EX-4.33 2 d633432dex433.htm EX-4.33 EX-4.33

Exhibit 4.33

 

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of [__]

Among

EDUCATION MANAGEMENT CORPORATION,

THE GUARANTORS NAMED ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HERETO

and

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

as Trustee

PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF DEBT SECURITIES

 

 

 


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)

   7.10

      (b)

   7.10

311(a)

   7.11

      (b)

   7.11

312(a)

   2.05

      (b)

   12.03

      (c)

   12.03

313(a)

   7.06

      (b)(1)

   7.06

      (b)(2)

   7.06;7.07

      (c)

   7.06; 12.02

      (d)

   7.06

314(a)

   4.03; 12.02; 12.05

      (b)

   N.A.

      (c)(1)

   12.04

      (c)(2)

   12.04

      (c)(3)

   N.A.

      (d)

   N.A.

      (e)

   12.05

      (f)

   N.A.

315(a)

   7.01

      (b)

   7.05; 12.02

      (c)

   7.01

      (d)

   7.01

      (e)

   6.14

316(a)(last sentence)

   2.09

      (a)(1)(A)

   6.05

      (a)(1)(B)

   6.04

      (a)(2)

   N.A.

      (b)

   6.07

      (c)

   2.12; 9.04

317(a)(1)

   6.08

      (a)(2)

   6.12

      (b)

   2.04

318(a)

   12.01

      (b)

   N.A.

      (c)

   12.01

 

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

     8   

Section 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act

     8   

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

     9   

Section 1.05. Acts of Holders

     9   
ARTICLE 2   
THE SECURITIES   

Section 2.01. Form and Dating; Terms

     11   

Section 2.02. Execution and Authentication

     16   

Section 2.03. Registrar and Paying Agent

     17   

Section 2.04. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust

     18   

Section 2.05. Holder Lists

     18   

Section 2.06. Transfer and Exchange

     18   

Section 2.07. Replacement Securities

     22   

Section 2.08. Outstanding Securities

     22   

Section 2.09. Treasury Securities

     22   

Section 2.10. Temporary Securities

     23   

Section 2.11. Cancellation

     23   

Section 2.12. Defaulted Interest

     23   

Section 2.13. CUSIP Numbers

     24   

Section 2.14. Security

     24   

Section 2.15. Subordination of Subordinated Securities

     24   
ARTICLE 3   
REDEMPTION   

Section 3.01. Notices to Trustee

     25   

Section 3.02. Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed or Purchased

     25   

Section 3.03. Notice of Redemption

     26   

Section 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption

     27   

Section 3.05. Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price

     27   

Section 3.06. Securities Redeemed or Purchased in Part

     27   
ARTICLE 4   
COVENANTS   

Section 4.01. Payment of Securities

     28   

Section 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency

     28   

Section 4.03. Reports and Other Information

     29   

 

i


Section 4.04. Compliance Certificate

     29   

Section 4.05. Reserved

     30   

Section 4.06. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws

     30   

Section 4.07. Reserved

     30   

Section 4.08. Reserved

     30   

Section 4.09. Reserved

     30   

Section 4.10. Reserved

     30   

Section 4.11. Reserved

     30   

Section 4.12. Reserved

     30   

Section 4.13. Corporate Existence

     30   

Section 4.14. Waiver of Certain Covenants

     30   

Section 4.15. Reserved

     31   

Section 4.16. Reserved

     31   

Section 4.17. Reserved

     31   
ARTICLE 5   
SUCCESSORS   

Section 5.01. Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets

     31   

Section 5.02. Successor Substituted

     33   
ARTICLE 6   
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES   

Section 6.01. Events of Default

     33   

Section 6.02. Acceleration

     35   

Section 6.03. Other Remedies

     35   

Section 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults

     35   

Section 6.05. Control by Majority

     36   

Section 6.06. Limitation on Suits

     36   

Section 6.07. Rights of Holders of Securities to Receive Payment

     36   

Section 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee

     37   

Section 6.09. Restoration of Rights and Remedies

     37   

Section 6.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative

     37   

Section 6.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver

     37   

Section 6.12. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

     37   

Section 6.13. Priorities

     38   

Section 6.14. Undertaking for Costs

     39   
ARTICLE 7   
TRUSTEE   

Section 7.01. Duties of Trustee

     39   

Section 7.02. Rights of Trustee

     40   

Section 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee

     42   

Section 7.04. Trustee’s Disclaimer

     42   

Section 7.05. Notice of Defaults

     42   

 

ii


Section 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Securities

     42   

Section 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity

     43   

Section 7.08. Replacement of Trustee

     44   

Section 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc.

     45   

Section 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification

     45   

Section 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company

     45   
ARTICLE 8   
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE   

Section 8.01. Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

     45   

Section 8.02. Legal Defeasance and Discharge

     45   

Section 8.03. Covenant Defeasance

     46   

Section 8.04. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance

     47   

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

     49   

Section 8.06. Repayment to Company

     49   

Section 8.07. Reinstatement

     49   
ARTICLE 9   
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER   

Section 9.01. Without Consent of Holders of Securities

     50   

Section 9.02. With Consent of Holders of Securities

     52   

Section 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act

     53   

Section 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents

     54   

Section 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Securities

     54   

Section 9.06. Trustee to Sign Amendments, Etc.

     54   

Section 9.07. Payment for Consent

     55   
ARTICLE 10   
GUARANTEES   

Section 10.01. Guarantee

     55   

Section 10.02. Limitation on Guarantor Liability

     57   

Section 10.03. Execution and Delivery

     57   

Section 10.04. Subrogation

     58   

Section 10.05. Benefits Acknowledged

     58   

Section 10.06. Release of Guarantees

     58   
ARTICLE 11   
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE   

Section 11.01. Satisfaction and Discharge

     59   

Section 11.02. Application of Trust Money

     60   

 

iii


ARTICLE 12   
MISCELLANEOUS   

Section 12.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls

     60   

Section 12.02. Notices

     61   

Section 12.03. Communication by Holders of Securities with Other Holders of Securities

     61   

Section 12.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

     62   

Section 12.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

     62   

Section 12.06. Rules by Trustee and Agents

     62   

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

     63   

Section 12.08. Governing Law

     63   

Section 12.09. Waiver of Jury Trial

     63   

Section 12.10. Force Majeure

     63   

Section 12.11. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements

     63   

Section 12.12. Successors

     63   

Section 12.13. Severability

     63   

Section 12.14. Counterpart Originals

     64   

Section 12.15. Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.

     64   

Section 12.16. Qualification of Indenture

     64   

Section 12.17. Calculations

     64   

 

iv


INDENTURE, dated as of [__], among Education Management Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation (hereinafter called the “Company”), the Guarantors (as defined herein) listed on the signature pages hereto and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association, as Trustee (the “Trustee”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of its unsecured debentures, notes, bonds, and other evidences of indebtedness, to be issued in one or more fully registered series;

WHEREAS, the Company and each of the Guarantors has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities or of any series thereof.

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Section 1.01. Definitions.

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

Agent” means any Registrar or Paying Agent.

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

Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof) and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

 


Business Day” means each day which is not a Legal Holiday.

Capital Stock” means:

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

(2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership 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.

Capitalized Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with GAAP.

Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, Société Anonyme.

Company” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

Company’s Order” means a written request or order signed on behalf of the Company by an Officer of the Company, who must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.

Contingent Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (“primary obligations”) of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent,

(1) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor,

(2) to advance or supply funds

(a) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation, or

(b) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, or

 

2


(3) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof.

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

Custodian” means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Securities 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 Security” means a certificated Security registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.01, Section 2.02 and Section 2.06 hereof.

Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities 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 Securities, and any and all successors thereto appointed as Depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture.

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, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States which are in effect on the date hereof.

Global Securities” means, individually and collectively, each of the Securities in global form, issued in accordance with Section 2.01, Section 2.02 and Section 2.06 hereof.

Government Securities” means securities that are:

(1) direct obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged; or

(2) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America,

 

3


which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuers thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act), as custodian with respect to any such Government Securities or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Government Securities held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Securities or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Government Securities evidenced by such depository receipt.

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 letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness or other obligations.

Guarantee” means the guarantee by any Guarantor of the Company’s Obligations under this Indenture.

Guarantor” means each Subsidiary of the Company that Guarantees the Securities in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

Guarantor’s Board Resolution” means, with respect to any Guarantor, a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such Guarantor to have been duly adopted by such Guarantor’s Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof), or equivalent governing body, and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

Guarantor’s Order” means a written request or order signed on behalf of a Guarantor by an Officer of such Gurantor, who must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Guarantor, and delivered to the Trustee.

Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, commodity swap agreement, commodity cap agreement, commodity collar agreement, foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement or similar agreement providing for the transfer or mitigation of interest rate or currency risks either generally or under specific contingencies.

Holder” means the Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register.

 

4


Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication:

(1) any indebtedness (including principal and premium) of such Person, whether or not contingent:

(a) in respect of borrowed money;

(b) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances (or, without duplication, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);

(c) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property (including Capitalized Lease Obligations), except (i) any such balance that constitutes a trade payable or similar obligation to a trade creditor, in each case accrued in the ordinary course of business and (ii) any earn-out obligations until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP; or

(d) representing any Hedging Obligations;

if and to the extent that any of the foregoing Indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(2) to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation by such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, on the obligations of the type referred to in clause (1) of a third Person (whether or not such items would appear upon the balance sheet of the such obligor or guarantor), other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business; and

(3) to the extent not otherwise included, the obligations of the type referred to in clause (1) of a third Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned by such first Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such first Person;

provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business.

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

Interest Payment Date” when used with respect to any series of Securities, means any date on which an installment of interest on those Securities is scheduled to be paid.

 

5


Legal Holiday” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banking institutions are not required to be open in the State of New York.

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien (statutory or otherwise), pledge, hypothecation, charge, security interest, preference, priority or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction; provided that in no event shall an operating lease be deemed to constitute a Lien.

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

Obligations” means any principal, interest (including any interest accruing subsequent to the filing of a petition in bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding at the rate provided for in the documentation with respect thereto, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim under applicable state, federal or foreign law), penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and banker’s acceptances), damages and other liabilities, and guarantees of payment of such principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities, payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company, or any other applicable Person.

Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Company, or on behalf of any other applicable Person, by an Officer of the Company, or such applicable Person, who must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Company, or such applicable Person, that meets the requirements set forth in this Indenture.

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

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

 

6


Record Date” means any date as of which the Holder of a Security will be determined for any purpose described herein, such determination to be made as of the close of business on such date by reference to the Security Register.

Responsible Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such Person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Securities” means any Security authenticated and delivered under this Indenture. For purposes of this Indenture, all references to Securities to be issued or authenticated upon transfer, replacement or exchange shall be deemed to refer to Securities of the applicable series.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

Senior Indebtedness” means all Indebtedness or Obligations of, or guaranteed or assumed by, the Company, in any case whether outstanding on the date of this Indenture or the date Securities of any series are issued hereunder or thereafter created, incurred, guaranteed or assumed, unless in any case in the instrument creating or evidencing any such Indebtedness or Obligations or pursuant to which the same is outstanding it is specifically stated, at or prior to the time the Company becomes liable in respect thereof, that any such Obligations or Indebtedness or such amendment, renewal, extension, modification and refunding thereof is not Senior Indebtedness.

Subordinated Security” means any security issued under this Indenture which is designated as a Subordinated Security.

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) any corporation, association, or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar 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 thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof or is consolidated under GAAP with such Person at such time; and

 

7


(2) any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity of which

(x) more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general or limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership or otherwise, and

(y) such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity.

Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-777bbbb).

Trustee” means The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.

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

Section 1.02. Other Definitions.

 

Term

   Defined
in Section
 

Authentication Order

     2.02   

Covenant Defeasance

     8.03   

Event of Default

     6.01   

Legal Defeasance

     8.02   

Security Register

     2.03   

Paying Agent

     2.03   

Registrar

     2.03   

Successor Company

     5.01   

Successor Person

     5.01   

Section 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the Trust Indenture Act, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.

The following Trust Indenture Act terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

indenture securities” means the Securities;

indenture security Holder” means a Holder of a Security;

 

8


indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture;

indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee; and

obligor” on the Securities and the Guarantees means the Company and the Guarantors, respectively, and any successor obligor upon the Securities and the Guarantees, respectively.

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

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

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

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

(c) “or” is not exclusive;

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

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

(f) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

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

(h) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Article,” “Section” or “clause” refers to an Article, Section or clause, as the case may be, of this Indenture; and

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

Section 1.05. Acts of Holders. (a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments

 

9


or record or both are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company and any Guarantor. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or the holding by any Person of a Security, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 7.01) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section 1.05.

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

(c) The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register.

(d) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action by the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof, in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by the Trustee or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.

(e) The Company may, in the circumstances permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders entitled to give any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or take any other act, or to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent authorized or permitted to be given or taken by Holders. Unless otherwise specified, if not set by the Company prior to the first solicitation of a Holder made by any Person in respect of any such action, or in the case of any such vote, prior to such vote, any such record date shall be the later of 30 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or the date of the most recent list of Holders furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation.

(f) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents, each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount. Any notice given or action taken by a Holder or its agents with regard to different parts of such principal amount pursuant to this paragraph shall have the same effect as if given or taken by separate Holders of each such different part.

 

10


(g) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Holder, including the Depositary, as the Holder of a Global Security, may make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders, and the Depositary as the Holder of a Global Security may provide its proxy or proxies to the beneficial owners of interests in any such Global Security through such depositary’s standing instructions and customary practices.

(h) The Company may fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons who are beneficial owners of interests in any Global Security held by the Depositary entitled under the procedures of such depositary to make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders. If such a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date or their duly appointed proxy or proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to make, give or take such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date. No such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action shall be valid or effective if made, given or taken more than 90 days after such record date.

ARTICLE 2

THE SECURITIES

Section 2.01. Form and Dating; Terms. (a) General. The Securities may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rules or usage. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Securities shall be in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1.00 in excess thereof. Each Security shall be in one of the forms approved from time to time by or pursuant to any Board Resolution of the Company, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, and if the Securities of such series are to be guaranteed by the Guarantees of any Guarantor as provided in Section 2.01(d) and the terms of such Securities provide for the endorsement thereon or attachment thereto of Guarantees by such Guarantor, such Guarantees to be endorsed on or attached to such Securities shall be in substantially such form as shall be established by or pursuant to a Guarantor’s Board Resolution of such Guarantor or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or Depositary therefor or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities or Guarantees, respectively, as evidenced by their execution thereof.

 

11


(b) Global Securities. If Securities of a series are issuable in whole or in part in global form, the global security representing such Securities may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of outstanding Securities from time to time endorsed thereon and may also provide that the aggregate amount of outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be reduced to reflect exchanges or increased to reflect the issuance of additional Securities. Any endorsement of a Security in global form to reflect the amount (or any increase or decrease in the amount) of outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made in such manner and by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in the Authentication Order delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.01(d) hereof.

