EX-4.1 2 d764760dex41.htm EX-4.1 EX-4.1

Exhibit 4.1

The GEO Group, Inc.

as Issuer

and the

Initial Guarantors (as defined herein)

and

Ankura Trust Company, LLC,

as Trustee and Collateral Agent

INDENTURE

Dated as of April 18, 2024

8.625% SENIOR SECURED NOTES DUE 2029


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

(c)

   N.A.

311(a)

   7.11

(b)

   7.11

(c)

   N.A.

312(a)

   2.06

(b)

   13.03

(c)

   13.03

313(a)

   7.06(a)

(b)(1)

   N.A.

(b)(2)

   7.06(a), 7.07(f)

(c)

   7.06(a), 13.02(d)

(d)

   7.06(b)

314(a)

   13.05

(b)

   N.A.

(c)(1)

   N.A.

(c)(2)

   N.A.

(c)(3)

   N.A.

(d)

   N.A.

(e)

   13.05

(f)

   N.A.

315(a)

   N.A.

(b)

   N.A.

(c)

   N.A.

(d)

   N.A.

(e)

   N.A.

316(a) (last sentence)

   N.A.

(a)(1)(A)

   N.A.

(a)(1)(B)

   N.A.

(a)(2)

   N.A.

(b)

   N.A.

(c)

   13.14(d)

317(a)(1)

   N.A.

(a)(2)

   N.A.

(b)

   N.A.

318(a)

   N.A.

(b)

   N.A.

(c)

   13.01

N.A. means not applicable.

 

*

This Cross-Reference Table is not part of the Indenture.

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ARTICLE ONE DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

     1  

Section 1.01 Definitions

     1  

Section 1.02 Other Definitions

     27  

Section 1.03 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act

     28  

Section 1.04 Rules of Construction

     28  

ARTICLE TWO THE NOTES

     29  

Section 2.01 Form and Dating

     29  

Section 2.02 Execution and Authentication

     30  

Section 2.03 Methods of Receiving Payments on the Notes

     31  

Section 2.04 Registrar and Paying Agent

     31  

Section 2.05 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust

     31  

Section 2.06 Holder Lists

     31  

Section 2.07 Registration

     32  

Section 2.08 Transfer and Exchange

     33  

Section 2.09 Replacement Notes

     42  

Section 2.10 Outstanding Notes

     42  

Section 2.11 Treasury Notes

     43  

Section 2.12 Temporary Notes

     43  

Section 2.13 Cancellation

     43  

Section 2.14 Defaulted Interest

     43  

Section 2.15 CUSIP Numbers

     43  

Section 2.16 Issuance of Additional Notes

     44  

ARTICLE THREE REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

     44  

Section 3.01 Notices to Trustee

     44  

Section 3.02 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed

     44  

Section 3.03 Notice of Redemption

     45  

Section 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption

     45  

Section 3.05 Deposit of Redemption Price

     46  

Section 3.06 Notes Redeemed in Part

     46  

Section 3.07 Optional Redemption

     46  

Section 3.08 [Reserved]

     47  

Section 3.09 Repurchase Offers

     47  

Section 3.10 Application of Trust Money

     49  

ARTICLE FOUR COVENANTS

     49  

Section 4.01 Payment of Notes

     49  

Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency

     49  

Section 4.03 Reports

     49  

Section 4.04 Compliance Certificate

     51  

Section 4.05 Taxes

     51  

Section 4.06 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws

     51  

Section 4.07 Restricted Payments

     51  

Section 4.08 Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries

     54  

Section 4.09 Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock

     55  

Section 4.10 Asset Sales

     58  

Section 4.11 Transactions with Affiliates

     61  

Section 4.12 Liens

     62  

Section 4.13 Business Activities

     62  

Section 4.14 Offer to Repurchase upon a Change of Control

     62  

Section 4.15 Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries

     63  

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

     Page  

Section 4.16 [Reserved]

     63  

Section 4.17 Sale and Leaseback Transactions

     63  

Section 4.18 Additional Note Guarantees

     63  

Section 4.19 Changes in Covenants when Notes Rated Investment Grade

     64  

ARTICLE FIVE SUCCESSORS

     65  

Section 5.01 Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

     65  

Section 5.02 Successor Corporation Substituted

     66  

ARTICLE SIX DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

     66  

Section 6.01 Events of Default

     66  

Section 6.02 Acceleration

     67  

Section 6.03 Other Remedies

     68  

Section 6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults

     68  

Section 6.05 Control by Majority

     68  

Section 6.06 Limitation on Suits

     68  

Section 6.07 Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment

     69  

Section 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee

     69  

Section 6.09 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

     69  

Section 6.10 Priorities

     69  

Section 6.11 Undertaking for Costs

     70  

ARTICLE SEVEN TRUSTEE

     70  

Section 7.01 Duties of Trustee

     70  

Section 7.02 Certain Rights of Trustee

     71  

Section 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee

     72  

Section 7.04 Disclaimer

     72  

Section 7.05 Notice of Defaults

     73  

Section 7.06 Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes

     73  

Section 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity

     73  

Section 7.08 Replacement of Trustee

     74  

Section 7.09 Successor by Merger, Etc.

     75  

Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification

     75  

Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company

     75  

Section 7.12 Application for Instructions from the Company

     75  

ARTICLE EIGHT DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

     75  

Section 8.01 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

     75  

Section 8.02 Legal Defeasance and Discharge

     75  

Section 8.03 Covenant Defeasance

     76  

Section 8.04 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance

     76  

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

     77  

Section 8.06 Repayment to the Company

     78  

Section 8.07 Reinstatement

     78  

ARTICLE NINE AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

     78  

Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders of Notes

     78  

Section 9.02 With Consent of Holders of Notes

     79  

Section 9.03 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act

     81  

Section 9.04 Revocation and Effect of Consents

     81  

Section 9.05 Notation on or Exchange of Notes

     81  

Section 9.06 Trustee to Sign Amendments, Etc.

     81  

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

     Page  

ARTICLE TEN NOTE GUARANTEES

     82  

Section 10.01 Guarantee

     82  

Section 10.02 Limitation on Guarantor Liability

     83  

Section 10.03 Execution and Delivery of a Supplemental Indenture Relating to a Note Guarantee

     83  

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

     83  

Section 10.05 Release of a Guarantor

     84  

ARTICLE ELEVEN SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

     84  

Section 11.01 Satisfaction and Discharge

     84  

Section 11.02 Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions

     85  

Section 11.03 Repayment to the Company

     85  

ARTICLE TWELVE COLLATERAL AND SECURITY

     85  

Section 12.01 Security

     85  

Section 12.02 First Lien Intercreditor Agreement

     86  

Section 12.03 Collateral Agent

     86  

Section 12.04 Collateral Shared Equally and Ratably

     87  

Section 12.05 Release of Liens on Collateral

     87  

Section 12.06 Further Assurances

     88  

Section 12.07 Certain Real Estate Deliverables

     88  

Section 12.08 After-Acquired Property

     92  

ARTICLE THIRTEEN MISCELLANEOUS

     93  

Section 13.01 Trust Indenture Act Controls

     93  

Section 13.02 Notices

     93  

Section 13.03 Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes

     94  

Section 13.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

     94  

Section 13.05 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

     94  

Section 13.06 Rules by Trustee and Agents

     95  

Section 13.07 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Managers, Employees, Incorporators, Stockholders, Members and Partners

     95  

Section 13.08 Governing Law

     95  

Section 13.09 Consent to Jurisdiction

     95  

Section 13.10 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements

     95  

Section 13.11 Successors

     95  

Section 13.12 Severability

     96  

Section 13.13 Counterpart Originals

     96  

Section 13.14 Acts of Holders

     96  

Section 13.15 Benefit of Indenture

     97  

Section 13.16 Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.

     97  

Section 13.17 Waiver of Jury Trial

     97  

Section 13.18 Force Majeure

     97  

Section 13.19 U.S.A. Patriot Act

     97  

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A    FORM OF INITIAL NOTE
Exhibit B    FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
Exhibit C    FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE
Exhibit D    FORM OF EXCHANGE NOTE OR PRIVATE EXCHANGE NOTE

 

-iii-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

SCHEDULES

 

Annex I    ISSUE DATE MORTGAGED PROPERTIES AND PROPOSED FACILITIES TO MORTGAGE

 

-iv-


INDENTURE dated as of April 18, 2024 among The GEO Group, Inc., a Florida corporation (the “Company”), the Initial Guarantors (as defined herein) and Ankura Trust Company, LLC, as Trustee and Collateral Agent (each, as defined below).

The Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined below) of the Notes (as defined below):

ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Section 1.01 Definitions.

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

2026 Exchangeable Senior Notes” means the 6.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes issued by GEO Corrections Holdings, Inc.

2031 Senior Notes” means the Company’s 10.250% Senior Notes due 2031.

Acquired Debt” means, with respect to any specified Person: (i) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into, or becoming a Subsidiary of, such specified Person; and (ii) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.

Additional Interest” means all additional interest then owing pursuant to Section 6 of the Registration Rights Agreement.

Additional Notes” means, subject to the Company’s compliance with Section 4.09 and Section 4.12 hereof, 8.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2029 of the Company issued from time to time after the Issue Date under the terms of this Indenture (other than pursuant to Sections 2.08, 2.09, 2.11, 2.12 or 3.06 and other than Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes issued pursuant to a Registered Exchange Offer or Private Exchange, respectively, for other Notes outstanding under this Indenture).

Adjusted EBITDA” means, for any period, (a) EBITDA for such period minus (b) the amount, if a positive number, by which the amount of such EBITDA attributable to Unrestricted Subsidiaries or Other Consolidated Persons (including any public-private partnership of the Company or its Subsidiaries that is an Other Consolidated Person) minus Non-Recourse Debt Service of Unrestricted Subsidiaries or Other Consolidated Persons (including any public-private partnership of the Company or its Subsidiaries that is an Other Consolidated Person) exceeds 20% of such EBITDA.

Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control,” as used with respect to any Person, 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; provided, that, beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the Voting Stock of a Person will be deemed to be control. For purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with” shall have correlative meanings.

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

Agent Members” shall mean Participants or Indirect Participants in, the Depository.

 

1


Applicable Authorized Representative” means, with respect to any Shared Collateral, (i) until the earlier of (x) the Discharge of Credit Agreement Obligations and (y) the Non-Controlling Authorized Representative Enforcement Date, the Credit Agreement Administrative Agent and (ii) from and after the earlier of (x) the Discharge of Credit Agreement Obligations and (y) the Non-Controlling Authorized Representative Enforcement Date, the Major Non-Controlling Authorized Representative.

Applicable Collateral Agent” means, (i) until the earlier of (x) the Discharge of Credit Agreement Obligations and (y) the Non-Controlling Authorized Representative Enforcement Date, the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent and (ii) from and after the earlier of (x) the Discharge of Credit Agreement Obligations and (y) the Non-Controlling Authorized Representative Enforcement Date, the Collateral Agent(s) for the series of additional First Lien Obligations represented by the Major Non-Controlling Authorized Representative at such time.

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

Applicable Premium” means, with respect to a Note on any date of redemption, the greater of (1) 1.0% of the principal amount of such Note and (2) the excess, if any, of (a) the present value as of such date of redemption of (i) the redemption price of such Note on April 15, 2026 (such redemption price being set forth in Section 3.07(a)), plus (ii) all required interest payments due on such Note through April 15, 2026 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest to (but not including) the date of redemption), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such date of redemption plus 50 basis points, over (b) the then outstanding principal amount of such Note; provided that such calculation or the correctness thereof will not be the duty or obligation of the Trustee.

Asset Sale” means:

(1) the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of any assets or rights; provided, that, the sale, lease, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be governed by Section 4.14 and/or Section 5.01 hereof and not by Section 4.10 hereof; and

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

Notwithstanding the preceding, the following items will not be deemed to be Asset Sales:

(i) any single transaction or series of related transactions that involves the sale or other disposition of assets or the issuance or sale of Equity Interests of a Restricted Subsidiary having a fair market value of less than $20.0 million;

(ii) a transfer of assets by the Company to any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or by any Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary;

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

(iv) the sale or lease of equipment, inventory, accounts receivable or other assets in the ordinary course of business;

(v) the sale or other disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents;

(vi) a Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment that is permitted by Section 4.07 hereof; and

(vii) the sale or other disposition of Delaney Hall.

 

2


Asset Swap” means an exchange of assets other than cash, Cash Equivalents or Equity Interests of the Company or any Subsidiary by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company for:

(i) one or more Permitted Businesses;

(ii) a controlling equity interest in any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary whose assets consist primarily of one or more Permitted Businesses; and/or

(iii) one or more real estate properties.

Attributable Debt” in respect of a Sale and Leaseback Transaction means, at the time of determination, the present value of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such Sale and Leaseback Transaction including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended. Such present value shall be calculated using a discount rate equal to the rate of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP.

Authorized Representative” means at any time, (i) in the case of any Obligations under the Credit Agreement or the Credit Agreement Secured Parties, the Credit Agreement Administrative Agent, (ii) in the case of the Obligations under the Notes, this Indenture, the Note Guarantees and the Security Documents or the Notes Secured Parties, the Trustee and (iii) in the case of any other series of Obligations or secured party under such Obligations that become subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement after the Issue Date, the Designated Representative for such series named as authorized representative for such series in the applicable joinder agreement.

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

Beneficial Owner” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such “person” shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such “person” has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition. The terms “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” shall have a corresponding meaning.

Board of Directors” means: (1) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board; (2) with respect to a partnership, the board of directors of the general partner of the partnership; and (3) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.

Board Resolution” means, with respect to any Person, a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or person performing similar function of such Person to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of such Person and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification.

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

Capital Lease” means any lease of any property by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any Other Consolidated Person, as lessee, that should, in accordance with GAAP, be classified and accounted for as a capital lease on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company, its Subsidiaries and the Other Consolidated Persons.

Capital Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP.

Capital Stock” means:

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

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

 

3


(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and

(4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.

Cash Equivalents” means: (1) United States dollars; (2) Government Securities having maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition; (3) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision thereof having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P with maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition; (4) certificates of deposit and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any lender party to the Credit Agreement or with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million and a Thomson Bank Watch Rating of “B” or better; (5) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2), (3) and (4) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) above; (6) commercial paper having the highest rating obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P and in each case maturing within one year after the date of acquisition; (7) money market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (1) through (6) of this definition; and (8) with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary, deposit accounts held by such Foreign Subsidiary in local currency at local commercial banks or savings banks or saving and loan associations in the ordinary course of business.

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

(1) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, assignment, lease, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary or any Parent Company;

(2) the approval by the holders of the Voting Stock of the Company or any Parent Company of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company or any Parent Company or, if no such approval is required, the adoption of a plan by the Company or any Parent Company relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company or any Parent Company;

(3) the consummation of any transaction (including without limitation any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than a Parent Company, becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company; or

(4) the Company consolidates with, or merges with or into, any Person, or any Person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company or such other Person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where (A) the Voting Stock of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such transaction is converted into or exchanged for Voting Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the surviving or transferee Person constituting a majority of the outstanding shares of such Voting Stock of such surviving or transferee Person (immediately after giving effect to such issuance) and (B) immediately after such transaction, no “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), becomes, directly or indirectly, the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the voting power of all classes of Voting Stock of the Company, other than in each case, in connection with any transaction or series of transactions in which the Company shall become a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of a Parent Company.

Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme, or its successor.

 

4


Collateral” means all of the “Collateral” and “Mortgaged Property” or “Trust Property” or other similar term referred to in the Security Documents and all of the other property and rights that is or is intended under the terms of the Security Documents to be subject to Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent.

Collateral Agent” means Ankura Trust Company, LLC, together with its successors and assigns, in its capacity as collateral agent for the holders of the Obligations in respect of the Notes, until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and/or the Security Documents and thereafter means the successor collateral agent.

Company” means The GEO Group, Inc. until a successor replaces it pursuant to Article Five hereof and thereafter means the successor.

Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, that:

(1) the Net Income (but not loss) of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting will be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the specified Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Person;

(2) the Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary shall be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders;

(3) the Net Income of any Person acquired during such period for any period prior to the date of such acquisition shall be excluded;

(4) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles shall be excluded;

(5) the Net Income or loss of any Unrestricted Subsidiary will be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the specified Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Person;

(6) any non-recurring or unusual gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto) or expenses (including, but not limited to, any expenses relating to severance, relocation and one-time compensation charges and any expenses directly attributable to the implementation of cost saving initiatives) shall be excluded;

(7) any net after-tax income (loss) from disposed or discontinued operations and any net after-tax gains or losses on disposal of disposed or discontinued operations shall be excluded;

(8) the amount of any restructuring charge, integration costs or other business optimization expenses or reserve shall be excluded;

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

(10) any after-tax effect of income (loss) from the early extinguishment or cancellation of Indebtedness or Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments shall be excluded; and

 

5


(11) any fees, expenses or charges related to any equity offering, Permitted Investment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or the incurrence of Indebtedness not prohibited from being incurred by this Indenture (including a refinancing thereof), whether or not completed or successful, shall be excluded, including (i) such fees, expenses or charges related to the Transactions and (ii) any amendment or other modification of the 2031 Senior Notes, the Notes and the Credit Agreement.

Consolidated Tangible Assets” means the total assets, less goodwill and other intangibles shown on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP less all write-ups (other than write-ups in connection with acquisitions) subsequent to the date hereof in the book value of any asset (except any such intangible assets) owned by the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries.

Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio” means, as of any Transaction Date with respect to any Person, the ratio of:

(1) the aggregate amount of Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis outstanding on such Transaction Date, to

(2) the aggregate amount of Adjusted EBITDA of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Person’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters immediately preceding such Transaction Date for which internal financial statements are available.

The Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio shall be calculated in a manner consistent with the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio,” including any pro forma adjustments to Indebtedness and Adjusted EBITDA.

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

Corporate Trust Office” means the designated office of the Trustee at which at any time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 13.02 hereof, or such other address as to which the Trustee may from time to time give notice to the Company and to the Holders.

Credit Agreement” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of April 18, 2024, by and among the Company, GEO Corrections Holdings, Inc., the administrative agent and collateral agent thereunder, and the lenders who are, or may from time to time become, party thereto, including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and in each case as may be amended (and/or amended and restated), modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time, in whole or in part, with the same or different lenders (including, without limitation, any amendment, amendment and restatement, modification, renewal, refunding, replacement or refinancing that increases the maximum amount of the loans made or to be made thereunder).

Credit Agreement Administrative Agent” means the “Credit Agreement Administrative Agent” as defined under the Credit Agreement.

Credit Agreement Secured Parties” means the “Secured Parties” as defined under the Credit Agreement.

Credit Facility” or “Credit Facilities” means one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the Credit Agreement), indentures, notes, notes purchase agreements or commercial paper facilities, in each case, with banks or other institutional lenders or accredited investors or institutional investors providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, term debt, debt securities, project financings, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, in each case, as amended (and/or amended and restated), restated, supplemented, modified, renewed, extended, increased, refunded, replaced in any manner (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) or refinanced (including by means of sales of debt securities to institutional investors) in whole or in part from time to time.

 

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Custodian” means the Trustee or its agent, as custodian with respect to the Global Notes, 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.

Delaney Hall” means the Facility and related assets known as Delaney Hall, located in Essex County, New Jersey.

Definitive Note” means a certificated Initial Note or Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.08 hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A or Exhibit D hereto, as applicable, except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.

Depositary” means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.04 hereof as the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture.

Designated Asset” means any Facility used in a Permitted Business owned or leased by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that is subject to a Governmental Authority’s option to purchase or right of reversion under the related Designated Asset Contract.

Designated Asset Contract” means (a) contracts or arrangements in existence on the date of this Indenture with respect to the following Facilities under which a Governmental Authority has the right to purchase such Facility for the Designated Asset Value of such Facility, or with respect to which there is a right of reversion of all or a portion of the Company’s or a Restricted Subsidiary’s ownership or leasehold interest in such Facility: Central Arizona Correctional Facility; Arizona State Prison Phoenix; Robert A. Deyton Detention Facility; Lawton Correctional Facility; Arizona State Prison Kingman; Abraxas Youth Center (So. Mountain, PA); and Leadership Development Program (So. Mountain, PA); and (b) a contract that is acquired or entered into after the date of this Indenture under which a Governmental Authority has an option to purchase a Designated Asset from the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary for a Designated Asset Value or a right of reversion of all or a portion of the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s ownership or leasehold interest in such Designated Asset, provided that such contract is acquired or entered into in the ordinary course of business and is preceded by (i) if the related Designated Asset Value is greater than or equal to $50 million, a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company set forth in an Officers’ Certificate certifying that the acquisition or entering into of such contract has been approved by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors or (ii) an Officers’ Certificate certifying that the acquisition or entering into of such contract has been approved by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and, in either case, the option to purchase or right of reversion in such contract is on terms the Board of Directors, or the Chief Executive Officer, as applicable, has determined to be reasonable and in the best interest of the Company taking into account the transaction contemplated thereby or by the acquisition thereof.

Designated Asset Value” means the aggregate consideration to be received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary as set forth in a Designated Asset Contract.

Designated Non-Cash Consideration” means the fair market value of total consideration received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-Cash Consideration pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation, executed by the Company’s principal executive officer or principal financial officer, less the amount of cash or Cash Equivalents received in connection with the Asset Sale.

Designated Representative” means, with respect to any series of secured Indebtedness, the trustee, administrative agent, collateral agent, security agent or similar agent under an indenture or agreement pursuant to which such Indebtedness is issued, incurred or otherwise obtained, as the case may be, and each of their successors in such capacities.

 

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Deyton Detention Facility” means that certain real property located in Clayton County, Georgia, together with all improvements thereto and furniture, fixtures and equipment located therein, in each case owned by any of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

Discharge of Credit Agreement Obligations” means, with respect to any Shared Collateral, the discharge of the Obligations under the Credit Agreement with respect to such Shared Collateral and the termination of all commitments with respect thereto; provided that the discharge of Obligations under the Credit Agreement shall not be deemed to have occurred in connection with a refinancing of such Obligations under the Credit Agreement with additional First Lien Secured Obligations secured by such Shared Collateral to the extent designated in writing by the administrative agent (under the Credit Agreement as so refinanced) as the Credit Agreement for purposes of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

Disqualified Stock” means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible, or for which it is exchangeable, in each case at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the date on which the Notes mature. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders of the Capital Stock have the right to require the Company to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the Company may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption complies with Section 4.07 hereof.

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that was formed under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States (but not the laws of Puerto Rico) or the District of Columbia or that guarantees or otherwise provides direct credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor.

EBITDA” means, for any period, Net Income for such period plus the sum of the following determined on a consolidated basis, without duplication, for the Company and its Subsidiaries and Other Consolidated Persons in accordance with GAAP: (a) the sum of the following to the extent deducted in determining Net Income: (i) income and franchise taxes, (ii) Interest Expense (excluding Interest Expense attributable to any public-private partnership of the Company or its Subsidiaries that is an Other Consolidated Person), (iii) amortization, depreciation and other non-cash charges (excluding insurance reserves), (iv) non-recurring, extraordinary or unusual charges and expenses, including in respect of restructuring or integration costs or premiums paid in connection with the redemption of Indebtedness, and (v) an amount (not exceeding an amount equal to 15% of Adjusted EBITDA for the period of four fiscal quarters of the Company most recently ended prior to the calculation of such amount for which financial statements are available) equal to the aggregate amount of start-up and transition costs incurred during such period in connection with Facilities and operations; less (b) to the extent added in determining Net Income, any extraordinary gains. If any acquisition permitted under this Indenture is consummated at any time during a period for which EBITDA is calculated, EBITDA for such period shall be calculated on a pro forma basis and, to the extent deducted in determining Net Income for such period, the amount of transaction costs and expenses and extraordinary charges relating to such acquisition (or relating to any acquisition consummated by the acquired entity prior to the closing of such acquisition but during the period of computation), as the case may be, shall be added to EBITDA for such period.

