UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 23, 2017
LEVI STRAUSS & CO.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 002-90139 | 94-0905160 | ||
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
1155 BATTERY STREET
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94111
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(415) 501-6000
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐ | Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communication pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communication pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
On February 28, 2017, Levi Strauss & Co. (the Company) entered into an indenture (the Indenture) in connection with the Companys offering of 475.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3-3/8% Senior Notes due 2027 (the Notes).
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association is acting as trustee and HSBC Bank plc is acting as registrar and paying agent. The Notes will bear interest at 3-3/8% per annum, payable semiannually in arrears on March 15 and September 15, commencing on September 15, 2017, and will mature on March 15, 2027.
The Notes are general senior obligations of the Company and rank equally in right of payment to the Companys existing and future senior unsecured debt and rank senior in right of payment to the Companys future debt that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes. The Notes are effectively subordinated to the Companys secured indebtedness, including indebtedness under the Companys amended and restated senior secured revolving credit facility, to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness, and are structurally subordinated to all of the existing and future liabilities, including trade payables, of the Companys subsidiaries.
Optional Redemption
At any time prior to March 15, 2020, the Company may redeem up to 40% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes with the proceeds of one or more equity offerings, at a redemption price of 103.375% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any.
In addition, the Company may choose to redeem all or any portion of the Notes prior to March 15, 2022, at a redemption price of 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus (i) the excess of the present value on such redemption date of (A) the redemption price of such Notes to be redeemed on March 15, 2022, plus (B) all required remaining scheduled interest payments due on such Notes to be redeemed through March 15, 2022, computed using a discount rate equal to the Bund Rate plus 50 basis points, over (ii) the principal amount of such Notes to be redeemed.
On or after March 15, 2022, the Company may redeem all or a part of the Notes at the prices set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, if redeemed during a 12-month period beginning on March 15 of the years indicated below:
Year |
Price | |||
2022 |
101.688 | % | ||
2023 |
101.125 | % | ||
2024 |
100.563 | % | ||
2025 and thereafter |
100.000 | % |
Repurchase Offer upon a Change of Control
Upon the occurrence of a change in control (as defined in the Indenture), each holder of Notes may require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of the Notes in cash at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount of Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to the date of purchase. However, the Companys amended and restated senior secured revolving credit facility limits its ability to repurchase the Notes prior to their maturity.
Other Covenants
The Indenture contains covenants that limit, among other things, the Companys and certain of the Companys subsidiaries ability to (1) incur additional debt, (2) make certain restricted payments, (3) consummate specified asset sales, (4) enter into transactions with affiliates, (5) incur liens, (6) impose restrictions on the ability of its subsidiaries to pay dividends or make payments to the Company and its restricted subsidiaries, (7) merge or consolidate with another person, and (8) dispose of all or substantially all of the Companys assets. The Indenture
provides for customary events of default (subject in certain cases to customary grace and cure periods), which include nonpayment, breach of covenants in the Indenture, payment defaults or acceleration of other indebtedness, a failure to pay certain judgments and certain events of bankruptcy and insolvency. Generally, if an event of default occurs, the trustee under the Indenture or holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately.
The offering and sale of the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), or any state securities laws, and unless so registered, may not be reoffered or resold in the United States, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.
Registration Rights Agreement
In connection with the offering of the Notes, the Company has agreed pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of February 28, 2017 (the Registration Rights Agreement), between the Company and Merrill Lynch International, for itself and the other several initial purchasers of the Notes, to use its reasonable best efforts to register the Notes under the Securities Act so as to allow holders of the Notes to exchange the Notes for the same principal amount of a new issue of notes (the Exchange Notes) with substantially identical terms, except that the Exchange Notes will generally be freely transferable under the Securities Act. In addition, the Company agreed to file, under certain circumstances, one or more shelf registration statements to cover resales of the Notes. If the Company fails to satisfy these obligations and its other obligations as set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, it will be required to pay additional interest to the holders of the Notes.
Item 8.01. Other Events
On February 23, 2017, Levi Strauss & Co. announced that it had priced the Companys offering of 475.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3-3/8% Senior Notes due 2027. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
On March 3, 2017, Levi Strauss & Co. accepted all of the 6-7/8% Senior Notes due 2022 (the 2022 Notes) that were validly tendered by holders and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Companys Offer to Purchase, dated February 21, 2017, totaling $370,347,000 in principal amount, or approximately 70.5% of the outstanding 2022 Notes.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibits.
