days after receipt by the Company and the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement of such Acceleration Notice (but only if such Event of Default is then continuing). Upon any such declaration, the Notes shall become due and payable immediately. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee and the Company may on behalf of all of the Holders rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (except nonpayment of principal, interest or premium that has become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived. In the event of a declaration of acceleration of the Notes because an Event of Default described in Section 6.01(5) has occurred and is continuing, the declaration of acceleration of the Notes shall be automatically annulled if the event of default or payment default triggering such Event of Default pursuant to clause (5) shall be remedied or cured by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or waived by the holders of the relevant Indebtedness within 60 days after the declaration of acceleration with respect thereto and if (a) the annulment of the acceleration of the Notes would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and (b) all existing Events of Default, except nonpayment of principal, premium or interest on the Notes that became due solely because of the acceleration of the Notes, have been cured or waived. Section 6.03 Other Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or, if no Trustee has been appointed, the Holders may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture. The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law. Section 6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults. Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee or, if no Trustee has been appointed, to the Company, may on be- -67- half of the Holders of all of the Notes waive an existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences hereunder, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on, the Notes (including in connection with an offer to purchase); provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration. Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Section 6.05 Control by Majority. Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Notes or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability. In the absence of a Trustee, only a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes are required to take any action relating to remedies. Section 6.06 Limitation on Suits. If a Trustee has been appointed, a Holder of a Note may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes only if: (1) the Holder of a Note gives to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default; (2) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy; (3) such Holder of a Note or Holders of Notes offer and, if requested, provide to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense; (4) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of indemnity satisfactory to it; and (5) during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request. A Holder of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of a Note. -68- Section 6.07 Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note (including in connection with an offer to purchase), or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder. Section 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(1) or (2) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel. Section 6.09 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Notes), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding. Section 6.10 Priorities. If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article 6, it shall pay out the money in the following order: -69- First: to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expense and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection; Second: to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any and interest, respectively; and Third: to the Company or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct. The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 6.10. Section 6.11 Undertaking for Costs. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes. ARTICLE 7. TRUSTEE Section 7.01 Appointment of Trustee; Duties of Trustee. (a) As required by the Registration Rights Agreement, or as otherwise desired by the Company, an institution that would be eligible to serve as a trustee under Section 7.10 shall be appointed to serve as Trustee hereunder. Such appointment shall be evidenced by a supplemental indenture hereto. Any change or modification to this Indenture required to reflect the appointment of a Trustee on terms to which that Trustee is accustomed may be reflected in such supplemental indenture. Such supplemental indenture shall not make any change affecting the rights of Holders that would require the consent of any Holder and need only be signed by the institution accepting the appointment to serve as Trustee, the Company and the Guarantors; provided that the provisions of such supplemental indenture shall not otherwise require the consent of the Holder under this Indenture. Until such time as a Trustee is appointed to act hereunder, provisions hereof referring to a Trustee shall be interpreted as follows, unless expressly otherwise provided or the context suggests otherwise: (i) In the case of provisions relating to the services provided by the Trustee to act for the Company, subject to clause (ii) below, such as those associated with -70- ministerial acts, providing notices and making mailings or certain information available to Holders, the Company shall be entitled and required to act in its stead. (ii) In the case of provisions relating to the exercise of rights and remedies by Holders, including, without limitation, the provisions of Article 6, Holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding Notes shall be entitled to exercise such rights and remedies. (iii) This Article 7 (other than this Section 7.01(a)) shall have no effect prior to the appointment of the Trustee. (iv) In cases of provisions requiring that the Trustee be satisfied with a certificate or another document (such as, by way of example, 5.01(2)), if a similar provision exists in the Company's currently outstanding indentures and the purpose of the provision is identical to the one in question, such provision shall be deemed to have been satisfied if the trustee under the other indentures is satisfied therewith. In cases of provisions containing a delivery requirement to the Trustee, such requirement may be satisfied by providing the Initial Holder with a notice stating that such document is available upon request. (v) All amendments, supplements, modifications and waivers may be executed in accordance with the provisions of Article 9, without the necessity of the signature or consent of the Trustee; provided that notice of each action is given to Holders, together with copies of any Opinions of Counsel addressed to the Company or Officers' Certificates required by Article 9. (vi) Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance under Article 8 may only be exercised after appointing a person eligible to serve as a Trustee to act as Trustee for the purpose of the applicable provisions thereof. (vii) Any action that may be performed by either or both of the Trustee, on the one hand, or a Paying Agent or Registrar, on the other hand, shall be performed solely by such other person. (viii) A Payment Blockage Notice under Article 10 shall be effective if delivered by the holders of any Designated Senior Debt to the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, even in the absence of a Trustee or notice to Holders. Under Section 10.13, the Representatives need not wait 30 days to act in lieu of a Trustee. Any notice permitted to be given by a creditor of the Company or a Guarantor to the Trustee shall be effective if delivered to the Company and the Company shall thereafter be obligated to transmit such information to Holders. (b) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee will exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person's own affairs. (c) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default: (1) the duties of the Trustee will be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifi- -71- cally set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and (2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee will examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture. (d) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that: (1) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (c) of this Section 7.01; (2) the Trustee will not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and (3) the Trustee will not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05 hereof. (e) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of this Section 7.01. (f) No provision of this Indenture will require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at the request of any Holders, unless such Holder has offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense. (g) The Trustee will not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. Section 7.02 Rights of Trustee. (a) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document. (b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers' Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers' Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel will be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon. -72- (c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and will not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care. (d) The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture. (e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company will be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company. (f) The Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction. (g) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture. (h) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder. (i) The Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officers' Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers' Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officers' Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded. Section 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or any Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11 hereof. Section 7.04 Trustee's Disclaimer. The Trustee will not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Company's use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Company or upon the Company's direction under any provision of this Indenture, it will not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it will not be responsible for -73- any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication. Section 7.05 Notice of Defaults. If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee will mail to Holders of Notes a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes. Section 7.06 Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes. (a) Within 60 days after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following the date of this Indenture, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee will mail to the Holders of the Notes a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with TIA ss. 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA ss. 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also will comply with TIA ss. 313(b)(2). The Trustee will also transmit by mail all reports as required by TIA ss. 313(c). (b) A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders of Notes will be mailed by the Trustee to the Company and filed by the Trustee with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Notes are listed in accordance with TIA ss. 313(d). The Company will promptly notify the Trustee when the Notes are listed on or delisted from any stock exchange. Section 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity. (a) The Company will pay to the Trustee as shall be agreed in writing between the Trustee and the Company from time to time reasonable compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder. The Trustee's compensation will not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company will reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses will include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee's agents and counsel. (b) The Company and the Guarantors will indemnify the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee against any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, including taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the Trustee), incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company and the Guarantors (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, the Guarantors or any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability or expense may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith. The Trustee will notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company will not relieve the Company or any of the Guarantors of their obligations hereunder. The Company or such Guarantor will defend the claim and -74- the Trustee will cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor need pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld. (c) The obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under this Section 7.07 will survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee. (d) To secure the Company's payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the Trustee will have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien will survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture. (e) When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(8) or (9) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law. (f) The Trustee will comply with the provisions of TIA ss. 313(b)(2) to the extent applicable. Section 7.08 Replacement of Trustee. (a) A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee will become effective only upon the successor Trustee's acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08. (b) The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company may remove the Trustee if: (1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof; (2) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law; (3) a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or (4) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting. (c) If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company will promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. -75- (d) If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company, or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction at the expense of the Company, in the case of the Trustee, for the appointment of a successor Trustee. (e) If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a Holder for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10, such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee. (f) A successor Trustee will deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee will become effective, and the successor Trustee will have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee will mail a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee will promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, provided all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Company's obligations under Section 7.07 hereof will continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee. Section 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc. If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act will be the successor Trustee. Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification. There will at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. This Indenture will always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA ss. 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA ss. 310(b). Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company. The Trustee is subject to TIA ss. 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA ss. 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA ss. 311(a) to the extent indicated therein. -76- ARTICLE 8. LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE Section 8.01 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. The Company may, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by a resolution set forth in an Officers' Certificate, at any time, elect to have either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof be applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8. Section 8.02 Legal Defeasance and Discharge. Upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Company and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes (including the Note Guarantees) on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, "Legal Defeasance"). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company and the Guarantors will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes (including the Note Guarantees), which will thereafter be deemed to be "outstanding" only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (1) and (2) below, and to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Notes, the Note Guarantees and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which will survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (1) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive payments in respect of the principal of, or interest or premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, on such Notes when such payments are due from the trust referred to in Section 8.04 hereof; (2) the Company's obligations with respect to such Notes under Article 2 and Section 4.02 hereof; (3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company's and the Guarantors' obligations in connection therewith; and (4) this Article 8. Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof. Section 8.03 Covenant Defeasance. Upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Company and the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from each of their obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, 4.16 and 4.17 hereof and -77- clause (4) of Section 5.01 hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof are satisfied (hereinafter, "Covenant Defeasance"), and the Notes will thereafter be deemed not "outstanding" for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but will continue to be deemed "outstanding" for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes will not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes and Note Guarantees, the Company and the Guarantors may omit to comply with and will have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply will not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes and Note Guarantees will be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03 hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Sections 6.01(3) through 6.01(5) hereof will not constitute Events of Default. Section 8.04 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance. In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance under either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof: (1) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, cash in United States dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on the outstanding Notes on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular redemption date; (2) in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that: (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or (B) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner -78- and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred; (3) in the case of an election under Section 8.03 hereof, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred; (4) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit); (5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound; (6) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of Notes over the other creditors of the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company or others; and (7) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with. In the event that the Company exercises its legal defeasance option or covenant defeasance option, each of the Guarantors will be released from all of its obligations with respect to its guarantee. The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of the covenant defeasance option. Section 8.05 Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions. Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05, the "Trustee") pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes will be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. -79- The Company will pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes. Notwithstanding anything in this Article 8 to the contrary, the Trustee will deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(1) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. Section 8.06 Repayment to Company. Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request or (if then held by the Company) will be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note will thereafter be permitted to look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, will thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which will not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company. Section 8.07 Reinstatement. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States dollars or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company's and the Guarantor's obligations under this Indenture and the Notes and the Note Guarantees will be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of, premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company will be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent. -80- ARTICLE 9. AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders of Notes. Notwithstanding Section 9.02 of this Indenture, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes without the consent of any Holder of a Note: (1) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency; (2) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes or to alter the provisions of Article 2 hereof (including the related definitions) in a manner that does not materially adversely affect any Holder; (3) to provide for the assumption of the Company's or a Guarantor's obligations to the Holders of the Notes by a successor to the Company pursuant to Article 5 hereof; (4) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights hereunder of any Holder of the Note; (5) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA; (6) to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture and/or a Note Guarantee with respect to the Notes; (7) to conform to any future amendment or supplement to the 2002 Indenture, the 2012 Notes or the related guarantees, unless such conforming amendment or supplement to this Indenture would otherwise require the consent of each Holder affected under Section 9.02 hereof; or (8) to provide for the appointment of a Trustee as contemplated by Section 7.01(a). Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental Indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of any amended or supplemental Indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee will not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise. -81- Section 9.02 With Consent of Holders of Notes. Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture (including, without limitation, Section 3.09, 4.10 and 4.14 hereof), the Note Guarantees and the Notes with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes), and, subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on the Notes, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes). Section 2.08 hereof shall determine which Notes are considered to be "outstanding" for purposes of this Section 9.02. Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental Indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Company in the execution of such amended or supplemental Indenture unless such amended or supplemental Indenture directly affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but will not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture. It is not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver, but it is sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Company will mail to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, will not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental Indenture or waiver. Subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes. However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder): (1) reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver; (2) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or alter or waive any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Notes except as provided above with respect to Sections 3.09, 4.10 and 4.14 hereof; -82- (3) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest, including default interest, on any Note; (4) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on the Notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration); (5) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the Notes; (6) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments of principal of, or interest or premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes; (7) make any change in Section 6.04 or 6.07 hereof or in the foregoing amendment and waiver provisions; (8) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Note Guarantee or this Indenture, except in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; or (9) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Note (other than a payment required by Sections 4.10 and 4.14). In addition, any amendment to, or waiver of, the provisions of this Indenture relating to subordination that adversely affects the rights of the Holders of the Notes will require the consent of the Holders of at least 75% in aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding. Section 9.03 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes will be set forth in an amended or supplemental Indenture that complies with the TIA as then in effect. Section 9.04 Revocation and Effect of Consents. Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder's Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a Note may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the waiver, supplement or amendment becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder. Section 9.05 Notation on or Exchange of Notes. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for all Notes may issue -83- and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver. Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note will not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver. Section 9.06 Trustee to Sign Amendment, etc. The Trustee will sign any amended or supplemental Indenture authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. The Company may not sign an amended or supplemental Indenture until the Board of Directors approves it. In executing any amended or supplemental Indenture, the Trustee will be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) will be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 12.04 hereof, an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. ARTICLE 10. SUBORDINATION Section 10.01 Agreement to Subordinate. The Company agrees, and each Holder by accepting a Note agrees, that the Indebtedness evidenced by the Notes is subordinated in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner provided in this Article 10, to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt (whether outstanding on the date hereof or hereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed), and that the subordination is for the benefit of the holders of Senior Debt. For the avoidance of doubt, the 2012 Notes are parri passu in right of payment to the Indebtedness evidenced by the Notes. Section 10.02 Certain Definitions. "Designated Senior Debt" means: (1) any Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Facilities and all Hedging Obligations with respect thereto; and (2) after payment in full of all Obligations under the Credit Facilities, any other Senior Debt permitted under this Indenture the principal amount of which is $25.0 million or more and that has been designated by the Company as "Designated Senior Debt." "Permitted Junior Securities" means: (1) Equity Interests in the Company or any Guarantor; or (2) debt securities that are subordinated to all Senior Debt and any debt securities issued in exchange for Senior Debt to substantially the same extent as, or to a -84- greater extent than, the Notes and the Note Guarantees are subordinated to Senior Debt under this Indenture. "Representative" means the indenture trustee or other trustee, agent or representative for any Senior Debt. "Senior Debt" means: (1) all Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor outstanding under Credit Facilities and all Hedging Obligations with respect thereto; (2) any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor permitted to be incurred under the terms of this Indenture, unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is on a parity with or subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or any Note Guarantee; and (3) all Obligations with respect to the items listed in the preceding clauses (1) and (2). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Senior Debt will not include: (1) any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by the Company; (2) any intercompany Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to the Company or any of its Affiliates; (3) any trade payables; or (4) the portion of any Indebtedness that is incurred in violation of this Indenture; provided that such Indebtedness shall be deemed not to have been incurred in violation of this Indenture for purposes of this clause (4) if such Indebtedness consists of Indebtedness under any Credit Facility and holders of such Indebtedness or their Representative (i) had no actual knowledge at the time of the incurrence that the incurrence of such Indebtedness violated this Indenture and (ii) shall have received an Officers' Certificate to the effect that the incurrence of such Indebtedness does not violate the provisions of this Indenture. Section 10.03 Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy. Upon any distribution to creditors of the Company in a liquidation or dissolution of the Company or in a bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding relating to the Company or its property, in an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any marshaling of the Company's assets and liabilities: (1) holders of Senior Debt will be entitled to receive payment in full of all Obligations due in respect of such Senior Debt (including interest after the commencement of any bankruptcy proceeding at the rate specified in the applicable Senior Debt) before -85- the Holders of Notes will be entitled to receive any payment with respect to the Notes (except that Holders of Notes may receive and retain Permitted Junior Securities and payments made from any defeasance trust created pursuant to Section 8.01 hereof); and (2) until all Obligations with respect to Senior Debt (as provided in clause (1) above) are paid in full, any distribution to which Holders would be entitled but for this Article 10 will be made to holders of Senior Debt (except that Holders of Notes may receive and retain Permitted Junior Securities and payments made from any defeasance trust created pursuant to Section 8.01 hereof), as their interests may appear. Section 10.04 Default on Designated Senior Debt. (a) The Company may not make any payment or distribution to the Trustee or any Holder in respect of Obligations with respect to the Notes and may not acquire from the Trustee or any Holder any Notes for cash or property (other than Permitted Junior Securities and payments made from any defeasance trust created pursuant to Section 8.01 hereof) until all principal and other Obligations with respect to the Senior Debt have been paid in full if: (1) payment default on Designated Senior Debt occurs and is continuing beyond any applicable grace period in the agreement, indenture or other document governing such Designated Senior Debt; or (2) any other default occurs and is continuing on any series of Designated Senior Debt that permits holders of that series of Designated Senior Debt to accelerate its maturity and the Trustee receives a notice of such default (a "Payment Blockage Notice") from the Company or the holders of any Designated Senior Debt. If the Trustee or, if no Trustee has been appointed, the Company receives any such Payment Blockage Notice, no subsequent Payment Blockage Notice will be effective for purposes of this Section unless and until (A) at least 360 days have elapsed since the effectiveness of the immediately prior Payment