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

Equity Offering” means an offering of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock or Capital Stock that by its terms has a preference in liquidation or as to dividends over any other Capital Stock) of the Company (other than (1) an offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-8 or otherwise relating to equity securities issuable under any employee benefit plan of the Company and (2) an offering with aggregate net proceeds to the Company of less than $35.0 million).

 

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Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of Euroclear System, and any successor thereto.

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

Exchange Notes” means (1) the Company’s 8.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2029 issued pursuant to this Indenture in connection with the Registered Exchange Offer pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement and (2) Additional Notes, if any, issued pursuant to a registration statement filed with the SEC under the Securities Act.

Exchange Offer Registration Statement” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Registration Rights Agreement.

Exchanging Dealer” means a broker-dealer that holds Notes that were acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates) that is participating in the Registered Exchange Offer contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement.

Excluded Property” means:

(i) rights under any contracts, leases or other instruments that contain a valid and enforceable prohibition on assignment of such rights (except to the extent that any such prohibition would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Section 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the UCC of any relevant jurisdiction or any other applicable law or principles of equity), but only for so long as such prohibition exists and is effective and valid;

(ii) property and assets owned by the Company or any Guarantor that are the subject of:

 

  (A)

Liens on assets acquired, constructed or improved by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that (1) such Liens secure solely Indebtedness permitted by section 4.09(b)(iv) hereof or any obligations or liabilities under any related Hedging Agreement (for purposes of this clause (i), as such term is defined in the Credit Agreement), (2) such Liens and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior to or within ninety (90) days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement, (3) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed 100% of the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets and (4) such Liens shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; or

 

  (B)

Liens on the GEO HQ granted pursuant to a real property mortgage (and associated security instruments); provided that such Liens (1) secure solely GEO HQ Indebtedness or any obligations or liabilities under any related Hedging Agreement (for purposes of this clause (i), as such term is defined in the Credit Agreement), or any call option in respect of convertible or exchangeable debt securities issued by the Company or any Guarantor and (2) shall not apply to or otherwise encumber any other property or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,

but only if and for so long as (w) such property and assets do not secure any other First Lien Secured Obligations, (x) such Liens are in effect, (y) the agreements or instruments evidencing or governing such Indebtedness prohibit the Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement from being secured by such assets and (z) no part of the Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement and no letter of credit issued under the Credit Agreement was used to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of such assets;

(iii) Immaterial Government Contracts that are the subject of Liens permitted by clause (24) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”; and

 

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(iv) any assets with respect to which, in the reasonable judgment of the administrative agent for the lenders under the Credit Agreement and the Company (as agreed in writing), the cost or other adverse consequences (including adverse tax consequences) of pledging such assets would be excessive in relation to the benefits to be obtained by such lenders therefrom.

Excluded Real Property” means the GEO HQ, Delaney Hall and the Deyton Detention Facility.

Existing Indebtedness” means the Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement and the Notes) in existence on the date hereof, including the 2031 Senior Notes and the 2026 Exchangeable Senior Notes, until such amounts are repaid.

Facility” means a correctional, detention, mental health or other facility the principal function of which is to carry out a Permitted Business.

First Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of April 18, 2024, among the administrative agent and collateral agent under the Credit Agreement, the Trustee, the Collateral Agent, the Company and the Guarantors, as may be amended, restated, amended and restated, renewed, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified.

First Lien Secured Obligations” means the Obligations under (i) the Credit Agreement, (ii) the Notes, this Indenture, the Note Guarantees and the Security Documents, and (iii) any other Indebtedness secured on a first lien pari passu basis with such Obligations; provided that such Indebtedness is expressly permitted to be so incurred, secured and guaranteed on such first lien pari passu basis by the then existing documents governing the First Lien Secured Obligations and the holders of such Indebtedness or their Designated Representative shall have become party to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

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

(1) the consolidated Interest Expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued and whether or not capitalized, including, without limitation, amortization of original issue discount, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, imputed interest with respect to Attributable Debt, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letters of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings, and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to Hedging Obligations, net of Non-Recourse Interest Payments received in cash by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary relating to any Non-Recourse Project Financing Indebtedness up to the amount of interest expense for such Non-Recourse Project Financing Indebtedness, but excluding amortization of debt issuance costs and non-cash interest expense imputed on convertible debt instruments pursuant to APB No. 14-1; plus

(2) any Interest Expense on Indebtedness of another Person to the extent such Indebtedness is Guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether or not such Guarantee or Lien is called upon; plus

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

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means with respect to any specified Person for any period, the ratio of the Adjusted EBITDA of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period.

 

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In the event that the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, Guarantees, repays, repurchases or redeems any indebtedness (other than ordinary working capital borrowings) or issues, repurchases or redeems preferred stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated and on or prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “Calculation Date”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio will be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, Guarantee, repayment, repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of preferred stock, and the use of the proceeds therefrom as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter reference period, provided, however, that interest expense, if any, attributable to any Non-Recourse Project Financing Indebtedness computed on a pro forma basis, shall be computed giving pro forma effect to any Non-Recourse Interest Payments related to such Non-Recourse Project Financing Indebtedness, provided, further, that the obligation to make such Non-Recourse Interest Payments commences with the incurrence of the corresponding Non-Recourse Project Financing Indebtedness.

In addition, for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio:

(1) acquisitions that have been made by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers or consolidations and including any related financing transactions, during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date will be given pro forma effect as if they had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period and Adjusted EBITDA for such reference period will be calculated on a pro forma basis in accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act, but without giving effect to clause (3) of the proviso set forth in the definition of Consolidated Net Income; provided that, for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio with respect to the Company, such calculations on a pro forma basis may, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or Regulation S-X, include adjustments to reflect the amount of cost savings, operational improvements and synergies projected by the Company in good faith to be realized as a result of actions taken or expected to be taken within 12 months (calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings, operational improvements and synergies had been realized on the first day of such period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions; provided, further, that (x) such cost savings, operational improvements and synergies are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable, (y) such cost savings, operational improvements and synergies are expected to be realized within 18 months of the date thereof in connection with such actions and (z) the aggregate amount of cost savings, operational improvements and synergies added pursuant to this proviso shall not exceed 15.0% of Adjusted EBITDA on a consolidated basis for the Company’s and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the Transaction Date;

(2) the Adjusted EBITDA attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded; and

(3) the Fixed Charges attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded, but only to the extent that the obligations giving rise to such Fixed Charges will not be obligations of the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries following the Calculation Date.

Flood Zone” means an area identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or any successor agency) as an area having special flood hazards and in which flood insurance has been made available under the Flood Act.

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

 

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GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, without giving effect to any change in accounting for leases pursuant to GAAP resulting from the implementation of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), to the extent such adoption would require treating any lease (or similar arrangement conveying the right to use) as a capital lease where such lease (or similar arrangement) would not have been required to be so treated under GAAP as in effect on December 31, 2018. All ratios and computations contained or referred to herein shall be computed in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis.

GEO HQ” means that certain real property located in Boca Raton, Florida described on Schedule I to the Credit Agreement (under the heading “GEO Group, Inc. Headquarters Property”), together with all improvements thereto and furniture, fixtures and equipment located therein, in each case owned by any of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

GEO HQ Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of the GEO HQ, Guarantees by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of any such Indebtedness, and extensions renewals, refinancings and replacements of all or any part of any such Indebtedness that do not result in an increase of the outstanding aggregate principal amount thereof by more than the amount required to pay any penalty, premium, accrued and unpaid interest, and transaction fees and expenses incurred in connection with such extension, renewal, refinancing or replacement.

Global Note Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.08(g)(ii), which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.

Global Notes” means, individually and collectively, each of the Restricted Global Notes and the Unrestricted Global Notes issued to the Depositary in accordance with certain sections of this Indenture.

Government Contract” means a contract between the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and a Governmental Authority located in the United States or all obligations of any such Governmental Authority as account debtor arising under any Account (as defined in the UCC) now existing or hereafter arising owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary.

Government Operating Agreement” means any management services contract, operating agreement, use agreement, lease or similar agreement with a Governmental Authority relating to a Facility in a Permitted Business.

Government Securities” means securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality of the United States government; provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support of those securities.

Governmental Authority” means any nation, province, state, municipality or political subdivision thereof, and any government or any agency or instrumentality thereof exercising executive, legislative, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, and any corporation or other entity owned or controlled, through stock or capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the foregoing.

Guarantee” means a guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business, direct or indirect, in any manner including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness, provided that the pledge of any Government Operating Agreement with respect to any Facility to secure Non-Recourse Project Financing Indebtedness related to such Facility shall not be deemed a Guarantee. The term “Guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

Guarantors” or “Guarantor” means (i) the Initial Guarantors and any other Restricted Subsidiary that executes a Note Guarantee in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and its respective successors and assigns until released in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and (ii) any Parent Company and any parent entity of the Company that executes a Note Guarantee in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and its respective successors and assigns.

 

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Hedging Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Company or its Subsidiaries shall be a Hedging Agreement.

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

(1) interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements;

(2) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in interest rates; and

(3) foreign exchange contracts, currency swap agreements, currency option agreements and other agreements or arrangements with respect to foreign currency exchange rates.

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

Immaterial Government Contracts” means all Government Contracts that pertain to a Facility or Facilities owned by any Unrestricted Subsidiary and are required to be assigned to secure related Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that the amount of EBITDA reasonably attributable to all Immaterial Government Contracts in the aggregate for the four fiscal quarters ending on or most recently ended prior to any date of determination shall not exceed 10% of EBITDA for the same four fiscal quarter period. For purposes of this definition of Immaterial Government Contracts, the term “EBITDA” will have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Credit Agreement.

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent:

(1) in respect of borrowed money;

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

(3) in respect of banker’s acceptances;

(4) representing Capital Lease Obligations;

(5) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable; or

(6) representing any Hedging Obligations,

if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the term “Indebtedness” includes all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by the specified Person; provided that the pledge of any Government Operating Agreement to secure Non-Recourse Project Financing Indebtedness related to the Facility that is the subject of such Government Operating Agreement shall not be deemed Indebtedness) and, to the extent not otherwise included, the Guarantee by the specified Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person.

The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date will be:

(1) the accreted value of the Indebtedness, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount; and

 

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(2) the principal amount of the Indebtedness, together with any interest on the Indebtedness that is more than 30 days past due, in the case of any other Indebtedness.

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

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

Initial Additional Authorized Representative” has the meaning ascribed thereto under the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

Initial Guarantors” means the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that Guarantee the Notes on the Issue Date, which are all of the Company’s Subsidiaries that Guarantee the Company’s obligations under the Credit Agreement on the Issue Date, all of which are signatories to this Indenture.

Initial Notes” means (1) $650,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 8.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2029 issued on the Issue Date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture and (2) Additional Notes, if any, issued in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

Initial Purchasers” means (1) with respect to the Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, the Persons purchasing such Initial Notes under the related Purchase Agreement and (2) with respect to each issuance of Additional Notes, the Persons purchasing or underwriting such Additional Notes under the related Purchase Agreement.

Installment Sale” means any sale of a property by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any Other Consolidated Person, as seller, that should, in accordance with GAAP, be classified and accounted for as an installment sale on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company, its Subsidiaries and the Other Consolidated Persons.

Interest Expense” means, for any period, the sum, for the Company and its Subsidiaries and Other Consolidated Persons (determined on a consolidated basis without duplication in accordance with GAAP), of the following: (a) all interest and fees in respect of Indebtedness (including the interest component of any payments in respect of Capital Leases and Synthetic Leases accounted for as interest under GAAP) accrued or capitalized during such period (whether or not actually paid during such period) plus (b) the net amount payable (or minus the net amount receivable) under Hedging Agreements relating to interest during such period (whether or not actually paid or received during such period) minus (c) interest income (excluding interest income in respect of Capital Leases and Installment Sales) during such period (whether or not actually received during such period).

Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all direct or indirect investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of loans (including Guarantees or other obligations), advances or capital contributions (excluding commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP and including the designation of a Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of the Company such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the Company will be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition equal to the fair market value of all Investments in such Restricted Subsidiary not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of Section 4.07 hereof. The acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of a Person that holds an Investment in a third Person will be deemed to be an Investment by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in such third Person in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Investment held by the acquired Person in such third Person in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of Section 4.07 hereof.

Issue Date” means the first date Notes are issued under this Indenture.

 

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

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the UCC (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction.

Major Non-Controlling Authorized Representative” means, with respect to any Shared Collateral, the Authorized Representative of the series of Obligations that constitutes the largest outstanding principal amount of any then outstanding series of First Lien Secured Obligations with respect to such Shared Collateral; provided, however, that if there are two outstanding series of First Lien Secured Obligations which have an equal outstanding principal amount, the series of Obligations with the earlier maturity date shall be considered to have the larger outstanding principal amount for purposes of this definition.

Material Real Property” means (a) any domestic real property interest, including improvements, owned or leased by the Company or any Guarantor that has a net book value in excess of $10.0 million or (b) any domestic real property owned or leased by the Company or any Guarantor that is to be secured by a Mortgage such that after giving effect to such Mortgage, the Collateral includes at least 80% of the net book value of the domestic real property interests of the Company and the Guarantors, whichever of clause (a) or (b) represents a greater proportion of the net book value of all domestic real property interests of the Company and the Guarantors; provided, however, that no Excluded Real Property (as defined in the Credit Agreement on the date hereof) shall constitute “Material Real Property” for purposes of this Indenture and the Security Documents.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

Mortgages” means, collectively, one or more mortgages and deeds of trust (or equivalent instruments), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent (each with such changes as may be appropriate in the applicable jurisdiction) (provided that such form and substance shall be deemed satisfactory if any such Mortgage shall be substantially similar to the comparable Mortgage provided under the Credit Agreement which are otherwise satisfactory to the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, subject to factual changes necessary to reflect the Notes), executed (and where appropriate, acknowledged) by the Company or a Guarantor, as the case may be, in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties, and covering (i) the properties listed on Annex I and (ii) thereafter, the properties and leasehold interests of the Company and the Guarantors that are required to be subject to the Lien of a Mortgage in accordance with the terms hereof.

Net Income” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends, excluding, however:

(1) any gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such gain (but not loss), realized in connection with: (a) any sale of assets outside the ordinary course of business; or (b) the disposition of any securities by such Person or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries ;

(2) any extraordinary gain or loss, together with any related provision for taxes on such extraordinary gain or loss;

(3) any loss resulting from impairment of goodwill recorded on the consolidated financial statements of such Person pursuant to ASC 350 “Intangibles—Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”;

 

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(4) any loss resulting from the change in fair value of a derivative financial instrument pursuant to ASC 815 “Derivative and Hedging”; and

(5) amortization of debt issuance costs.

Net Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash (but excluding Designated Non-Cash Consideration until such time as actual cash payments are made with respect thereto) or Cash Equivalents received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of:

(i) the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale, including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions, and any relocation expenses incurred as a result of the Asset Sale;

(ii) taxes paid or payable as a result of the Asset Sale, in each case, after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements;

(iii) amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness, secured by a Lien on the asset or assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale;

(iv) any reserve for adjustment in respect of the sale price of such asset or assets established in accordance with GAAP; and

(v) so long as after giving pro forma effect to any such distribution no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the amount required to be distributed to the holders of the Company’s (or any direct or indirect Parent Company’s) Capital Stock as a result of such Asset Sale in order to enable the Company (or any such Parent Company) to avoid payment of any tax for any calendar year that could be avoided by reason of a distribution by the Company to its shareholders, with such distribution to be made as and when determined by the Company, whether during or after the end of, the relevant calendar year.

Non-Controlling Authorized Representative Enforcement Date” means, with respect to any Authorized Representative (other than the Applicable Authorized Representative), the date which is 180 days (throughout which 180-day period such Authorized Representative was the Major Non-Controlling Authorized Representative) after the occurrence of both (i) an event of default and (ii) each Collateral Agent’s and each other Authorized Representative’s receipt of written notice from such Authorized Representative certifying that (x) such Authorized Representative is the Major Non-Controlling Authorized Representative and that an event of default has occurred and is continuing and (y) the First Lien Secured Obligations of the series with respect to which such Authorized Representative is the Authorized Representative are currently due and payable in full (whether as a result of acceleration thereof or otherwise); provided that, such event of default shall be continuing at the end of such 180-day period; provided, further that the Non-Controlling Authorized Representative Enforcement Date shall be stayed and shall not occur and shall be deemed not to have occurred with respect to any Shared Collateral (1) at any time the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent has commenced and is diligently pursuing any enforcement action with respect to such Shared Collateral or (2) at any time the Company or any Guarantor which has granted a security interest in such Shared Collateral, as the case may be, is then a debtor under or with respect to (or otherwise subject to) any insolvency or liquidation proceeding. To the extent the Trustee is the Authorized Representative, it shall, in all cases, be entitled to written instruction from the required Holders prior to delivering any such certification.

Non-Recourse” means, with respect to any Indebtedness or other obligation and to any Person, that such Person has not Guaranteed or provided credit support of any kind (including a “Keepwell” arrangement) with respect to such Indebtedness or other obligation, and is not otherwise liable, directly or indirectly, for such Indebtedness or other obligation, and that any action or inaction by such Person, including, without limitation, any default by such Person on its own Indebtedness or other obligations, will not result in any default, event of default, acceleration, or increased financial or other obligations, under or with respect to such Indebtedness or other obligation; provided that any Indebtedness or other obligation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary or Other Consolidated Person that would otherwise be Non-Recourse to the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be Non-

 

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Recourse to the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries solely due to (A) any investment funded at the time or prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness or other obligation or (B) the assignment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of its rights under any Government Operating Agreement to secure Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or Indebtedness or other obligations of any Other Consolidated Person, related to such Government Operating Agreement.

Non-Recourse Debt Service” means, with respect to any Person, for any period, the sum of, without duplication (a) the net interest expense of such Person with respect to Indebtedness that is Non-Recourse to the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, determined for such period, without duplication, on a consolidated or combined basis, as the case may be, in accordance with GAAP, (b) the scheduled principal payments required to be made during such period by such Person with respect to Indebtedness that is Non-Recourse to the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries and (c) rent expense for such period associated with Indebtedness that is Non-Recourse to the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

Non-Recourse Project Financing Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of a Subsidiary (the “Project Financing Subsidiary”) incurred in connection with the acquisition, construction or development of any Facility (and any Attributable Debt in respect of a Sale and Leaseback Transaction entered into in connection with (i) the acquisition, construction or development of any Facility by the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries after the date of this Indenture or (ii) any vacant land upon which a Facility related to any Permitted Business is to be built):

(1) where either the Company, a Restricted Subsidiary or such Project Financing Subsidiary operates or is responsible for the operation of the Facility pursuant to a Government Operating Agreement;

(2) as to which neither the Company nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, other than such Project Financing Subsidiary, (a) provides credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness or Attributable Debt), it being understood that neither (i) equity Investments funded at the time of or prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness or Attributable Debt, nor (ii) the pledge by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Government Operating Agreement relating to such Facility shall be deemed credit support or an Investment or (b) is directly or indirectly liable as a guarantor or otherwise;

(3) where, upon the termination of the management services contract with respect to such Facility, neither the Company nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, other than the Project Financing Subsidiary, will be liable, directly or indirectly, to make any payments with respect to such Indebtedness or Attributable Debt (or, in each case, any portion thereof);

(4) the interest expense related to such Indebtedness or Attributable Debt is fully serviced by a payment pursuant to a Government Operating Agreement with respect to such Facility (the “Non-Recourse Interest Payment”); and

(5) such Project Financing Subsidiary has no assets other than the assets, including any ownership or leasehold interests in such Facility and any working capital, reasonably related to the design, construction, management and financing of the Facility.

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

Note Guarantee” means a Guarantee by each Guarantor of the obligations of the Company under the Indenture and the Notes.

Notes” means, collectively, the Initial Notes, the Additional Notes, the Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes, treated as a single class of securities, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, that are issued pursuant to this Indenture.

Notes Secured Parties” means the Holders, the Collateral Agent, the Trustee, the Initial Additional Authorized Representative and the permitted successors and assigns of each of the foregoing.

 

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

Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary or any Vice-President of such Person.

Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by at least two Officers of the Company, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company, that meets the requirements of Section 13.05 hereof.

Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of Section 13.05 hereof. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.

Other Consolidated Persons” means Persons, none of the Equity Interests of which are owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, whose financial statements are required to be consolidated with the financial statements of the Company in accordance with GAAP.

Parent Company” means any Person so long as such Person (i) holds, directly or indirectly, 100% of the total voting power of the Capital Stock of the Company and (ii) provides a Note Guarantee; and at and after the time such Person acquired such voting power, (x) no “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) shall be or become a Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the total voting power of the Capital Stock of such Person and (y) each of the total assets, revenues, income from continuing operations before income taxes and cash flows from operating activities of such Person, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, but excluding in each case amounts related to its investment in the Company, as shown in the most recent fiscal quarter financial statements of such Person (measured on a most recent trailing four fiscal quarter basis with respect to revenues, income from continuing operations before income taxes and cash flows from operating activities), is not more than 3.0% of such Person’s corresponding consolidated amount determined in accordance with GAAP.

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

Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction” means (a) any call option or capped call option (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) on the common stock of the Company purchased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with an incurrence of Permitted Convertible Indebtedness and (b) any call option or capped call option (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) replacing or refinancing the foregoing; provided that (x) the sum of (i) the purchase price for any Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction occurring after the Issue Date plus (ii) the purchase price for any Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction it is refinancing or replacing, if any, minus (iii) the cash proceeds received upon the termination or the retirement of the Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction it is replacing or refinancing, if any, less (y) the sum of (i) the cash proceeds from the sale of the related Permitted Warrant Transaction plus (ii) the cash proceeds from the sale of any Permitted Warrant Transaction refinancing or replacing such related Permitted Warrant Transaction, if any, minus (iii) the amount paid upon termination or retirement of such related Permitted Warrant Transaction, if any, does not exceed the net cash proceeds from the incurrence of the related Permitted Convertible Indebtedness.

Permitted Business” means the business conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries on the date of this Indenture and businesses reasonably related thereto or ancillary or incidental thereto or a reasonable extension thereof, including the provision of services or goods to Governmental Authorities.

Permitted Convertible Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (which may be Guaranteed by the Guarantors) permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09 hereof that is (1) convertible into or exchangeable for common stock of the Company (and cash in lieu of fractional shares) and/or cash (in an amount determined by reference to the price of such common stock) or (2) sold as units with call options, warrants, rights or obligations to purchase (or substantially equivalent derivative transactions) that are exercisable for common stock of the Company and/or cash (in an amount determined by reference to the price of such common stock).

 

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Permitted Convertible Indebtedness Call Transaction” means any Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction and any Permitted Warrant Transaction.