Exhibit No. |
Description | |
4.1 | Indenture, dated as of February 28, 2017, by and between Levi Strauss & Co. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee. | |
4.2 | Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of February 28, 2017, by and between Levi Strauss & Co. and Merrill Lynch International. | |
99.1 | Press Release, dated February 23, 2017, announcing Levi Strauss & Co.s pricing of Senior Notes due 2027. | |
99.2 | Press Release, dated February 28, 2017, announcing Levi Strauss & Co.s completion of the private placement of Senior Notes due 2027 and tender of 2022 Notes. |
3
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. | ||||||
DATE: March 3, 2017 | By: | /s/ Wade W. Webster | ||||
Name: | Wade W. Webster | |||||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Controller |
4
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. |
Description | |
4.1 | Indenture, dated as of February 28, 2017, by and between Levi Strauss & Co. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee. | |
4.2 | Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of February 28, 2017, by and between Levi Strauss & Co. and Merrill Lynch International. | |
99.1 | Press Release, dated February 23, 2017, announcing Levi Strauss & Co.s pricing of Senior Notes due 2027. | |
99.2 | Press Release, dated February 28, 2017, announcing Levi Strauss & Co.s completion of the private placement of Senior Notes due 2027 and tender of 2022 Notes. |
Exhibit 4.1
EXECUTION VERSION
LEVI STRAUSS & CO.,
as Issuer
3.375% Senior Notes due 2027
INDENTURE
Dated as of February 28, 2017
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE I | ||||||
Definitions and Incorporation by Reference | ||||||
SECTION 1.01. |
Definitions | 1 | ||||
SECTION 1.02. |
Other Definitions | 22 | ||||
SECTION 1.03. |
Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act | 22 | ||||
SECTION 1.04. |
Rules of Construction | 23 | ||||
ARTICLE II | ||||||
The Notes | ||||||
SECTION 2.01. |
Amount of Notes; Issuable in Series | 23 | ||||
SECTION 2.02. |
Form and Dating | 24 | ||||
SECTION 2.03. |
Execution and Authentication | 24 | ||||
SECTION 2.04. |
Registrar and Paying Agent | 25 | ||||
SECTION 2.05. |
Money Held by the Paying Agent | 25 | ||||
SECTION 2.06. |
Noteholder Lists | 25 | ||||
SECTION 2.07. |
Replacement Notes | 25 | ||||
SECTION 2.08. |
Outstanding Notes | 26 | ||||
SECTION 2.09. |
Temporary Notes | 26 | ||||
SECTION 2.10. |
Cancellation | 26 | ||||
SECTION 2.11. |
Defaulted Interest | 26 | ||||
SECTION 2.12. |
ISIN or Common Code Numbers | 26 | ||||
ARTICLE III | ||||||
Redemption | ||||||
SECTION 3.01. |
Notices to Trustee | 26 | ||||
SECTION 3.02. |
Selection of Notes To Be Redeemed | 27 | ||||
SECTION 3.03. |
Notice of Redemption | 27 | ||||
SECTION 3.04. |
Effect of Notice of Redemption | 27 | ||||
SECTION 3.05. |
Deposit of Redemption Price | 28 | ||||
SECTION 3.06. |
Notes Redeemed in Part | 28 | ||||
ARTICLE IV | ||||||
Covenants | ||||||
SECTION 4.01. |
Covenant Suspension | 28 | ||||
SECTION 4.02. |
Payment of Notes | 28 | ||||
SECTION 4.03. |
SEC Reports | 28 | ||||
SECTION 4.04. |
Limitation on Debt | 29 | ||||
SECTION 4.05. |
Limitation on Restricted Payments | 31 | ||||
SECTION 4.06. |
Limitation on Liens | 34 | ||||
SECTION 4.07. |
Limitation on Asset Sales | 34 | ||||
SECTION 4.08. |
Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries | 36 | ||||
SECTION 4.09. |
Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates | 37 | ||||
SECTION 4.10. |
Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries | 38 |
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Page | ||||||
SECTION 4.11. |
[Reserved] | 39 | ||||
SECTION 4.12. |
Change of Control | 39 | ||||
SECTION 4.13. |
Further Instruments and Acts | 40 | ||||
SECTION 4.14. |
Future Subsidiary Guarantors | 40 | ||||
SECTION 4.15. |
Payment of Additional Amounts | 40 | ||||
SECTION 4.16. |
Maintenance of Listing | 42 | ||||
ARTICLE V | ||||||
Successor Company | ||||||
SECTION 5.01. |
When Company May Merge or Transfer Assets | 42 | ||||
ARTICLE VI | ||||||
Defaults and Remedies | ||||||
SECTION 6.01. |
Events of Default | 43 | ||||
SECTION 6.02. |
Acceleration | 44 | ||||
SECTION 6.03. |
Other Remedies | 45 | ||||
SECTION 6.04. |
Waiver of Past Defaults | 45 | ||||
SECTION 6.05. |
Control by Majority | 45 | ||||
SECTION 6.06. |