(c) Certificate of Authentication. The form of Trustee’s certificate of authentication for any Security issued pursuant to this Indenture shall be substantially as follows:

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

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

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

    as Trustee

By:    
  Authorized Signatory

(d) Terms. The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

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

The Securities may be issued in one or more series in such aggregate principal amount as may from time to time be authorized by the Company’s board of directors. Securities may differ between series in respect of any matters.

Each series of Securities shall be created either by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions of the Company or by one or more indentures supplemental hereto. Any such Board Resolution or supplemental indenture (or, in the case of a series of Securities created pursuant to a Board Resolution, any officer or officers authorized by such Board Resolution) shall establish the terms of any such series of Securities, including the following (as and to such extent as may be applicable):

(1) the title of such series;

 

12


(2) the limit, if any, upon the aggregate principal amount or issue price of the Securities of such series;

(3) the issue date or issue dates of the Securities of such series;

(4) the stated maturity date of the Securities of such series;

(5) the place or places where the principal, premium, if any, interest, if any, and additional amounts, if any, payable with respect to the Securities of such series shall be payable;

(6) whether the Securities of such series will be issued at par or at a premium over or a discount from their face amount;

(7) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which the Securities of such series shall bear interest, if any, and, if applicable, the method by which such rate or rates may be determined;

(8) the date or dates (or the method by which such date or dates may be determined) from which interest, if any, shall accrue, and the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable;

(9) the rights, if any, to defer payments of interest on the Securities by extending the interest payment periods and the duration of such extension;

(10) the period or periods within which, the redemption price(s) or repayment price(s) at which, and any other terms and conditions upon which the Securities of such series may be redeemed or repaid, in whole or in part, by the Company;

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

(12) whether the Securities of such series are to be issued in whole or in part in global form and, if so, the identity of the Depositary for such global security and the terms and conditions, if any, upon which interests in the Securities represented by such global security may be exchanged, in whole or in part, for the individual Securities represented thereby (if other than as provided in Section 2.06);

 

13


(13) whether such Securities are subordinated Securities and if so, the provisions for such subordination;

(14) the denominations in which the Securities of such series will be issued (which may be any denomination as set forth in the terms of such Securities) if other than $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1.00 in excess thereof;

(15) whether and under what circumstances additional amounts on the Securities of such series shall be payable in respect of any taxes, assessments, or other governmental charges withheld or deducted and, if so, whether the Company will have the option to redeem such Securities rather than pay such additional amounts;

(16) the basis upon which interest shall be calculated;

(17) if the Securities of such series are to be issuable in definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a temporary Security for a definitive Security of such series) only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or upon satisfaction of other conditions, then the form and terms of such certificates, documents, and/or conditions;

(18) the exchange or conversion of the Securities of that series, whether or not at the option of the Holders thereof, for or into new Securities of a different series or for or into any other securities which may include shares of capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or securities directly or indirectly convertible into or exchangeable for any such shares or securities of entities unaffiliated with the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company;

(19) if other than U.S. dollars, the foreign or composite currency or currencies in which the Securities of such series shall be denominated and in which payments of principal, premium, if any, interest, if any, or additional amounts, if any, payable with respect to such Securities shall or may be payable;

(20) if the principal, premium, if any, interest, if any, or additional amounts, if any, payable with respect to the Securities of such series are to be payable in any currency other than that in which the Securities are stated to be payable, whether at the election of the Company or of a Holder thereof, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made;

(21) if the amount of any payment of principal, premium, if any, interest, if any, or other sum payable with respect to the Securities of such series may be determined by reference to the relative value of one or more specified currencies, commodities, securities, or instruments, the level of one or more financial or non- financial indices, or any other designated factors or formulas, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

14


(22) the exchange of Securities of such series, at the option of the Holders thereof, for other Securities of the same series of the same aggregate principal amount of a different authorized kind or different authorized denomination or denominations, or both;

(23) if the Securities of the series are to be guaranteed by any Guarantors, the names of the Guarantors of the Securities of the series and the terms of the Guarantees of the Securities of the series, if such terms differ from those set forth in Article 10, and any deletions from, or modifications or additions to, the provisions of Article 10 or any other provisions of this Indenture in connection with the Guarantees of the Securities of the series;

(24) the appointment by the Trustee of an authenticating agent in one or more places other than the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, with power to act on behalf of the Trustee, and subject to its direction, in the authentication and delivery of the Securities of such series;

(25) any trustees, depositaries, paying agents, transfer agents, exchange agents, conversion agents, registrars, or other agents with respect to the Securities of such series if other than the Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar named herein;

(26) the portion of the principal amount of Securities of such series, if other than the principal amount thereof, that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02 or provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 6.12;

(27) any Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series, if not set forth herein, or any modification of any Event of Default set forth herein with respect to such series;

(28) any covenant solely for the benefit of the Securities of such series;

(29) the inapplicability of Article 8 of this Indenture to the Securities of such series and if Article 8 is applicable, the covenants subject to Covenant Defeasance under Section 8.03; and

(30) any other additional, eliminated or changed terms of the Securities of such series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 9.01(l)).

If the Securities of the series are to be guaranteed by any Guarantor pursuant to Article 10, there shall be established in or pursuant to a Guarantor’s Board Resolution and, subject to Section 2.02, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officers’ Certificate of such Guarantor, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of the series, the terms of the Guarantees by such Guarantor with respect to the Securities of the series, if such terms differ from those set forth in Article 10.

 

15


If any series of Securities shall be established by action taken pursuant to any Board Resolution, the execution by the officer or officers authorized by such Board Resolution of an Authentication Order with respect to the first Security of such series to be issued, and the delivery of such Authentication Order to the Trustee at or before the time of issuance of the first Security of such series, shall constitute a sufficient record of such action. Except as otherwise permitted by Section 2.02, if all of the Securities of any such series are not to be issued at one time, the Company shall deliver an Authentication Order with respect to each subsequent issuance of Securities of such series, but such Authentication Orders may be executed by any authorized officer or officers of the Company, whether or not such officer or officers would have been authorized to establish such series pursuant to the aforementioned Board Resolution. If the terms of the Securities of any series provide that any Guarantee by any Guarantor is to be endorsed on or otherwise attached to, or made part of, Securities of any series, and if the terms of such Securities provide for the execution of such Guarantee by such Guarantor (it being understood and agreed that the terms of Securities of any series may, but need not, provide for the execution of any Guarantee by any Guarantor), such Guarantee shall be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by the Chairman of the Board, President or a Vice President of such Guarantor (or any other officer of such Guarantor designated in writing by or pursuant to authority of the Guarantor’s Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee from time to time). The signature of any of these officers on any Guarantee may be manual or facsimile.

Unless otherwise provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution or supplemental indenture creating such series (i) a series may be reopened for issuances of additional Securities of such series, and (ii) all Securities of the same series shall be substantially identical, except for the initial Interest Payment Date, issue price, initial interest accrual date and the amount of the first interest payment.

The form of the Securities of each series shall be established in a supplemental indenture or by or pursuant to the Company’s Board Resolution creating such series. The Securities of each series shall be distinguished from the Securities of each other series in such manner as the Company’s board of directors or its authorized representative or representatives may determine.

Unless otherwise provided with respect to Securities of a particular series, the Securities of any series may only be issuable in registered form, without coupons.

Section 2.02. Execution and Authentication. At least one Officer of the Company shall execute the Securities on behalf of the Company by manual or facsimile signature.

 

16


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

A Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated by the manual or facsimile signature of the Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been duly authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities, together with, if the terms of such Securities provide for the endorsement thereon of any Guarantees by any Guarantor, such Guarantees endorsed thereon and, if such terms so provide, executed by such Guarantor, to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company’s Order for authentication and delivery and, if any Guarantee by a Guarantor is to be endorsed on such Securities, a Guarantor’s Order of such Guarantor, for the authentication and delivery of such Securities with any such Guarantees endorsed thereon (an “Authentication Order”), authenticate and deliver the Securities. In addition, at any time, from time to time, the Trustee shall upon receipt of an Authentication Order authenticate and deliver any additional Securities for an aggregate principal amount specified in such Authentication Order for such additional Securities issued hereunder.