Permitted Investments” means:

(1) any Investment in the Company or in a Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Project Financing Subsidiary);

(2) any Investment in cash or Cash Equivalents;

(3) any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a Person (other than a Project Financing Subsidiary), if as a result of such Investment:

 

  (a)

such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Project Financing Subsidiary); or

 

  (b)

such Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Project Financing Subsidiary);

(4) any Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.10 hereof;

(5) any Investments received in compromise of obligations of trade creditors or customers that were incurred in the ordinary course of business, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer;

(6) Hedging Obligations entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for any speculative purpose;

(7) other Investments in any other Person having an aggregate fair market value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (7) not to exceed: (a) $125.0 million; plus (b) the net reductions in Investments made pursuant to this clause (7) resulting from distributions on or repayments of such Investments or from the net cash proceeds from the sale or other disposition of any such Investment; provided, that, the net reduction in any Investment shall not exceed the amount of such Investment;

(8) payroll, travel and similar advances to cover matters that are expected at the time of such advances ultimately to be treated as expenses for accounting purposes and that are made in the ordinary course of business;

(9) loans or advances to employees made in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary not to exceed $7.5 million outstanding at any one time for all loans or advances under this clause (9);

(10) stock, obligations or securities received in settlement of debts created in the ordinary course of business and owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or in satisfaction of judgments or pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of a debtor;

(11) Investments in existence on the date of this Indenture;

 

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(12) Investments that are made or received in exchange for Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;

(13) Investments in South African Services Pty Ltd. having an aggregate fair market value, when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (13) not to exceed $50.0 million;

(14) any Investments made or acquired with the net cash proceeds of a substantially concurrent issuance or sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;

(15) any Investment in any Person that is not at the time of such Investment, or does not thereby become, a Restricted Subsidiary, in an aggregate amount (measured on the date such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (15) since the Issue Date (but, to the extent that any Investment made pursuant to this clause (15) since the Issue Date is sold or otherwise liquidated for cash, minus the lesser of (a) the cash return of capital with respect to such Investment (less the cost of disposition, if any) and (b) the initial amount of such Investment) not to exceed 20% of Consolidated Tangible Assets; provided that the Company, a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary or a Permitted Joint Venture has entered, or concurrently with any such Investment, enters into or assumes a Government Operating Agreement with respect to assets of such Person that are used or useful in a Permitted Business; and

(16) Investments consisting of the financing of the sale of equipment (including capital leases) to customers in connection with any contract for services entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business.

Permitted Joint Venture” means any Person that is engaged in a Permitted Business and in which the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries directly owns (A) at least 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees of such Person and (B) at least 50% of the Equity Interests in such Person.

Permitted Liens” means:

(1) Liens on any assets (including real or personal property) of the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary securing Indebtedness and other Obligations under (i) Credit Facilities incurred under clause (i) of Section 4.09(b) hereof and (ii) the Notes issued on the date hereof (but, for the avoidance of doubt, not any additional Notes issued following the date hereof), in each case that were permitted to be incurred by the terms of this Indenture;

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

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

(4) Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition of the property by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such acquisition and do not extend to any property other than the property so acquired by the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary;

(5) Liens to secure the performance of statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds, performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(6) Liens to secure Indebtedness (including Capital Lease Obligations) incurred under Section 4.09(b)(iv) hereof covering only the assets acquired with such Indebtedness;

(7) Liens existing on the date hereof;

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

(9) Liens securing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness; provided that any such Lien does not extend to or cover any property, Capital Stock or Indebtedness other than the property, shares or debt securing the Indebtedness so refunded, refinanced or extended;

(10) Attachment or judgment Liens not giving rise to a Default or an Event of Default;

(11) Liens on the Capital Stock of Unrestricted Subsidiaries securing Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(12) Liens incurred with respect to obligations that do not exceed $35.0 million at any one time outstanding;

(13) pledges or deposits under workmen’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or deposits or cash or Government Securities to secure surety or appeal bonds to which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import or customs duties or for the payment of rent, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(14) Liens imposed by law, including carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case for sums not yet due or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings if a reserve or other appropriate provisions, if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have been made in respect thereof;

(15) encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights of way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real properties or liens incidental to the conduct of the business of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or to the ownership of its properties which do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary;

(16) Liens securing Hedging Obligations so long as the related Indebtedness (other than any 2031 Senior Notes) is secured by a Lien on the same property securing such Hedging Obligations;

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

(18) normal customary rights of setoff upon deposits of cash in favor of banks or other depository institutions;

(19) Liens on assets of a Project Financing Subsidiary securing Non-Recourse Project Financing Indebtedness of such Project Financing Subsidiary and Liens on any Government Operating Agreement securing Non-Recourse Project Financing Indebtedness related to the Facility that is the subject of such Government Operating Agreement;

 

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(20) any interest or title of a lessor, licensor or sublicensor in the property subject to any lease, license or sublicense (other than property that is the subject of a Sale and Leaseback Transaction);

(21) Liens on deposits or other amounts held in escrow to secure payments (contingent or otherwise) payable by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to any acquisition permitted by the terms of this Indenture;

(22) Liens securing Indebtedness and other Obligations under clause (xi) of Section 4.09(b) hereof;

(23) Liens securing Indebtedness and other Obligations under clause (xiv) of Section 4.09(b) hereof; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is secured by a Lien that is pari passu with the Liens securing the Notes and Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement and (ii) the holders of such Indebtedness or their Designated Representative shall have become party to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement;

(24) the assignment by the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of rights under Immaterial Government Contracts pertaining to a Facility or Facilities owned by any Unrestricted Subsidiary to secure related Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary; and

(25) any Lien on cash resulting from the deposit of funds into an irrevocable escrow in satisfaction of the “Maturity Reserve Condition” (as defined in the Credit Agreement) or similar condition.

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries issued in repayment of, exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, repay, defease or refund other Indebtedness of the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany Indebtedness and Disqualified Stock of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary); provided, that:

(1) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, repaid, defeased or refunded (plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of all expenses and premiums incurred in connection therewith);

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

(3) if the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, repaid, defeased or refunded is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of, and is subordinated in right of payment to, the Notes on terms at least as favorable to the Holders of Notes as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, repaid, defeased or refunded; and

(4) such Indebtedness is incurred either by the Company or by any Restricted Subsidiary who is an obligor on the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, repaid, defeased or refunded.

Permitted Warrant Transaction” means any call options, warrants or rights to purchase (or substantively equivalent derivative transactions) on common stock of the Company purchased or sold by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries substantially concurrently with a Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction.

 

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

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

Private Exchange” means the offer by the Company, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, to the Initial Purchasers to issue and deliver to each Initial Purchaser, in exchange for the Initial Notes held by the Initial Purchaser as part of its initial distribution, a like aggregate principal amount of Private Exchange Notes.

Private Exchange Notes” means any 8.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2029 issued in connection with a Private Exchange.

Private Placement Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.08(g)(i) to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture except where otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.

Purchase Agreement” means (1) with respect to the Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, the Purchase Agreement, dated April 4, 2024, among the Company, the Initial Guarantors and the representative of the Initial Purchasers of the Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, as amended and supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, and (2) with respect to each issuance of Additional Notes, the purchase agreement or underwriting agreement among the Company and the Persons purchasing or underwriting such Additional Notes.

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

Registered Exchange Offer” means the offer by the Company, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, to certain Holders of Initial Notes, to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the Initial Notes, a like aggregate principal amount of Exchange Notes registered under the Securities Act.

Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Company, the Initial Guarantors and the representative of the Initial Purchasers of the Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, as amended and supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

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

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

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

Regulation S Temporary Global Note” means a temporary Global Note in the form of Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend, the Private Placement Legend and the Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend and deposited with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its nominees that shall be issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes initially sold in reliance on Regulation S.

Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.08(g)(iii) hereof.

 

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Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any vice president, assistant vice president or other trust officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who, in each case, shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

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

Restricted Global Note” means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A or D attached hereto, as applicable, that bears the Global Note Legend, bears the Private Placement Legend and that has the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto, and that is deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary.

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

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

Restricted Notes” means, individually and collectively, each of the Restricted Definitive Notes and Restricted Global Notes.

Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

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

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

Rule 903” means Rule 903 of Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.

Rule 904” means Rule 904 of Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.

S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc.

Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means any direct or indirect arrangement relating to property with a book value in excess of $15.0 million now owned or hereafter acquired whereby the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers such property to another Person and the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary leases it from such Person other than a lease properly characterized pursuant to GAAP as a Capital Lease Obligation, other than transfers and leases among the Company and any Restricted Subsidiaries or among Restricted Subsidiaries.

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or if at any time after the execution of this Indenture the SEC is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Securities Act, Exchange Act and Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

Section 4(a)(2)” means Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

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

Security Documents” means, collectively, the security agreements relating to the Collateral and instruments filed and recorded in appropriate jurisdictions to preserve and protect the Liens on the Collateral (including, without limitation, financing statements under the UCC of the relevant states applicable to the Collateral), each for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties (whether or not through the agency of any agent or other representative), as amended, amended and restated, modified, renewed or replaced from time to time.

Shared Collateral” means, at any time, Collateral in which the holders of two or more series of First Lien Secured Obligations (or their respective Authorized Representatives) hold a valid and perfected security interest or Lien at such time. If more than two series of First Lien Secured Obligations are outstanding at any time and the holders of less than all series of First Lien Secured Obligations hold a valid and perfected security interest or Lien in any Collateral at such time, then such Collateral shall constitute Shared Collateral for those series of First Lien Secured Obligations that hold a valid and perfected security interest or Lien in such Collateral at such time and shall not constitute Shared Collateral for any series which does not have a valid and perfected security interest or Lien in such Collateral at such time.

 

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Shelf Registration Statement” means the registration statement filed by the Company in connection with the offer and sale of Initial Notes or Private Exchange Notes pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

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

Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which such payment of interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the original documentation governing such Indebtedness, and shall not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.

Subsidiary” or “Subsidiaries” means, with respect to any specified Person: (1) any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees of the corporation, association or other business entity is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and (2) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general partners of which are such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof).

Synthetic Leases” means any synthetic lease, tax retention operating lease, off-balance sheet loan or similar off-balance sheet financing product where such transaction is considered borrowed money Indebtedness for tax purposes but is classified as an operating lease in accordance with GAAP.

TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as in effect on the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA, except as provided in Section 9.03 hereof.

Transactions” means, collectively, the offerings of the 2031 Senior Notes and the Notes, the entry into the Credit Agreement and incurrence of tranche B term loans thereunder on the Issue Date, the application of the net proceeds of the offerings of the 2031 Senior Notes and the Notes and such tranche B loans, in each case, as described in the final version of the offering memorandum relating to the offerings of the 2031 Senior Notes and the Notes, dated April 4, 2024.

Transaction Date” means, with respect to the incurrence of any Indebtedness by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, the date such Indebtedness is to be incurred and, with respect to any Restricted Payment, the date such Restricted Payment is to be made.

Treasury Rate” means as of any date of redemption of Notes the yield to maturity at the time of computation of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) that has become publicly available at least two (2) Business Days prior to the redemption date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source or similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the redemption date to April 15, 2026; provided, however, that if the period from the redemption date to April 15, 2026 is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is given, the Treasury Rate shall be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of United States Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the period from the redemption date to April 15, 2026 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used.

 

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Trustee” means Ankura Trust Company, LLC, together with its successors and assigns, in its capacity as trustee under this Indenture, until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor trustee serving hereunder.

UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York or any other state the laws of which are required to be applied in connection with the issue of perfection of security interests.

Unoccupied Facility” means any prison facility owned by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary which for the fifty-two week period ending on the date of measurement has had an average occupancy level of less than 15%.

Unrestricted Cash” means cash and Cash Equivalents held by the Company and its Subsidiaries that are not subject to any Lien or preferential arrangement in favor of any Person to protect such Person against loss and are not part of any funded reserve established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries required by GAAP.

Unrestricted Definitive Note” means one or more Definitive Notes that do not bear and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

Unrestricted Global Note” means a permanent Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A or Exhibit D attached hereto, as applicable, that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto, is deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary, and does not bear and is not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

Unrestricted Subsidiary” or “Unrestricted Subsidiaries” means (a) CSC of Tacoma, LLC, GEO International Holdings, LLC, Florina Insurance Company, GEO Design Services, Inc., WCC Financial, Inc., WCC Development, Inc., GEO/FL/01, Inc., GEO/FL/02, Inc., GEO/FL/03, Inc., The GEO Group UK Ltd., The GEO Group Ltd., South African Custodial Holdings Pty. Ltd., The GEO Group Australasia Pty, Ltd., GEO Australasia Pty, Ltd., The GEO Group Australia Pty, Ltd., Australasian Correctional Investment, Ltd., Pacific Rim Employment Pty, Ltd., Canadian Correctional Management, Inc., South African Custodial Services Pty, Ltd. (SACS), South African Custodial Management Pty, Ltd., GEO Australia Management Services Pty, Ltd., Australasian Correctional Services Pty, Ltd., Sentencing Concepts, Inc., BI Puerto Rico, Inc., GEO Amey Ltd., GEO FIC Holdings, LLC, GEO/DE/MC/03 LLC, Premier Custodial Group Ltd., Premier Custodial Services Group Ltd., Premier Custodial Services Ltd, Premier Prison Services Ltd., Correct Care Australasia Pty Ltd., BI of Australia Pty Ltd., Clearstream Development Courthouse Commons, LLC, Cypress-Spring Investments, LLC, Four Streams Investment, LLC, Park 19 Holdings, LLC, Patriotic Partners Inc., Strategic Portfolio Solutions San Diego, LLC, and Strategic Portfolio Solutions, LLC; (b) any other Subsidiary of the Company that is designated by the Board of Directors of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Board Resolution; and (c) any direct or indirect Subsidiary of any Subsidiary described in clauses (a) or (b).

The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Subsidiary of the Company (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary or a Person becoming a Subsidiary through merger, consolidation or other business combination transaction, or Investment therein) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary only if:

(1) such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries does not own any Capital Stock or Indebtedness of, or own or hold any Lien on any property of, the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company which is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated or otherwise an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and

(2) such designation and the Investment of the Company in such Subsidiary complies with Section 4.07 hereof.

Any designation of a Subsidiary of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of the Board Resolution giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the preceding conditions and was permitted under Section 4.07 hereof. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it shall thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of

 

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this Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as of such date and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as of such date under Section 4.09 hereof, the Company will be in default of such covenant. The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such designation will be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary and such designation will only be permitted if (1) such Indebtedness is permitted under Section 4.09 hereof, calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the four-quarter reference period; and (2) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such designation.

U.S. Dollar Equivalent” means with respect to any monetary amount in a currency other than U.S. dollars, at the time for determination thereof, the amount of U.S. dollars obtained by converting such foreign currency involved in such computation into U.S. dollars at the spot rate for the purchase of U.S. dollars with the applicable foreign currency as published in The Wall Street Journal in the “Exchange Rates” table under the heading “Currency Trading” on the date two (2) Business Days prior to such determination.

Except as described in Section 4.09 hereof, whenever it is necessary to determine whether the Company has complied with any covenant in this Indenture or a Default has occurred and an amount is expressed in a currency other than U.S. dollars, such amount will be treated as the U.S. Dollar Equivalent determined as of the date such amount was initially incurred in such currency.

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

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

Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (1) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal or liquidation preference, as the case may be, including payment at final maturity, in respect of the Indebtedness, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by (2) the then outstanding aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference, as the case may be, of such Indebtedness.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary” of any specified Person means a Subsidiary of such Person all of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interest of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person and one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

Section 1.02 Other Definitions.

 

Term    Defined in Section
Act    13.14(a)
Affiliate Transaction    4.11(a)
Asset Sale Offer    4.10(d)
Authentication Order    2.02
Change of Control Offer    4.14(a)
Change of Control Payment    4.14(a)
Change of Control Payment Date    4.14(a)
Company    5.02
Covenant Defeasance    8.03
DTC    2.04(b)
Event of Default    6.01(a)
Excess Proceeds    4.10(d)
Fixture Filings    12.07(a)(ii)(A)
indenture securities    1.03
indenture security Holder    1.03

 

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indenture to be qualified    1.03
indenture trustee    1.03
Independent Assets    4.03(d)
institutional trustee    1.03
Legal Defeasance    8.02
obligor    1.03
Offer Amount    3.09
Offer Period    3.09
Operations    4.03(d)
Option of Holder to Elect Purchase    3.09(vi)
Paying Agent    2.04(a)
Payment Default    6.01(a)(v)(1)
Permitted Debt    4.09(b)
Purchase Date    3.09
Registrar    2.04(a)
Repurchase Offer    3.09
Restricted Payments    4.07(a)(iv)
Specified Courts    13.09
Suspension Period    4.19(b)
Title Companies    12.07(a)(ii)(B)

Section 1.03 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.

Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.

The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

indenture securities” means the Notes;

indenture security Holder” means a Holder of a Note;

indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture;

indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee; and “obligor” on the Notes means the Company and any successor obligor upon the Notes.

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

Section 1.04 Rules of Construction.

Unless the context otherwise requires:

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

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

(iii) “or” is not exclusive;

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

(v) provisions apply to successive events and transactions

(vi) 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; and

 

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(vii) references, in any context, to any interest or other amount payable on or with respect to the Notes shall be deemed to include any Additional Interest that is payable pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

ARTICLE TWO

THE NOTES

Section 2.01 Form and Dating.

(a) General. The Initial Notes and the Trustee’s (or its agent’s) certificate of authentication with respect thereto shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The Exchange Notes, the Private Exchange Notes and the Trustee’s (or its agent’s) certificate of authentication with respect thereto shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be issued in registered, global form without interest coupons and only shall be in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

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

(b) Global Notes. Notes issued in global form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A or Exhibit D attached hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto), as applicable. Notes issued in definitive form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A or Exhibit D attached hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and without the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto), as applicable. Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified therein and each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges, repurchases and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.08 hereof.

(c) 144A Global Notes. Initial Notes offered and sold in reliance on Rule 144A shall be issued initially in the form of the 144A Global Note, which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with the Custodian for the Depositary, and registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee or its agent as hereinafter provided. The aggregate principal amount of a 144A Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, in connection with transfers of interest as hereinafter provided.

(d) Temporary Global Notes. Initial Notes offered and sold in reliance on Regulation S shall be issued initially in the form of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note, which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with the Custodian for the Depositary, and registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary for the accounts of designated agents holding on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee or its agent as hereinafter provided. Upon the expiration of the Restricted Period, beneficial interests in each Regulation S Temporary Global Note shall be exchanged for beneficial interests in a Regulation S Permanent Global Note pursuant to the Applicable Procedures. Simultaneously with the authentication of a Regulation S Permanent Global Note as hereinafter provided, the Trustee at the request of the Company pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate shall cancel the corresponding Regulation S Temporary Global Note. The aggregate principal amount of a Regulation S Temporary Global Note and a Regulation S Permanent Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, in connection with transfers of interest as hereinafter provided.

 

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

Section 2.02 Execution and Authentication.

One Officer of the Company shall sign the Notes for the Company by manual or electronic signature.

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

A Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual or electronic signature of the Trustee or its agent. Such signature shall be conclusive evidence and the only evidence, that the Note has been authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

The aggregate principal amount of Notes which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

The Trustee or its agent shall, upon a written order of the Company signed by one Officer of the Company (an “Authentication Order”), authenticate Notes for original issue on the date hereof in the aggregate principal amount of $650,000,000, and, at any time and from time to time thereafter, the Trustee or its agent shall, pursuant to an Authentication Order, authenticate Additional Notes for original issue in an aggregate principal amount specified in such Authentication Order and Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes for issue only in a Registered Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange, respectively, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, for a like principal amount of Initial Notes. The Authentication Order shall specify the amount of Notes to be authenticated and the date on which the Notes are to be authenticated, whether such Notes are to be Initial Notes, Additional Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes, and in the case of an issuance of Additional Notes pursuant to Section 2.16 after the Issue Date, shall certify that such issuance is in compliance with Section 4.09 and Section 4.12. In authenticating such Notes, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Notes, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and shall be fully protected in relying upon:

(A) a copy of the resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company in or pursuant to which the terms of the Notes were established, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect as of the date of such certificate;

(B) an Officers’ Certificate delivered in accordance with Section 13.04(i) hereof; and

(C) an Opinion of Counsel delivered in accordance with Section 13.04(ii) hereof and which shall also state:

(1) that such Notes, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and to general equity principles; and

(2) that all laws and corporate requirements in respect of the execution and delivery by the Company of such Notes have been complied with.

The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Notes under this Section if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or if the Trustee in good faith shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to existing Holders.

 

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The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable to the Company to authenticate Notes. An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights and protections as an Agent to deal with Holders, the Company and/or an Affiliate of the Company. As of the Issue Date, the Trustee has appointed The Huntington National Bank to act as authenticating agent.

Section 2.03 Methods of Receiving Payments on the Notes.

If a Holder of Notes has given wire transfer instructions to the Company, the Company shall pay all principal, interest and premium, if any, on that Holder’s Notes in accordance with those instructions. All other payments on the Notes shall be made at the office or agency of the Paying Agent and Registrar within the City and State of New York unless the Company elects to make interest payments by check mailed to the Holders at their respective addresses set forth in the register of Holders.

Section 2.04 Registrar and Paying Agent.

(a) The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“Registrar”) and an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without 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 or its agent shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

(b) The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.

(c) The Company initially appoints the Trustee or its agent to act as the Registrar and Paying Agent and to act as Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.

Section 2.05 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, premium or interest on the Notes, and shall notify the Trustee in writing of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or one of its Subsidiaries) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company or one of its Subsidiaries 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 Notes.

Section 2.06 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 TIA § 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least seven (7) Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of Notes and the Company shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a).

 

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Section 2.07 Registration.

The Company shall cause the Trustee to keep, so long as it is the Registrar, at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, or such other office as the Trustee may designate, a register of the Notes (the register maintained in such office or in any other office or agency designated pursuant to Section 4.02 hereof being herein sometimes referred to as the “Note Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as the Registrar may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Notes and of transfers of Notes. The Trustee shall initially be the Registrar for the purpose of registering Notes and transfers of Notes as herein provided. The Company may change the Registrar or appoint one or more co-Registrars without prior notice; provided that the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing if the Company changes the Registrar or appoints a co-Registrar.

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Notes at the office or agency of the Company designated pursuant to Section 4.02 hereof , the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount.

Furthermore, any Holder of a Global Note shall, by acceptance of such Global Note, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such Global Note may be effected only through a book-entry system maintained by the Holder of such Global Note (or its agent), and that ownership of a beneficial interest in a Notes shall be required to be reflected in a book entry.

At the option of the Holder, Notes may be exchanged for other Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Notes to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate and deliver, Notes which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

All Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Notes shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same Indebtedness, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

Every Note presented or surrendered for registration of transfer, or for exchange, repurchase or redemption, shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any registration of transfer, exchange or redemption of Notes, other than exchanges pursuant to this Section 2.07 or Section 2.09 hereof not involving any transfer, except for any transfer tax or similar governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.12, 3.06, 3.09, 4.10, 4.14 or 9.05 hereof or pursuant to any offer for the Notes which the Company may make to the Holders pursuant to the provisions of any indenture supplemental hereto).

The Company shall not be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Note during a period beginning at the opening of business fifteen (15) days before the mailing or delivery of a notice of redemption of Notes pursuant to Article Three hereof or any applicable provision of an indenture supplemental hereto and ending at the close of business on the day of such delivery, (b) to register the transfer of or exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of Notes being redeemed in part or (c) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a regular record date and the next succeeding interest payment date or a special record date and the next succeeding special payment date.

Any Note authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, any Global Note, whether pursuant to this Section 2.07, Sections 2.08, 2.09, 2.12, 3.06 and 9.05 hereto or otherwise, shall also be a Global Note and bear the legend specified in Exhibit A hereto.

 

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All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.07 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by email with the original to follow by first class mail.