Limitation on Suits | 45 | ||||
SECTION 6.07. |
Rights of Holders to Receive Payment | 46 | ||||
SECTION 6.08. |
Collection Suit by Trustee | 46 | ||||
SECTION 6.09. |
Trustee May File Proofs of Claim | 46 | ||||
SECTION 6.10. |
Priorities | 46 | ||||
SECTION 6.11. |
Undertaking for Costs | 46 | ||||
SECTION 6.12. |
Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws | 46 | ||||
ARTICLE VII | ||||||
Trustee | ||||||
SECTION 7.01. |
Duties of Trustee | 47 | ||||
SECTION 7.02. |
Rights of Trustee | 48 | ||||
SECTION 7.03. |
Individual Rights of Trustee | 49 | ||||
SECTION 7.04. |
Trustees Disclaimer | 49 | ||||
SECTION 7.05. |
Notice of Defaults | 49 | ||||
SECTION 7.06. |
Reports by Trustee to Holders | 49 | ||||
SECTION 7.07. |
Compensation and Indemnity | 49 | ||||
SECTION 7.08. |
Replacement of Trustee | 50 | ||||
SECTION 7.09. |
Successor Trustee by Merger | 50 | ||||
SECTION 7.10. |
Eligibility; Disqualification | 51 | ||||
SECTION 7.11. |
Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company | 51 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII | ||||||
Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance | ||||||
SECTION 8.01. |
Discharge of Liability on Notes; Defeasance | 51 | ||||
SECTION 8.02. |
Conditions to Defeasance | 52 | ||||
SECTION 8.03. |
Application of Trust Money | 53 | ||||
SECTION 8.04. |
Repayment to Company | 53 | ||||
SECTION 8.05. |
Indemnity for Government Obligations | 53 | ||||
SECTION 8.06. |
Reinstatement | 53 |
-ii-
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE IX | ||||||
Amendments | ||||||
SECTION 9.01. |
Without Consent of Holders | 53 | ||||
SECTION 9.02. |
With Consent of Holders | 54 | ||||
SECTION 9.03. |
Compliance with Trust Indenture Act | 54 | ||||
SECTION 9.04. |
Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers | 55 | ||||
SECTION 9.05. |
Notation on or Exchange of Notes | 55 | ||||
SECTION 9.06. |
Trustee To Sign Amendments | 55 | ||||
SECTION 9.07. |
Payment for Consent | 55 | ||||
ARTICLE X | ||||||
Miscellaneous | ||||||
SECTION 10.01. |
Trust Indenture Act Controls | 55 | ||||
SECTION 10.02. |
Notices | 55 | ||||
SECTION 10.03. |
Communication by Holders with Other Holders | 57 | ||||
SECTION 10.04. |
Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent | 57 | ||||
SECTION 10.05. |
Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion | 57 | ||||
SECTION 10.06. |
Annual Officers Certificate as to Compliance | 57 | ||||
SECTION 10.07. |
When Notes Disregarded | 57 | ||||
SECTION 10.08. |
Rules by Trustee, Paying Agents and Registrar | 57 | ||||
SECTION 10.09. |
Legal Holidays | 57 | ||||
SECTION 10.10. |
Governing Law; Jury Trial Waiver; Submission to Jurisdiction | 58 | ||||
SECTION 10.11. |
No Recourse Against Others | 58 | ||||
SECTION 10.12. |
Successors | 58 | ||||
SECTION 10.13. |
Multiple Originals | 58 | ||||
SECTION 10.14. |
Table of Contents; Headings | 58 | ||||
SECTION 10.15. |
Force Majeure | 58 | ||||
SECTION 10.16. |
U.S.A. Patriot Act | 58 | ||||
SECTION 10.17. |
Judgment Currency | 59 |
Appendix A |
- | Provisions Relating to Initial Notes and Exchange Notes | ||
EXHIBIT INDEX | ||||
Exhibit A |
- | Form of Initial Note | ||
Exhibit B |
- | Form of Transferee Letter of Representation |
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CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE
TIA Section |
Indenture Section | |
310(a)(1) |
7.10 | |
(a)(2) |
7.10 | |
(a)(3) |
N.A. | |
(a)(4) |
N.A. | |
(b) |
7.08; 7.10 | |
(c) |
N.A. | |
311(a) |
7.11 | |
(b) |
7.11 | |
(c) |
N.A. | |
312(a) |
2.06 | |
(b) |
1.03 | |
313(a) |
7.06 | |
(b)(1) |
N.A. | |
(b)(2) |
7.06 | |
(c) |
7.06; 10.02 | |
(d) |
7.06 | |
314(a)(1) |
4.03 | |
(a)(2) |
1.03 | |
(a)(3) |
1.03 | |
(a)(4) |
10.06 | |
(b) |
N.A. | |
(c)(1) |
10.04 | |
(c)(2) |
10.04 | |
(c)(3) |
N.A. | |
(d) |
N.A. | |
(e) |
10.05 | |
315(a) |
7.01 | |
(b) |
7.05; N.A. | |
(c) |
7.01 | |
(d) |
7.01 | |
(e) |
6.11 | |
316(a) (last sentence) |
N.A. | |
(a)(1)(A) |
6.05 | |
(a)(1)(B) |
6.04 | |
(a)(2) |
N.A. | |
(b) |
6.07 | |
317(a)(1) |
6.08 | |
(a)(2) |
6.09 | |
(b) |
2.05 | |
318(a) |
10.01 |
N.A. Means Not Applicable.
Note: This Cross-Reference Table shall not, for any purposes, be deemed to be part of this Indenture.
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INDENTURE dated as of February 28, 2017 between LEVI STRAUSS & CO., a Delaware corporation (the Company), and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States of America, as Trustee (the Trustee).