Blockage Notice and (B) all scheduled payments of principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on the Notes that have come due have been paid in full in cash. No nonpayment default that existed or was continuing on the date of delivery of any Payment Blockage Notice to the Trustee or, if no Trustee has been appointed, the Company may be, or may be made, the basis for a subsequent Payment Blockage Notice unless such default has have been waived for a period of not less than 90 days. (b) The Company may and will resume payments on and distributions in respect of the Notes and may acquire them upon the earlier of: (1) in the case of a payment default, upon the date upon which such default is cured or waived, or (2) in the case of a nonpayment default, upon the earlier of the date on which such nonpayment default is cured or waived or 179 days after the date on which the applicable Payment Blockage Notice is received, unless the maturity of any Designated Senior Debt has been accelerated, -86- if this Article 10 otherwise permits the payment, distribution or acquisition at the time of such payment or acquisition. Section 10.05 Acceleration of Notes. If payment of the Notes is accelerated because of an Event of Default, the Company will promptly notify holders of Senior Debt of the acceleration. Section 10.06 When Distribution Must Be Paid Over. In the event that the Trustee or any Holder receives any payment of any Obligations with respect to the Notes (other than Permitted Junior Securities and payments made from any defeasance trust created pursuant to Section 8.01 hereof) at a time when the Trustee or such Holder, as applicable, has actual knowledge that such payment is prohibited by Section 10.04 hereof, such payment will be held by the Trustee or such Holder, in trust for the benefit of, and will be paid forthwith over and delivered, upon written request, to, the holders of Senior Debt as their interests may appear or their Representative under the agreement, indenture or other document (if any) pursuant to which Senior Debt may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, for application to the payment of all Obligations with respect to Senior Debt remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay such Obligations in full in accordance with their terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of Senior Debt. With respect to the holders of Senior Debt, the Trustee undertakes to perform only those obligations on the part of the Trustee as are specifically set forth in this Article 10, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Debt will be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee will not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Debt, and will not be liable to any such holders if the Trustee pays over or distributes to or on behalf of Holders or the Company or any other Person money or assets to which any holders of Senior Debt are then entitled by virtue of this Article 10, except if such payment is made as a result of the willful misconduct or gross negligence of the Trustee. Section 10.07 Notice by Company. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee and the Paying Agent of any facts known to the Company that would cause a payment of any Obligations with respect to the Notes to violate this Article 10, but failure to give such notice will not affect the subordination of the Notes to the Senior Debt as provided in this Article 10. Section 10.08 Subrogation. After all Senior Debt is paid in full and until the Notes are paid in full, Holders of Notes will be subrogated (equally and ratably with all other Indebtedness pari passu with the Notes) to the rights of holders of Senior Debt to receive distributions applicable to Senior Debt to the extent that distributions otherwise payable to the Holders of Notes have been applied to the payment of Senior Debt. A distribution made under this Article 10 to holders of Senior Debt that otherwise would have been made to Holders of Notes is not, as between the Company and Holders, a payment by the Company on the Notes. -87- Section 10.09 Relative Rights. This Article 10 defines the relative rights of Holders of Notes and holders of Senior Debt. Nothing in this Indenture will: (1) impair, as between the Company and Holders of Notes, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay principal of, premium and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes in accordance with their terms; (2) affect the relative rights of Holders of Notes and creditors of the Company other than their rights in relation to holders of Senior Debt; or (3) prevent the Trustee or any Holder of Notes from exercising its available remedies upon a Default or Event of Default, subject to the rights of holders and owners of Senior Debt to receive distributions and payments otherwise payable to Holders of Notes. If the Company fails because of this Article 10 to pay principal of, premium or interest or Liquidated Damages, if any, on a Note on the due date, the failure is still a Default or Event of Default. Section 10.10 Subordination May Not Be Impaired by Company. No right of any holder of Senior Debt to enforce the subordination of the Indebtedness evidenced by the Notes may be impaired by any act or failure to act by the Company or any Holder or by the failure of the Company or any Holder to comply with this Indenture. Section 10.11 Distribution or Notice to Representative. Whenever a distribution is to be made or a notice given to holders of Senior Debt, the distribution may be made and the notice given to their Representative. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article 10, the Trustee and the Holders of Notes will be entitled to rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction or upon any certificate of such Representative or of the liquidating trustee or agent or other Person making any distribution to the Trustee or to the Holders of Notes for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of the Senior Debt and other Indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article 10. Section 10.12 Rights of Trustee and Paying Agent. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article 10 or any other provision of this Indenture, the Trustee will not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment or distribution by the Trustee, and the Trustee and the Paying Agent may continue to make payments on the Notes, unless the Trustee has received at its Corporate Trust Office at least five Business Days prior to the date of such payment written notice of facts -88- that would cause the payment of any Obligations with respect to the Notes to violate this Article 10. Only the Company or a Representative may give the notice. Nothing in this Article 10 will impair the claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 7.07 hereof. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may hold Senior Debt with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. Section 10.13 Authorization to Effect Subordination. Each Holder of Notes, by the Holder's acceptance thereof, authorizes and directs the Trustee on such Holder's behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in this Article 10, and appoints the Trustee to act as such Holder's attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. If the Trustee does not file a proper proof of claim or proof of debt in the form required in any proceeding referred to in Section 6.09 hereof at least 30 days before the expiration of the time to file such claim, the Representatives are hereby authorized to file an appropriate claim for and on behalf of the Holders of the Notes. Section 10.14 Amendments. The provisions of this Article 10 may not be amended or modified without the written consent of the holders of all Senior Debt. ARTICLE 11. NOTE GUARANTEE Section 11.01 Guarantees. (a) Subject to this Article 11, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee (if a Trustee has been appointed) and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that: (1) the principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (2) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same -89- immediately. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection. (b) The Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder are unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. Each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenant that this Note Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture. (c) If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Company or the Guarantors, any amount paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Note Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, will be reinstated in full force and effect. (d) Each Guarantor agrees that it will not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (1) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 hereof for the purposes of this Note Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (2) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article 6 hereof, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) will forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Note Guarantee. The Guarantors will have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Note Guarantee. Section 11.02 Subordination of Note Guarantee. The Obligations of each Guarantor under its Note Guarantee pursuant to this Article 11 will be junior and subordinated to the Senior Debt of such Guarantor on the same basis as the Notes are junior and subordinated to Senior Debt of the Company. For the purposes of the foregoing sentence, the Trustee and the Holders will have the right to receive and/or retain payments by any of the Guarantors only at such times as they may receive and/or retain payments in respect of the Notes pursuant to this Indenture, including Section 10.01 hereof. Section 11.03 Limitation on Guarantor Liability. Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Note Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent -90- Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Note Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Guarantor will be limited to the maximum amount that will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws, and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article 11, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Note Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance. Section 11.04 Execution and Delivery of Note Guarantee. To evidence its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 11.01, each Guarantor hereby agrees that a notation of such Note Guarantee substantially in the form attached as Exhibit E hereto will be endorsed by an Officer of such Guarantor on each Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee (if a Trustee has been appointed) and that this Indenture will be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by one of its Officers. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 11.01 will remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such Note Guarantee. If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture or on the Note Guarantee no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note (if a Trustee has been appointed), or if a Trustee has not been appointed, following the Note's issuance, on which a Note Guarantee is endorsed, the Note Guarantee will be valid nevertheless. The delivery of any Note by the Trustee or the Company, after the authentication thereof hereunder (if a Trustee has been appointed), will constitute due delivery of the Note Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors. In the event that the Company creates or acquires any Domestic Subsidiary after the date of this Indenture that are guarantors or borrowers in respect of the Credit Agreement, if required by Section 4.16 hereof, the Company will cause such Domestic Subsidiary to comply with the provisions of Section 4.16 hereof and this Article 11, to the extent applicable. Section 11.05 Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms. Except as otherwise provided in Section 11.06, no Guarantor may sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to, or consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person) another Person, other than the Company or another Guarantor, unless: (1) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and (2) either: -91- (a) subject to Section 11.06 hereof, the Person acquiring the property in any such sale or disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger unconditionally assumes all the obligations of that Guarantor, pursuant to a supplemental indenture in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, under the Notes, this Indenture and the Note Guarantee on the terms set forth herein or therein; and (b) the Net Proceeds of such sale or other disposition are applied in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture, including without limitation, Section 4.10 hereof. In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance and upon the assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the Note Guarantee endorsed upon the Notes and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Guarantor, such successor Person will succeed to and be substituted for the Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named herein as a Guarantor. Such successor Person thereupon may cause to be signed any or all of the Note Guarantees to be endorsed upon all of the Notes issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee. All the Note Guarantees so issued will in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Note Guarantees theretofore and thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Note Guarantees had been issued at the date of the execution hereof. Except as set forth in Articles 4 and 5 hereof, and notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Notes will prevent any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the Company or another Guarantor, or will prevent any sale or conveyance of the property of a Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Company or another Guarantor. Section 11.06 Releases of Guarantees. In the event (i) of any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of any Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, or a sale or other disposition of all to the Capital Stock of any Guarantor, in each case to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transactions) a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or (iii) a release of a Guarantor from its guarantee of, and all pledges and security interests granted in connection with the Credit Agreement, then such Guarantor (in the event of a sale or other disposition, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all of the capital stock of such Guarantor or release from the Credit Agreement or designation as an Unrestricted Subsidiary) or the corporation acquiring the property (in the event of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Guarantor) will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Note Guarantee; provided that the Net Proceeds of such sale or other disposition are applied in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture, including without limitation Section 4.10 hereof. Upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such sale or other disposition was made by the Company in accordance with the -92- provisions of this Indenture, including without limitation Section 4.10 hereof, the Trustee will execute any documents reasonably required in order to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its obligations under its Note Guarantee. Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Note Guarantee will remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest on the Notes and for the other obligations of any Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in this Article 11. ARTICLE 12. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE Section 12.01 Satisfaction and Discharge. This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all Notes issued hereunder, when: (1) either: (a) all Notes that have been authenticated (except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Company) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or, if no Trustee has been appointed, otherwise cancelled by the Company; or (b) if a Trustee has been appointed, all Notes that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the making of a notice of redemption or otherwise or will become due and payable within one year and the Company or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Notes not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption; (2) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit or will occur as a result of such deposit and such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other instrument to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Company or any Guarantor is bound; (3) the Company or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under this Indenture; and -93- (4) the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee under this Indenture to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be. In addition, the Company must deliver an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied. Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money has been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (b) of clause (1) of this Section, the provisions of Section 12.02 and Section 8.06 will survive. In addition, nothing in this Section 12.01 will be deemed to discharge those provisions of Section 7.07 hereof, that, by their terms, survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture. Section 12.02 Application of Trust Money. Subject to the provisions of Section 8.06, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.01 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 12.01 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company's and any Guarantor's obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 12.01; provided that if the Company has made any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent. -94- ARTICLE 13. MISCELLANEOUS Section 13.01 Trust Indenture Act Controls. If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by TIA ss. 318(c), the imposed duties will control. Section 13.02 Notices. Any notice or communication by the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee to the other is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the other's address: If to the Company and/or any Guarantor: Metaldyne Corporation 47603 Halyard Drive Plymouth, Michigan 48170 Telecopier No.: (734) 207-6627 Attention: Chief Financial Officer With a copy to: Cahill Gordon & Reindel 80 Pine Street, 17th Floor New York, New York 10005 Telecopier No.: (212) 269-5420 Attention: Jonathan A. Schaffzin, Esq. If to the Trustee, if any, as set forth in the relevant supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Trustee is appointed. The Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee, by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications. All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) will be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery. Any notice or communication to a Holder will be mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Any notice or communication will also -95- be so mailed to any Person described in TIA ss. 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it will not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it. If the Company mails a notice or communication to Holders, it will mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time. Section 13.03 Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes. Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA ss. 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA ss. 312(c). Section 13.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee: (1) an Officers' Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which must include the statements set forth in Section 13.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and (2) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which must include the statements set forth in Section 13.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied. Section 13.05 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA ss. 314(a)(4)) must comply with the provisions of TIA ss. 314(e) and must include: (1) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (3) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been satisfied; and -96- (4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been satisfied. Section 13.06 Rules by Trustee and Agents. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions. Section 13.07 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, this Indenture the Note Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws. Section 13.08 Governing Law. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE NOTE GUARANTEES WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY. Section 13.09 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture. Section 13.10 Successors. All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Notes will bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture will bind its successors. All agreements of each Guarantor in this Indenture will bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 11.06. Section 13.11 Severability. In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. -97- Section 13.12 Counterpart Originals. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy will be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. Section 13.13 Table of Contents, Headings, etc. The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and will in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof. [Signatures on following page] -98- SIGNATURES Dated as of December 31, 2003 METALDYNE CORPORATION By: /s/ Timothy D. Leuliette ------------------------------------ Name: Timothy D. Leuliette Title: Chairman, President & CEO EACH OF THE GUARANTORS LISTED ON SCHEDULE I HERETO: By: /s/ Timothy D. Leuliette ------------------------------------ Name: Timothy D. Leuliette Title: Chairman, President & CEO -99- Schedule I SCHEDULE OF GUARANTORS The following schedule lists each Guarantor under the Indenture as of the date of the Indenture: ER Acquisition Corp. GMTI Holding Company Halyard Aviation Services, Inc. MASG Disposition, Inc. MASX Energy Services Group, Inc. Metaldyne Accura Tool & Mold, Inc. Metaldyne Company LLC Metaldyne DuPage Die Casting Corporation Metaldyne Europe, Inc. Metaldyne European Holdings Inc. Metaldyne Lester Precision Die Casting, Inc. Metaldyne Light Metals Company, Inc. Metaldyne Machining and Assembly Company, Inc. Metaldyne Precision Forming-Fort Wayne, Inc. Metaldyne Services, Inc. Metaldyne Sintered Components of Indiana, Inc. Metaldyne Sintered Components, LLC Metaldyne Tubular Products, Inc. Metaldyne U.S. Holding Co. Precision Headed Products, Inc. Punchcraft Company Stahl International, Inc. W.C. McCurdy & Co. Windfall Products, Inc. Windfall Specialty Powders, Inc. I-1 EXHIBIT A A-1 [Face of Note] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CUSIP/CINS ____________ 10% [Series A] [Series B] Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 No. _____ $__________ METALDYNE CORPORATION promises to pay to ___________________________________________________________ or registered assigns, the principal sum of ___________________________________________________________ Dollars on January 15, 2014 Interest Payment Dates: January 15 and July 15 Record Dates: January 1 and July 1 Dated: December 31, 2003 METALDYNE CORPORATION By: Name: Title: [This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture: [ ], as Trustee By: _____________________________ Authorized Signatory] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A-1 [Back of Note] 10% [Series A] [Series B] Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 [Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture] [Insert the Private Placement Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture] Capitalized terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated. (1) INTEREST. Metaldyne Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 10% per annum from January 1, 2004 until maturity and shall pay the Liquidated Damages, if any, payable pursuant to Section 2(d) of the Registration Rights Agreement referred to below. The Company will pay interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each, an "Interest Payment Date"). Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided, further, that the first Interest Payment Date shall be July 15, 2004. The Company will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at a rate that is 1% per annum in excess of the rate then in effect; it will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. (2) METHOD OF PAYMENT. The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the January 1 and July 1 next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose within or without the City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders; provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of and interest, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which will have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying Agent. Such payment will be in such A-2 coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. (3) PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR. Initially, the Company will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity. (4) INDENTURE. The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of December 31, 2003 (the "Indenture") among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee (if appointed). The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S. Code ss.ss. 77aaa-77bbbb). The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling. The Notes are unsecured obligations of the Company limited to $31,746,000 in aggregate principal amount, plus amounts, if any, issued to pay Liquidated Damages on outstanding Notes as set forth in Paragraph 2 hereof. (5) OPTIONAL REDEMPTION. (a) Except as set forth in subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph 5, the Company will not have the option to redeem the Notes prior to January 15, 2009. Thereafter, the Company will have the option to redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on January 15th of the years indicated below: Year Percentage ---- ---------- 2009............................................ 105.000% 2010............................................ 103.333% 2011............................................ 101.667% 2012............................................ 100.000% (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph 5, at any time prior to January 15, 2009, the Company may on one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture at a redemption price equal to 110% of the aggregate principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings; provided that (1) at least 65% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued under the Indenture remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption and that such redemption (excluding Notes held by the Company and A-3 its Subsidiaries); and (2) the redemption occurs within 120 days of the date of the closing of such Equity Offering. (6) MANDATORY REDEMPTION. The Company will not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes. (7) REPURCHASE AT OPTION OF HOLDER. (a) If there is a Change of Control, the Company will be required to make an offer (a "Change of Control Offer") to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of each Holder's Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages thereon, if any, to the date of purchase (the "Change of Control Payment"). Within 15 days following any Change of Control, the Company will mail a notice to each Holder setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as required by the Indenture. (b) If the Company or a Subsidiary consummates any Asset Sales, within five days of each date on which the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $25.0 million, the Company will commence an offer to all Holders of Notes and all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in the Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets (an "Asset Sale Offer") pursuant to Section 3.09 of the Indenture to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages thereon, if any, to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company (or such Subsidiary) may use such deficiency for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness surrendered by holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes, or if no Trustee has been appointed, the Company shall select the Notes, and other pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Holders of Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive an Asset Sale Offer from the Company prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled "Option of Holder to Elect Purchase" on the reverse of the Notes. (8) NOTICE OF REDEMPTION. Notice of redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address. Notes in denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed. On and after the redemption date interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption. A-4 (9) DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, the Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date. (10) PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes. (11) AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER. Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, voting as a single class, and any existing default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, voting as a single class. Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes may be amended or supplemented to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to provide for the assumption of the Company's or any Guarantor's obligations to Holders of the Notes in case of a merger or consolidation, to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such Holder, to comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act or to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture to the Indenture and/or a Note Guarantee with respect to the Notes. (12) DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES. Events of Default and Remedies include those as set forth in Article 6 of the Indenture. (13) SUBORDINATION. Payment of principal, interest and premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes is subordinated to the prior payment of Senior Debt on the terms provided in the Indenture. (14) TRUSTEE DEALINGS WITH COMPANY. The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee. (15) NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. A director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder, of the Company or any of the Guarantors, as such, will not A-5 have any liability for any obligations of the Company or such Guarantor under the Notes, the Note Guarantees or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes. (16) AUTHENTICATION AND ENFORCEMENT. This Note will not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent. However, enforcement of this Note and provisions of the Indenture shall not require a signature by a counterparty. (17) ABBREVIATIONS. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act). (18) ADDITIONAL RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES. In addition to the rights provided to Holders of Notes under the Indenture, Holders of Restricted Definitive Notes will have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of December 31, 2003, among the Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Holder (the "Registration Rights Agreement"). (19) CUSIP NUMBERS. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee or the Company may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon. (20) GOVERNING LAW. The internal law of the State of New York will govern and be used to construe the Notes without giving effect to applicable principles of conflicts of law to the extent that the application of the laws of another jurisdiction would be required thereby. The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights Agreement. Requests may be made to: Metaldyne Corporation 47603 Halyard Drive Plymouth, Michigan 48170 Attention: Chief Financial Officer A-6 ASSIGNMENT FORM To assign this Note, fill in the form below: (I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to: ________________________________________ (Insert assignee's legal name) ___________________________________________________________________________ (Insert assignee's soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.) ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ (Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code) and irrevocably appoint ________________________________________________________ to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him. Date: _______________ Your Signature: _______________________________ (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note) Signature Guarantee*: _________________________ * Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee or the Company). A-7 OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.14 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below: / / Section 4.10 / / Section 4.14 If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.14 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased: $_______________ Date: _____________________ Your Signature: _______________________________ (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note) Tax Identification No.: __________________________ Signature Guarantee*: _________________________ * Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee or the Company). A-8 SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE* The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:
Principal Amount Amount of decrease Amount of increase in of this Global Note Signature of in Principal Amount Principal Amount following such authorized officer of of decrease of Trustee or Date of Exchange this Global Note this Global Note (or increase) Custodian
* This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form. A-9 EXHIBIT B FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER Metaldyne Corporation 47603 Halyard Drive Plymouth, Michigan 48170 [Trustee] [Street Address] [City, State Zip] Re: 10% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of December 31, 2003 (the "Indenture"), among Metaldyne Corporation, as issuer (the "Company"), the Guarantors named on the signature pages thereto [and [ ], as trustee]. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture. ___________________ (the "Transferor") owns and proposes to transfer the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the principal amount of $___________ in such Note[s] or interests (the "Transfer"), to ________________________ (the "Transferee"), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that: [CHECK ALL THAT APPLY] 1. / / Check if Transferee will take delivery of a Definitive Note pursuant to Rule 144A. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believed and believes is purchasing the Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a "qualified institutional buyer" within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act. 2. / / Check if Transferee will take delivery of a Definitive Note pursuant to Regulation S. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a Person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have B-1 been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S under the Securities Act and (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act. 3. / / Check and complete if Transferee will take delivery of a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to any provision of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A or Regulation S. The Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one): (a) / / such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or (b) / / such Transfer is being effected to the Company or a subsidiary thereof; or (c) / / such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act; or (d) / / such Transfer is being effected to an Institutional Accredited Investor and pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A, Rule 144 or Rule 904, and the Transferor hereby further certifies that it has not engaged in any general solicitation within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act and the Transfer complies with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and the requirements of the exemption claimed, which certification is supported by (1) a certificate executed by the Transferee in the form of Exhibit D to the Indenture and (2) if such Transfer is in respect of a principal amount of Notes at the time of transfer of less than $250,000, an Opinion of Counsel provided by the Transferor or the Transferee (a copy of which the Transferor has attached to this certification), to the effect that such Transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Definitive Notes and in the Indenture and the Securities Act. B-2 4. / / Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or of an Unrestricted Definitive Note. (a) / / Check if Transfer is pursuant to Rule 144. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture. (b) / / Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Regulation S. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture. (c) / / Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Other Exemption. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture. This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company. _________________________________ [Insert Name of Transferor] By: ------------------------------- Name: Title: Dated: _______________________ B-3 ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER 1. The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer a Restricted Definitive Note. 2. After the Transfer the Transferee will hold: [CHECK ONE] (a) a beneficial interest in the Global Note (CUSIP _________); or (b) a Restricted Definitive Note; or (c) an Unrestricted Definitive Note, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture. B-4 EXHIBIT C FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE Metaldyne Corporation 47603 Halyard Drive Plymouth, Michigan 48170 [Trustee] [Street Address] [City, State Zip] Re: 10% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 (CUSIP ____________) Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of December 31, 2003 (the "Indenture"), among Metaldyne Corporation, as issuer (the "Company"), the Guarantors named on the signature pages thereto [and [ ], as trustee]. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture. __________________________ (the "Owner"), owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of $____________ in such Note[s] or interests (the "Exchange"). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that: Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes for Unrestricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in a Global Note. (1) / / Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in a Global Note. In connection with the Owner's Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner's own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. (2) / / Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Owner's Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner's own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. C-1 This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company. _____________________________________ [Insert Name of Transferor] By: ----------------------------------- Name: Title: Dated: ______________________ C-2 EXHIBIT D FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR Metaldyne Corporation 47603 Halyard Drive Plymouth, Michigan 48170 [Trustee] [Street Address] [City, State Zip] Re: 10% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of December 31, 2003 (the "Indenture"), among Metaldyne Corporation, as issuer (the "Company"), the guarantors named on the signature pages thereto [and [ ], as trustee]. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture. In connection with our proposed purchase of $____________ aggregate principal amount of a Restricted Definitive Note, we confirm that: 1. We understand that any subsequent transfer of the Notes or any interest therein is subject to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in the Indenture and the undersigned agrees to be bound by, and not to resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Notes or any interest therein except in compliance with, such restrictions and conditions and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). 2. We understand that the offer and sale of the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act, and that the Notes and any interest therein may not be offered or sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree, on our own behalf and on behalf of any accounts for which we are acting as hereinafter stated, that if we should sell the Notes or any interest therein, we will do so only (A) to the Company or any subsidiary thereof, (B) in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act to a "qualified institutional buyer" (as defined therein), (C) to an institutional "accredited investor" (as defined below) that, prior to such transfer, furnishes (or has furnished on its behalf by a U.S. broker-dealer) to you and to the Company a signed letter substantially in the form of this letter and , if such transfer is in respect of a principal amount of Notes, at the time of transfer of less than $250,000, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Company to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act, (D) outside the United States in accordance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (E) pursuant to the provisions of Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act or (F) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, and we further agree to provide to any Person purchasing the Restricted Definitive Note from us in a transaction meeting the requirements of clauses (A) through (E) of this paragraph a notice advising such purchaser that resales thereof are restricted as stated herein. 3. We understand that, on any proposed resale of the Notes or any interest therein, we will be required to furnish to you and the Company such certifications, legal opinions and D-1 other information as you and the Company may reasonably require to confirm that the proposed sale complies with the foregoing restrictions. We further understand that the Notes purchased by us will bear a legend to the foregoing effect. 4. We are an institutional "accredited investor" (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act) and have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and we and any accounts for which we are acting are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment. 5. We are acquiring the Notes or beneficial interest therein purchased by us for our own account or for one or more accounts (each of which is an institutional "accredited investor") as to each of which we exercise sole investment discretion. You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby. ___________________________________ [Insert Name of Accredited Investor] By: --------------------------------- Name: Title: Dated: _______________________ D-2 EXHIBIT E FORM OF NOTE GUARANTEE For value received, each Guarantor (which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture) has, jointly and severally, unconditionally guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture dated as of December 31, 2003 (the "Indenture") among Metaldyne Corporation (the "Company"), the Guarantors listed on Schedule I thereto and the trustee, if any, appointed thereunder (the "Trustee"), (a) the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on the Notes (as defined in the Indenture), whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, the due and punctual payment of interest on overdue principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and the due and punctual performance of all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee all in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. The obligations of the Guarantors to the Holders of Notes and to the Trustee pursuant to the Note Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article 11 of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Note Guarantee. Each Holder of a Note, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee (if appointed), on behalf of such Holder, to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in the Indenture and (c) appoints the Trustee (if appointed) attorney-in-fact of such Holder for such purpose; provided, however, that the Indebtedness evidenced by this Note Guarantee shall cease to be so subordinated and subject in right of payment upon any defeasance of this Note in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture. Each of the Guarantors Listed on Schedule I hereto: By: ---------------------------------- Name: Title: E-1 Schedule I ER Acquisition Corp. GMTI Holding Company Halyard Aviation Services, Inc. MASG Disposition, Inc. MASX Energy Services Group, Inc. Metaldyne Accura Tool & Mold, Inc. Metaldyne Company LLC Metaldyne DuPage Die Casting Corporation Metaldyne Europe, Inc. Metaldyne European Holdings Inc. Metaldyne Lester Precision Die Casting, Inc. Metaldyne Light Metals Company, Inc. Metaldyne Machining and Assembly Company, Inc. Metaldyne Precision Forming-Fort Wayne, Inc. Metaldyne Services, Inc. Metaldyne Sintered Components of Indiana, Inc. Metaldyne Sintered Components, LLC Metaldyne Tubular Products, Inc. Metaldyne U.S. Holding Co. Precision Headed Products, Inc. Punchcraft Company Stahl International, Inc. W.C. McCurdy & Co. Windfall Products, Inc. Windfall Specialty Powders, Inc. E-2 EXHIBIT F [FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS] SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this "Supplemental Indenture"), dated as of ________________, 200__, among __________________ (the "Guaranteeing Subsidiary"), a subsidiary of Metaldyne Corporation (or its permitted successor), a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), the Company, the other Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture referred to herein) and [ ], as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the "Trustee"). W I T N E S S E T H WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an Indenture (the "Indenture"), dated as of December 31, 2003 providing for the issuance of an aggregate principal amount of up to $31,746,000 of 10% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 (the "Notes"); WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Company's Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein (the "Note Guarantee"); and WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture. NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows: 1. CAPITALIZED TERMS. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture. 2. AGREEMENT TO GUARANTEE. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees as follows: (a) Along with all Guarantors named in the Indenture, to jointly and severally Guarantee to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, the Notes or the obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that: (i) the principal of, and premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and F-1 (ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. (b) The obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or the Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a Guarantor. (c) The following is hereby waived: diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever. (d) This Note Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and the Indenture, and the Guaranteeing Subsidiary accepts all obligations of a Guarantor under the Indenture. (e) If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, the Guarantors, or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Company or the Guarantors, any amount paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Note Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect. (f) The Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. (g) As between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 of the Indenture for the purposes of this Note Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article 6 of the Indenture, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Note Guarantee. (h) The Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Note Guarantee. F-2 (i) Pursuant to Section 10.02 of the Indenture, after giving effect to any maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities that are relevant under any applicable Bankruptcy or fraudulent conveyance laws, and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under Article 10 of the Indenture, this new Note Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount permissible such that the obligations of such Guarantor under this Note Guarantee will not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance. 3. EXECUTION AND DELIVERY. Each Guaranteeing Subsidiary agrees that the Note Guarantees shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such Note Guarantee. 