Agent Members shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depositary or under the Global Notes. The Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of the Global Notes for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a Holder of any Note. None of the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent nor the Registrar shall have any responsibility or liability for any acts or omissions of the Depositary with respect to such Global Note, for the records of the Depositary, including records in respect of the beneficial owners of any such Global Note, for any transactions between the Depository and any Agent Member or between or among the Depositary, any such Agent Member and/or any Holder or beneficial owner of such Global Note, or for any transfers of beneficial interests in any such Global Note.

Section 2.08 Transfer and Exchange.

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. A Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. All Global Notes shall be exchanged by the Company for Definitive Notes if (i) the Company delivers to the Trustee notice from the Depositary that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as Depositary or that it is no longer a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 120 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary; (ii) the Company in its sole discretion determines that the Global Notes (in whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and delivers a written notice to such effect to the Trustee or (iii) there shall have occurred and be continuing a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes. Upon the occurrence of any of the preceding events in (i), (ii) or (iii) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee. Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.09 and 2.12 hereof. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.08(a); however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.08(b), (c), (i) or (j) hereof.

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

(i) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note. Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend; provided, however, that prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers of beneficial interests in a Regulation S Temporary Global Note may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.08(b)(i).

 

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(ii) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 2.08(b)(i) above, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either (A) (1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in the Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase or (B) (1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above; provided that in no event shall Definitive Notes be issued upon the transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in a Regulation S Temporary Global Note prior to (A) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (B) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount at maturity of the relevant Global Notes pursuant to Section 2.08(h) hereof.

(iii) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.08(b)(ii) above and the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the transferee shall take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) or (3)(d) thereof; and

(B) if the transferee shall take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof.

(iv) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in the Unrestricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.08(b)(ii) above and if:

(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to a Registered Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the holder of the beneficial interest to be transferred, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies that it is not (1) an Exchanging Dealer, (2) a Person participating in a distribution of Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;

(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or

(C) the Registrar receives the following:

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

 

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(2) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof; and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (iv), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

If any such transfer is effected pursuant to this subparagraph (iv) at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred pursuant to this subparagraph (iv).

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

(c) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes. Beneficial interests in Global Notes shall be exchanged for Definitive Notes only pursuant to this clause (c).

(i) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note, then, upon the occurrence of any of the events in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.08(a) hereof, subject to satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.08(b)(ii) and receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

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

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

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

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

(E) [Reserved];

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

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

 

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the Trustee shall, at the written request of the Company, cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.08(h) hereof, and the Company shall issue and execute and the Trustee or an authenticating agent shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.08(c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.08(c)(i) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.

(ii) Beneficial Interests in Regulation S Temporary Global Note to Definitive Notes. Notwithstanding Sections 2.08(c)(i)(A) and (C) hereof, a beneficial interest in a Regulation S Temporary Global Note may not be exchanged for a Definitive Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note prior to (A) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (B) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B) of the Securities Act.

(iii) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or may transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note only upon the occurrence of any of the events in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.08(a) and satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.08(b)(ii) hereof and if:

(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to a Registered Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the holder of such beneficial interest in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies that it is not (1) an Exchanging Dealer, (2) a Person participating in a distribution of Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;

(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;

(C) such transfer is effected by an Exchanging Dealer pursuant to an Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or

(D) the Registrar receives the following:

(1) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note that does not bear the Private Placement Legend, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(b) thereof; or

(2) if the Holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note that does not bear the Private Placement Legend, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

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

 

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(iv) Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon the occurrence of any of the events in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.08(a) hereof and satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.08(b)(ii) hereof, the Trustee shall, at the written request of the Company, cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.08(h) hereof, and the Company shall issue and execute and the Trustee or an authenticating agent shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.08(c)(iii) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.08(c)(iii) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.

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

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

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

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

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

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

(E) [Reserved];

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

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

 

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

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

(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to a Registered Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable letter of transmittal that it is not (1) an Exchanging Dealer, (2) a Person participating in a distribution of Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;

(B) any such transfer is effected pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;

(C) any such transfer is effected by an Exchanging Dealer pursuant to an Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or

(D) the Registrar receives the following:

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

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

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

Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in this Section 2.08(d)(ii), the Trustee shall cancel the Definitive Notes and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.

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

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

 

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(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.08(e), the Registrar shall register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder shall present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting Holder shall provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.08(e).

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

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

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

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

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

(A) such exchange is effected pursuant to a Registered Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certified in the applicable letter of transmittal that it is not (1) an Exchanging Dealer, (2) a Person participating in a distribution of Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;

(B) any such transfer is effected pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;

(C) any such transfer is effected by an Exchanging Dealer pursuant to an Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or

(D) the Registrar receives the following:

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

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

 

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

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

(f) General Provisions relating to Transfers and Exchanges. The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or any Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of Depositary records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in a Global Note or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any Depositary records relating to such beneficial ownership interests, or for transfers of beneficial interests in the Notes or any transactions between the Depositary and beneficial owners.

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

(i) Private Placement Legend. Except as permitted below, each Global Note and each Definitive Note (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the legend in substantially the following form:

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT WITHIN ONE YEAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS SECURITY) RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY EXCEPT (A) TO THE GEO GROUP, INC. OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE), (D) PURSUANT TO THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE), (E) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OR (F) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY WITHIN ONE YEAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS SECURITY) PURSUANT TO (2)(C), (D) OR (E), THE HOLDER MUST, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISH TO THE TRUSTEE AND THE GEO GROUP, INC. SUCH CERTIFICATIONS, LEGAL

 

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OPINIONS OR OTHER INFORMATION AS EITHER OF THEM MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS BEING MADE PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION,” “UNITED STATES” AND “U.S. PERSON” HAVE THE MEANING GIVEN TO THEM BY REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraph (b)(iv), (c)(ii), (c)(iii), (d)(ii), (d)(iii), (e) (ii) or (e)(iii) to this Section 2.08 (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.

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

THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.08 OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.08(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.13 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY SUCH CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC) ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

(iii) Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend. Each Regulation S Temporary Global Note shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED HEREIN).

(h) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes. At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note shall be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.13 hereof. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

 

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(i) Registered Exchange Offer. Upon the occurrence of a Registered Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee or an authenticating agent shall authenticate (i) one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes tendered for acceptance by Persons that certify in the applicable letters of transmittal that (x) they are not Exchanging Dealers, (y) they are not participating in a distribution of Exchange Notes and (z) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company, and accepted for exchange in a Registered Exchange Offer and (ii) Unrestricted Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Restricted Definitive Notes tendered for acceptance by Persons that certify in the applicable letters of transmittal that (x) they are not Exchanging Dealers, (y) they are not participating in a distribution of Exchange Notes and (z) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company, and accepted for exchange in a Registered Exchange Offer. Concurrently with the issuance of such Notes, the Trustee shall, at the written request of the Company, cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Restricted Global Notes to be reduced accordingly, and the Company shall issue and execute and the Trustee or an authenticating agent shall authenticate and mail or deliver to the Persons designated by the Holders of Definitive Notes so accepted Unrestricted Definitive Notes in the applicable principal amount. Any Notes that remain outstanding after the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer, and Exchange Notes issued in connection with a Registered Exchange Offer, shall be treated as a single class of securities under this Indenture.

(j) Private Exchange. Upon the occurrence of a Private Exchange in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee or an authenticating agent shall authenticate (i) one or more Restricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes tendered for exchange by the Initial Purchasers and (ii) Restricted Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Restricted Definitive Notes tendered for exchange by the Initial Purchasers. Concurrently with the issuance of such Notes, the Trustee shall, at the written request of the Company, cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Restricted Global Notes to be reduced accordingly, and the Company shall issue and execute and the Trustee or an authenticating agent shall authenticate and mail or deliver to the Persons designated by the Holders of Definitive Notes so exchanged Restricted Definitive Notes in the applicable principal amount. Any Notes that remain outstanding after the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer, the Exchange Notes issued in connection with such Registered Exchange Offer, and Private Exchange Notes issued in connection with a Private Exchange, shall be treated as a single class of securities under this Indenture.

Section 2.09 Replacement Notes.

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

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

Section 2.10 Outstanding Notes.

(a) The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee (or its agent) except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in this Section 2.10 as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.11 hereof, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note.

(b) If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.09 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.

 

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

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

Section 2.11 Treasury Notes.

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Company, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company, 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 Notes that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has been notified in writing are so owned shall be so disregarded.

Section 2.12 Temporary Notes.

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

(b) Holders of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture.

Section 2.13 Cancellation.

The Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes 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 Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall dispose of canceled Notes in accordance with its procedures for the disposition of canceled securities in effect as of the date of such disposition (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act). Certification of the disposition of all canceled Notes shall be delivered to the Company. The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 2.14 Defaulted Interest.

If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, 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 Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment. The Company 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 ten (10) days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest. At least fifteen (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 deliver or cause to be mailed or delivered to Holders a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

Section 2.15 CUSIP Numbers.

The Company in issuing the Notes 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 Notes or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the “CUSIP” numbers.

 

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Section 2.16 Issuance of Additional Notes.

The Company shall be entitled, subject to its compliance with Section 4.09 and Section 4.12, to issue Additional Notes without the consent of the Holders under this Indenture which shall have identical terms as the Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, other than with respect to the date of issuance and issue price. The Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, any Additional Notes and all Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes issued in exchange therefor shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture.

With respect to any Additional Notes, the Company shall set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, a copy of each which shall be delivered to the Trustee, the following information:

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

(b) the issue price, the issue date and the “CUSIP” numbers of such Additional Notes;

(c) whether such Additional Notes shall be Restricted Notes and issued in the form of Initial Notes as set forth in Exhibit A to this Indenture or shall be issued in the form of Exchange Notes as set forth in Exhibit D to this Indenture; and

(d) if any Additional Notes are not fungible with any of the Notes then outstanding for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such Additional Notes will have a separate CUSIP number.

ARTICLE THREE

REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

Section 3.01 Notices to Trustee.

If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 3.07 hereof, it shall furnish to the Trustee, at least ten (10) days but not more than sixty (60) days before a redemption date, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth (i) the clause of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price.

Section 3.02 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed.

(a) If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed or purchased in an offer to purchase at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes for redemption or purchase as follows: (1) if the Notes are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the Notes are listed as certified to the Trustee by the Company, and in compliance with the procedures and requirements of DTC; or (2) if the Notes are not listed on any national securities exchange, on a pro rata basis (based on amounts tendered), by lot or by such method as the Trustee deems fair and appropriate in accordance with DTC procedures subject to adjustments so that no Notes in an unauthorized denomination remains outstanding after such redemption. In the event of partial redemption by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed shall be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the redemption date by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption.

(b) The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption, the principal amount at maturity thereof to be redeemed. No Notes in amounts of $2,000 or less shall be redeemed in part. Notes and portions of Notes selected shall be in amounts of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000; except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.

 

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Section 3.03 Notice of Redemption.

(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.09 hereof, at least ten (10) days but not more than sixty (60) days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail or deliver or cause to be mailed or delivered, by first class mail or electronically or otherwise in accordance with DTC procedures, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be sent more than sixty (60) days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

The notice shall identify the Notes (including CUSIP numbers) to be redeemed and shall state:

(i) the redemption date;

(ii) the redemption price;

(iii) if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount at maturity of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Note shall be issued (or cause to be transferred by book entry) in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note;

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

(v) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price and become due on the date fixed for redemption;

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

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

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

(ix) any condition to such redemption.

(b) At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense; provided, however, that the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least five (5) Business Days before the notice of redemption is required to be mailed or sent, or caused to be mailed or sent to Holders pursuant to this Section 3.03 (unless a shorter notice shall be agreed to by the Trustee), an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in Section 3.03(a). The notice, if mailed or sent in the manner provided herein shall be presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice.

Section 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption.

Once notice of redemption is mailed or sent in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price, subject to satisfaction of any conditions precedent relating thereto specified in the applicable notice of redemption. As long as the Notes are issued in global form, notices to be given to Holders will be given to DTC, in accordance with its applicable policies as in effect from time to time.

Any notice of redemption may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, consummation or occurrence of any related Equity Offering, incurrence of Indebtedness, Change of Control or other transaction, as the case may be. In addition, if such redemption or notice is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the redemption date may be delayed until such time (including more than sixty (60) days

 

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after the date the notice of redemption was mailed or delivered, including by electronic transmission) as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied (or waived by the Company in its sole discretion), or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied (or waived by the Company in its sole discretion) by the redemption date, or by the redemption date as so delayed. The Company may provide in such notice that payment of the redemption price and performance of the Company’s obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person.

Section 3.05 Deposit of Redemption Price.

(a) One (1) Business Day prior to the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed on that date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest on, all Notes to be redeemed.

(b) If the Company complies with the provisions of Section 3.05(a), on and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption. If a Note is redeemed on or after an interest record date but on or prior to the related interest payment date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such record date. If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption because of the failure of the Company to comply with Section 3.05(a), interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof.

Section 3.06 Notes Redeemed in Part.

Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Company shall issue (or cause to be transferred by book entry) and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Company a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered. No Notes in denominations of $2,000 or less shall be redeemed in part.

Section 3.07 Optional Redemption.

(a) On or after April 15, 2026, the Company may, at its option, redeem all or a part of the Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any) upon not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days’ notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes redeemed, to (but not including) the applicable redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date if the Notes have not been redeemed prior to such date) if redeemed during the 12-month period beginning on April 15 of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2026

     104.313

2027

     102.156

2028 and thereafter

     100.000

(b) In addition, at any time prior to April 15, 2026, the Company shall be entitled at its option on one or more occasions to redeem Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any) originally issued at a redemption price (calculated by the Company and expressed as a percentage of principal amount) of 108.625%, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to (but not including) the applicable redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date if the Notes have not been redeemed prior to such date), with an amount not to exceed the net cash proceeds from one or more Equity Offerings; provided, however, that: (1) at least 65% of such aggregate principal amount of Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption (other than Notes held, directly or indirectly, by the Company or its Subsidiaries); and (2) each such redemption occurs within ninety (90) days after the date of closing of the related Equity Offering.

 

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(c) Notice of any redemption upon any Equity Offering may be given prior to the completion thereof, and any such redemption or notice may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to the completion of the related Equity Offering.

(d) Prior to April 15, 2026, the Company shall be entitled at its option to redeem all or a portion of the Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any) at a redemption price (calculated by the Company) equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any), plus the Applicable Premium as of the applicable redemption date, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to (but not including) the applicable redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date if the Notes have not been redeemed prior to such date). Notice of such redemption shall be sent to DTC in the case of Global Notes, or mailed by first-class mail to each Holder’s registered address in the case of certificated notes (and, to the extent permitted by applicable procedures and regulations, electronically), not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the redemption date.

(e) During any twelve-month period prior to April 15, 2026, the Company shall be entitled at its option on one or more occasions to redeem Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any) at a redemption price (calculated by the Company and expressed as a percentage of principal amount) of 103.000%, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date.

(f) The Trustee shall have no responsibility with respect to the determination of any redemption price.

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

Section 3.08 [Reserved].

Section 3.09 Repurchase Offers.

In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.10 and Section 4.14 hereof, the Company shall be required to commence an offer to all Holders to purchase their respective Notes (a “Repurchase Offer”), it shall follow the procedures specified below.

The Repurchase Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 Business Days following its commencement and no longer, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “Offer Period”). No later than five (5) Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the “Purchase Date”), the Company shall purchase the principal amount of Notes required to be purchased pursuant to Section 4.10 and Section 4.14 hereof (the “Offer Amount”) or, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered in response to the Repurchase Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased shall be made in the same manner as interest payments are made.

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

Upon the commencement of a Repurchase Offer, the Company shall send, by first class mail or electronically or otherwise in accordance with DTC procedures, a notice to the Trustee and each of the Holders, with a copy to the Trustee. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Repurchase Offer. The Repurchase Offer shall be made to all Holders. The notice, which shall govern the terms of the Repurchase Offer, shall state:

 

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(i) that the Repurchase Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.09 and Section 4.10 or Section 4.14 hereof, and the length of time the Repurchase Offer shall remain open;

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

(iii) that any Note not tendered or accepted for payment shall continue to accrete or accrue interest, if any;

(iv) that, unless the Company defaults in making such payment, any Note (or portion thereof) accepted for payment pursuant to the Repurchase Offer shall cease to accrete or accrue interest, if any, after the Purchase Date;

(v) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to a Repurchase Offer may elect to have Notes purchased in principal amounts of $2,000 or in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof only;

(vi) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to any Repurchase Offer shall be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Note completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Company, the Depositary, if appointed by the Company, or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice at least three days before the Purchase Date;

(vii) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Company, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than the expiration of the Offer Period, a facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased;

(viii) that, if the aggregate amount of Notes surrendered by Holders exceeds the Offer Amount, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis or in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Trustee so that only Notes in denominations of $2,000, or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, shall be purchased); and (ix) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer).

On the Purchase Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful, accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary, the Offer Amount of Notes (or portions thereof) tendered pursuant to the Repurchase Offer, or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered, and shall send to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Notes (or portions thereof) were accepted for payment by the Company in accordance with the terms of this Section 3.09. The Company, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall promptly (but in any case not later than five days after the Purchase Date) mail or send to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of Notes tendered by such Holder, as the case may be, and accepted by the Company for purchase, and the Company, shall promptly issue a new Note. The Trustee, upon written request from the Company with an Authentication Order, shall authenticate and mail or send electronically or otherwise in accordance with DTC procedures such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount at maturity equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Company to the respective Holder thereof. The Company shall publicly announce the results of the Repurchase Offer as soon as practicable after the Purchase Date.

The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act, and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to a Repurchase Offer.

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

 

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Section 3.10 Application of Trust Money.

All money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 11.02 hereof shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

ARTICLE FOUR

COVENANTS

Section 4.01 Payment of Notes.

(a) The Company shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, holds as of 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the due date money deposited by the Company in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due. The Company shall pay all Additional Interest, if any, on the Restricted Notes in the same manner and on the same dates and in the amounts set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement. The Trustee shall have no obligation to calculate or verify the calculation of Additional Interest.

(b) The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to 1% per annum in excess of the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.

Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency.

(a) The Company shall maintain an office or agency in the United States (which may be an office of the Trustee or an agent of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee 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.

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

(c) The Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 2.04 hereof.

Section 4.03 Reports.

(a) Whether or not required by the SEC, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company, upon request, shall furnish to the Holders of Notes, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations:

(i) all quarterly and annual financial and other information that would be required to be contained in a filing with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company were required to file such Forms, including a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and, with respect to the annual information only, a report on the annual financial statements by the Company’s certified independent accountants; and

 

49


(ii) all current reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K if the Company were required to file such reports.

(b) In addition, whether or not required by the SEC, the Company shall file a copy of all of the information and reports referred to in clauses (a)(i) and (ii) above with the SEC for public availability within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations (unless the SEC will not accept such a filing) and make such information available to prospective investors upon request.

(c) If the Company has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then the quarterly and annual financial information required by Section 4.03(a) hereof will include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, and in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company.

(d) Notwithstanding Section 4.03(a), (b) and (c), if any direct or indirect parent company of the Company provides a full and unconditional Guarantee of the Notes, the reports, information and other documents required to be filed and furnished as required by Section 4.03(a), (b) and (c) may be those of such parent company, rather than those of the Company; provided that, if and so long as such parent company shall have Independent Assets or Operations, the same is accompanied by consolidating information relating to such parent company, on the one hand, and information relating to the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand. The Company shall be deemed to have furnished to the Holders of Notes, and to have filed with the SEC and delivered to the Trustee, the information and reports referred to in subclauses (i) and (ii) of Section 4.03(a) and Section 4.03(c) and this clause (d) (or such information and reports of a direct or indirect parent company of the Company, if applicable), if such information and reports have been filed with the SEC via the EDGAR filing system (or any successor filing system of the SEC) and are publicly available. “Independent Assets or “Operations” means, with respect to any such direct or indirect parent company of the Company, that each of the total assets, revenues, income from continuing operations before income taxes and cash flows from operating activities of such parent company, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, but excluding in each case amounts related to its investment in the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, as shown in the most recent fiscal quarter financial statements of such parent company (measured on a most recent trailing four fiscal quarter basis with respect to revenues, income from continuing operations before income taxes and cash flows from operating activities), is more than 3.0% of such parent company’s corresponding consolidated amount determined in accordance with GAAP.

The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability for the filing, timeliness or content of such reports, information or documents. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

(e) In addition, to the extent not satisfied by the foregoing, for so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company shall furnish to Holders and to securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

(f) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be deemed to have failed to comply with any obligations under this Section 4.03 for purposes of Article Six of this Indenture until 120 days after the date any report under this Section 4.03 is due.

 

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Section 4.04 Compliance Certificate.

(a) The Company shall and shall cause each Guarantor (to the extent that such Guarantor is so required under the TIA) to send to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year, an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge, the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto) and that to the best of his or her knowledge no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which payments on account of the principal of or interest, if any, on the Notes is prohibited or if such event has occurred, a description of the event and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

(b) The Company shall, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding, send to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, forthwith upon the Company becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default, its status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

Section 4.05 Taxes.

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

Section 4.06 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

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

Section 4.07 Restricted Payments.

(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:

(i) declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment or distribution on account of the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) or to the direct or indirect holders of the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s Equity Interests in their capacity as such (other than dividends or distributions payable (A) in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or (B) to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company);

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

(iii) make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Indebtedness that is expressly subordinated to the Notes or any Note Guarantee, except a payment of interest or principal to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or except any payment made at the Stated Maturity thereof (or any payment, purchase or other acquisition, in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity due within one year); or

 

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

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

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

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

(3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.07(b)(ii) through (ix) hereof and including the net amount of any Restricted Payment permitted pursuant to Section 4.07(b) hereof) is less than the sum, without duplication, of:

(A) 50% of the aggregate amount of the Consolidated Net Income (or, if the Consolidated Net Income is a loss, minus 100% of the amount of such loss) of the Company accrued on a cumulative basis for the period (taken as one accounting period) from April 1, 2024, to the end of the Company’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment; plus

(B) (i) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds plus (ii) 100% of the aggregate fair market value of any Permitted Business or assets used or useful in a Permitted Business (other than Restricted Investments), in each case, to the extent received by the Company since the Issue Date as a contribution to its common equity capital or in consideration of the issuance of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock), except to the extent used to make an Investment pursuant to clause (12) or (14) of the definition of “Permitted Investments,” or from the issue or sale of Disqualified Stock or debt securities of the Company that have been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or Disqualified Stock or debt securities) sold to a Subsidiary of the Company); plus

(C) to the extent that any Restricted Investment that was made after the Issue Date is sold for cash or otherwise liquidated or repaid for cash, the lesser of (i) the cash return of capital with respect to such Restricted Investment (less the cost of disposition, if any) and (ii) the initial amount of such Restricted Investment; plus

(D) to the extent that any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, the lesser of (i) the fair market value of the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s Investment in such Subsidiary as of the date of such redesignation or (ii) the fair market value of the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s Investment in such Subsidiary as of the date on which such Subsidiary was originally designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent such Investment was treated as a Restricted Payment, plus the amount of any Investments made in such Subsidiary subsequent to such designation (or in the case of any Subsidiary that was an Unrestricted Subsidiary as of the Issue Date, subsequent to the Issue Date) to the extent any such Investment was treated as a Restricted Payment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; plus

 

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(E) 100% of any other dividends or other distributions received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary since the Issue Date from an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company to the extent that such dividends were not otherwise included in Consolidated Net Income of the Company for such period in an amount not to exceed the amount of Restricted Investments previously made by the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries in such Unrestricted Subsidiary.