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of (i) 3.375% Senior Notes due 2027 (the Initial Notes), to be issued from time to time in one or more series as in this Indenture provided and (ii) if and when issued pursuant to a registered or private exchange for the Initial Notes, the exchange notes (the Exchange Notes and, together with the Initial Notes, the Notes):
ARTICLE I
Definitions and Incorporation by Reference
SECTION 1.01. Definitions.
Additional Assets means:
(a) any Property (other than cash, cash equivalents, securities and inventory) to be owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and used in a Related Business; or
(b) Capital Stock of a Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of the acquisition of that Capital Stock by the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary from any Person other than the Company or an Affiliate of the Company; provided, however, that, in the case of this clause (b), the Restricted Subsidiary is primarily engaged in a Related Business.
Affiliate of any specified Person means:
(a) any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with that specified Person, or
(b) any other Person who is a director or officer of that specified Person.
For the purposes of this definition, control when used with respect to any Person means the power to direct the management and policies of that Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms controlling and controlled have meanings correlative to the foregoing. For purposes of Section 4.07 and Section 4.09 and the definition of Additional Assets only, Affiliate shall also mean any Beneficial Owner of shares representing 10% or more of the total voting power of the Voting Stock (on a fully diluted basis) of the Company or of rights or warrants to purchase that Voting Stock (whether or not currently exercisable) and any Person who would be an Affiliate of any Beneficial Owner pursuant to the first sentence hereof.
Agents means the Paying Agents, the Registrar, the transfer agent and the Authenticating Agent.
Asset Sale means any sale, lease, transfer, issuance or other disposition (or series of related sales, leases, transfers, issuances or dispositions) by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, including any disposition by means of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction (each referred to for the purposes of this definition as a disposition), of:
(a) any shares of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary (other than directors qualifying shares),
(b) all or substantially all the assets of any division or line of business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, or
(c) any other assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary outside of the ordinary course of business of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary,
other than, in the case of clause (a), (b) or (c) above,
(1) any disposition by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to a Restricted Subsidiary,
(2) any disposition that constitutes a Restricted Payment permitted by Section 4.05,
(3) any disposition effected in compliance with the first paragraph in Section 5.01,
(4) a sale of accounts receivables and related assets of the type specified in the definition of Qualified Receivables Transaction to a Receivables Entity,
(5) a transfer of accounts receivables and related assets of the type specified in the definition of Qualified Receivables Transaction (or a fractional undivided interest therein) by a Receivables Entity in connection with a Qualified Receivables Transaction,
(6) a transfer of accounts receivable of the type specified in the definition of Credit Facilities that is permitted under clause (b) of the second paragraph of Section 4.04,
(7) any disposition that does not (together with all related dispositions) involve assets having a Fair Market Value or consideration in excess of $100.0 million, and
(8) any disposition that, but for this clause (8), would be an Asset Sale, if consummated at a time when, after giving pro forma effect thereto, (x) the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 3.25 to 1.00 and (y) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or occur as a consequence thereof.