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Securities. An authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or an Affiliate of the Company.

Section 2.03. Registrar and Paying Agent. The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Securities may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“Registrar”) and an office or agency where Securities may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Securities (“Security Register”) 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 prior notice to any Holder. The Company shall 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 their respective Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Paying Agent and Registrar for the Securities and to act as Custodian with respect to the Global Securities (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.01(d) for the Securities of such series).

 

17


Section 2.04. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities, 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) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall 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 shall serve as Paying Agent for the Securities.

Section 2.05. Holder Lists. The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders and shall otherwise comply with Trust Indenture Act Section 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least two 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 Securities and the Company shall otherwise comply with Trust Indenture Act Section 312(a).

Section 2.06. Transfer and Exchange. (a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Securities. Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 2.06 (and except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.01(d) for the Securities of such series), a Global Security may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. A beneficial interest in a Global Security may not be exchanged for a Definitive Security unless (i) the Depositary (x) notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or (y) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 120 days or (ii) there shall have occurred and be continuing a Default with respect to the Securities. Upon the occurrence of any of the preceding events in (i) or (ii) above, Definitive Securities delivered in exchange for any Global Security or beneficial interests therein will be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of the Depositary (in accordance with its customary procedures). Global Securities also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and 2.10 hereof. Every Security authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Security or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or Section 2.07 and 2.10 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Security, except for Definitive Securities issued subsequent to any of the preceding events in (i) or (ii) hereof. A Global Security may not be exchanged for another Security other than as provided in this Section 2.06(a); provided, however, beneficial interests in a Global Security may be transferred and exchanged as provided in this Section 2.06 hereof.

 

18


The Company may at any time and in its sole discretion and subject to the procedures of the Depositary determine that individual Securities of any series issued as Global Securities shall no longer be represented by such Security or Securities in global form. In such event the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order for the authentication and delivery of Definitive Securities of such series and of the same terms and tenor, will authenticate and deliver Securities of such series in definitive form, in authorized denominations, and in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Security or Securities in global form representing such series in exchange for such Security or Securities in global form.

If specified by the Company pursuant to Section 2.01(d) with respect to a series of Securities issued as Global Securities, the Depositary for such series of Securities may surrender a Security in global form for such series of Securities in exchange in whole or in part for Securities of such series in definitive form and of like terms and tenor on such terms as are acceptable to the Company and such Depositary. Thereupon, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors shall execute, and the Trustee upon receipt of an Authentication Order for the authentication and delivery of Definitive Securities of such series, shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge:

(i) to each Person specified by such Depositary, a new Definitive Security or Securities of the same series and of the same tenor and terms, in authorized denominations, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person’s beneficial interest in the Security in global form; and

(ii) to such Depositary, a new Security in global form in a denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Security in global form and the aggregate principal amount of the Definitive Securities delivered to Holders pursuant to clause (i) above.

Any other provision of this Section 2.06 notwithstanding, unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual Securities represented thereby, in definitive form, a Security in global form representing all or a portion of the Securities of a series may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary for such series to a nominee of such Depositary, or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary, or by such Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary for such series or a nominee of such successor Depositary.

 

19


Upon the exchange of a Security in global form for Securities in definitive form, such Security in global form shall be canceled by the Trustee or an agent of the Company or the Trustee. Securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a Security in global form pursuant to this Section 2.06 shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Security in global form, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee or an agent of the Company or the Trustee in writing. The Trustee or such agent shall deliver such Securities to or as directed by the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered or to the Depositary.

Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

(b) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.

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

(ii) No service charge shall be made to a holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Security or to a Holder of a Definitive Security 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 2.07, 2.10, 3.06, and 9.05 hereof).

(iii) Neither the Registrar nor the Company shall be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Security selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

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

(v) The Company shall not be required (A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Securities for redemption under Section 3.02 hereof and ending at the

 

20


close of business on the day of selection, (B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part or (C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Security between a Record Date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.

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

(vii) Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security at the office or agency of the Company designated pursuant to Section 4.02 hereof, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more replacement Securities of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount.

(viii) At the option of the Holder, Securities may be exchanged for other Securities of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Global Securities or Definitive Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail, the replacement Global Securities and Definitive Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof.

(ix) 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.

(x) Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or at any other office or agency maintained by the Company with respect to that series pursuant to Section 4.02 hereof, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of such series of any authorized denominations, of like aggregate principal amount, tenor, terms and stated maturity. At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Securities of such series of any authorized denominations, of like aggregate principal amount, tenor, terms and stated maturity, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency.

 

21


Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

Section 2.07. Replacement Securities. If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Registrar or the Company and the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the ownership and destruction, loss or theft of any Security, the Company shall issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate a replacement Security if the Trustee’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 Security is replaced. The Company may charge for their expenses in replacing a Security.

Every replacement Security is a contractual obligation of the Company and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Securities duly issued hereunder.

Section 2.08. Outstanding Securities. The Securities outstanding at any time are all the Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Security effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in this Section 2.08 as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.09 hereof, a Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Security.

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

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 Securities payable on that date, then on and after that date such Securities shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding and shall cease to accrue interest.

Section 2.09. Treasury Securities. In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Securities owned by the Company, or by any Affiliate of the Company, shall be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Securities that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith shall not be disregarded if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to deliver any such direction, waiver or consent with respect to the Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.

 

22


Section 2.10. Temporary Securities. Until certificates representing Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate temporary Securities. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of certificated Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities and as shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Securities in exchange for temporary Securities.

Holders and beneficial holders, as the case may be, of temporary Securities shall be entitled to all of the benefits accorded to Holders, or beneficial holders, respectively, of Securities under this Indenture.

Section 2.11. Cancellation. The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee or, at the direction of the Trustee, the Registrar or the Paying Agent and no one else shall cancel all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy cancelled Securities (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act). Certification of the destruction of all cancelled Securities shall be delivered to the Company. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 2.12. Defaulted Interest. If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Securities, it shall 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 Securities and pursuant to Section 2.01(d) hereof for the Securities of such series. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such defaulted interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such defaulted interest as provided in this Section 2.12. The Trustee shall fix or cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date; provided that no such special record date shall be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such special record date. 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) shall mail or cause to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder a notice at his or her address as it appears in the Security Register that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

 

23


Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.12 and for greater certainty, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

Section 2.13. CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing the Securities may use CUSIP numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will as promptly as practicable notify the Trustee of any change in the CUSIP numbers.

Section 2.14 Security. If so provided pursuant to Section 2.01(d) with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series may be secured by such property, assets or other collateral as may be specified in or pursuant to Section 2.01(d). Any and all terms and provisions applicable to the security for the Securities of such series shall be provided in or pursuant to Section 2.01(d), which may include, without limitation, provisions for the execution and delivery of such security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral agreements and other similar or related agreements as the Company may elect and which may provide for the Trustee to act as collateral agent or in a similar or other capacity. The Trustee shall comply with Sections 313(a)(5) and (6) and 313(b)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act and the Company shall comply with Sections 314(b), 314(c) and 314(d) of the Trust Indenture Act, in each case in respect of any secured Securities that may be outstanding hereunder from time to time.