(b) So long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby, the preceding provisions will not prohibit:

(i) the payment of any dividend within sixty (60) days after the date of declaration of the dividend, if at the date of declaration the dividend payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;

(ii) the redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition of any subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor or of any Equity Interests of the Company in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of, Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock); provided that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition will be excluded from Section 4.07(a)(3)(B);

(iii) the defeasance, redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor with the net cash proceeds from an incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;

(iv) the payment of any dividend by a Restricted Subsidiary to the holders of its Equity Interests on a pro rata basis;

(v) the repurchase of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon (a) exercise of stock options to the extent that shares of such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options and (b) the withholding of a portion of the Equity Interests granted or awarded to an employee to pay taxes associated therewith;

(vi) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary held by any member of the Company’s (or any Restricted Subsidiary’s) management; provided that the aggregate amount expended pursuant to this clause (vi) shall not exceed $10.0 million in any twelve-month period;

(vii) Restricted Payments not otherwise permitted in an amount not to exceed $125.0 million;

(viii) the repurchase by the Company of its common stock in an aggregate amount not to exceed an amount equal to 10.0% of the aggregate principal amount of 2026 Exchangeable Senior Notes repurchased on and after the Issue Date; and

(ix) Restricted Payments made, if, at the time of the making of such Restricted Payment, and after giving effect thereto (including, without limitation, the incurrence of any Indebtedness to finance such Restricted Payment), the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio of the Company would not exceed 2.00 to 1.00.

The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the fair market value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The fair market value of any assets or securities that are required to be valued by this Section 4.07 will be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company whose resolution with respect thereto will be delivered to the Trustee. Except with respect to a Restricted Payment permitted by Section 4.07(b)(i) through (ix), the determination of the Company’s Board of Directors must be based upon an opinion or appraisal issued by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing if the fair market value exceeds $25.0 million. Not later than the date on which such Restricted Payment was made, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Restricted Payment is permitted and setting forth the basis upon which the calculations required by this Section 4.07 were computed.

 

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Section 4.08 Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries.

(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:

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

(ii) make loans or advances to the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries; or

(iii) transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries.

(b) However, the restrictions set forth in Section 4.08(a) hereof shall not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

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

(ii) this Indenture, the Notes, the Security Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement;

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

(iv) any instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person acquired by the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of such acquisition (except to the extent such Indebtedness or Capital Stock was incurred in connection with or in contemplation of such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired; provided, that, in the case of Indebtedness, such Indebtedness was permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred;

(v) customary non-assignment provisions of any contract or agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business and customary provisions restricting subletting or transfer of any interest in real or personal property contained in any lease or easement agreement of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(vi) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions on that property of the nature described in Section 4.08(a)(iii) hereof;

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

 

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(viii) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness; provided that the restrictions contained in the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness with respect to dividends and other payments are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being refinanced;

(ix) Liens securing Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred under Section 4.12 hereof that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets subject to such Liens;

(x) provisions with respect to the disposition or distribution of assets or property in joint venture agreements, asset sale agreements, stock sale agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

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

(xii) any Indebtedness incurred in compliance with Section 4.09 hereof by any Foreign Subsidiary or any Guarantor, or any agreement pursuant to which such Indebtedness is issued, if the encumbrance or restriction applies only to such Foreign Subsidiary or Guarantor and only in the event of a payment default or default with respect to a financial covenant contained in the Indebtedness or agreement and the encumbrance or restriction is not materially more disadvantageous to the Holders of the Notes than is customary in comparable financings (as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company) and the Board of Directors of the Company determines that any such encumbrance or restriction will not materially affect the Company’s ability to pay interest or principal on the Notes; or

(xiii) an arrangement or circumstance arising or agreed to in the ordinary course of business, not relating to any Indebtedness, and that does not, individually or in the aggregate, detract from the value of property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in any manner material to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary.

Section 4.09 Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock.

(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, Guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to (collectively, “incur”) any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt), and the Company will not issue any Disqualified Stock and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue any Disqualified Stock or preferred stock; provided, however, that the Company may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue Disqualified Stock, and any Guarantor may incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock and any Foreign Subsidiary may incur Indebtedness, if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock is issued would have been at least 2.0 to 1.0, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred or the preferred stock or Disqualified Stock had been issued, as the case may be, at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

(b) Section 4.09(a) will not prohibit the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness or the issuance of Disqualified Stock, as set forth below (collectively, “Permitted Debt”):

(i) the incurrence by the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness under one or more Credit Facilities in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding under this clause (i) not to exceed an amount equal to (x) $760.0 million, plus (y) an amount not in excess of (i) the greater of (x) $500.0 million and (y) 100% of Adjusted EBITDA for the period of four fiscal quarters of the Company most recently ended prior to the calculation of such amount for which annual or quarterly financial statements, as applicable, have been delivered under Section 4.03 calculated, if the applicable Indebtedness is being incurred to finance an acquisition permitted under this Indenture, on a pro forma basis in a manner consistent with the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio,” minus (ii) the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness previously incurred pursuant to this subclause (y), less the aggregate amount of all Net Proceeds of Asset Sales applied by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to repay any Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement and, if the Indebtedness repaid is revolving credit Indebtedness, to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto, pursuant to Section 4.10;

 

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(ii) the incurrence by the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary of Existing Indebtedness;

(iii) the incurrence by the Company of Indebtedness represented by the Notes to be issued on the date hereof and any Guarantees thereof by any Guarantor;

(iv) the incurrence by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, in each case, incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of construction or improvement of property, plant or equipment used in the business of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, in an aggregate principal amount, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refund, refinance or replace any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (iv), not to exceed the greater of (i) $100.0 million and (ii) 3.5% Consolidated Tangible Assets, at any time outstanding;

(v) the incurrence by the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to refund, refinance or replace Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness) that was permitted by this Indenture to be incurred under Section 4.09(a) or clauses (ii), (iii) or (v) of this Section 4.09(b);

(vi) the incurrence by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that:

(1) if the Company or any Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations with respect to the Notes, in the case of the Company, or the Note Guarantee, in the case of a Guarantor; and

(2) (i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by this clause (vi);

(vii) the incurrence by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Hedging Obligations that are incurred for the purpose of fixing, hedging or swapping interest rate risk with respect to any Indebtedness that is permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be outstanding or for hedging foreign currency exchange risk, in each case to the extent the Hedging Obligations are incurred in the ordinary course of the Company’s financial management and not for any speculative purpose;

(viii) the Guarantee by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this Section 4.09;

(ix) the accrual of interest, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, and the payment of dividends on Disqualified Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Stock will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Stock for purposes of this Section 4.09; provided, in each such case, that the amount thereof is included in Fixed Charges of the Company as accrued;

 

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(x) the incurrence by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness, including Indebtedness represented by letters of credit for the account of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, incurred in respect of workers’ compensation claims, self-insurance obligations, performance, proposal, completion, surety and similar bonds and completion guarantees provided by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business; provided that the underlying obligation to perform is that of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries and not that of the Company’s Unrestricted Subsidiaries; provided, further, that such underlying obligation is not in respect of borrowed money;

(xi) the incurrence by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of additional Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) at any time outstanding, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refund, refinance or replace any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (xi), not to exceed $125.0 million;

(xii) the incurrence by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness, including but not limited to Indebtedness represented by letters of credit for the account of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, arising from agreements of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or Equity Interests of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, other than guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Equity Interests for the purpose of financing such acquisition;

(xiii) the incurrence by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument (except in the case of daylight overdrafts) drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business, provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five (5) Business Days of incurrence;

(xiv) the issuance of preferred stock of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company that is pledged to secure the Credit Agreement and/or the Notes, provided that any subsequent transfer that results in such preferred stock being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary will be deemed to constitute an issuance of preferred stock not permitted by this clause (xiv);

(xv) the incurrence of Acquired Debt (but not any Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of such other Person merging with or into, or becoming a Subsidiary of, the Company); provided, however, that on the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary or is acquired by the Company and after giving pro forma effect thereto, (x) the Company would have been entitled to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test in Section 4.09(a) or (y) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio would be greater than such ratio for the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction;

(xvi) Guarantees by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of any Unrestricted Subsidiary, provided that the aggregate principal amount of such Guarantees of Indebtedness of any Unrestricted Subsidiary shall not exceed the greater of (i) $75.0 million and (ii) 2.5% of Consolidated Tangible Assets, at any time outstanding; and

(xvii) Indebtedness consisting of obligations under any Permitted Convertible Indebtedness Call Transaction.

 

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(c) For purposes of determining compliance with any restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness where the Indebtedness incurred is not denominated in U.S. dollars, the amount of such Indebtedness will be the U.S. Dollar Equivalent determined on the date of incurrence of such Indebtedness; provided, however, that if any such Indebtedness not denominated in U.S. dollars is subject to a Hedging Obligation with respect to U.S. dollars covering all principal, premium, if any, and interest payable on such Indebtedness, the amount of such Indebtedness expressed in U.S. dollars will be as provided in such Hedging Obligation. The principal amount of any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred in the same currency as the Indebtedness being refinanced will be the U.S. Dollar Equivalent of the Indebtedness refinanced, except to the extent that (i) such U.S. Dollar Equivalent was determined based on a Hedging Obligation, in which case the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall be determined in accordance with the preceding sentence, and (ii) the principal amount of the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness exceeds the principal amount of the Indebtedness being refinanced, in which case the U.S. Dollar Equivalent of such excess shall be determined on the date such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred.

(d) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09, in the event that an item of proposed Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (i) through (xvii) of Section 4.09(b) hereof, or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a) hereof, the Company shall be permitted to classify such item of Indebtedness on the date of its incurrence, or later reclassify all or a portion of such item of Indebtedness, in any manner that complies with this Section 4.09. Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement outstanding on the date on which Notes are first issued and authenticated under this Indenture shall be deemed to have been incurred on such date in reliance on the exception provided in Section 4.09(b)(i) hereof.

(e) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Guarantor to, incur any Indebtedness (including Permitted Debt) that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company or such Guarantor unless such Indebtedness is also contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Note Guarantee on substantially identical terms; provided, however, that no Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor will be deemed to be contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor solely by virtue of being unsecured or by virtue of the fact that the holders of secured Indebtedness have entered into intercreditor arrangements giving one or more of such holders priority over the other holders in the collateral held by them.

Section 4.10 Asset Sales.

(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, consummate an Asset Sale unless:

(i) the Company (or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration at the time of the Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of (except in respect of Designated Assets sold pursuant to a Designated Asset Contract);

(ii) the fair market value or Designated Asset Value, as applicable, in the case of any Asset Sales or series of related Asset Sales having a fair market value of $50.0 million or more, is determined by the Company’s Board of Directors and evidenced by a resolution of the Company’s Board of Directors set forth in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee; and

(iii) at least 75% of the consideration received in the Asset Sale by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents. For purposes of this Section 4.10(a)(iii) only, each of the following will be deemed to be cash:

(1) any liabilities, as shown on the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet, of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or any Note Guarantee) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation agreement that releases the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from further liability;

 

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(2) any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash or Cash Equivalents within ninety (90) days after the applicable Asset Sale, to the extent of the cash or Cash Equivalents received in that conversion;

(3) notes or other obligations or Indebtedness actually received by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary as consideration for the sale or other disposition of a Designated Asset pursuant to a contract with a governmental or quasi- governmental agency, but only to the extent that such notes or other obligations or Indebtedness were explicitly required to be included, or permitted to be included solely at the option of the purchaser, in such consideration pursuant to such contract;

(4) 100% of Indebtedness actually received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary as consideration for the sale or other disposition of an Unoccupied Facility; and

(5) any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary in the Asset Sale, in an aggregate amount in any fiscal year of the Company (measured on the date such Designated Non-Cash Consideration was received without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all other Designated Non-Cash Consideration received as consideration pursuant to this clause (5) during such fiscal year (but, to the extent that any such Designated Non-Cash Consideration is sold or otherwise liquidated for cash, minus the lesser of (x) the amount of the cash received (less the cost of disposition, if any) and (y) the initial amount of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration), not to exceed $150.0 million.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries may engage in Asset Swaps; provided that:

(i) immediately after giving effect to such Asset Swap, the Company would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a); and

(ii) the Board of Directors of the Company determines that the fair market value of the assets received by the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary in the Asset Swap is not less than the fair market value of the assets disposed of by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Swap and such determination is evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company set forth in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee.

(c) Within 360 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale, the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary may apply those Net Proceeds, at its option:

(i) (a) to permanently reduce, prepay, repay, satisfy and discharge, or purchase, as applicable, Indebtedness under the Notes or any First Lien Secured Obligations (other than the Notes), including Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement, and if applicable, to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto; provided, however, that (x) to the extent that the terms of such First Lien Secured Obligations (other than the Notes) require Net Proceeds to repay Indebtedness outstanding under such First Lien Secured Obligations prior to the repayment of other First Lien Secured Obligations, the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary shall be entitled to repay such First Lien Secured Obligations prior to repaying Indebtedness under the Notes and (y) except as provided in the foregoing subclause (x), to the extent the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary so reduces any other First Lien Secured Obligations, the Company shall (i) equally and ratably reduce Obligations under the Notes (A) as provided under Section 3.07 or (B) through open market purchases (provided that such purchases are at or above 100% of the principal amount thereof) or (ii) make an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Sale Offer) to all Holders of Notes to purchase their Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus the amount of accrued but unpaid interest, if any, on the principal amount of such Notes that would otherwise be redeemed under clause (i); or

 

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(b) to the extent such Net Proceeds are from an Asset Sale that does not constitute Collateral, (x) to permanently repay any Indebtedness secured by a Lien on such asset or (y) to permanently reduce Indebtedness that is pari passu in right of payment with the Notes; provided; that the Company (i) equally and ratably reduce (or offer to reduce pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer) Obligations under the Notes (A) as provided under Section 3.07 or (B) through open market purchases (provided that such purchases are at or above 100% of the principal amount thereof) or (ii) make an offer (in accordance with Section 4.10(c)) to all Holders of Notes to purchase their Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus the amount of accrued but unpaid interest, if any, on the principal amount of such Notes that would otherwise be redeemed or purchased under subclause (i);

(ii) to acquire, or enter into a definitive agreement to acquire, all or substantially all of the assets of, a Permitted Business or a majority of the Voting Stock of a Person engaged in a Permitted Business; provided that such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; and provided, further, however, in the case of a definitive agreement, that such acquisition closes within 120 days of such 360-day period;

(iii) to make a capital expenditure in or that is used or useful in a Permitted Business (provided that the completion of (a) construction of new facilities, (b) expansions to existing facilities and (c) repair or construction of damaged or destroyed facilities, in each case, which commences within such 360 days may extend for an additional 360-day period if the Net Proceeds to be used for such construction, expansion or repair are committed specifically for such activity within such 360 days); or

(iv) to acquire other long-term assets that are used or useful in a Permitted Business,

provided, however, that with respect to any assets that are acquired with such Net Proceeds, the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, must promptly grant to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties, a security interest (which shall have the same priority as the security interest that the Notes Secured Parties had in the assets disposed of which constituted Collateral) on any such assets on the terms set forth in this Indenture and the Security Documents, except to the extent such assets would constitute Excluded Property or are real property interests, including improvements, that are not Material Real Property.

Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds, the Company may temporarily reduce revolving credit borrowings or otherwise invest the Net Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture.

(d) Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in clause (c) of this Section 4.10, or that the Company determines will not be applied or invested as provided in clause (c) of this Section 4.10, shall constitute “Excess Proceeds.” When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $50.0 million, the Company shall make an offer (an “Asset Sale Offer”) to all Holders of Notes and, at the Company’s option, all holders of other secured Indebtedness that is pari passu in right of payment and lien priority with the Notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets, to purchase on a pro rata basis the maximum principal amount of Notes and such other pari passu secured Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds. The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to (but not including) the date of purchase, and shall be payable in cash. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company may use those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other pari passu secured Indebtedness tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness shall be purchased on a pro rata basis. Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

(e) The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with each repurchase of Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Asset Sale provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 4.10 by virtue of such compliance.

 

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Section 4.11 Transactions with Affiliates.

(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or amend any contract, agreement, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate (each, an “Affiliate Transaction”), unless:

(i) the Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person; and

(ii) the Company delivers to the Trustee:

(A) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $25.0 million, a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company set forth in an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with this Section 4.11 and that such Affiliate Transaction has been approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of the Company; and

(B) except with respect to leases of facilities entered into in the ordinary course of business with a Wholly Owned Subsidiary, with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $75.0 million, an opinion as to the fairness to the Company of such Affiliate Transaction from a financial point of view issued by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing.

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

(i) indemnity agreements and reasonable employment arrangements (including severance and retirement agreements) entered into by the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, in each case approved by the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of the Company;

(ii) transactions between or among the Company and/or the Restricted Subsidiaries ;

(iii) payment of reasonable directors fees to Persons who are not otherwise Affiliates of the Company;

(iv) sales of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;

(v) Permitted Investments and Restricted Payments that are permitted by Section 4.07;

(vi) any issuance of securities, or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of employment arrangements, stock options and stock ownership plans and other reasonable fees, compensation, benefits and indemnities paid or entered into by the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business to or with officers, directors or employees of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries; and

(vii) any pledge of any Government Operating Agreement to secure Non-Recourse Project Financing Indebtedness related to the Facility that is the subject of such Government Operating Agreement.

 

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Section 4.12 Liens.

The Company will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any Lien of any kind (other than Permitted Liens) (each an “Initial Lien”) upon any of their property or assets, now owned or hereafter acquired, except where: (i) in the case of any Initial Lien on any Collateral, such Initial Lien expressly has junior priority on the Collateral relative to the Notes and the Note Guarantees; and (ii) in the case of any Initial Lien on any asset or property that is not Collateral, the Notes (or a Note Guarantee in the case of Initial Liens on assets or property of a Guarantor) are equally and ratably secured with (or on a senior basis to, in the case such Initial Lien secures any subordinated Indebtedness) the obligations secured by such Initial Lien until such time as such obligations are no longer secured by such Initial Lien, at which time the Initial Lien securing the Notes and the Note Guarantees shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged.

Any Lien created for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties pursuant to the clauses (i) or (ii) of the preceding paragraph shall provide by its terms that such Lien shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon the release and discharge of the Initial Lien.

Section 4.13 Business Activities.

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

Section 4.14 Offer to Repurchase upon a Change of Control.

(a) If a Change of Control occurs, each Holder of the Notes will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to a minimum denomination of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of that Holder’s Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”), provided that any unpurchased portion of a Note must be in a minimum denomination of $2,000. In the Change of Control Offer, the Company will offer a payment (a “Change of Control Payment”) in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes repurchased, to (but not including) the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date if the Notes have not been redeemed or repurchased prior to such date). Within thirty (30) days following any Change of Control, the Company shall mail or deliver a notice to each Holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and offering to repurchase Notes, on the date (the “Change of Control Payment Date”) specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than thirty (30) days and no later than sixty (60) days from the date such notice is delivered, pursuant to the procedures described in Section 3.09 hereof and described in such notice. The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Indenture relating to such Change of Control Offer, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall be deemed not to have breached its obligations under this Section 4.14 by virtue of such compliance.

(b) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful: (1) accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, (2) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered and (3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions thereof being purchased by the Company. The Paying Agent shall promptly deliver to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes (to the extent received from the Company), and the Trustee shall promptly authenticate and deliver (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each new Note shall be in a minimum principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Company shall publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.

 

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(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.14, the Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if (i) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section 4.14 and all other provisions of this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer or (ii) notice of redemption has been given pursuant to this Indenture in accordance with Article Three, unless and until there is a default in payment of the applicable redemption price. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, a Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, conditioned upon the consummation of such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time the Change of Control Offer is made.

Section 4.15 Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if that designation would not cause a Default or Event of Default. If a Restricted Subsidiary is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the aggregate fair market value of all outstanding Investments owned by the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the Subsidiary properly designated shall be deemed to be Investments made as of the time of the designation, subject to the limitations on Restricted Payments. That designation will only be permitted if the Investment would be permitted at that time and if the Restricted Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The Board of Directors of the Company may redesignate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary if the redesignation would not cause a Default; provided that such designation shall be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary and such designation shall only be permitted if (1) such Indebtedness is permitted under Section 4.09, calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the four-quarter reference period; and (2) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such designation.

Section 4.16 [Reserved].

Section 4.17 Sale and Leaseback Transactions.

The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any Sale and Leaseback Transaction; provided, that, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may enter into a Sale and Leaseback Transaction if:

(i) the Company or that Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, could have (a) incurred Indebtedness in an amount equal to the Attributable Debt relating to such Sale and Leaseback Transaction under the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test in Section 4.09(a) hereof and (b) incurred a Lien to secure such Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.12 hereof;

(ii) the gross cash proceeds of that Sale and Leaseback Transaction are at least equal to the fair market value, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee, of the property that is the subject of that Sale and Leaseback Transaction; and

(iii) the transfer of assets in that Sale and Leaseback Transaction is permitted by, and the Company applies the proceeds of such transaction in compliance with, Section 4.10 hereof.

Section 4.18 Additional Note Guarantees.

(a) The Notes shall initially be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by each of the Initial Guarantors and may be guaranteed by additional Subsidiaries of the Company pursuant to this Section 4.18.

(b) The Company shall not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors, directly or indirectly, to Guarantee the payment of (a) any Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor under any Credit Facility (other than any Credit Facility relating to any Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor evidenced by bonds, notes or other debt securities) or (b) any Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor evidenced by bonds, notes or other debt securities in an aggregate principal amount of $100.0 million or more, unless, in each case, such Restricted Subsidiary simultaneously executes and delivers a supplemental indenture providing for the Guarantee of the payment of the Notes by such Restricted Subsidiary, which Note Guarantee shall be senior to or pari passu with such Subsidiary’s Guarantee of such other Indebtedness.

 

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Section 4.19 Changes in Covenants when Notes Rated Investment Grade.

(a) If on any date following the date of this Indenture:

(i) the Notes are rated Baa3 or better by Moody’s and BBB- or better by S&P (or, if either such entity ceases to rate the Notes for reasons outside of the control of the Company, the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any other “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act, selected by the Company as a replacement agency); and

(ii) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (clauses (i) and (ii) collectively, a “Covenant Suspension Event”),

then, beginning on that day and subject to the provisions of Section 4.19(b), the following Sections shall be suspended:

(A) Section 4.07;

(B) Section 4.08;

(C) Section 4.09;

(D) Section 4.10;

(E) Section 4.11;

(F) Section 4.13;

(G) Section 4.15;

(H) Section 4.17(i)(a) and (iii); and

(I) Section 5.01(a)(iv).

(b) During any period that the foregoing Sections specified in Section 4.19(a) have been suspended (a “Suspension Period”), the Company’s Board of Directors may not designate any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 4.15 unless such designation would have been permitted if a Suspension Period had not been in effect at such time.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4.19(a) and (b) above, if the rating assigned by such rating agency should subsequently decline and the Notes are not rated Baa3 or better by Moody’s and BBB- or better by S&P (or if either such agency ceases to rate the Notes, the equivalent investment grade credit rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating organization), the foregoing Sections specified in Section 4.19(a) shall be reinstated as of and from the date of such rating decline. Calculations under the reinstated Section 4.07 shall be made as if Section 4.07 had been in effect since the date of this Indenture except that no default shall be deemed to have occurred solely by reason of a Restricted Payment made while that Section 4.07 was suspended. Notwithstanding that the suspended Sections specified in Section 4.19(a) may be reinstated, no default shall be deemed to have occurred as a result of a failure to comply with such suspended Sections during any Suspension Period.

 

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(d) The Company shall give prompt written notice of any Covenant Suspension Event and the termination of any Covenant Suspension Event to the Trustee. The Trustee shall have no obligation to independently determine or verify if covenants are suspended or reinstated, monitor the ratings of the Notes or notify the Holders of any suspension or reinstatement of such covenants.