4. Guaranteeing Subsidiary may Consolidate, etc. on Certain Terms. (a) The Guaranteeing Subsidiary may not sell or otherwise dispose of all substantially all of its assets to, or consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person) another Person, other than the Company or another Guarantor unless: (i) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and (ii) either (A) subject to Sections 11.05 and 11.06 of the Indenture, the Person acquiring the property in any such sale or disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger unconditionally assumes all the obligations of that Guarantor, pursuant to a supplemental indenture in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, under the Notes, the Indenture and the Note Guarantee on the terms set forth herein or therein; or (B) the Net Proceeds of such sale or other disposition are applied in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Indenture, including without limitation, Section 4.10 thereof. (b) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance and upon the assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the Note Guarantee endorsed upon the Notes and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of the Indenture to be performed by the Guarantor, such successor Person shall succeed to and be substituted for the Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named herein as a Guarantor. Such successor Person thereupon may cause to be signed any or all of the Note Guarantees to be endorsed upon all of the Notes issuable under the Indenture which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee. All the Note Guarantees so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under the Indenture as the Note Guarantees theretofore and thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of the Indenture as though all of such Note Guarantees had been issued at the date of the execution hereof. F-3 (c) Except as set forth in Articles 4 and 5 and Section 11.06 of the Indenture, and notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, nothing contained in the Indenture or in any of the Notes shall prevent any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the Company or another Guarantor, or shall prevent any sale or conveyance of the property of a Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Company or another Guarantor. 5. Releases. (a) In the event of any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of any Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, or a sale or other disposition of all of the capital stock of any Guarantor, in each case to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, then such Guarantor (in the event of a sale or other disposition, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all of the capital stock of such Guarantor) or the corporation acquiring the property (in the event of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Guarantor) will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Note Guarantee; provided that the Net Proceeds of such sale or other disposition are applied in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Indenture, including without limitation Section 4.10 of the Indenture. Upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such sale or other disposition was made by the Company in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, including without limitation Section 4.10 of the Indenture, the Trustee shall execute any documents reasonably required in order to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its obligations under its Note Guarantee. (b) Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Note Guarantee shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest on the Notes and for the other obligations of any Guarantor under the Indenture as provided in Article 11 of the Indenture. 6. NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder or agent of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Guaranteeing Subsidiary under the Notes, any Note Guarantees, the Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of the Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. Such waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy. 7. NEW YORK LAW TO GOVERN. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE BUT WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY. F-4 8. COUNTERPARTS. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. 9. EFFECT OF HEADINGS. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof. 10. THE TRUSTEE. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Company. F-5 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above written. Dated: _______________, 20___ [GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY] By: -------------------------------------------- Name: Title: Metaldyne Corporation By: -------------------------------------------- Name: Title: Existing Guarantors Listed on Schedule I hereto: By: -------------------------------------------- Name: Title: [ ], as Trustee By: -------------------------------------------- Name: Title: F-6 Schedule I [List existing Guarantors] F-7 -23- Exhibit 10.4 REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of December 31, 2003 (the "Agreement"), is entered into by and among Metaldyne Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), each of the Company's subsidiaries listed on Schedule I hereof (such subsidiaries, the "Guarantors"), and DaimlerChrysler Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Initial Holder"). The Company and the Initial Holder are parties to (i) the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement, dated as of January 2, 2003 (the "Operating Agreement"), and (ii) the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the "Purchase Agreement" and, together with the Operating Agreement, the "Transaction Documents"), which provide for the sale by the Company to the Initial Holder of $31,746,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company's 10% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 (the "Securities"), which will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on an unsecured senior subordinated basis by each of the Guarantors (the "Guarantees"). As an inducement to the Initial Holder to enter into the Transaction Documents, the Company and the Guarantors have agreed to provide to the Initial Holder and its direct and indirect transferees the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the Metaldyne Call Option Closing (as defined in the Operating Agreement). In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows: Section 1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings: "Affiliate" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person, where "control" means, with respect to any Person, the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. "Business Day" shall mean any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed. "Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include the Company's successors. "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time. "Exchange Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(ii) hereof. "Exchange Offer" shall mean the exchange offer by the Company and the Guarantors of Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof. "Exchange Offer Registration" shall mean a registration under the Securities Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof. "Exchange Offer Registration Statement" shall mean an exchange offer registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another appropriate form) and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein. "Exchange Securities" shall mean the 10% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 issued by the Company and guaranteed by the Guarantors under the Indenture containing terms identical to the Securities and the Guarantees (except that the Exchange Securities will not be subject to restrictions on transfer or to any increase in annual interest rate for failure to comply with this Agreement) and to be offered to Holders of Securities in exchange for Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer. "Guarantors" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include any successors to the Guarantors. "Holders" shall mean the Initial Holder, for so long as it owns any Registrable Securities, and each of its successors, assigns and direct and indirect transferees who become owners of Registrable Securities under the Indenture. "Indemnified Person" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(c) hereof. "Indemnifying Person" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(c) hereof. "Indenture" shall mean the Indenture relating to the Securities, dated as of December 31, 2003, among the Company and the Guarantors as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, including to designate a trustee pursuant to Section 5 hereof. "Initial Holder" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble. "Inspector" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(m) hereof. "Majority Holders" shall mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Registrable Securities; provided that whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities owned directly or indirectly by the Company or any of its Affiliates shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage or amount. "Person" shall mean an individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof. "Purchase Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble. -2- "Prospectus" shall mean the prospectus included in a Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including a prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements to such prospectus, and in each case including any document incorporated by reference therein. "Registrable Securities" shall mean the Securities; provided that the Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities (i) when a Registration Statement with respect to such Securities has been declared effective under the Securities Act and such Securities have been exchanged or disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) when such Securities have been sold pursuant to Rule 144 or are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any similar provision then in force, but not Rule 144A) under the Securities Act or (iii) when such Securities cease to be outstanding. "Registration Expenses" shall mean any and all expenses incident to performance of or compliance by the Company and the Guarantors with this Agreement, including without limitation: (i) all SEC, stock exchange or National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for any Underwriters or Holders in connection with blue sky qualification of any Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities), (iii) all expenses of any Persons in preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing, printing and distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, any underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements or other similar agreements and any other documents relating to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all rating agency fees, (v) all fees and disbursements relating to the qualification of the Indenture under applicable securities laws, (vi) the fees and disbursements of the Trustee and its counsel, (vii) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and the Guarantors and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the fees and disbursements of one counsel for the Holders (which counsel shall be selected by the Majority Holders and which counsel may also be counsel for the Initial Holder) and (viii) the fees and disbursements of the independent public accountants of the Company and the Guarantors, including the expenses of any special audits or "comfort" letters required by or incident to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, but excluding fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters (other than fees and expenses set forth in clause (ii) above) or the Holders and underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of Registrable Securities by a Holder. "Registration Statement" shall mean any registration statement of the Company and the Guarantors that covers any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and all amendments and supplements to any such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein. "SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission. "Securities" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble. -3- "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time. "Shelf Registration" shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof. "Shelf Registration Statement" shall mean a "shelf" registration statement of the Company and the Guarantors that covers all the Registrable Securities (but no other securities unless approved by the Holders whose Registrable Securities to be covered by such Shelf Registration Statement) on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein. "Staff" shall mean the staff of the SEC. "Transaction Documents" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble. "Trigger Date" shall mean the date on which the Initial Holder makes a written demand of the Company to commence the registration process, which written demand includes a statement that the Initial Holder has sold at least $5 million aggregate principal amount of Registrable Securities to an unaffiliated third party. "Trust Indenture Act" shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended from time to time. "Trustee" shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities under the Indenture, who shall be appointed pursuant to Section 5 hereof. "Underwriter" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3 hereof. "Underwritten Offering" shall mean an offering in which Registrable Securities are sold to an Underwriter for reoffering to the public. Section 2. Registration Under the Securities Act. (a) To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff, following the Trigger Date, the Company and the Guarantors shall use their reasonable best efforts to (i) cause to be filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement covering an offer to the Holders to exchange all the Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities and (ii) have such Registration Statement remain effective until the closing of the Exchange Offer. The Company and the Guarantors shall commence the Exchange Offer promptly after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC and use their reasonable best efforts to complete the Exchange Offer not later than 60 days after such effective date. The Company and the Guarantors shall commence the Exchange Offer by mailing the related Prospectus, appropriate letters of transmittal and other accompanying documents to each Holder stating, in addition to such other disclosures as are required by applicable law: -4- (i) that the Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to this Agreement and that all Registrable Securities validly tendered and not properly withdrawn will be accepted for exchange; (ii) the dates of acceptance for exchange (which shall be a period of at least 20 Business Days from the date such notice is mailed) (each, an "Exchange Date"); (iii) that any Registrable Security not tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest but will not retain any rights under this Agreement; (iv) that any Holder electing to have a Registrable Security exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be required to surrender such Registrable Security, together with the appropriate letters of transmittal, to the institution and at the address (located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) and in the manner specified in the notice, prior to the close of business on the last Exchange Date; and (v) that any Holder will be entitled to withdraw its election, not later than the close of business on the last Exchange Date, by sending to the institution and at the address (located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) specified in the notice, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the principal amount of Registrable Securities delivered for exchange and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have such Securities exchanged. As a condition to participating in the Exchange Offer, a Holder will be required to represent to the Company and the Guarantors that (i) any Exchange Securities to be received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of its business, (ii) at