Section 2.15 Subordination of Subordinated Securities. The Company covenants and agrees, and each Holder of a Subordinated Security, by such acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that, to the extent and in the manner as may be specified pursuant to Section 2.01(d), the indebtedness and the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on each and all of the Subordinated Securities issued hereunder are hereby expressly made subordinate and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company. Any and all terms and provisions applicable to the subordination of the Securities of such series shall be provided in or pursuant to Section 2.01(d).

 

24


ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTION

The Company may reserve the right to redeem and pay before the stated maturity date of any series of Securities all or any part of the Securities of any series, either by optional redemption, sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligation or otherwise, by provision therefor in the form of Security for such series established and approved pursuant to Section 2.01(a) and Section 2.01(b) or as otherwise provided in Section 2.01(d), and on such terms as are specified in such form or in the indenture supplemental hereto with respect to Securities of such series as provided in Section 2.01(d). Redemption of Securities of any series shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities and, to the extent that this Article does not conflict with such terms, the succeeding Sections of this Article.

Section 3.01. Notices to Trustee. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company, it shall furnish to the Trustee, at least five Business Days before notice of redemption is required to be mailed or caused to be mailed to Holders pursuant to Section 3.03 hereof but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth (a) the paragraph or subparagraph of such Security and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (b) the redemption date, (c) the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed and (d) the redemption price.

Section 3.02. Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed or Purchased. If less than all of the Securities are to be redeemed or purchased in an offer to purchase at any time, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed or purchased (a) if the Securities are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the Securities are listed or (b) on a pro rata basis, by lot, in compliance with the requirements of the Depositary, or by such other method the Trustee considers fair and appropriate. In the event of partial redemption or purchase by lot, the particular Securities to be redeemed or purchased shall be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date by the Trustee from the outstanding Securities not previously called for redemption or purchase.

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption or purchase and, in the case of any Security selected for partial redemption or purchase, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed or purchased. Securities and portions of Securities selected shall be in amounts of $2,000 or multiples of $1.00 in excess thereof; no Securities of $2,000 or less can be redeemed in part, except that if all of the Securities of a Holder are to be redeemed or purchased, the entire outstanding amount of Securities held by such Holder, even if not $2,000 or a multiple of $1.00 in excess thereof, shall be redeemed or purchased. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities called for redemption or purchase also apply to portions of Securities called for redemption or purchase.

 

25


Section 3.03. Notice of Redemption. The Company shall mail or cause to be mailed by first-class mail notices of redemption at least 30 days but not more than 60 days prior to the redemption date to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed at such Holder’s 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 Article 8 or Article 11 hereof. Notices of redemption may not be conditional.

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

(a) the redemption date;

(b) the redemption price;

(c) if any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the portion of the principal amount of that Security that is to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Security representing the same indebtedness to the extent not redeemed will be issued in the name of the Holder of the Securities upon cancellation of the original Security;

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

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

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

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

(h) 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 Securities; and

(i) Reserved.

At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the name of the Company and at its expense; provided that the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least five Business Days before notice of redemption is required to be mailed or caused to be mailed to Holders pursuant to this Section 3.03 (unless a shorter notice shall be agreed to by the Trustee), an Officer’s Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.

 

26


Section 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption. Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Securities called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price. The notice, if mailed in a manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Security designated for redemption in whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Security. Subject to Section 3.05 hereof, on and after the redemption date, interest ceases to accrue on Securities or portions of Securities called for redemption.

Section 3.05. Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price. Prior to 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the redemption or purchase date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption or purchase price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Securities to be redeemed or purchased on that date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, all Securities 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 shall cease to accrue on the Securities or the portions of Securities called for redemption or purchase. If a Security is redeemed or purchased on or after a Record Date but on or prior to the related Interest Payment Date, then any accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption or purchase date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Security was registered at the close of business on such Record Date. If any Security called for redemption or purchase shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption or purchase because of the failure of the Company to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption or purchase date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest accrued to the redemption or purchase date not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Securities.

Section 3.06. Securities Redeemed or Purchased in Part. Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed or purchased in part, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Company a new Security equal in principal amount to the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of the Security surrendered representing the same indebtedness to the extent not redeemed or purchased; provided that each new Security will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1.00 in excess thereof. It is understood that, notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, only an Authentication Order and not an Opinion of Counsel or Officer’s Certificate is required for the Trustee to authenticate such new Security.

 

27


ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

Section 4.01. Payment of Securities. The Company shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities on the dates and in the manner provided in the Securities (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.01(d) for the Securities of such series). Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary, holds as of noon 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 interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to the then applicable interest rate on the Securities to the extent lawful; the Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.

Section 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company shall maintain in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

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

 

28


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

Section 4.03. Reports and Other Information. The Company and the Guarantors shall transmit by mail to all Holders, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company and the Guarantors as may be required by the rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the SEC; provided, however, that the Company and the Guarantors will be deemed to have furnished such information, documents or reports to the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities as required pursuant to this Section 4.03 if it has filed such information, documents or reports with the SEC using the EDGAR filing system (or any successor electronic filing system utilized by the SEC for the filing of such information, documents or reports) and such information, documents or reports are publicly available via EDGAR (or such successor electronic filing system). 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 Officer’s Certificates).

Section 4.04. Compliance Certificate. (a) The Company and each Guarantor (to the extent that such Guarantor is so required under the Trust Indenture Act and with such determination to be made by each Guarantor) shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, a certificate from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer stating that a review of the activities of the Company during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officer with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every condition and covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions, covenants and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto).

(b) When any Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture, or if the Trustee or the holder of any other evidence of Indebtedness of the Company or any of its respective Subsidiaries gives any notice or takes any other action with respect to a claimed Default, the Company shall promptly (which shall be no more than five (5) Business Days) deliver to the Trustee by registered or certified mail or by facsimile transmission an Officer’s Certificate specifying such event and what action the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

29


Section 4.05. Reserved.

Section 4.06. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. The Company and each of the Guarantors covenant (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) that they 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 they may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waive all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenant that they shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

Section 4.07. Reserved.

Section 4.08. Reserved.

Section 4.09. Reserved.

Section 4.10. Reserved.

Section 4.11. Reserved.

Section 4.12. Reserved.

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 (a) its corporate existence, in accordance with its organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Company and (b) the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company; provided that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, if the Company in good faith shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company, taken as a whole.

Section 4.14. Waiver of Certain Covenants. Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.01(d) for Securities of such series, the Company may, with respect to the Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in any covenant provided herein or pursuant to clauses (27) or (28) of Section 2.01(d), Section 9.01(f) for the benefit of the Holders of such series if before or after the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding of such series shall, by act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive

 

30


compliance with such covenant or condition; provided that no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 4.15. Reserved.

Section 4.16. Reserved.

Section 4.17. Reserved.

ARTICLE 5

SUCCESSORS

Section 5.01. Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets. (a) The Company shall not consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not the Company is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(i) either: (A) the Company is the surviving Person; 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, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a corporation, partnership, trust or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Company”);

(ii) the Successor Company, if other than the Company, expressly assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Securities pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

(iii) immediately after such transaction, no Default exists;

(iv) Reserved.

(v) each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to the transactions described above, in which case Section 5.01(c)(i)(B) hereof shall apply, shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Guarantee shall apply to such Person’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities; and

(vi) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indentures, if any, comply with this Indenture.

 

31


(b) Notwithstanding clause (iii) of Section 5.01(a) hereof,

(i) any Subsidiary may consolidate with or merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Company, and

(ii) the Company may merge with an Affiliate of the Company, solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Company in the United States or any State thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof.