Attributable Debt in respect of a Sale and Leaseback Transaction means, at any date of determination,
(a) if the Sale and Leaseback Transaction is a Capital Lease Obligation, the amount of Debt represented thereby according to the definition of Capital Lease Obligation, and
(b) in all other instances, the greater of:
(1) the Fair Market Value of the Property subject to the Sale and Leaseback Transaction, and
(2) the present value (discounted at the interest rate borne by the Notes, compounded annually) of the total obligations of the lessee for rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in the Sale and Leaseback Transaction (including any period for which the lease has been extended).
Authenticating Agent means an institution, reasonably acceptable to the Company, appointed by the Trustee to authenticate the Notes as set forth in this Indenture.
Average Life means, as of any date of determination, with respect to any Debt or Preferred Stock, the quotient obtained by dividing:
(a) the sum of the product of the numbers of years (rounded to the nearest one-twelfth of one year) from the date of determination to the dates of each successive scheduled principal payment of that Debt or redemption or similar payment with respect to that Preferred Stock multiplied by the amount of the payment by
(b) the sum of all payments of this kind.
-2-
Beneficial Owner means a beneficial owner as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, except that:
(a) a Person will be deemed to be the Beneficial Owner of all shares that the Person has the right to acquire, whether that right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time,
(b) for purposes of clause (a) of the definition of Change of Control, Permitted Holders will be deemed to be the Beneficial Owners of any Voting Stock of a corporation or other legal entity held by any other corporation or other legal entity so long as the Permitted Holders Beneficially Own, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate a majority of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of that corporation or other legal entity, and
(c) for purposes of clause (b) of the definition of Change of Control, any person or group (as those terms are defined in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act or any successor provisions to either of the foregoing), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of securities within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act, other than any one or more of the Permitted Holders, shall be deemed to be the Beneficial Owners of any Voting Stock of a corporation or other legal entity held by any other corporation or legal entity (the parent corporation), so long as that person or group Beneficially Owns, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate a majority of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of that parent corporation.
The term Beneficially Own shall have a corresponding meaning.
Board of Directors means the Board of Directors of the Company (or, in the case of clause (b) of the first paragraph of Section 4.09, the applicable Restricted Subsidiary) or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such Board of Directors.
Board Resolution means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification.
Business Day means each day that is not a Legal Holiday.
Capital Lease Obligation means any obligation under a lease that is required to be capitalized for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP; and the amount of Debt represented by that obligation shall be the capitalized amount of the obligations determined in accordance with GAAP; and the Stated Maturity thereof shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under that lease prior to the first date upon which that lease may be terminated by the lessee without payment of a penalty. For purposes of Section 4.06, a Capital Lease Obligation shall be deemed secured by a Lien on the Property being leased.
Capital Stock means, with respect to any Person, any shares or other equivalents (however designated) of any class of corporate stock or partnership interests or any other participations, rights, warrants, options or other interests in the nature of an equity interest in that Person, including Preferred Stock, but excluding any debt security convertible or exchangeable into that equity interest.
Capital Stock Sale Proceeds means the aggregate net proceeds (including the Fair Market Value of property other than cash) received by the Company from the issuance or sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Company or the Subsidiary for the benefit of their employees) by the Company of its Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) after the Issue Date, net of attorneys fees, accountants fees, initial purchasers or placement agents fees, discounts or commissions and brokerage, consultant and other fees actually incurred in connection with the issuance or sale and net of taxes paid or payable as a result thereof.