the time of the commencement of the Exchange Offer it has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Securities in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act, (iii) it is not an "affiliate" (within the meaning of Rule 405 under Securities Act) of the Company or any Guarantor and (iv) if such Holder is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Registrable Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities, then such Holder will deliver a Prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. As soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date, the Company and the Guarantors shall: (i) accept for exchange Registrable Securities or portions thereof validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer; and (ii) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation all Registrable Securities or portions thereof so accepted for exchange by the Company and issue, and cause the Trustee to promptly authenticate and deliver to each Holder, Exchange Securities equal in principal amount to the principal amount of the Registrable Securities surrendered by such Holder. -5- The Company and the Guarantors shall use their reasonable best efforts to complete the Exchange Offer as provided above and shall comply with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and other applicable laws and regulations in connection with the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any conditions, other than that the Exchange Offer does not violate any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff. (b) In the event that (i) the Company and the Guarantors determine that the Exchange Offer Registration provided for in Section 2(a) above is not available or may not be completed as soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date because it would violate any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not for any other reason completed by 210 days after the Trigger Date or (iii) the Exchange Offer has been completed and in the opinion of counsel for the Initial Holder a Registration Statement must be filed and a Prospectus must be delivered by the Initial Holder in connection with any offering or sale of Registrable Securities held by the Initial Holder, the Company and the Guarantors shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause to be filed as soon as practicable after such determination, date or notice of such opinion of counsel is given to the Company, as the case may be, a Shelf Registration Statement providing for the sale of all the Registrable Securities by the Holders thereof (or Initial Holder that is a holder thereof in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement filed pursuant to clause (iii) of this sentence) and to have such Shelf Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC. In the event that the Company and the Guarantors are required to file a Shelf Registration Statement solely as a result of the matters referred to in clause (iii) of the preceding sentence, the Company and the Guarantors shall use their reasonable best efforts to file and have declared effective by the SEC both an Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) with respect to all Registrable Securities and a Shelf Registration Statement (which may be a combined Registration Statement with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) with respect to offers and sales of Registrable Securities held by the Initial Holder after completion of the Exchange Offer. The Company and the Guarantors agree to use their reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective until the expiration of the period referred to in Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act with respect to the Registrable Securities or such shorter period that will terminate when all the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement. The Company and the Guarantors further agree to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement and the related Prospectus if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the Securities Act or by any other rules and regulations thereunder for shelf registration or if reasonably requested by a Holder of Registrable Securities with respect to information relating to such Holder, and to use their reasonable best efforts to cause any such amendment to become effective and such Shelf Registration Statement and Prospectus to become usable as soon as thereafter practicable. The Company and the Guarantors agree to furnish to the Holders of Registrable Securities copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with the SEC. (c) The Company and the Guarantors shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with the registration pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof. Each Holder shall pay -6- all underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder's Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement. (d) An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof or a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof will not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC; provided that if, after it has been declared effective, the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or any court or other governmental or regulatory agency or body, such Registration Statement will be deemed not to have become effective during the period of such interference until the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement may legally resume. In the event that either the Exchange Offer is not completed or a Shelf Registration Statement, if required hereby, is not declared effective within 210 days of the Trigger Date, the interest rate on the Registrable Securities will be increased by 1.00% per annum until the Exchange Offer is completed or the Shelf Registration Statement, if required hereby, is declared effective by the SEC or the Securities become freely tradable under the Securities Act. (e) Without limiting the remedies available to the Initial Holder and the Holders, the Company and the Guarantors acknowledge that any failure by the Company or the Guarantors to comply with their obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Holder or the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial Holder or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce the Company's and the Guarantors' obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof. Section 3. Registration Procedures. In connection with their obligations pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof, the Company and the Guarantors shall as expeditiously as possible: (a) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act, which form (x) shall be selected by the Company and the Guarantors, (y) shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the selling Holders thereof and (z) shall comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and include all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith; and use their reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective for the applicable period in accordance with Section 2 hereof; (b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable period in accordance with Section 2 hereof and cause each Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement and, as so supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act; and keep each Prospectus current during the period described in Section 4(3) of and Rule 174 under the Securities Act that is applicable to -7- transactions by brokers or dealers with respect to the Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities; (c) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities, to counsel for the Initial Holder, to counsel for such Holders and to each Underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus, including each preliminary Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto in order to facilitate the sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities thereunder; and the Company and the Guarantors consent to the use of such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law by each of the selling Holders of Registrable Securities and any such Underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by and in the manner described in such Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law; (d) use their reasonable best efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities under all applicable state securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement shall reasonably request in writing by the time the applicable Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC; cooperate with the Holders in connection with any filings required to be made with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.; and do any and all other acts and things that may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each Holder to complete the disposition in each such jurisdiction of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holder; provided that neither the Company nor any Guarantor shall be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not so subject; (e) in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Holder of Registrable Securities, counsel for such Holders and counsel for the Initial Holder promptly and, if requested by any such Holder or counsel, confirm such advice in writing (i) when a Registration Statement has become effective and when any post-effective amendment thereto has been filed and becomes effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement and Prospectus or for additional information after the Registration Statement has become effective, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) if, between the effective date of a Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities covered thereby, the representations and warranties of the Company or any Guarantor contained in any underwriting agreement, securities sales agreement or other similar agreement, if any, relating to an offering of such Registrable Securities cease to be true and correct in all material respects or if the Company or any Guarantor receives any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the happening of any event during the period a Shelf Registration Statement is effective that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement or Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading and (vi) of any determination -8- by the Company or any Guarantor that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate; (f) use their reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement at the earliest possible moment and provide immediate notice to each Holder of the withdrawal of any such order; (g) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto (without any documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless requested); (h) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends and enable such Registrable Securities to be issued in such denominations and registered in such names (consistent with the provisions of the Indenture) as the selling Holders may reasonably request at least one Business Day prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities; (i) in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(e)(iii) or 3(e)(v) hereof, use their reasonable best efforts to prepare and file with the SEC a supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Registrable Securities, such Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and the Company and the Guarantors shall notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to suspend use of the Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an event, and such Holders hereby agree to suspend use of the Prospectus until the Company and the Guarantors have amended or supplemented the Prospectus to correct such misstatement or omission; (j) a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Shelf Registration Statement, any related Prospectus, any amendment to a Shelf Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to a related Prospectus or of any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Shelf Registration Statement or a related Prospectus after initial filing of a Shelf Registration Statement, provide copies of such document to the Initial Holder and its counsel and to the Holders of Registrable Securities and their counsel and make such of the representatives of the Company and the Guarantors as shall be reasonably requested by the Initial Holder or its counsel or the Holders of Registrable Securities or their counsel available for discussion of such document; and the Company and the Guarantors shall not at any time after initial filing of a Shelf Registration Statement file any amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement, any related Prospectus or any amendment of or supplement to a Shelf Registration Statement or a related Prospectus or any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Shelf Registration Statement or a related Prospectus, of which the Initial Holder and its counsel and the Holders of Registrable Securities and their counsel shall not have previously been advised and furnished a copy or to which the Initial Holder or its counsel or the Holders or their counsel shall reasonably object; -9- (k) obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, not later than the effective date of a Registration Statement; (l) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act in connection with the registration of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, and in the event such qualification would require the appointment of a new Trustee under the Indenture, appoint a new Trustee thereunder pursuant to the terms of the Indenture; cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for the Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the Trust Indenture Act; and execute, and use their reasonable best efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable the Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner; (m) in the case of a Shelf Registration, make available for inspection by a representative of the Holders of the Registrable Securities (an "Inspector"), any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, and attorneys and accountants designated by the Holders, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all pertinent financial and other records, pertinent documents and properties of the Company and the Guarantors, and cause the respective officers, directors and employees of the Company and the Guarantors to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement; provided that if any such information is identified by the Company or any Guarantor as being confidential or proprietary, each Person receiving such information shall take such actions as are reasonably necessary to protect the confidentiality of such information to the extent such action is otherwise not inconsistent with, an impairment of or in derogation of the rights and interests of any Inspector, Holder or Underwriter; (n) in the case of a Shelf Registration, use their reasonable best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities to be listed on any securities exchange or any automated quotation system on which similar securities issued or guaranteed by the Company or any Guarantor are then listed if requested by the Majority Holders, to the extent such Registrable Securities satisfy applicable listing requirements; (o) if reasonably requested by any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement, promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information with respect to such Holder as such Holder reasonably requests to be included therein and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as the Company has received notification of the matters to be incorporated in such filing; and (p) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such customary agreements and take all such other actions in connection therewith (including those requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold) in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities including, but not limited to, an Underwritten Offering and in such connection, (i) to the extent possible, make such representations and warranties to the Holders and any Underwriters of such Registrable Securities with respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, the Registration Statement, Prospectus and docu- -10- ments incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by reference, if any, in each case, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings and confirm the same if and when requested, (ii) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and the Guarantors (which counsel and opinions, in form, scope and substance, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Holders and such Underwriters and their respective counsel) addressed to each selling Holder and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings, (iii) obtain "comfort" letters from the independent certified public accountants of the Company and the Guarantors (and, if necessary, any other certified public accountant of any subsidiary of the Company or any Guarantor, or of any business acquired by the Company or any Guarantor for which financial statements and financial data are or are required to be included in the Registration Statement) addressed to each selling Holder and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in "comfort" letters in connection with underwritten offerings and (iv) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold or the Underwriters, and which are customarily delivered in underwritten offerings, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties of the Company and the Guarantors made pursuant to clause (i) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in an underwriting agreement. In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may require each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Company such information regarding such Holder and the proposed disposition by such Holder of such Registrable Securities as the Company and the Guarantors may from time to time reasonably request in writing. The Holders of Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement who desire to do so may sell such Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers (the "Underwriters") that will administer the offering will be selected by the Majority Holders of the Registrable Securities included in such offering and shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Guarantors. Section 4. Suspension. (a) Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this Agreement, but subject to Section 4(c) hereof, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees that, upon receipt of a written notice from the Company and the Guarantors of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(e)(iii) or 3(e)(v) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(i) hereof and, if so directed by the Company and the Guarantors, such Holder will deliver to the Company and the Guarantors all copies in its possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder's possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities that is current at the time of receipt of such written notice. If the Company and the Guarantors shall give any such written notice to suspend the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 4(a), the Company and the Guarantors shall extend the period during which the Registration Statement -11- shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when the Holders shall have received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions. (b) Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this Agreement, but subject to Section 4(c) hereof, the Company shall have the right on one or more occasions to delay the filing, amendment or effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement or, if the Shelf Registration Statement has become effective, to suspend the distribution or disposition of each Holder's Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement in the event that the board of directors of the Company determines in its reasonable good faith judgment that (i) the filing, declaration of effectiveness or continued effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement at such time would require the Company to disclose therein a proposed or consummated financing, reorganization or recapitalization, or pending or consummated negotiations relating to a merger, consolidation, acquisition or similar transaction or other business transaction, or other material event, which would otherwise adversely affect the Company or (ii) pro forma and/or historical financial statements meeting the requirements of the Securities Act as a result of any transaction described in clause (i) above are not available at such time. Any delay or suspension period pursuant to this Section 4(b) shall begin on the date specified in a written notice given by the Company to the Holders and shall end on the date specified in a subsequent written notice given by the Company to the Holders. If the Company shall exercise its right to delay the filing, amendment or effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement or to suspend the distribution or disposition of each Holder's Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 4(b), the period within which such Shelf Registration Statement must be declared effective or during which the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement must maintained pursuant to this Agreement shall be extended by the number of days of the delay or suspension period. (c) The Company may give a delay or suspension notice pursuant to Section 4 hereof at any time and from time to time; provided that the aggregate of all delay and suspension periods during any 365-day period shall not exceed 90 days. Section 5. Appointment of Trustee. As soon as reasonably practicable following the Trigger Date, and in any event before a Registration Statement is filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 2 hereof, the Company shall appoint a Trustee, and the Company, the Guarantors, the Initial Holder and the Trustee shall execute a supplemental indenture to the Indenture designating the Trustee as trustee with respect to the Securities under the Indenture and otherwise amending the Indenture accordingly. Section 6. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company and each Guarantor, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Initial Holder and each Holder, their respective Affiliates and each Person, if any, who controls the Initial Holder or any Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, legal fees and other expenses incurred in con- -12- nection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted), joint or several, (i) arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or any Prospectus or (ii) arising out of or based upon any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to the Initial Holder, or any Holder furnished to the Company in writing through the Initial Holder or any selling Holder expressly for use therein. In connection with any Underwritten Offering permitted by Section 3, the Company and the Guarantors will also indemnify the Underwriters, if any, selling brokers, dealers and similar securities industry professionals participating in the distribution, their respective Affiliates and each Person who controls such Persons (within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act) to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders, if requested in connection with any Registration Statement. (b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Guarantors, the Initial Holder and the other selling Holders, their respective Affiliates, the directors of the Company and the Guarantors, each officer of the Company and the Guarantors who signed the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company, the Guarantors, the Initial Holder and any other selling Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Holder furnished to the Company in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement and any Prospectus. (c) If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any Person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b) above, such Person (the "Indemnified Person") shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the "Indemnifying Person") in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under this Section 6 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under this Section 6. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 6 that the Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the In- -13- demnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm (x) for the Initial Holder, its Affiliates and any control Persons of such Initial Holder shall be designated in writing by the Initial Holder, (y) for any Holder, its Affiliates and any control Persons of such Holder shall be designated in writing by the Majority Holders and (z) in all other cases shall be designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse the Indemnified Person for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by the Indemnifying Person of such request and (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (A) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person in form and substance satisfactory to such Indemnified Person from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (B) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person. (d) If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors from the offering of the Securities, on the one hand, and by the Holders from receiving Securities or Exchange Securities registered under the Securities Act, on the other hand, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Holders on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Holders on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company and the -14- Guarantors or by the Holders and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. (e) The Company, the Guarantors and the Holders agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 6 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6, in no event shall a Holder be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities or Exchange Securities sold by such Holder exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. (f) The remedies provided for in this Section 6 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies that may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity. (g) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 6 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Initial Holder or any Holder, their respective Affiliates or any Person controlling the Initial Holder or any Holder, or by or on behalf of the Company, the Guarantors, their respective Affiliates or the officers or directors of or any Person controlling the Company or the Guarantors, (iii) acceptance of any of the Exchange Securities and (iv) any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement. Section 7. Miscellaneous. (a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company and the Guarantors represent, warrant and agree that (i) the rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of any other outstanding securities issued or guaranteed by the Company or any Guarantor under any other agreement and (ii) neither the Company nor any Guarantor has entered into, or on or after the date of this Agreement will enter into, any agreement that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. (b) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Company and the Guarantors have obtained the written consent of Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, -15- waiver or consent; provided that no amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent to any departure from the provisions of Section 6 hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of Registrable Securities unless consented to in writing by such Holder. (c) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7(c), which address initially is, with respect to the Initial Holder, DaimlerChrysler Corporation, 1000 Chrysler Drive, Auburn Hills, Michigan 48326, Attention: General Counsel, Facsimile: (248) 512-1771, with a copy to Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue, 77 W. Wacker, Suite 3500, Chicago, Illinois 60601, Attention: Elizabeth C. Kitslaar, Facsimile: (312) 782-8585; and (ii) if to the Company and the Guarantors, at the Company's address, which address initially is Metaldyne Corporation, 47603 Halyard Drive, Plymouth, Michigan 48170, Attention: Thomas A. Amato and R. Jeffrey Pollock, Facsimile: (734) 207-6741 and (734) 207-6797, with a copy to Cahill Gordon & Reindel, 80 Pine Street, New York, New York 10005, Attention: W. Leslie Duffy and Jonathan A. Schaffzin, Facsimile: (212) 269-5420, and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7(c). All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next Business Day if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery. Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee, if any, at the address specified in the Indenture. (d) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of each of the parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders; provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable Securities in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof. The Initial Holder (in its capacity as Initial Holder) shall have no liability or obligation to the Company or the Guarantors with respect to any failure by a Holder to comply with, or any breach by any Holder of, any of the obligations of such Holder under this Agreement. (e) Purchases and Sales of Securities. The Company and the Guarantors shall not, and shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause their affiliates (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) not to, purchase and then resell or otherwise transfer any Registrable Securities. (f) Third Party Beneficiaries. Each Holder shall be a third party beneficiary to the agreements made hereunder between the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Holder, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to -16- the extent it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of other Holders hereunder. (g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. (h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof. (i) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE COMPANY AND THE GUARANTORS EACH HEREBY AGREES TO SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF NEW YORK, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT. (j) Miscellaneous. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all oral statements and prior writings with respect thereto. This Agreement may not be amended or modified except by a writing executed by each of the parties hereto. Section headings herein are for convenience only and are not a part of this Agreement. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction contained in this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable or against public policy, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions contained herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated. The Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Holder shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the invalid, void or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, void or unenforceable provisions. [Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank] -17- IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above. METALDYNE CORPORATION By: /s/ Timothy D. Leuliette -------------------------------------- Name: Timothy D. Leuliette Title: Chairman, President & CEO EACH OF THE GUARANTORS LISTED ON SCHEDULE I HERETO: By: /s/ Timothy D. Leuliette --------------------------------------- Name: Timothy D. Leuliette Title: Chairman, President & CEO DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION By: /s/ John C. Stellman ---------------------------------------- Name: John C. Stellman Title: Vice President -18- Schedule I ER Acquisition Corp. GMTI Holding Company Halyard Aviation Services, Inc. MASG Disposition, Inc. MASX Energy Services Group, Inc. Metaldyne Accura Tool & Mold, Inc. Metaldyne Company LLC Metaldyne DuPage Die Casting Corporation Metaldyne Europe, Inc. Metaldyne European Holdings Inc. Metaldyne Lester Precision Die Casting, Inc. Metaldyne Light Metals Company, Inc. Metaldyne Machining and Assembly Company, Inc. Metaldyne Precision Forming-Fort Wayne, Inc. Metaldyne Services, Inc. Metaldyne Sintered Components of Indiana, Inc. Metaldyne Sintered Components, LLC Metaldyne Tubular Products, Inc. Metaldyne U.S. Holding Co. Precision Headed Products, Inc. Punchcraft Company Stahl International, Inc. W.C. McCurdy & Co. Windfall Products, Inc. Windfall Specialty Powders, Inc.
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