(c) Subject to Section 10.06 governing release of a Guarantee upon the sale, disposition or transfer of a Guarantor, no Guarantor shall, and the Company shall not permit any Guarantor to, consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not the Company or Guarantor is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(i) (A) such Guarantor is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Guarantor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Guarantor, as the case may be, or the laws of the United States, any State thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Guarantor or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Person”);

(B) the Successor Person, if other than such Guarantor, expressly assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor under this Indenture and such Guarantor’s related Guarantee pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

(C) immediately after such transaction, no Default exists; and

(D) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indentures, if any, comply with this Indenture.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Guarantor may merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to another Guarantor or the Company.

 

32


(e) Reserved.

Section 5.02. Successor Substituted. Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 5.01 hereof, the successor 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, 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 that the predecessor Company shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Securities except in the case of a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all of the assets of the Company that meets the requirements of Section 5.01 hereof.

ARTICLE 6

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 6.01. Events of Default. (a) An “Event of Default” wherever used herein, means with respect to any series of Securities any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body), unless such event is either inapplicable to a particular series or it is specifically deleted or modified in the manner contemplated by Section 2.01(d):

(i) default in payment when due and payable, upon redemption, acceleration or otherwise, of principal of, or premium, if any, on the Securities;

(ii) default for 30 days or more in the payment when due of interest on or with respect to the Securities;

(iii) failure by the Company or any Guarantor for 60 days after receipt of written notice given by the Trustee or the Holders of not less 25% in principal amount of the Securities to comply with any of their respective obligations, covenants or agreements (other than a default referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above) contained in this Indenture or the Securities;

(iv) default in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligation when the same becomes due by the terms of the Securities of such series and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;

 

33


(v) Reserved.

(vi) the Company, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(A) commences proceedings to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;

(B) consents to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under applicable Bankruptcy law;

(C) consents to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official 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;

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

(A) is for relief against the Company, in a proceeding in which the Company is to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;

(B) appoints a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company, or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company; or

(C) orders the liquidation of the Company;

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

(viii) if Article 10 has been made applicable with respect to such Securities, any Guarantee shall for any reason cease to be in full force and effect or be declared null and void or any responsible officer of any Guarantor, as the case may be, denies that it has any further liability under its Guarantee or gives notice to such effect, other than by reason of the termination of this Indenture or the release of any such Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture.

 

34


(b) A default under any Indebtedness of the Company other than the Securities will not constitute an Event of Default under this Indenture, and a default under one series of Securities will not constitute a default under any other series of Securities.

Section 6.02. Acceleration. (a) If any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (vi) or (vii) of Section 6.01(a) hereof with respect to the Company) occurs and is continuing under this Indenture, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then total outstanding Securities of the affected series may declare the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding Securities to be due and payable immediately.

Upon such declaration, such principal and interest shall be due and payable immediately. The Trustee shall have no obligation to accelerate the Securities if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines acceleration is not in the best interest of the Holders of the Securities.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising under clause (vi) or (vii) of Section 6.01(a) hereof with respect to the Company, all outstanding Securities shall be due and payable immediately without further action or notice.

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

Section 6.03. Other Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of the affected series or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Securities of the applicable series or this Indenture.

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Securities of the applicable series or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Security 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 Securities of the affected series by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Securities waive any existing Default and its consequences hereunder, except a continuing

 

35


Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any Security held by a non-consenting Holder; provided, subject to Section 6.02 hereof, that the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of the affected series 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 with respect to the applicable series, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured with respect to the applicable series 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 total outstanding Securities of a series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder of a Security or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

Section 6.06. Limitation on Suits. Subject to Section 6.07 hereof, no Holder of a Security of a series may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Securities unless:

(a) such Holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default with respect to the applicable series is continuing;

(b) Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the total outstanding Securities of the affected series have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

(c) Holders of the Securities of the affected sereis have offered the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense;

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

(e) Holders of a majority in principal amount of the total outstanding Securities of the affected series have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60 day period.

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

Section 6.07. Rights of Holders of Securities to Receive Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Security to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Security, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Security, 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.

 

36


Section 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(i) or (ii) hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of principal of, premium, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on the Securities 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. Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceedings, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding has been instituted.

Section 6.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative. Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in Section 2.07 hereof, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

Section 6.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Security to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

Section 6.12. 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

 

37


the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders of the Securities allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities including the Guarantors), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to participate as a member in any official committee of creditors appointed in such matter and 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 Securities 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 6.13. Priorities. If the Trustee collects any money with respect to a series of Securities pursuant to this Article 6, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

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

(b) to Holders of Securities of that series for amounts due and unpaid on the Securities for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Securities for principal, premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and

(c) to the Company or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct, including a Guarantor, if applicable.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of Securities pursuant to this Section 6.13.

 

38


Section 6.14. 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 6.14 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Security pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities.

ARTICLE 7

TRUSTEE

Section 7.01. Duties of Trustee. (a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

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

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

(ii) 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, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

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

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

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

 

39


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

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

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

(f) The Trustee shall 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, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Company and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

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

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

 

40


(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company. The Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Incumbency Certificate setting forth the names of individuals or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Incumbency Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officer’s Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.

(f) None of the provisions of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise to incur any liability, financial or otherwise, in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against such risk or liability is not assured to it. The Trustee shall not be required to give any note, bond or surety in respect of the execution of the trusts and powers under this Indenture.

(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 Securities and this Indenture.

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

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

(j) Reserved.

(k) Delivery of reports to the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.03 shall not constitute knowledge of, or notice to the Trustee of the information contained therein.

(l) The permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated hereunder, including the right to obtain an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to take certain actions as enumerated in this Indenture, shall not be construed as duties.

 

41


Section 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities 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 Section 7.10 and Section 7.11 hereof.

Section 7.04. Trustee’s Disclaimer. The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities or any money paid to the Company or upon the Company’s direction under any provision of this Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Securities or any other document in connection with the sale of the Securities or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.

Section 7.05. Notice of Defaults. If a Default occurs and is continuing and if it is known to the Trustee with respect to Securities of any series, the Trustee shall mail to Holders of Securities of such series a notice of the Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default relating to the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on any Security, or in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund installment, the Trustee may withhold from the Holders notice of any continuing Default 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 Securities of such series. The Trustee shall not be deemed to know of any Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is such a Default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

Section 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Securities. The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto. If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall, within 60 days after each February 15 following the date of this Indenture, deliver to each Holder a brief report dated as of such February 15, which complies with the provisions of such Section 313(a). The Trustee shall also comply with Trust Indenture Act Sections 313(b) and 313(c).

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders of Securities shall be mailed to the Company and filed with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Securities are listed in accordance with Trust Indenture Act Section 313(d). The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when the Securities are listed on any stock exchange.

 

42


Section 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity. The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder as the parties shall agree in writing from time to time. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

The Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall indemnify the Trustee for, and hold the Trustee harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability or expense (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by it in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder (including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company or any of the Guarantors (including this Section 7.07) or defending itself against any claim whether asserted by any Holder, the Company or any Guarantor, or liability in connection with the acceptance, exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder). The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of their obligations hereunder. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s own willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith.

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

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

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(vi) or (vii) 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.

The Trustee shall comply with the provisions of Trust Indenture Act Section 313(b)(2) to the extent applicable.

 

43


Section 7.08. Replacement of Trustee. A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08. 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 Securities may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company may remove the Trustee if:

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

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

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

(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

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

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

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

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

 

44


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 shall be the successor Trustee.

Section 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification. There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any State thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

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

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

ARTICLE 8

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 8.01. Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. The Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have either Section 8.02 or Section 8.03 hereof applied to all outstanding Securities of a series upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.