-3-
Change of Control means the occurrence of any of the following events:
(a) if any person or group (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act or any successor provisions to either of the foregoing), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of securities within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act, other than any one or more of the Permitted Holders, becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company; or
(b) the sale, transfer, assignment, lease, conveyance or other disposition, directly or indirectly, of all or substantially all the assets of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, considered as a whole (other than a disposition of assets as an entirety or virtually as an entirety to a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary or one or more Permitted Holders) shall have occurred, or the Company merges, consolidates or amalgamates with or into any other Person (other than one or more Permitted Holders) or any other Person (other than one or more Permitted Holders) merges, consolidates or amalgamates with or into the Company, in any event pursuant to a transaction in which the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company is reclassified into or exchanged for cash, securities or other Property, other than a transaction where:
(1) the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company is reclassified into or exchanged for other Voting Stock of the Company or for Voting Stock of the surviving corporation or transferee, and
(2) (i) the holders of the Voting Stock of the Company immediately prior to the transaction own, directly or indirectly, not less than a majority of the voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company or the surviving corporation or transferee immediately after the transaction and in substantially the same proportion as before the transaction or (ii) immediately after the transaction no holder of the Voting Stock of the Company or the surviving corporation or transferee owns, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company or the surviving corporation or transferee; or
(c) the shareholders of the Company shall have approved any plan of liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Commodity Price Protection Agreement means, in respect of a Person, any forward contract, commodity swap agreement, commodity option agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect that Person against fluctuations in commodity prices.
Company means the party named as such in this Indenture until a successor replaces it pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and, thereafter, means the successor and, for purposes of any provision contained herein and required by the TIA, each other obligor on the indenture securities.
Consolidated Current Liabilities means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount of liabilities of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries which may properly be classified as current liabilities (including taxes accrued as estimated), after eliminating:
(a) all intercompany items between the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary or between Restricted Subsidiaries, and
(b) all current maturities of long-term Debt.
Consolidated Fixed Charges means, for any period, the total interest expense (net of interest income) of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries, plus, to the extent not included in such total interest expense, and to the extent Incurred by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries,
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(a) interest expense recorded for such period attributable to leases constituting part of a Sale and Leaseback Transaction and to Capital Lease Obligations,
(b) amortization of debt discount,
(c) capitalized interest,
(d) non-cash interest expense,
(e) commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers acceptance financing,
(f) net costs associated with Interest Rate Agreements (including amortization of fees) (it being understood that any net benefits associated with Interest Rate Agreements shall be included in interest income),
(g) Disqualified Stock Dividends, excluding dividends paid in Qualified Capital Stock,
(h) Preferred Stock Dividends,
(i) interest Incurred in connection with Investments in discontinued operations,
(j) interest accruing on any Debt of any other Person to the extent that Debt is Guaranteed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, and
(k) the cash contributions to any employee stock ownership plan or similar trust to the extent those contributions are used by the plan or trust to pay interest or fees to any Person (other than the Company) in connection with Debt Incurred by the plan or trust.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (i) amortization or write-off of debt issuance costs, deferred financing or liquidity fees, commissions, fees and expenses, call premiums, (ii) any expensing of bridge, commitment and other financing fees and (iii) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges Incurred in connection with any transaction (including, without limitation, any Qualified Receivables Transaction) pursuant to which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company may sell, convey or otherwise transfer or grant a security interest in any accounts receivable or related assets of the type specified in the definition of Qualified Receivables Transaction shall not be included in Consolidated Fixed Charges.
Consolidated Fixed Charges Coverage Ratio means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of:
(a) the aggregate amount of EBITDA for the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters ending at least 45 days prior to such determination date to
(b) Consolidated Fixed Charges for those four fiscal quarters;
provided, however, that:
(1) if:
(A) since the beginning of that period the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary has Incurred any Debt that remains outstanding or Repaid any Debt, or
(B) the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Fixed Charges Coverage Ratio involves an Incurrence or Repayment of Debt,
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Consolidated Fixed Charges for that period shall be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis to that Incurrence or Repayment as if the Debt was Incurred or Repaid on the first day of that period, provided that, in the event of any Repayment of Debt, EBITDA for that period shall be calculated as if the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary had not earned any interest income actually earned during such period in respect of the funds used to Repay such Debt, and
(2) if:
(A) since the beginning of that period the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall have made any Asset Sale or an Investment (by merger or otherwise) in any Restricted Subsidiary (or any Person which becomes a Restricted Subsidiary) or an acquisition of Property which constitutes all or substantially all of an operating unit of a business,
(B) the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Fixed Charges Coverage Ratio involves an Asset Sale, Investment or acquisition, or
(C) since the beginning of that period any Person (that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of that period) shall have made such an Asset Sale, Investment or acquisition,
EBITDA for that period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect to the Asset Sale, Investment or acquisition as if the Asset Sale, Investment or acquisition occurred on the first day of that period.