ARTICLE FIVE

SUCCESSORS

Section 5.01 Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets.

(a) The Company shall not, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, consolidate with or merge with or into any other Person or sell, assign, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person or group of affiliated Persons, or permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to enter into any such transaction or transactions if such transaction or transactions, in the aggregate, would result in an assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any other Person or group of affiliated Persons, unless at the time and after giving effect thereto:

(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, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made is an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia;

(ii) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made (A) assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Notes, this Indenture, the Security Documents (as applicable) and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement pursuant to agreements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and (B) to the extent required by and subject to the limitations set forth in the Security Documents, agrees to cause such amendments, supplements or other instruments to be executed, filed and recorded in such jurisdictions as may be required by applicable law to preserve and protect the Liens on the Collateral owned by or transferred to such surviving Person, together with such financing statements or comparable documents to the extent required by and subject to the limitations set forth in the Security Documents, as may be required to perfect any security interests in such Collateral which may be perfected by the filing of a financing statement or a similar document under the UCC or other similar statute or regulation of the relevant states or jurisdictions;

(iii) no Default or Event of Default exists;

(iv) the Company or the other Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made will, on the date of such transaction after giving pro forma effect thereto and to any related financing transactions as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, either (x) be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a) hereof or (y) have a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio that would be greater than such ratio for the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction; and

(v) the Company or the other Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made shall have delivered to the Trustee, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, lease, conveyance, transfer, or other disposition, and if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture, comply with the requirements of this Indenture and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

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(b) Clause (iv) of Section 5.01(a) shall not apply to: (i) a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the state of organization of the Company and that does not have as one of its purposes the evasion of such clause, (ii) a sale, transfer or other disposition of assets between or among the Company and any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) any merger or consolidation of a Restricted Subsidiary into the Company.

Section 5.02 Successor Corporation Substituted.

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, in accordance with Section 5.01 hereof, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, 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, assignment, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the successor Person and not to the Company) and may exercise all rights and powers of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein.

ARTICLE SIX

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 6.01 Events of Default.

(a) Each of the following is an “Event of Default”:

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

(ii) default in payment when due of the principal of, or premium, if any, on the Notes;

(iii) failure by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to comply with Sections 4.10, 4.14 or 5.01 hereof;

(iv) failure by the Company or any Guarantor for sixty (60) consecutive days after notice to comply with any of the other agreements in this Indenture;

(v) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is created after the date hereof, if that default:

(1) is caused by a failure to make any payment due at final maturity of such Indebtedness (a “Payment Default”); or

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

and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $50.0 million or more;

(vi) failure by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to pay final judgments not covered by insurance aggregating in excess of $50.0 million, which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of sixty (60) days;

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

 

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

(1) commences a voluntary case;

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

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

(4) generally is not paying its debts as they become due; and

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

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

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

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

(x) with respect to any material portion of the Collateral purported to be covered by the Security Documents, (A) the failure of the security interest with respect to such Collateral under the applicable Security Documents, at any time, to be in full force and effect for any reason, other than in accordance with the terms of the applicable Security Documents and the terms of this Indenture and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, as applicable, and other than due to the satisfaction in full of all obligations under this Indenture and discharge of this Indenture, if such failure continues for sixty (60) days or (B) the assertion by the Company or any Guarantor, in any pleading in any court of competent jurisdiction, that the security interest with respect to such Collateral under the applicable Security Documents is invalid or unenforceable.

Section 6.02 Acceleration.

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

(b) In the event of a declaration of acceleration of the Notes because an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing as a result of the acceleration of any Indebtedness described in clause (v) of Section 6.01(a) hereof, the declaration of acceleration of the Notes shall be automatically annulled if the holders of any Indebtedness described in clause (v) of Section 6.01(a) hereof have rescinded the declaration of acceleration in respect of the Indebtedness within 30 days of the date of the declaration and if:

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

 

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

Section 6.03 Other Remedies.

(a) 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, interest, if any, with respect to, the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.

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

Section 6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults.

Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes, waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences hereunder, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest or premium, if any, on, or the principal of, the Notes (including in connection with an offer to purchase) (provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration). The Company shall send to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the requisite percentage of Holders have consented to such waiver and attaching copies of such consents. In case of any such waiver, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder and under the Notes, respectively. This Section 6.04 shall be in lieu of Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the TIA and such Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the TIA is hereby expressly excluded from this Indenture and the Notes, as permitted by the TIA. Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 6.05 Control by Majority.

Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee with respect to the Notes or exercising any trust or power conferred on it, and the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Notes or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. In case an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under this Indenture at the request or direction of any Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense.

Section 6.06 Limitation on Suits.

(a) A Holder may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture, or the Notes only if:

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

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

(iii) such Holder of a Note or Holders of Notes offer and, if requested, provide to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense that might be incurred by it in connection with the request or direction;

 

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(iv) the Trustee does not comply with the request within sixty (60) days after receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of indemnity; and

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

(b) A Holder of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of a Note (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are unduly prejudicial to such Holders).

Section 6.07 Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on, the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note (including in connection with an offer to purchase), or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

Section 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee.

If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(i) or (a)(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, interest, if any, remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent lawful, interest, if any, and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

Section 6.09 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company or any Guarantor (or any other obligor upon the Notes), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other securities or property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

Section 6.10 Priorities.

(a) If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article Six, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

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

 

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

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

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

Section 6.11 Undertaking for Costs.

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

ARTICLE SEVEN

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 (it being agreed that the permissive right of the Trustee to do things enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty); 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. The Trustee shall be under no duty to make any investigation as to any statement contained in any such instance, but may accept the same as conclusive evidence of the truth and accuracy of such statement or the correctness of such opinions. However, in the case of certificates or opinions required by any provision hereof to be provided to it, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

(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;

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

(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.

 

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(d) [Reserved].

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

(f) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at the request of any Holders, unless such Holder shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, costs, liability or expense that might be incurred by it in connection with the request or direction.

(g) Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

(h) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest or investment income on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company.

Section 7.02 Certain Rights of Trustee.

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

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the 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 attorney or agent appointed with due care by it hereunder.

(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.

(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.

(f) The Trustee shall not be under any obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

(g) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of such event is sent to the Trustee in accordance with Section 13.02 hereof, and such notice references the Notes.

(h) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith at the direction of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes as to the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the Trustee or the exercising of any power conferred by this Indenture.

(i) Any action taken, or omitted to be taken, by the Trustee in good faith pursuant to this Indenture upon the request or authority or consent of any person who, at the time of making such request or giving such authority or consent, is a Holder shall be conclusive and binding upon future Holders and upon Notes executed and delivered in exchange therefor or in place thereof.

 

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(j) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, note or other paper or document unless requested in writing to do so by the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding.

(k) 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 (including, without limitation, as Collateral Agent, Initial Additional Authorized Representative (as defined in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement) and Agent), and to each officer, director, employee, agent and custodian of the Trustee and any other Person employed by the Trustee to act hereunder.

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

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

(n) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.

(o) Whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder or thereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on its part, as determined by a non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction, conclusively rely upon an Officers’ Certificate.

(p) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any fact or matter unless such fact or matter is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee.

(q) In no event shall the Trustee be liable for failure to perform its duties hereunder if such failure is a direct or proximate result of another party’s failure to perform its obligations hereunder.

Section 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee.

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

Section 7.04 Disclaimer.

The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Security Documents, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Company or upon the Company’s direction under any provision of this Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication. In accepting the trust hereby created, the Trustee acts solely as Trustee for the Holders and not in its individual capacity and all persons, including without limitation the Holders of Notes and the Company having any claim against the Trustee arising from this Indenture shall look only to the funds and accounts held by the Trustee hereunder for payment.

 

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Section 7.05 Notice of Defaults.

If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail or deliver to Holders of Notes a notice of the Default or Event of Default within ninety (90) days after it is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee or written notice of it is received by the Trustee. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.

Section 7.06 Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes.

(a) Within sixty (60) days after each May 1 beginning with the May 1 following the date hereof, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee shall mail or deliver to the Holders of the Notes a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with TIA § 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA § 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA § 313(b)(2). The Trustee shall also transmit all reports as required by TIA § 313(c).

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

Section 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity.

(a) The Company shall pay to the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, from time to time such compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder and under the Security Documents as the parties shall agree in writing from time to time. The Trustee’s and/or the Collateral Agent’s, as applicable, compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, 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 and the Collateral Agent’s respective agents and counsel.

(b) The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall indemnify the Trustee, any predecessor Trustee, the Collateral Agent and/or any predecessor Collateral Agent, as applicable, against any and all losses, liabilities, damages, claims or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture or the Security Documents, including the reasonable costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture or the Security Documents against the Company and the Guarantors (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against or investigating any claim (whether asserted by either of the Company or any Guarantor or any Holder or any other person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder or thereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability, damage, claim or expense may be attributable to its gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a non-appealable judgment. The Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall notify the Company and the Guarantors promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent to so notify the Company and the Guarantors shall not relieve the Company or the Guarantors of their obligations hereunder. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall reasonably cooperate at the Company’s expense in the defense. The Trustee and the Collateral Agent may have separate counsel and the Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor need pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

(c) 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 and/or the Collateral Agent.

 

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(d) To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall each have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Notes. Such Liens shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, any termination or rejection of this Indenture under any Bankruptcy Law and resignation or removal of the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent.

(e) When the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(viii) or (ix) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

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

Section 7.08 Replacement of Trustee.

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

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

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

(ii) 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;

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

(iv) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting; or

(v) the Trustee adopts policies or makes any public statement that it no longer intends to support (or to reduce its support of) the businesses of its clients operating in the same or similar industries as the Company, to the extent permitted by applicable law, by notice in writing to the Trustee.

(c) 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 Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.

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

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

(f) A successor Trustee 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 or deliver 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 or Section 7.09, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

 

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Section 7.09 Successor by Merger, Etc.

If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business or assets to, another Person, the successor Person 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 minimum combined capital and surplus as required by TIA § 310(a)(2) as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

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

Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

The Trustee is subject to TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated therein. The Trustee hereby waives any right to set-off any claim that it may have against the Company in any capacity (other than as Trustee and Paying Agent) against any of the assets of the Company held by the Trustee; provided, however, that if the Trustee is or becomes a lender of any other Indebtedness permitted hereunder to be pari passu with the Notes, then such waiver shall not apply to the extent of such Indebtedness.

Section 7.12 Application for Instructions from the Company.

Any application by the Trustee for written instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Trustee, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Trustee under this Indenture and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Trustee in accordance with a proposal included in such application on or after the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less than five (5) Business Days after the date any Officer of the Company actually receives such application, unless any such Officer shall have consented in writing to any earlier date) unless prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of an omission), the Trustee shall have received written instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.

ARTICLE EIGHT

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 8.01 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

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

Section 8.02 Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes and all obligations of the Guarantors shall be deemed to have been discharged with respect to their obligations under the Note Guarantees and have Liens on the Collateral securing the Notes released on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company and the Guarantors shall be

 

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deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes and Note Guarantees, respectively, 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 its other obligations under such Notes and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on reasonable 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 outstanding Notes to receive solely from the trust fund described in Section 8.04 hereof, and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of, premium on, if any, or interest on, such Notes when such payments are due, (b) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Notes under Article Two hereof concerning issuing temporary Notes, registration of Notes and mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and the Company’s obligations under Section 4.02 hereof, (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations in connection therewith and (d) this Article Eight. Subject to compliance with this Article Eight, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof.

Section 8.03 Covenant Defeasance.

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from its obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, 4.17, 4.18 and 4.19 hereof and clause (iv) of Section 5.01(a) hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes and have Liens on the Collateral securing the Notes released on (including the obligation to make Change of Control Offers) and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes, the Company 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 (except with respect to Sections 6.01(a)(i), (a)(ii), (a)(viii) and (a)(ix)), but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Sections 6.01(a)(iii) through (vii) shall not constitute Events of Default.

Section 8.04 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.

(a) The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section 8.02 or Section 8.03 hereof to the outstanding Notes:

(i) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable Government Securities, in amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium on, if any, and interest on, the outstanding Notes on the Stated Maturity or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether such Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular redemption date and, if the Notes are being defeased to a particular redemption date, the Company must have delivered to the Trustee an irrevocable notice of redemption;

(ii) 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, (a) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (b) since the date hereof, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel will confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

 

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(iii) 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 outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

(iv) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing either (a) on the date of such deposit or (b) insofar as Sections 6.01(a)(viii) and (a)(ix) are concerned, at any time in the period ending on the 123rd day after the date of deposit;

(v) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;

(vi) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of Notes over the other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of the Company or others;

(vii) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the creation of the defeasance trust does not violate the Investment Company Act of 1940 and after the passage of 123 days following the deposit, the trust fund will not be subject to the effect of Section 547 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or Section 15 of the New York Debtor and Creditor Law; and

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

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

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

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

(c) Anything in this Article Eight to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the written request of the Company any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(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.

 

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Section 8.06 Repayment to the 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, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its written request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note 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; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, shall at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining shall be repaid to the Company.

Section 8.07 Reinstatement.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States dollars or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or 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 Notes 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 with Section 8.02 or Section 8.03 hereof, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE NINE

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders of Notes.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 9.02 of this Indenture, without the consent of any Holder of Notes, the Company, the Guarantors, if any, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, as applicable, may amend or supplement, subject to the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement where applicable, this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Security Documents or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, in each case:

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

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

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

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

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

(vi) to conform the text of this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Security Documents or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement to any provision of the description of such Notes in any offering memorandum with respect thereto, to the extent that such provision in such description was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Security Documents or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement as evidenced in an Officers’ Certificate;

 

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(vii) to provide for the issuance of additional Notes in accordance with the limitations described in this Indenture;

(viii) to allow a Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture for the purpose of providing a Note Guarantee in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture;

(ix) to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of the Notes pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture; provided that any such actions shall not adversely affect the interests of Holders of the Notes in any material respect;

(x) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor or separate trustee or collateral agent or authorized representative with respect to the Notes (including pursuant to Section 7.08(b) of this Indenture) 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 this Indenture by more than one trustee and/or collateral agent;

(xi) to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate, grant or perfect any other Lien in favor of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties, as additional security for the payment and performance of all or any portion of the Obligations in respect to the Notes, in any property or assets, including any which are required to be mortgaged, pledged or hypothecated, or in which a Lien is required to be granted or perfected to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties pursuant to this Indenture, any of the Security Documents or otherwise;

(xii) to comply with the rules and procedures of DTC; or

(xiii) to add secured parties under the First Lien Secured Obligations to any Security Documents or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, to the extent permitted to be so secured by this Indenture.

(b) Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Company 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.

Section 9.02 With Consent of Holders of Notes.

(a) Except as provided in Section 9.01, this Section 9.02(a) and Section 9.02(e) hereof, the Company, the Guarantors, if any, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, as applicable, may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Security Documents or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, subject to the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement where applicable, with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, the Notes), and, subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Notes, the Security Documents or, to the extent affecting the Holders, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, subject to the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement where applicable, may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, the Notes).

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of the Holders of at least 66-2/3% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, no amendment or waiver may (A) make any change in any Security Document or the provisions in this Indenture dealing with Collateral or application of trust proceeds of the Collateral with the effect of releasing the Liens on all or substantially all of the Collateral which secure the Obligations in respect of the Notes or (B) change or alter the priority of the Liens securing the Obligations in respect of the Notes with respect to all or substantially all of the Collateral in any way materially adverse, taken as a whole, to the Holders, other than, in each case, as provided under the terms of this Indenture, the Security Documents or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

(b) The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons entitled to consent to any indenture supplemental hereto. If a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such supplemental indenture, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that unless such consent shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having been obtained prior to the date which is ninety (90) days after such record date, any such consent previously given shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be cancelled and of no further effect.

(c) Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee 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.

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

(e) After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Company shall mail or deliver to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company to mail or deliver such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver. Subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes. However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

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

(ii) reduce the principal of or change the Stated Maturity of any Note or change the optional redemption dates or optional redemption prices from those provided in Section 3.07 hereof (except amendments or changes to any notice provisions, which may be amended with the consent of Holders of a majority of the Notes);

(iii) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Note;

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

(v) make any Note payable in currency other than that stated in the Notes;

 

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

(vii) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Note;

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

(ix) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to the Notes or the Note Guarantees;

(x) amend, change or modify the obligation of the Company to make and consummate an Asset Sale Offer with respect to any Asset Sale in accordance with Section 4.10 hereof after the obligation to make an Asset Sale Offer has arisen or the obligation of the Company to make and consummate a Change of Control Offer in the event of a Change of Control in accordance with Section 4.14 hereof after a Change of Control has occurred, including, in each case, amending, changing or modifying any definition relating thereto; or

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

Section 9.03 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.

Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes shall be set forth in an amended or supplemental indenture that complies with the TIA as then in effect.

Section 9.04 Revocation and Effect of Consents.

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

Section 9.05 Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

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

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

Section 9.06 Trustee to Sign Amendments, Etc.

The Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall sign any amended or supplemental indenture or Note authorized pursuant to this Article Nine if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, as applicable. In executing any amended or supplemental indenture (other than a supplemental indenture adding an additional Note Guarantee pursuant to Section 4.18 hereof) or Note, the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to and receive indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it and shall be provided with, and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, and that all conditions precedent to such execution have been met.

 

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ARTICLE TEN

NOTE GUARANTEES

Section 10.01 Guarantee.

(a) On the Issue Date, all of the Initial Guarantors shall Guarantee the obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture as provided in this Article Ten. On the Issue Date, all of the Restricted Subsidiaries that Guarantee the Company’s obligations under the Credit Agreement are the Initial Guarantors hereunder. Subject to this Article Ten, each of the Guarantors, including the Initial Guarantors and any other Restricted Subsidiary that may become a Guarantor hereby, jointly and severally, and fully and unconditionally, guarantees to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to each of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent and their respective successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that: (a) the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Notes shall be promptly paid in full when due, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Notes, if lawful (subject in all cases to any applicable grace period provided herein), and all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee and the Collateral Agent hereunder or thereunder shall be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, the 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.

(b) The Guarantors hereby agree that, to the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, their obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a Guarantor. Each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that this Note Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture or except as provided in Section 10.05 hereof.

(c) If any Holder or the Trustee or the Collateral Agent 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 any of the Company or the Guarantors, any amount paid by any of them to the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or such Holder, this Note Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.

(d) 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, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in, but subject to the provisions of, Article Six hereof for the purposes of this Note Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article Six hereof, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Note 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 Note Guarantee.

 

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Section 10.02 Limitation on Guarantor Liability.

Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Note Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to such Note Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, and the Collateral Agent, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Guarantor shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to 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 Ten, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Note Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

Section 10.03 Execution and Delivery of a Supplemental Indenture Relating to a Note Guarantee.

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

(b) If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture or on a supplemental indenture no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Note Guarantee shall be valid nevertheless.

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

(d) If required by Section 4.18 hereof, the Company shall cause such Subsidiaries to execute supplemental indentures to this Indenture in accordance with Section 4.18 hereof and this Article Ten, to the extent applicable.

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

(a) A Guarantor may not sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to, or consolidate with or merge with or into, another Person, other than the Company or another Guarantor, unless:

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

(ii) either:

(A) the Person acquiring the property in any such sale or disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (i) assumes all the obligations of that Guarantor under this Indenture, its Note Guarantee, the Security Documents (as applicable) and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement pursuant to a supplemental indenture satisfactory to the Trustee and (ii) to the extent required by and subject to the limitations set forth in the Security Documents, agrees to cause such amendments, supplements or other instruments to be executed, filed and recorded in such jurisdictions as may be required by applicable law to preserve and protect the Liens on the Collateral owned by or transferred to such surviving Person, together with such financing statements or comparable documents to the extent required by and subject to the limitations set forth in the Security Documents, as may be required to perfect any security interests in such Collateral which may be perfected by the filing of a financing statement or a similar document under the UCC or other similar statute or regulation of the relevant states or jurisdictions; or

(B) such sale or other disposition complies with Section 4.10 hereof, including the application of the Net Proceeds therefrom.

(b) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance governed by Section 10.04(a)(ii)(A), upon the assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and reasonably satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by a Guarantor, such successor Person shall succeed to and be substituted for a Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named herein as a Guarantor.

 

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Section 10.05 Release of a Guarantor.

(a) Any Guarantor shall be released and relieved of any obligations under its Note Guarantee hereunder, (i) in connection with any sale of all of the Capital Stock of such Guarantor (including by way of merger or consolidation) to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) a Subsidiary of the Company, if the sale complies with Section 4.10 hereof; (ii) if the Company designates any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture; (iii) upon Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of the Notes as permitted under this Indenture; (iv) upon the release or termination (other than a termination or release resulting from the payment thereon) of such Guarantor’s Guarantee of (a) all Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor under any Credit Facility (other than any Credit Facility relating to any Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor evidenced by bonds, notes or other debt securities) and (b) all Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor evidenced by bonds, notes or other debt securities in an aggregate principal amount of $100.0 million or more; or (v) upon the applicable Guarantor ceasing to be a Subsidiary of the Company as a result of any foreclosure of any pledge or security interest securing the Notes or other exercise of remedies in respect thereof in accordance with the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, in which case such Guarantor or the entity acquiring the property (in the event of a sale or other disposition of all of the assets of the Guarantor) will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Note Guarantee, except in the event of a sale or other disposition to the Company or any other Guarantor.

(b) Upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that one of the foregoing requirements has been satisfied and the conditions to the release of a Guarantor under this Section 10.05 have been met, the Trustee shall execute any documents reasonably required in order to evidence the release of such Guarantor from its obligations under its Note Guarantee.

(c) Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Note Guarantee shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest on the Notes and for the other obligations of any Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in this Article Ten.

ARTICLE ELEVEN

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 11.01 Satisfaction and Discharge.

(a) This Indenture shall be discharged and shall cease to be of further effect as to all Notes issued hereunder when:

(i) either:

(1) all Notes that have been authenticated, except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Company, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(2) all Notes that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the delivering of a notice of redemption or otherwise or will become due and payable within one year, and the Company or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable Government Securities, in amounts as will be sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal of, premium on, if any, and accrued interest on, the Notes to (but not including) the date of maturity or redemption;

 

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(ii) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of the deposit or will occur as a result of the deposit and the deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other instrument to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Company or any Guarantor is bound;

(iii) the Company or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it hereunder; and

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

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

Section 11.02 Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

Subject to Section 11.03 hereof, all money and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest, but such money be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

Section 11.03 Repayment to the 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, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, shall at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in the New York Times or The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining shall be repaid to the Company.

ARTICLE TWELVE

COLLATERAL AND SECURITY

Section 12.01 Security.

(a) The due and punctual payment of the Obligations, including payment of the principal of, premium on, if any, and interest on, the Notes when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether on an interest payment date, at maturity, by acceleration, repurchase, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of, premium on, if any, and interest on the Notes, according to the terms hereunder or thereunder, are secured as provided in the Security Documents, which the Company and Guarantors have entered into simultaneously with the execution of this Indenture, or, in certain circumstances, subsequent to the date hereof, and will be secured by any Security Documents hereafter delivered as required by this Indenture.

(b) Each Holder, by accepting a Note, acknowledges and agrees to all of the terms and provisions of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents (including, without limitation, the provisions providing for foreclosure and release of Collateral), as the same may be amended from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents.

 

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Section 12.02 First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Trustee and each Holder, by its acceptance of the Notes, hereby acknowledges that the Liens and security interests securing the Obligations on the Notes, the exercise of any right or remedy by the Collateral Agent and the Initial Additional Authorized Representative under the Security Documents or with respect thereto, and certain rights of the parties thereto are subject to the provisions of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement. In the event of any conflict between the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the terms of this Indenture or any Security Document, the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and control.