Section 8.02. Legal Defeasance and Discharge. The provisions of this Section 8.02 shall apply to the Securities of each series unless specifically otherwise provided in a Board Resolution or indenture supplemental hereto as provided pursuant to Section 2.01(d). Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Company and the Guarantors shall, 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 Securities and Guarantees of such series on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (“Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Securities, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture including that of the Guarantors (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

(a) the rights of Holders of the Securities to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities when such payments are due solely out of the trust created pursuant to this Indenture referred to in Section 8.04 hereof;

 

45


(b) the Company’s obligations with respect to Securities concerning issuing temporary Securities, registration of such Securities, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for security payments held in trust;

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

(d) this Section 8.02.

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. The provisions of this Section 8.03 shall apply to the Securities of each series unless specifically otherwise provided in a Board Resolution or indenture supplemental hereto as provided pursuant to Section 2.01(d). Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Company and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from their obligations under any covenants specified in or pursuant to Section 2.01(d) as being subject to Covenant Defeasance with respect to such series (except as to (a) rights of registration of transfer and exchange of Securities of such series and rights under Section 8.05, Section 8.06, Section 4.02 and Section 4.04, (b) substitution of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities of such series, (c) rights of Holders of Securities of such series to receive, from the Company pursuant to Section 4.01, payments of principal thereof and interest, if any, thereon upon the original stated due dates or upon the redemption dates therefor (but not upon acceleration), and remaining rights of the Holders of Securities of such series to receive mandatory sinking fund payments, if any, (d) the rights, obligations, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (e) the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series as beneficiaries hereof with respect to the property so deposited with the Trustee payable to all or any of them), in each case with respect to the outstanding Securities of such series as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 are satisfied (“Covenant Defeasance”), and the Securities shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or

 

46


declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Securities shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Securities, the Securities may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.

Section 8.04. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance. The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section 8.02 or Section 8.03 hereof to the outstanding Securities of a series:

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to the Securities of such series:

(a) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series, cash in U.S. dollars, 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, if any, and interest due on the Securities of such series on the stated maturity date or on the redemption date, as the case may be, of such principal, premium, if any, or interest on such Securities and the Company must specify whether such Securities are being defeased to maturity or to a particular redemption date;

(b) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions,

(i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or

(ii) since the issuance of the Securities of such series, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law,

 

47


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

(c) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders of the Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

(d) no Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and the granting of Liens in connection therewith) shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

(e) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which any the Company or Guarantor is a party or by which the Company or any Guarantor is bound (other than that resulting from any borrowing of funds to be applied to make the deposit required to effect such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and the granting of Liens in connection therewith);

(f) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion and subject to customary assumptions and exclusions following the deposit, the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of Section 547 of Title 11 of the United States Code;

(g) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of the Company or any Guarantor or others; and

(h) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions) each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with.

 

48


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 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 Securities of such series shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company or a Guarantor acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of the Securities of such series of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or 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 Securities of such series.

Anything in this Article 8 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any money or 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(a) 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 interest on any Security of such series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on their request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

Section 8.07. Reinstatement. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States dollars or Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or Section 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 obligations under this Indenture and the Securities shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or Section 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance

 

49


with Section 8.02 or Section 8.03 hereof, as the case may be; provided that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of, premium or interest on any Security following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE 9

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

Section 9.01. Without Consent of Holders of Securities. Notwithstanding Section 9.02 hereof, the Company, any Guarantor (with respect to a Guarantee or this Indenture) and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture and any Guarantee or any or all series of Securities without the consent of any Holder:

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

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

(c) to comply with Section 5.01 hereof;

(d) to provide the assumption of the Company’s or any Guarantor’s obligations to the Holders;

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

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

(g) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

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

(i) to provide for the issuance of exchange notes or private exchange notes, which are identical to exchange notes except that they are not freely transferable;

(j) to add a Guarantor under this Indenture;

 

50


(k) to conform the text of this Indenture, Guarantees or the Securities to any provision of the “Description of New Securities” or equivalent section of any prospectus supplement to the extent that such provision in such “Description of New Securities” section was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture, Guarantee or Securities;

(l) to make any amendment to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Securities as permitted by this Indenture, including, without limitation to facilitate the issuance and administration of the Securities; provided, however, that (i) compliance with this Indenture as so amended would not result in Securities being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable securities law and (ii) such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Securities;

(m) to make any other modifications to the Securities or this Indenture of a formal, minor or technical nature or necessary to correct a manifest error, so long as such modification does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder of the Securities in any material respect;

(n) to establish any form of Security or Guarantees, as provided in Article 2 hereof, and to provide for the issuance of any series of Securities or Guarantees thereof, as provided in Article 2 hereof, and to set forth the terms thereof, and/or to add to the rights of the Holders of the Securities or Guarantees of any series; or

(o) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by another corporation as a successor Trustee hereunder with respect to one or more series of Securities and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to Section 7.09.

Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a Board Resolution 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 shall 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 shall not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except to the extent required by law, no Opinion of Counsel shall be required in connection with the addition of a Guarantor under this Indenture upon execution and delivery by such Guarantor and the Trustee of a supplemental indenture to this Indenture, and delivery of an Officer’s Certificate.

 

51


Section 9.02. With Consent of Holders of Securities. Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Securities and the Guarantees with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of each series of Securities affected by such supplemental indenture or indenture 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 Securities), and, subject to Section 6.04 and Section 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 interest on the Securities, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Guarantees or the Securities of the affected series may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such series voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Securities). Section 2.08 hereof and Section 2.09 hereof shall determine which Securities are considered to be “outstanding” for the purposes of this Section 9.02.

Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a Board Resolution 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 Securities of each such series as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee shall 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 shall not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture.

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

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

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

 

52


Without the consent of each affected Holder of Securities of the applicable series, an amendment or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not (with respect to any Securities held by a non-consenting Holder):

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

(b) reduce the principal of or change the fixed final maturity of any such Security or alter or waive the provisions with respect to the redemption of such Securities;

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

(d) waive a Default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities, except a rescission of acceleration of the Securities by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration, or in respect of a covenant or provision contained in this Indenture or any Guarantee which cannot be amended or modified without the consent of all Holders;

(e) make any Security payable in money other than that stated therein;

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

(g) make any change in these amendment and waiver provisions;

(h) impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of, or interest on such Holder’s Securities on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Securities;

(i) except as expressly permitted by this Indenture, modify the Guarantees in any manner adverse to the Holders of the Securities; or

(j) subordinate the Securities or the Guarantees in right of payment.

Section 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Securities shall be set forth in an amended or supplemental indenture that complies with the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

 

53


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 Security is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Security and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However, any such Holder of a Security or subsequent Holder of a Security may revoke the consent as to its Security 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.

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement, or waiver. If a record date is fixed, then, notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only such Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such amendment, supplement, or waiver or to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date unless the consent of the requisite number of Holders has been obtained.

Section 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Securities. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Security thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for all Securities may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Securities that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

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

Section 9.06. Trustee to Sign Amendments, Etc. The Trustee shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver 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 amendment, supplement or waiver until the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) approves it. In executing any amendment, supplement or waiver, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 12.04 hereof, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amendment, supplement or waiver is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company and any Guarantors party thereto, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with the provisions hereof (including Section 9.03). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Opinion of Counsel will be required for the Trustee to execute any amendment or supplement adding a new Guarantor under this Indenture.

 

54


Section 9.07. Payment for Consent. Neither the Company nor any Affiliate of the Company shall, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any Holder for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture or the Securities unless such consideration is offered to all Holders and is paid to all Holders that so consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.

ARTICLE 10

GUARANTEES

Section 10.01. Guarantee. Securities of any series that are to be guaranteed by the Guarantees of any Guarantors shall be guaranteed by such Guarantors as shall be established pursuant to Section 2.01(d) with respect to the Securities of such series. The Persons who shall initially be the Guarantors of the Securities of any such series may, but need not, include any or all of the Guarantors executing this Indenture as of the date hereof and may include any and all such other Persons as the Company may determine; provided that, prior to the authentication and delivery upon original issuance of Securities that are to be guaranteed by a Person that is not a Guarantor, the Company, the Trustee and such Person shall enter into a supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 9.01 hereof whereby such Person shall become a Guarantor under this Indenture. Subject to this Article 10, each of the Guarantors of any Security of a series hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a Security of such series authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Securities or the obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that: (a) the principal of, interest, premium on the Securities shall 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 Securities, if any, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder shall be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Securities or any of such other obligations, that same shall 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. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.

 

55


The Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Securities or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Securities 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 covenants that this Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Securities and this Indenture.

Each Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by the Trustee or any Holder in enforcing any rights under this Section 10.01.

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 either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.

Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 hereof for the purposes of this 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 hereof, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Guarantee. The Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Guarantees.

Each Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against the Company for liquidation, reorganization, should the Company become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of the Company’s assets, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Securities are, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee on the Securities or Guarantees, whether as a “voidable preference,”

 

56


“fraudulent transfer” or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made. In the event that any payment or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Securities shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

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

The Guarantee issued by any Guarantor shall be a general unsecured senior obligation of such Guarantor and shall be pari passu in right of payment with or senior to all Indebtedness of such Guarantor, if any.

Each payment to be made by a Guarantor in respect of its Guarantee shall be made without set-off, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any kind or nature.

Section 10.02. Limitation on Guarantor Liability. Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Securities of a series, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each Guarantor shall be limited to the maximum amount as 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 10, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable law. Each Guarantor that makes a payment under its Guarantee shall be entitled upon payment in full of all guaranteed obligations under this Indenture with respect to a series of Securities to a contribution from each other Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Guarantor’s pro rata portion of such payment based on the respective net assets of all the Guarantors at the time of such payment determined in accordance with GAAP.

Section 10.03. Execution and Delivery. To evidence its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 hereof, each Guarantor hereby agrees that this Indenture shall be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by an Officer of such Guarantor.

 

57


Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of any notation of such Guarantee on the Securities of any series guaranteed by such Guarantee.

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

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

Section 10.04. Subrogation. Each Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of Holders of Securities against the Company in respect of any amounts paid by any Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.01 hereof; provided that, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no Guarantor shall be entitled to enforce or receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all amounts then due and payable by the Company under this Indenture or the Securities shall have been paid in full.

Section 10.05. Benefits Acknowledged. Each Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by this Indenture and that the guarantee and waivers made by it pursuant to its Guarantee are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

Section 10.06. Release of Guarantees. A Guarantee by a Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged, and no further action by such Guarantor, the Company or the Trustee is required for the release of such Guarantor’s Guarantee, upon:

(a) (i) any sale, exchange or transfer (by merger or otherwise) of the Capital Stock of such Guarantor (including any sale, exchange or transfer), after which the applicable Guarantor is no longer an Affiliate of the Company which sale, exchange or transfer is made in compliance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture;

(ii) any conditions for such release provided with respect to Securities of such series in accordance with Section 2.01(d) having been satisfied; or

(iii) the Company exercising its Legal Defeasance option or Covenant Defeasance option in accordance with Article 8 hereof or the Company’s obligations under this Indenture being discharged in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; and

(b) such Guarantor delivering to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

58


ARTICLE 11

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 11.01. Satisfaction and Discharge. This Indenture shall be discharged and shall cease to be of further effect as to all Securities of a series, when either:

(a) all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered, except lost, stolen or destroyed Securities which have been replaced or paid and Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(b) (i) all Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the making of a notice of redemption or otherwise, shall become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company and the Company or Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, cash in U.S. dollars, 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 Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption;

(ii) no Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness) with respect to this Indenture or the Securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or shall occur as a result of such deposit and such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or Guarantor is a party or by which the Company or Guarantor is bound (other than that resulting from any borrowing of funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness);

(iii) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by them under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series; and

(iv) the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Securities of such series at maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be.

 

59


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

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (i) of clause (b) of this Section 11.01, the provisions of Section 11.02 and Section 8.06 hereof shall survive.

Section 11.02. Application of Trust Money. Subject to the provisions of Section 8.06 hereof, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities of the applicable series 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) 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 11.01 hereof 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 Securities shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof; provided that if the Company has made any payment of principal of, premium or interest on any Securities because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE 12

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 12.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls. If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Trust Indenture Act Section 318(c), the imposed duties shall control.

 

60


Section 12.02. Notices. Any notice or communication by the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), fax or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

If to the Company and/or any Guarantor:

Education Management Corporation

210 Sixth Avenue, 33rd Floor

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-2603

Attention: General Counsel

If to the Trustee:

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.

525 William Penn Place, 38th Floor

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15259

Fax No.: (412) 234-7535

Attention: Corporate Trust Administration

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

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

Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first-class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Any notice or communication shall also be so mailed to any Person described in Trust Indenture Act Section 313(c), to the extent required by the Trust Indenture Act. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

If a notice or communication is 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 shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

Section 12.03. Communication by Holders of Securities with Other Holders of Securities. The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities of a series, and the corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Trust Indenture Act Section 312(c).

 

61


Section 12.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by the Company or any of the Guarantors to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee:

(a) An Officer’s Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

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

Section 12.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to Section 4.04 hereof or Trust Indenture Act Section 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of Trust Indenture Act Section 314(e) and shall include:

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

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

(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with (and, in the case of an Opinion of Counsel, may be limited to reliance on an Officer’s Certificate as to matters of fact); and

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

Section 12.06. Rules by Trustee and Agents. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

 

62


Section 12.07. No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders. No director, officer, employee, incorporator, member or stockholder of the Company or Guarantor or any of their parent companies shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Securities, the Guarantees or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting Securities waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Securities.

Section 12.08. Governing Law. THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES AND ANY GUARANTEE WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 12.09. Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE GUARANTORS AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

Section 12.10. Force Majeure. In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its reasonable control, including without limitation strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software or hardware) services.

Section 12.11. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or the Guarantors or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

Section 12.12. Successors. All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors. All agreements of each Guarantor in this Indenture shall bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.06 hereof.

Section 12.13. Severability. In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

63


Section 12.14. Counterpart Originals. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

Section 12.15. Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

Section 12.16. Qualification of Indenture. The Company shall qualify this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 12.17. Calculations. The Company (or its agents) will be responsible for making all calculations called for under this Indenture or the Securities. The Company (or its agents) will make all such calculations in good faith and, absent manifest error, their calculations will be final and binding on Holders. The Company (or its agents) will provide a schedule of its calculations to the Trustee and the Trustee is entitled to rely conclusively upon the accuracy of such calculations without independent verification.

[Signatures on following page]

 

64


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

 

EDUCATION MANAGEMENT

      CORPORATION

By: 

   
 

Name:

 

Title:

 

EDUCATION MANAGEMENT

      FINANCE CORP.

By: 

   
 

Name:

 

Title:

 

EDUCATION MANAGEMENT LLC

By: 

   
 

Name:

 

Title:

Signature Page to Indenture


AID Restaurant, Inc.

AIH Restaurant, Inc.

AIIM Restaurant, Inc.

Argosy University Family Center, Inc.

The Connecting Link, Inc.

EDMC Marketing and Advertising, Inc.

Higher Education Services, Inc.

MCM University Plaza, Inc.

AICA-IE Restaurant, Inc.

AIIN Restaurant LLC

AIT Restaurant, Inc.

AITN Restaurant, Inc.

By: 

   
  Name:
  Title:

Signature Page to Indenture


THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

      TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

      as Trustee

By:     
  Name:
  Title:

Signature Page to Indenture