Section 12.03 Collateral Agent and Initial Additional Authorized Representative.

(a) The Trustee and each Holder, by its acceptance of the Notes, hereby acknowledge and agree that pursuant to this Indenture, the Security Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Agent shall hold (directly or through co-collateral agents) in trust for the benefit of itself, the Holders and the Trustee, a security interest in the Collateral granted to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the applicable Security Documents.

(b) Each Holder, by its acceptance of the Notes (i) appoints Ankura Trust Company, LLC to act on its behalf as collateral agent under the applicable Security Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) authorizes and directs the Collateral Agent, to execute each document to be executed by the Collateral Agent on the Holder’s behalf, including the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement (and any joinder thereto) and the Security Documents, (iii) authorizes the Collateral Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Collateral Agent by the terms of the Security Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, including for the purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral granted by the Company and Guarantors thereunder to secure the Secured Obligations, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto and (iv) authorizes the Collateral Agent to release or subordinate any Lien granted to or held by the Collateral Agent upon any Collateral as provided in this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Security Documents. In the case of any Security Documents (or any amendment or supplement thereof) to be entered into after the Issue Date, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall execute and enter into such document in accordance with, and upon receipt of a Security Document Order, as set forth in Section 12.03(f) hereof, in addition to any other requirements herein and therein. It is hereby expressly acknowledged and agreed that, in doing so, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent are not responsible for the terms or contents of such agreements, or for the validity or enforceability thereof, or the sufficiency thereof for any purpose. Whether or not so expressly stated therein, in entering into, or taking (or forbearing from) any action under, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any other Security Documents, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent each shall have all of the rights, privileges, benefits, immunities, indemnities and other protections granted to it under this Indenture (in addition to those that may be granted to it under the terms of such other agreement or agreements).

(c) The Company hereby appoints (i) Ankura Trust Company, LLC (and any co-agents, sub-agents or attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Collateral Agent) to serve as collateral agent on behalf of the Holders and the Trustee under the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement (and any joinder thereto) and the Security Documents as provided therein, with the privileges, powers and immunities as set forth therein and in the Security Documents and (ii) Ankura Trust Company, LLC (and any co-agents, sub-agents or attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Initial Additional Authorized Representative to serve as Initial Additional Authorized Representative on behalf of the Holders and the Trustee under the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents as provided therein, with the privileges, powers and immunities as set forth herein, therein and in the Security Documents, and (iii) authorizes and directs the Initial Additional Authorized Representative, to execute each document to be executed by the Initial Additional Authorized Representative including the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement (and any joinder thereto). If either the Collateral Agent or the Initial Additional Authorized Representative adopts policies or makes any public statement that it no longer intends to support (or to reduce its support of) the businesses of its clients operating in the same or similar industries as the Company, the Company may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, by notice in writing to such Person remove any Person serving as Collateral Agent or Initial Additional Authorized Representative, in which case, the Company, without the consent of the Holders, may appoint a successor. In addition, if the Trustee is removed by the Company pursuant to Section 7.08(b), the Company, without the consent of the Holders, may appoint a successor Collateral Agent and Initial Additional Authorized Representative, as applicable.

 

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(d) None of the Company, the Guarantors or any of their respective Affiliates may serve as Collateral Agent.

(e) [Reserved].

(f) Upon the receipt by the Collateral Agent of a written request of the Company signed by an Officer of the Company (a “Security Document Order”), in connection with actions permitted under this Indenture and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Agent is hereby authorized to execute and enter into, and shall execute and enter into (without any obligation to review or negotiate the terms of such document), without the further consent of any Holder or the Trustee, any Security Document or amendment or supplement thereto to be executed after the Issue Date; provided that (1) such Security Document, amendment, or supplement is authorized and permitted under this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Security Documents or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (2) the Collateral Agent shall not be required to execute or enter into any such Security Document which, in the Collateral Agent’s reasonable opinion is reasonably likely to adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Collateral Agent or that the Collateral Agent determines is reasonably likely to involve the Collateral Agent in personal liability. Such Security Document Order (which may be included in the Officers’ Certificate referred to below) shall (A) state that it is being delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to, and is a Security Document Order referred to in, this Section 12.03(f), (B) certify that the action and execution of documents being requested in such Security Document Order is authorized and permitted under this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Security Documents or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (C) instruct the Collateral Agent to execute and enter into such Security Document. Other than as set forth in this Indenture, any such execution of a Security Document shall be at the direction and expense of the Company, upon delivery to the Collateral Agent of an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel stating that such Security Document, amendment, or supplement is authorized and permitted under this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Security Documents or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and that all conditions precedent to the execution and delivery of the Security Document have been satisfied. The Holders, by their acceptance of the Notes, hereby authorize and direct the Collateral Agent to execute such Security Documents (subject to the first sentence of this Section 12.03(f)).

Section 12.04 Collateral Shared Equally and Ratably.

Subject to the applicable provisions in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the payment and satisfaction of all of the Obligations of the Company and the Guarantors in respect of the Notes shall be secured equally and ratably by the Liens on the Company’s and the Guarantors’ right, title and interest in the Collateral established in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties pursuant to this Indenture, the Security Documents, and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, and all such Liens will be enforceable by the Collateral Agent for its benefit, the benefit of the Trustee and for the benefit, on an equal and ratable basis, with the other Notes Secured Parties.

Section 12.05 Release of Liens on Collateral.

(a) The Collateral securing the Obligations of the Company and the Guarantors in respect of the Notes will automatically and without the need for any further action by any Person be released in any of the following circumstances:

(i) in part as to any portion of property subject to such Liens which has been taken by eminent domain, condemnation or other similar circumstances or that is or becomes Excluded Property;

(ii) in whole upon:

(A) satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Article Eleven hereof; or

 

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(B) a legal defeasance or covenant defeasance of this Indenture pursuant to Article Eight hereof;

(iii) in part, as to any property that (a) is sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by the Company or any Guarantor (other than to the Company or another Guarantor) in a transaction not prohibited by this Indenture and the Security Documents at the time of such sale, transfer or disposition or in connection with any exercise of remedies pursuant to this Indenture, the Security Documents or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or (b) is owned or at any time acquired by a Guarantor that has been released from its Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture, concurrently with the release of such Guarantee (including in connection with the designation of a Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary);

(iv) as provided under Article Nine hereunder;

(v) as to any asset constituting Collateral if all other Liens on that asset securing the First Lien Secured Obligations then secured by that asset (including commitments thereunder) are released or will be released simultaneously therewith, other than by reason of the discharge in full of any such First Lien Secured Obligations, which discharge is not in connection with a foreclosure of, or other exercise of remedies with respect to, Collateral by the Applicable Collateral Agent, to the extent set forth in the Security Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement; and

(vi) in whole or in part, in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Security Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

(b) A Guarantor shall be automatically released from its obligations under the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents and the Collateral Agent’s Liens upon the Collateral of such Guarantor and the Capital Stock or other Equity Interests of such Guarantor shall be automatically released if such Guarantor ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary.

Section 12.06 Further Assurances.

Subject to the terms of this Indenture (including Section 12.03(f) hereof) and the Security Documents, the Company and each of the Guarantors will do or cause to be done all acts and things that may be required, or that the Collateral Agent from time to time may reasonably request, to assure and confirm that the Collateral Agent holds, for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties, duly created and enforceable and perfected Liens (subject to Permitted Liens and the terms of this Indenture, the Security Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement) upon the Company’s and each Guarantor’s right, title and interest in the Collateral (including any property or assets of the Company or Guarantors that are acquired or otherwise become Collateral after the Notes are issued), in each case, as contemplated by and in accordance with the Lien priority required under, this Indenture, the Security Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

Section 12.07 Certain Real Estate and Other Deliverables.

(a) The Company will and will cause each applicable Guarantor to, no later than 180 days (or a later date approved by the Collateral Agent (provided such later date shall be deemed approved if the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent is also extending such time period under the Credit Agreement)) after the Issue Date, deliver to the Collateral Agent:

(i) Opinion(s) of Local Counsel. Opinions of local counsel in the respective jurisdictions in which the properties covered by the Mortgages are located, regarding the enforceability of such Mortgages, and to the extent not covered in such local counsel opinions, opinions of the Company’s or Guarantor’s counsel regarding the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Mortgages, in each case reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Collateral Agent (provided that such opinions shall be deemed satisfactory if such opinions are substantially similar to the comparable opinions provided under the Credit Agreement and otherwise satisfactory to the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, subject to factual changes necessary to reflect the Notes) (and the Company for itself and on behalf of each Guarantor hereby instructs such counsel to deliver such opinion(s) to the Collateral Agent).

 

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(ii) Mortgages and Title Insurance. The following documents, each of which shall be executed in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent (provided that such documents shall be deemed satisfactory if such documents are substantially similar to the comparable document provided under the Credit Agreement which are otherwise satisfactory to the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, subject to factual changes necessary to reflect the Notes); provided that the Company shall not be required to deliver the following documents for any property that is a Material Real Property if doing so would result in costs (administrative or otherwise) that, in the determination of the Collateral Agent in its sole and absolute discretion, would be materially disproportionate to the benefit obtained thereby (provided that such costs shall be deemed materially disproportionate if such costs are deemed materially disproportionate by the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent and not required to be delivered under the Credit Agreement):

(A) For all Material Real Property, Mortgages in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent (provided that such Mortgages shall be deemed satisfactory if such Mortgages are substantially similar to the comparable Mortgage provided under the Credit Agreement which are otherwise satisfactory to the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, subject to factual changes necessary to reflect the Notes), duly executed (and, where appropriate in the applicable jurisdiction, acknowledged) and delivered by the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, in recordable form (in such number of copies as the Collateral Agent shall have requested) and, to the extent necessary with respect to any leasehold property to be subject to a Mortgage, use commercially reasonable efforts by the Company to obtain consents of the respective landlords with respect to such property (provided that such consents shall be deemed satisfactory if deemed satisfactory to the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent under the Credit Agreement) and, to the extent necessary under applicable law, for filing in the appropriate county land office(s), UCC financing statements covering fixtures, in each case appropriately completed (the “Fixture Filings”);

(B) One or more ALTA mortgagee policies of title insurance on forms of and issued by one or more title companies satisfactory to the Collateral Agent (the “Title Companies”) (provided that such Title Companies shall be deemed satisfactory if such Title Companies are otherwise satisfactory to the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent under the Credit Agreement), insuring the validity and first lien priority of the Liens created under such Mortgages (as they may be amended) for and in amounts satisfactory to the Collateral Agent (provided that such amounts shall be deemed satisfactory if such amounts are otherwise satisfactory to the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent under the Credit Agreement), subject only to such exceptions as are satisfactory to the Collateral Agent (provided that such exceptions shall be deemed satisfactory if such exceptions are otherwise satisfactory to the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent under the Credit Agreement) and to the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement; each such title policy shall contain: (A) full coverage against mechanics’ liens (filed and inchoate) or such surety bonds or other additional collateral as may be satisfactory to the Collateral Agent in its sole discretion in lieu of such coverage (provided that such other surety bonds or other additional collateral shall be deemed satisfactory if such other surety bonds or other additional collateral are otherwise satisfactory to the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent under the Credit Agreement), (B) a reference to the relevant survey with no survey exceptions except those theretofore approved by the Collateral Agent (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed (provided that any survey exceptions shall be deemed approved if such survey exceptions are otherwise approved by the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent under the Credit Agreement)) and (C) such affirmative insurance and endorsements as the Collateral Agent may reasonably require (provided that Company shall not be required to provide any affirmative insurance and endorsements not otherwise required by the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent under the Credit Agreement subject to changes or additions necessary to reflect, and/or provide substantially similar coverages relative to, the Notes);

 

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(C) ALTA, or if not customary in such jurisdiction, as-built surveys of recent date of each of the Facilities to be covered by the Mortgages, showing such matters as may be required by the Collateral Agent (provided that such matters as required by the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent under the Credit Agreement shall be deemed the only requirements of the Collateral Agent), which surveys shall be in form and content acceptable to the Collateral Agent (provided that such surveys shall be deemed acceptable if such surveys are otherwise acceptable to the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent under the Credit Agreement) and certified to the Collateral Agent and to the Title Companies, and shall have been prepared by a registered surveyor acceptable to the Collateral Agent (provided that such surveyor shall be deemed acceptable if such surveyor is otherwise satisfactory to the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent under the Credit Agreement) or, with respect to existing surveys, an affidavit of an authorized signatory of the owner of such property stating that there have been no improvements or encroachments to the property since the date of the respective survey such that the existing survey is no longer accurate, in form acceptable to the Collateral Agent (provided that such affidavit shall be deemed acceptable if such affidavit is otherwise satisfactory to the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent under the Credit Agreement) and the applicable Title Company in order to remove the standard survey exception;

(D) such affidavits, certificates, information (including financial data) and instruments of indemnification (including a so-called “gap” indemnification) as shall be required to induce the Title Companies to issue the title policies and endorsements contemplated above; and

(E) such other certificates, documents and information as are reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent, including, without limitation, engineering and structural reports, permanent certificates of occupancy and evidence of zoning compliance, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent (provided that such other certificates, documents and information (including the form of any landlord agreements and consents) shall be deemed satisfactory if such other certificates, documents and information (including any landlord agreements and consents) are otherwise satisfactory to the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent under the Credit Agreement).

(iii) In addition, the Company shall have paid to the Title Companies (i) all expenses and premiums of the Title Companies in connection with the issuance of such policies and (ii) an amount equal to the recording, mortgage, intangibles, transfer and stamp taxes payable in connection with recording the Mortgages, any amendments to the Mortgages and the Fixture Filings in the appropriate county land office(s).

(b) If the Company or any Guarantor shall acquire any Material Real Property (or shall make improvements upon any existing real property interest resulting in such interest together with such improvements constituting Material Real Property), or if any existing real property interest shall constitute a Material Real Property, including, without limitation, as a result of the limitation set forth in clause (b) of the definition of “Material Real Property”, and, in each case, so long as the Credit Agreement is outstanding, only if the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent elects to encumber such property, then:

(i) the Company will, and will cause each applicable Guarantor to, (x) no later than ten (10) Business Days prior to execution of a Mortgage encumbering any such Material Real Property not located in a Flood Zone, deliver a completed Federal Emergency Management Agency Standard Flood Hazard Determination from a third-party vendor with respect to such real property, (y) no later than 30 days prior to execution of a Mortgage encumbering any such Material Real Property any portion of which is located in a Flood Zone, (i) furnish to the

 

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Collateral Agent a written notice of the Company or such Guarantor’s intent to encumber such Material Real Property and that all or a portion of such Material Real Property is located in a Flood Zone and whether or not flood insurance coverage is available, (ii) a completed Federal Emergency Management Agency Standard Flood Hazard Determination from a third-party vendor, and (iii) if required by the Flood Act, evidence of the required flood insurance as further described in clause (F) below, and (z) no later than 180 days (or a later date approved by the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, if (to the extent the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent is also extending such time period under the Credit Agreement) also approved by the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent under the Credit Agreement)) after such acquisition or designation, deliver to the Collateral Agent (each of which shall be executed in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent (provided that such documents shall be deemed satisfactory if such documents are substantially similar to the comparable document provided under the Credit Agreement which are otherwise satisfactory to the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, subject to factual changes necessary to reflect the Notes):

(A) Mortgages in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent (provided that such Mortgages shall be deemed satisfactory if such Mortgages are substantially similar to the comparable Mortgage provided under the Credit Agreement which are otherwise satisfactory to the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, subject to factual changes necessary to reflect the Notes), duly executed (and, where appropriate in the applicable jurisdiction, acknowledged), and delivered by the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, in recordable form (in such number of copies as the Collateral Agent shall have requested) and, to the extent necessary with respect to any leasehold property to be subject to a Mortgage, use commercially reasonable efforts by the Company to obtain consents of the respective landlords with respect to such property (provided that such covenant shall be deemed satisfactory if deemed satisfactory to the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent under the Credit Agreement) and, to the extent necessary under applicable law, for filing in the appropriate county land office(s), Fixture Filings;

(B) one or more ALTA mortgagee policies of title insurance on forms of and issued by the Title Companies, insuring the validity and priority of the Liens (in accordance of the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement) created under the Mortgages for and in amounts satisfactory to the Collateral Agent (provided that such amounts shall be deemed satisfactory if such amounts are otherwise satisfactory to the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent for the comparable Mortgages provided under the Credit Agreement), subject only to such exceptions as are satisfactory to the Collateral Agent (provided that such exceptions shall be deemed satisfactory if such exceptions are otherwise satisfactory to the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent under the Credit Agreement); each such title policy shall contain: (A) full coverage against mechanics’ liens (filed and inchoate) or such surety bonds or other additional collateral as may be satisfactory to the Collateral Agent in its sole discretion in lieu of such coverage (provided that such other surety bonds or other additional collateral shall be deemed satisfactory if such other surety bonds or other additional collateral are otherwise satisfactory to the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent under the Credit Agreement), (B) a reference to the relevant survey with no survey exceptions except those theretofore approved by the Collateral Agent (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed (provided that any survey exceptions shall be deemed approved if such survey exceptions are otherwise approved by the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent under the Credit Agreement)) and (C) such affirmative insurance and endorsements as the Collateral Agent may reasonably require (provided that Company shall not be required to provide any affirmative insurance and endorsements not otherwise required by the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent under the Credit Agreement subject to changes or additions necessary to reflect, and/or provide substantially similar coverages relative to, the Notes);

 

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(C) ALTA, or if not customary in such jurisdiction, as-built surveys of recent date of each of the Facilities to be covered by the Mortgages, showing such matters as may be required by the Collateral Agent (provided that such matters as required by the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent under the Credit Agreement shall be deemed the only requirements of the Collateral Agent), which surveys shall be in form and content acceptable to the Collateral Agent (provided that such surveys shall be deemed acceptable if such surveys are otherwise acceptable to the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent under the Credit Agreement), and certified to the Collateral Agent and the Title Companies, and shall have been prepared by a registered surveyor acceptable to the Collateral Agent (provided that such surveyor shall be deemed acceptable if such surveyor is otherwise satisfactory to the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent under the Credit Agreement);

(D) certified copies of permanent and unconditional certificates of occupancy (or, if it is not the practice to issue certificates of occupancy in a jurisdiction in which the Facilities to be covered by the Mortgages are located, then such other evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent (provided that such other evidence shall be deemed satisfactory if such other evidence is otherwise satisfactory to the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent under the Credit Agreement)) permitting the fully functioning operation and occupancy of each such Facility and of such other permits necessary for the use and operation of each such Facility issued by the respective Governmental Authorities having jurisdiction over each such Facility;

(E) opinions of local counsel in the respective jurisdictions in which the properties covered by the Mortgages are located, regarding the enforceability of such Mortgages, and to the extent not covered in such local counsel opinions, opinions of the Company’s or Guarantor’s counsel regarding the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Mortgages, in each case reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Collateral Agent (and the Company for itself and on behalf of each Guarantor hereby instructs such counsel to deliver such opinion(s) to the Collateral Agent) (provided that such opinions shall be deemed satisfactory if such opinions are otherwise satisfactory to the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent under the Credit Agreement, subject to factual changes necessary to reflect the Notes);

(F) if delivered to the Credit Facility Collateral Agent under the Credit Agreement, each of (x) a completed Federal Emergency Management Agency Standard Flood Hazard Determination with respect to each property covered by a Mortgage and (y) if applicable, customary evidence of any insurance for such Material Real Property required under Section 5.05 of the Credit Agreement;

(G) such affidavits, certificates, information (including financial data) and instruments of indemnification (including a so-called “gap” indemnification) as shall be required by the Title Companies to induce the Title Companies to issue the title policies and endorsements contemplated above; and

(ii) the Company shall have paid or caused to be paid to the Title Companies (i) all expenses and premiums of the Title Companies in connection with the issuance of such policies and (ii) an amount equal to the recording, mortgage, intangibles, transfer and stamp taxes payable in connection with recording the Mortgages and the Fixture Filings in the appropriate county land office(s).

Section 12.08 After-Acquired Property.

If, at any time, a Restricted Subsidiary is required to become a Guarantor pursuant to Section 4.18 hereof, such Restricted Subsidiary shall, at such time, promptly execute a joinder to the Security Documents (or deliver Mortgages and the other required real estate deliverables in respect of any applicable Material Real Property, pursuant to Section 12.07(b)) and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, providing that such Restricted Subsidiary

 

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become a grantor thereunder, to grant Liens on assets and pledge equity interests, in each case, that constitute Collateral to the Collateral Agent, in each case for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties (subject to the limitations set forth in this Indenture and other limitations set forth in the Security Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement), and if any such Guarantor acquires an asset that constitutes Collateral, such Guarantor shall grant a Lien on such Collateral to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties and perfect such Lien, subject in each case to the terms of the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement.

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 13.01 Trust Indenture Act Controls.

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

Section 13.02 Notices.

(a) Any notice or communication by the Company or any Guarantor, on the one hand, or the Trustee or the Collateral Agent on the other hand, to the other is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), electronic mail (in “.pdf” format) or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

If to the Company:

The GEO Group, Inc.

4955 Technology Way

Boca Raton, Florida 33431

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Email: smarch@geogroup.com

With a copy to:

Akerman LLP

Three Brickell City Centre

98 Southeast Seventh Street

Miami, Florida 33131

Suite 1100

 

  Attention:

William Arnhols, Esq.

 

Esther L. Moreno, Esq.

  Emails:

william.arnhols@akerman.com; esther.moreno@akerman.com

If to the Trustee:

Ankura Trust Company, LLC, as Trustee

140 Sherman Street, Fourth Floor

Fairfield, CT 06824

Attention: Krista Gulalo, Beth Micena

Emails: Krista.Gulalo@ankura.com; Beth.Micena@ankura.com

If to the Collateral Agent:

Ankura Trust Company, LLC, as Collateral Agent

140 Sherman Street, Fourth Floor

Fairfield, CT 06824

Attention: Krista Gulalo, Beth Micena

Email: Krista.Gulalo@ankura.com, Beth.micena@ankura.com

 

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(b) The Company, the Guarantors, if any, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, by notice to the others may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

(c) 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 (5) Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed by first-class mail; when receipt acknowledged, if emailed; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

(d) Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be electronically delivered, 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 TIA § 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA. 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.

(e) 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, notices to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent shall be deemed to be effective only when actually received by the Trustee’s or the Collateral Agent’s, as applicable, Corporate Trust Department.

(f) If the Company mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent and each Agent at the same time.

Section 13.03 Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes.

Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Holders with respect to its rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).

Section 13.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

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

(i) an Officers’ Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 13.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

(ii) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 13.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel (who may rely upon the Officers’ Certificate as to matters of fact), all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.

Section 13.05 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA § 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA § 314(e) and shall include:

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

(ii) 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;

 

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(iii) 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 satisfied; and

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

Section 13.06 Rules by Trustee and Agents.

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

Section 13.07 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Managers, Employees, Incorporators, Stockholders, Members and Partners.

No director, officer, manager, employee, incorporator, stockholder, member or partner of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or of the Guarantors under the Notes, this Indenture, the Note Guarantees, the Security Documents or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

Section 13.08 Governing Law.

THIS INDENTURE AND THE NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 13.09 Consent to Jurisdiction.

Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Indenture or the transactions contemplated hereby may be instituted in the federal courts sitting in the Southern District of New York in the State of New York, or if such federal courts do not have jurisdiction, then to the Commercial Division of the state courts residing in the County of New York in the State of New York, and appellate courts of any of the foregoing (collectively, the “Specified Courts”), and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any such court (a, as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail to such party’s (other than the Trustee and the Collateral Agent) address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

Section 13.10 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 any of its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

Section 13.11 Successors.

All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent in this Indenture shall bind its successors. All agreements of each Guarantor in this Indenture shall bind its successors.

 

95


Section 13.12 Severability.

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

Section 13.13 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. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

Section 13.14 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 the Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agents duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company if made in the manner provided in this Section 13.14.

(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 a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to such witness, notary or officer the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of authority. 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 which the Trustee deems sufficient.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 13.14, the principal amount and serial numbers of Notes held by any Holder, and the date of holding the same, shall be proved by the register of the Notes maintained by the Registrar as provided in Section 2.04 hereof.

(d) If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of the Notes any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Company may, at its option, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. Notwithstanding TIA § 316(c), such record date shall not be earlier than the date 30 days prior to the first solicitation of Holders generally in connection therewith or the date of the most recent list of Holders forwarded to the Trustee prior to such solicitation pursuant to Section 2.06 hereof and not later than the date such solicitation is completed. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of the then outstanding Notes have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the then outstanding Notes shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders on such record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than ninety (90) days after the record date.

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

 

96


(f) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Note may do so itself with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Note 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.

Section 13.15 Benefit of Indenture.

Nothing, in this Indenture or in the Notes, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Paying Agent, any Registrar and its successors hereunder, and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

Section 13.16 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 13.17 Waiver of Jury Trial.

EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE GUARANTORS, THE TRUSTEE AND THE COLLATERAL AGENT 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 NOTES OR. THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

Section 13.18 Force Majeure.

In no event shall the Trustee or the Collateral Agent be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes, epidemics or pandemics or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

Section 13.19 U.S.A. Patriot Act.

The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee or the Collateral Agent. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee and the Collateral Agent with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee and the Collateral Agent to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

97


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

 

ISSUER:
THE GEO GROUP, INC.
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Acting Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President, Finance and Treasurer
GUARANTORS:
GEO CORRECTIONS HOLDINGS, INC
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
ADAPPT, LLC
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
ARAPAHOE COUNTY RESIDENTIAL CENTER, LLC
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
BEHAVIORAL ACQUISITION CORP.
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
BEHAVIORAL HOLDING CORP.
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
B.I. INCORPORATED
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer

 

98


BI MOBILE BREATH, INC.
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
BII HOLDING CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
BII HOLDING I CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
BROAD REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS LLC
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
CCC WYOMING PROPERTIES, LLC
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
CCMAS LLC
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
CEC INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS LLC
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
CEC PARENT HOLDINGS LLC
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer

 

99


CEC STAFFING SOLUTIONS LLC
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
CIVIGENICS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
CIVIGENICS MANAGEMENT SERVICES, LLC
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
CIVIGENICS-TEXAS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
CLEARSTREAM DEVELOPMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVES
By:   Community Education Centers, Inc., its Manager
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS, LLC
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer

 

100


COMMUNITY EDUCATION CENTERS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
CORNELL COMPANIES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
CORNELL CORRECTIONS MANAGEMENT, LLC
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
CORNELL CORRECTIONS OF RHODE ISLAND, INC.
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
CORNELL CORRECTIONS OF TEXAS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
CORRECTIONAL PROPERTIES, LLC
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
CORRECTIONAL PROPERTIES PRISON FINANCE LLC
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
CORRECTIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION, LLC
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer

 

101


CORRECTIONAL SYSTEMS, LLC
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
CPT LIMITED PARTNER, LLC
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
CPT OPERATING PARTNERSHIP L.P.
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
FENTON SECURITY, LLC
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
GEO ACQUISITION II, INC.
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
GEO CARE LLC
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
GEO CPM, INC.
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
GEO CC3 INC.
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer

 

102


GEO HOLDINGS I, INC.
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
GEO INTERNATIONAL SERVICES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
GEO LEASING, LLC
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
GEO MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
GEO MCF LP, LLC
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
GEO OPERATIONS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
GEO RE HOLDINGS LLC
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Assistant Treasurer
GEO REENTRY, INC.
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer

 

103


GEO REENTRY OF ALASKA, INC.
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
GEO REENTRY SERVICES, LLC
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
GEO SECURE SERVICES, LLC
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
GEO TRANSPORT, INC.
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Assistant Treasurer
GEO/DEL/R/02, INC.
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
GEO/DEL/T/02, INC.
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
HIGHPOINT INVESTMENTS LLC
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
MCF GP, LLC
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer

 

104


MINSEC COMPANIES, LLC
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
MINSEC TREATMENT, LLC
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
MUNICIPAL CORRECTIONS FINANCE L.P.
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
PROTOCOL CRIMINAL JUSTICE, INC.
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
PUBLIC PROPERTIES DEVELOPMENT AND LEASING LLC
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
SECON, INC.
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
WBP LEASING, LLC
By:  

/s/ Shayn P. March

Name: Shayn P. March
Title: Vice President and Treasurer

 

105


TRUSTEE AND COLLATERAL AGENT:
ANKURA TRUST COMPANY, LLC
By:  

/s/ Krista Gulalo

Name: Krista Gulalo
Title: Managing Director

 

106


EXHIBIT A

[Face of Initial Note]

[Global Note Legend]

THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.08 OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.08(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.13 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT AND ANY SUCH CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

[Private Placement Legend]

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT WITHIN ONE YEAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS SECURITY) RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY EXCEPT (A) TO THE GEO GROUP, INC. OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE), (D) PURSUANT TO THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE), (E) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OR (F) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY WITHIN ONE YEAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS SECURITY) PURSUANT TO (2)(C), (D) OR (E), THE HOLDER MUST, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISH TO THE TRUSTEE AND THE GEO GROUP, INC. SUCH CERTIFICATIONS, LEGAL OPINIONS OR OTHER INFORMATION AS EITHER OF THEM MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS BEING MADE PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION,” “UNITED STATES” AND “U.S. PERSON” HAVE THE MEANING GIVEN TO THEM BY REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

A-1


[Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend]

THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED HEREIN).

 

A-2


CUSIP [•]    $[•]
No. [•]   

THE GEO GROUP, INC.

8.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2029

New York, New York

Issue Date: [•]

The GEO Group, Inc., a Florida Corporation (the “Company”, which term includes any successor under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or its registered assigns, the principal sum of [Amount of Note] on April 15, 2029.

Interest Payment Dates: April 15 and October 15, commencing October 15, 2024.

Record Dates: April 1 and October 1.

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

 

A-3


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be signed manually or by facsimile by one of its duly authorized officers.

 

THE GEO GROUP, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

(Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication)

This is one of the 8.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2029 described in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

Dated:
The Huntington National Bank, as Authenticating Agent

 

By:  

Authorized Signatory

 

A-4


[Reverse Side of Note]

THE GEO GROUP, INC.

8.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2029

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

 

1.

Interest. The Company promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 8.625% per annum from the date hereof until maturity; provided that, if a Registration Default (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) occurs, additional interest (the “Additional Interest”) of $0.05 per week per $1,000 principal amount of the Restricted Notes will accrue on the Restricted Notes for the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of a Registration Default (increasing by an additional $0.05 per week per $1,000 principal amount of the Restricted Notes with respect to each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum additional interest rate of 1.00% per annum). The Company shall pay interest and Additional Interest, if any, semi-annually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each an “Interest Payment Date”). Interest on the Notes shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of original issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided further that the first Interest Payment Date shall be October 15, 2024. The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at a rate that is 1% per annum in excess of the rate then in effect; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Additional Interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

2.

Method of Payment. The Company shall pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) and Additional Interest, if any, to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the record date immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.14 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes shall be payable as to principal, premium and interest and Additional Interest, if any, at the office or agency of the Paying Agent and Registrar maintained for such purpose, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest and Additional Interest, if any, may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders, and provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds shall be required with respect to principal of and interest, premium and Additional Interest, if any, on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying Agent. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

3.

Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, Ankura Trust Company, LLC, the Trustee under the Indenture or its agent, shall act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

 

4.

Indenture. The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of April 18, 2024 (“Indenture”) among the Company, the Initial Guarantors, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

 

A-5


5.

Optional Redemption. On or after April 15, 2026, the Company may, at its option, redeem all or a part of the Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any) upon not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days’ notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes redeemed, to (but not including) the applicable redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date if the Notes have not been redeemed prior to such date) if redeemed during the twelve (12)-month period beginning on April 15 of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2026

     104.313

2027

     102.156

2028 and thereafter

     100.000

In addition, at any time prior to April 15, 2026, the Company shall be entitled at its option on one or more occasions to redeem Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any) originally issued at a redemption price (calculated by the Company and expressed as a percentage of principal amount) of 108.625%, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to (but not including) the applicable redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date if the Notes have not been redeemed prior to such date), with an amount not to exceed the net cash proceeds from one or more Equity Offerings; provided, however, that: (1) at least 65% of such aggregate principal amount of Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption (other than Notes held, directly or indirectly, by the Company or its Subsidiaries); and (2) each such redemption occurs within ninety (90) days after the date of closing of the related Equity Offering.

Notice of any redemption upon any Equity Offering may be given prior to the completion thereof, and any such redemption or notice may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to the completion of the related Equity Offering.

Prior to April 15, 2026, the Company shall be entitled at its option to redeem all or a portion of the Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any) at a redemption price (calculated by the Company) equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any), plus the Applicable Premium as of the applicable redemption date, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to (but not including) the applicable redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date if the Notes have not been redeemed prior to such date). Notice of such redemption shall be sent to DTC in the case of Global Notes, or mailed by first-class mail to each Holder’s registered address in the case of certificated notes (and, to the extent permitted by applicable procedures and regulations, electronically), not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the redemption date.

During any twelve-month period prior to April 15, 2026, the Company shall be entitled at its option on one or more occasions to redeem Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any) at a redemption price (calculated by the Company and expressed as a percentage of principal amount) of 103.000%, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date.

 

6.

Mandatory Redemption. The Company is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

 

7.

Repurchase at Option of Holder. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company shall make a Change of Control Offer in accordance with Section 4.14 of the Indenture. In connection with certain Asset Sales, the Company shall make an Asset Sale Offer as and when provided in accordance with Section 4.10 of the Indenture.

 

A-6


8.

Selection and Notice of Redemption. If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed or purchased in an offer to purchase at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes for redemption or purchase as follows: if the Notes are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed as certified to the Trustee by the Company, and in compliance with the requirements of DTC or, if the Notes are not listed on any national securities exchange, on a pro rata basis (based on amounts tendered), by lot or by such method as the Trustee deems fair and appropriate in accordance with DTC procedures subject to adjustments so that no Note in any unauthorized denomination remains outstanding after such redemption. No Notes of $2,000 or less can be redeemed in part. Notices of redemption will be mailed by first-class mail or electronically or otherwise in accordance with DTC procedures at least ten (10) but not more than sixty (60) days before the redemption date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be sent more than sixty (60) days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture As long as the Notes are issued in global form, notices to be given to Holders will be given to DTC, in accordance with its applicable policies as in effect from time to time. Any notice may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to that Note will state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. A new Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Note will be issued (or cause to be transferred by book entry) in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note. Notes called for redemption become due on the date fixed for redemption. Subject to Section 3.05 of the Indenture, on and after the redemption date, interest and Additional Interest, if any, ceases to accrue on Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption.

 

9.

Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without interest coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company is not required to transfer or exchange any Note selected for redemption. Also, the Company is not required to transfer or exchange any Note for a period of fifteen (15) days before the mailing or delivery of a notice of redemption of Notes.

 

10.

Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Note will be treated as its owner for all purposes.

 

11.

Amendment, Supplement and Waiver. The Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Security Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement may be amended or supplemented as provided in the Indenture, subject to the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement where applicable.

 

12.

Defaults and Remedies. In the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, with respect to the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately by notice in writing to the Company specifying the Event of Default. Holders of the Notes may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal or interest or Additional Interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest (including Additional Interest, if any) on, or the principal of, the Notes.

 

A-7


13.

Trustee Dealings with Company. The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.

 

14.

No Recourse Against Others. No director, officer, manager, employee, incorporator, stockholder, member or partner of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or of the Guarantors under the Notes, the Indenture or the Note Guarantees, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

 

15.

Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

 

16.

CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

17.

Additional Rights of Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes. In addition to the rights provided to Holders under the Indenture, Holders shall have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of April 18, 2024, as amended and supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), among the Company, the Initial Guarantors and the representative of the Initial Purchasers of the Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date. Each Holder, by acceptance hereof, acknowledges and agrees to the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement, including the obligations of the Holders with respect to a registration and the indemnification of the Company and other named persons to the extent provided therein.

The Company shall furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture, the Security Agreements and/or the Registration Rights Agreement. Requests may be made to:

The GEO Group, Inc.

4955 Technology Way

Boca Raton, Florida 33431

Facsimile: (561) 999-7663

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

With a copy to:

Akerman LLP

Three Brickell City Centre

98 Southeast Seventh Street

Suite 1100

Miami, Florida 33131

Facsimile: (305) 374-5095

Attention: William Arnhols, Esq.

Esther L. Moreno, Esq.

 

A-8


ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

(1) or (we) assign and

transfer this Note to:   

 

(Insert assignee’s legal name)

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)
(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

and irrevocably appoint

to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

Date:

 

Your Signature:  
  (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

 

Signature Guarantee*:    

 

*

Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-9


SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE

The initial principal amount of this Global Note is set forth on the face hereof. The following exchanges of interests in this Global Note have been made:

 

Date of Exchange

  

Amount of

Decrease in

Principal Amount at

Maturity of this

Global Note

  

Amount of Increase

in Principal Amount

at Maturity of this

Global Note

  

Principal Amount at

Maturity of this

Global Note

Following such

decrease (or

increase)

  

Signature of

Authorized

Signatory of Trustee

or Custodian

 

A-10


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

The GEO Group, Inc.

4955 Technology Way

Boca Raton, Florida 33431

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Ankura Trust Company, LLC, as Trustee

140 Sherman Street, Fourth Floor

Fairfield, CT 06824

Attention: Krista Gulalo, Beth Micena

Email: Krista.Gulalo@ankura.com, Beth.micena@ankura.com

Re: 8.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2029

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of April 18, 2024 (the “Indenture”), among The GEO Group, Inc., a Florida corporation (the “Company”), the Initial Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture) and Ankura Trust Company, LLC, as Trustee and Collateral Agent. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

__________________ (the “Transferor”) owns and proposes to transfer the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the principal amount at maturity of $_____________ in such Note[s] or interests (the “Transfer”), to (the “Transferee”), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:

[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]

☐ 1. Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note or a Definitive Note pursuant to Rule 144A. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believed and believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the 144A Global Note and/or the Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

☐ 2. Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note or a Definitive Note pursuant to Regulation S. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Regulation S Global Note and/or the Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

B-1


☐ 3. Check and complete if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note or a Definitive Note pursuant to any provision of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A or Regulation S. The Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):

 

  ☐ (a)

such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act;

or

 

  ☐ (b)

such Transfer is being effected to the Company;

or

 

  ☐ (c)

such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

☐ 4. Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or of an Unrestricted Definitive Note.

 

  ☐ (a)

Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Rule 144. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

  ☐ (b)

Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Regulation S. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

  ☐ (c)

Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Other Exemption. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

B-2


This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company.

 

 

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Dated:

 

B-3


ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

1.

The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:

[CHECK ONE OF (A) OR (B)]

 

  ☐ (A)

A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE:

☐ (i) 144A Global Note (CUSIP    ); or

☐ (ii) Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP    ); or

 

  ☐ (B)

A RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE.

[CHECK ONE]

 

2.

After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:

 

  ☐ (A)

A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE:

☐(i) 144A Global Note (CUSIP    ); or

☐ (ii) Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP    ); or

☐ (iii) Unrestricted Global Note (CUSIP    ); or

 

  ☐ (B)

A RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE; OR

 

  ☐ (C)

AN UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE,

in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

B-4


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE

The GEO Group, Inc.

4955 Technology Way

Boca Raton, Florida 33431

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Ankura Trust Company, LLC, as Trustee

140 Sherman Street, Fourth Floor

Fairfield, CT 06824

Attention: Krista Gulalo, Beth Micena

Email: Krista.Gulalo@ankura.com, Beth.micena@ankura.com

Re: 8.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2029

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of April 18, 2024 (the “Indenture”), among The GEO Group, Inc., a Florida corporation (the “Company”), the Initial Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture) and Ankura Trust Company, LLC, as Trustee and Collateral Agent. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

_______________ (the “Owner”) owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount at maturity of $in such Note[s] or interests (the “Exchange”). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:

1. Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Unrestricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note

☐ (a) Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note in an equal principal amount at maturity, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

☐ (b) Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

☐ (c) Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

C-1


☐ (d) Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

2. Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes for Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes

☐ (a) Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Restricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount at maturity, the Owner hereby certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

☐ (b) Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE] ☐ 144A Global Note / ☐ Regulation S Global Note with an equal principal amount at maturity, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the beneficial interest issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company.

 

 

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

C-2


EXHIBIT D

[Face of Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note] */**/

 

*/

If the Note is to be issued in global form, add the Global Notes Legend from Exhibit A and the attachment from Exhibit A captioned “SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE”.

**/

If the Note is a Private Exchange Note issued in a Private Exchange to an Initial Purchaser holding an unsold portion of its initial allotment, add the Private Placement Legend from Exhibit A.

 

D-1


CUSIP [•]    $[•]
No. [•]   

THE GEO GROUP, INC.

8.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2029

New York, New York

Issue Date: [•]

The GEO Group, Inc., a Florida Corporation (the “Company”, which term includes any successor under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or its registered assigns, the principal sum of [Amount of Note] on April 15, 2029.

Interest Payment Dates: April 15 and October 15, commencing October 15, 2024.

Record Dates: April 1 and October 1.

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

 

D-2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be signed manually or by facsimile by one of its duly authorized officers.

 

THE GEO GROUP, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

(Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication)

This is one of the 8.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2029 described in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

Dated:
The Huntington National Bank, as Authenticating Agent

 

By: Authorized Signatory

 

D-3


[Reverse Side of Note]

THE GEO GROUP, INC.

8.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2029

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

 

1.

Interest. The Company promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 8.625% per annum from the date hereof until maturity. The Company shall pay interest semi-annually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each an “Interest Payment Date”). Interest on the Notes shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of original issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided further that the first Interest Payment Date shall be October 15, 2024. The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at a rate that is 1% per annum in excess of the rate then in effect; it 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 periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

2.

Method of Payment. The Company shall pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the record date immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.14 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes shall be payable as to principal, premium and interest, if any, at the office or agency of the Paying Agent and Registrar maintained for such purpose, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders, and provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds shall be required with respect to principal of and interest and premium, if any, on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying Agent. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

3.

Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, Ankura Trust Company, LLC, the Trustee under the Indenture or its agent, shall act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

 

4.

Indenture. The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of April 18, 2024 (“Indenture”) among the Company, the Initial Guarantors, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

 

5.

Optional Redemption. On or after April 15, 2026, the Company may, at its option, redeem all or a part of the Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any) upon not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days’ notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes redeemed, to (but not including) the applicable redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date if the Notes have not been redeemed prior to such date) if redeemed during the twelve (12)-month period beginning on April 15 of the years indicated below:

 

D-4


Year

   Percentage  

2026

     104.313

2027

     102.156

2028 and thereafter

     100.000

In addition, at any time prior to April 15, 2026, the Company shall be entitled at its option on one or more occasions to redeem Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any) originally issued at a redemption price (calculated by the Company and expressed as a percentage of principal amount) of 108.625%, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to (but not including) the applicable redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date if the Notes have not been redeemed prior to such date), with an amount not to exceed the net cash proceeds from one or more Equity Offerings; provided, however, that: (1) at least 65% of such aggregate principal amount of Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption (other than Notes held, directly or indirectly, by the Company or its Subsidiaries); and (2) each such redemption occurs within ninety (90) days after the date of closing of the related Equity Offering.

Notice of any redemption upon any Equity Offering may be given prior to the completion thereof, and any such redemption or notice may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to the completion of the related Equity Offering.

Prior to April 15, 2026, the Company shall be entitled at its option to redeem all or a portion of the Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any) at a redemption price (calculated by the Company) equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any), plus the Applicable Premium as of the applicable redemption date, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to (but not including) the applicable redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date if the Notes have not been redeemed prior to such date). Notice of such redemption shall be sent to DTC in the case of Global Notes, or mailed by first-class mail to each Holder’s registered address in the case of certificated notes (and, to the extent permitted by applicable procedures and regulations, electronically), not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the redemption date.

During any twelve-month period prior to April 15, 2026, the Company shall be entitled at its option on one or more occasions to redeem Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any) at a redemption price (calculated by the Company and expressed as a percentage of principal amount) of 103.000%, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date.

 

6.

Mandatory Redemption. The Company is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

 

7.

Repurchase at Option of Holder. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company shall make a Change of Control Offer in accordance with Section 4.14 of the Indenture. In connection with certain Asset Sales, the Company shall make an Asset Sale Offer as and when provided in accordance with Section 4.10 of the Indenture.

 

8.

Selection and Notice of Redemption. If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed or purchased in an offer to purchase at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes for redemption or purchase as follows: if the Notes are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed as certified to the Trustee by the Company, and in compliance with the requirements of DTC or, if the Notes are not listed on any national securities exchange, on a pro rata basis (based on amounts tendered), by lot or by such method as the Trustee deems fair and appropriate in accordance with DTC procedures subject to adjustments so that no Note in any unauthorized denomination remains outstanding after such redemption. No Notes of $2,000 or less can be redeemed in part. Notices of redemption will be mailed by first-class mail or electronically or

 

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  otherwise in accordance with DTC procedures at least ten (10) but not more than sixty (60) days before the redemption date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be sent more than sixty (60) days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture As long as the Notes are issued in global form, notices to be given to Holders will be given to DTC, in accordance with its applicable policies as in effect from time to time. Any notice may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to that Note will state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. A new Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Note will be issued (or cause to be transferred by book entry) in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note. Notes called for redemption become due on the date fixed for redemption. Subject to Section 3.05 of the Indenture, on and after the redemption date and interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption.

 

9.

Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without interest coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company is not required to transfer or exchange any Note selected for redemption. Also, the Company is not required to transfer or exchange any Note for a period of fifteen (15) days before the mailing or delivery of a notice of redemption of Notes.

 

10.

Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Note will be treated as its owner for all purposes.

 

11.

Amendment, Supplement and Waiver. The Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Security Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement may be amended or supplemented as provided in the Indenture, subject to the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement where applicable.

 

12.

Defaults and Remedies. In the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, with respect to the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately by notice in writing to the Company specifying the Event of Default. Holders of the Notes may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest on, or the principal of, the Notes.

 

13.

Trustee Dealings with Company. The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.

 

14.

No Recourse Against Others. No director, officer, manager, employee, incorporator, stockholder, member or partner of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or of the Guarantors under the Notes, the Indenture or the Note Guarantees, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

 

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15.

Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

 

16.

CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

The Company shall furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture and/or the Security Agreements. Requests may be made to:

The GEO Group, Inc.

4955 Technology Way

Boca Raton, Florida 33431

Facsimile: (561) 999-7663

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

With a copy to:

Akerman LLP

Three Brickell City Centre

98 Southeast Seventh Street

Suite 1100

Miami, Florida 33131

Facsimile: (305) 374-5095

Attention: William Arnhols, Esq.

 Esther L. Moreno, Esq.

 

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Annex I

Issue Date Mortgaged Properties and Proposed Facilities to Mortgage

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