If any Debt bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest expense on that Debt shall be calculated as if the base interest rate in effect for the floating rate of interest on the date of determination had been the applicable base interest rate for the entire period (taking into account any Interest Rate Agreement applicable to that Debt if the applicable Interest Rate Agreement has a remaining term in excess of 12 months). In the event the Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary is sold during the period, the Company shall be deemed, for purposes of clause (1) above, to have Repaid during that period the Debt of that Restricted Subsidiary to the extent the Company and its continuing Restricted Subsidiaries are no longer liable for that Debt after the sale.
Consolidated Net Income means, for any period, the net income (loss) of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries (excluding any net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests), determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that there shall not be included in such Consolidated Net Income:
(a) any net income (loss) of any Person (other than the Company) if that Person is not a Restricted Subsidiary, except that the Companys equity in the net income of any such Person for that period shall be included in such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash distributed by that Person during that period to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend or other distribution,
(b) any gain (or loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any Property of the Company or any of its consolidated Subsidiaries (including pursuant to any Sale and Leaseback Transaction) that is not sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business,
(c) any gain or loss attributable to the early extinguishment of Debt,
(d) any extraordinary gain or loss or cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles to the extent disclosed separately on the consolidated statement of income,
(e) any unrealized gains or losses of the Company or its consolidated Subsidiaries on any Hedging Obligations, and
(f) any non-cash compensation expense realized for grants of performance shares, stock options or other rights to officers, directors and employees of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, provided, however, that if any such shares, options or other rights are subsequently redeemed for Property other than Capital Stock of the Company that is not Disqualified Stock then the Fair Market Value of such Property shall be treated as a reduction in Consolidated Net Income during the period of such redemption.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of Section 4.05 only, there shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income any dividends, repayments of loans or advances or other transfers of assets from Unrestricted Subsidiaries to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent the dividends, repayments or transfers increase the amount of Restricted Payments permitted under that Section pursuant to clause (c)(4) thereof.
Consolidated Net Tangible Assets means, as of any date of determination, the sum of the amounts that would appear on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries as the total assets (less accumulated depreciation, amortization, allowances for doubtful receivables, other applicable allowances and other properly deductible items) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, after giving effect to purchase accounting and after deducting therefrom Consolidated Current Liabilities and, to the extent otherwise included, the amounts of (without duplication):
(a) the excess of cost over fair market value of assets or businesses acquired;
(b) any revaluation or other write-up in book value of assets subsequent to the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Company immediately preceding the Issue Date as a result of a change in the method of valuation in accordance with GAAP;
(c) unamortized debt discount and expenses and other unamortized deferred charges, goodwill, patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses, organization or developmental expenses and other intangible items;
(d) noncontrolling interests in consolidated Subsidiaries held by Persons other than the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(e) treasury stock;
(f) cash or securities set aside and held in a sinking or other analogous fund established for the purpose of redemption or other retirement of Capital Stock to the extent such obligation is not reflected in Consolidated Current Liabilities; and
(g) Investments in and assets of Unrestricted Subsidiaries.
For the avoidance of doubt, any deferred tax assets that would appear on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.
Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of the aggregate amount of all Debt secured by Liens of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries at the end of the most recent fiscal period, for which financial information in respect thereof is available immediately preceding the date of the transaction (the Transaction Date) giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio to the aggregate amount of EBITDA for the Company for the four full fiscal quarters, treated as one period, for which financial information in respect thereof is available immediately preceding the Transaction Date (such four full fiscal quarter period being referred to herein as the Four Quarter Period). In addition, for purposes of calculating the ratio, the entire commitment of any revolving credit facility of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to be fully drawn as of the date such agreement is executed, and thereafter the amount of such commitment shall be deemed to fully borrowed at all times for purposes of determining the ratio. In addition to and without limitation of the foregoing, for purposes of this definition, this ratio shall be calculated after giving effect to the following:
(a) if since the beginning of that period the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall have made any Asset Sale or an Investment (by merger or otherwise) in any Restricted Subsidiary (or any Person which becomes a Restricted Subsidiary) or an acquisition of Property which constitutes all or substantially all of an operating unit of a business,
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(b) if the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio involves an Asset Sale, Investment or acquisition, or
(c) since the beginning of the Four Quarter Period any Person (that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of the Four Quarter Period) shall have made such an Asset Sale, Investment or acquisition,
EBITDA for that period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect to the Asset Sale, Investment or acquisition as if the Asset Sale, Investment or acquisition occurred on the first day of the Four Quarter Period.
Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of the aggregate amount of all Debt at the end of the most recent fiscal period, for which financial information in respect thereof is available immediately preceding the Transaction Date giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio to the aggregate amount of EBITDA for the Company for the Four Quarter Period immediately preceding the Transaction Date. In addition, for purposes of calculating the ratio, the amount of any revolving credit facility of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary outstanding on the Transaction Date shall be deemed to be the average daily balance outstanding under such revolving credit facility during the immediately preceding Four Quarter Period. In addition to and without limitation of the foregoing, for purposes of this definition, this ratio shall be calculated after giving effect to the following:
(a) if since the beginning of that period the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall have made any Asset Sale or an Investment (by merger or otherwise) in any Restricted Subsidiary (or any Person which becomes a Restricted Subsidiary) or an acquisition of Property which constitutes all or substantially all of an operating unit of a business,
(b) if the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio involves an Asset Sale, Investment or acquisition, or
(c) since the beginning of the Four Quarter Period any Person (that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of the Four Quarter Period) shall have made such an Asset Sale, Investment or acquisition,
EBITDA for that period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect to the Asset Sale, Investment or acquisition as if the Asset Sale, Investment or acquisition occurred on the first day of the Four Quarter Period.
Credit Facilities means, with respect to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, one or more debt or commercial paper facilities (including related Guarantees) with banks, investment banks, insurance companies, mutual funds or other institutional lenders (including the Existing Bank Credit Facility), providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables or inventory financing (including through the sale of receivables or inventory to institutional lenders or to special purpose, bankruptcy remote entities formed to borrow from institutional lenders against those receivables or inventory) or trade or standby letters of credit, in each case together with any Refinancing thereof on any basis so long as such Refinancing constitutes Debt; provided that, in the case of a transaction in which any accounts receivable are sold, conveyed or otherwise transferred by the Company or any of its subsidiaries to another Person other than a Receivables Entity, then that transaction must satisfy the following three conditions:
(a) if the transaction involves a transfer of accounts receivable with Fair Market Value equal to or greater than $25.0 million, the Board of Directors shall have determined in good faith that the transaction is economically fair and reasonable to the Company or the Subsidiary that sold, conveyed or transferred the accounts receivable,
(b) the sale, conveyance or transfer of accounts receivable by the Company or the Subsidiary is made at Fair Market Value, and
(c) the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions of the transaction shall be market terms (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors).
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Currency Exchange Protection Agreement means, in respect of a Person, any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement, currency option or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect that Person against fluctuations in currency exchange rates.
Debt means, with respect to any Person on any date of determination (without duplication):
(a) the principal of and premium (if any) in respect of:
(1) debt of the Person for money borrowed, and
(2) debt evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments for the payment of which the Person is responsible or liable;
(b) all Capital Lease Obligations of the Person and all Attributable Debt in respect of Sale and Leaseback Transactions entered into by the Person;
(c) all obligations of the Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of Property, all conditional sale obligations of the Person and all obligations of the Person under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business);
(d) all obligations of the Person for the reimbursement of any obligor on any letter of credit, bankers acceptance or similar credit transaction (other than obligations with respect to letters of credit securing obligations (other than obligations described in clauses (a) through (c) above) entered into in the ordinary course of business of the Person to the extent those letters of credit are not drawn upon or, if and to the extent drawn upon, the drawing is reimbursed no later than the third Business Day following receipt by the Person of a demand for reimbursement following payment on the letter of credit);
(e) the amount of all obligations of the Person with respect to the Repayment of any Disqualified Stock or, with respect to any Subsidiary of the Person, any Preferred Stock (but excluding, in each case, any accrued dividends);
(f) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (a) through (e) of other Persons and all dividends of other Persons for the payment of which, in either case, the Person is responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, including by means of any Guarantee;
(g) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (a) through (f) of other Persons secured by any Lien on any Property of the Person (whether or not such obligation is assumed by the Person), the amount of such obligation being deemed to be the lesser of the value of that Property or the amount of the obligation so secured; and
(h) to the extent not otherwise included in this definition, Hedging Obligations of such Person.
The amount of Debt of any Person at any date shall be the outstanding balance at that date of all unconditional obligations as described above and the maximum liability, upon the occurrence of the contingency giving rise to the obligation, of any contingent obligations at that date. The amount of Debt represented by a Hedging Obligation shall be equal to:
(1) zero if the Hedging Obligation has been Incurred pursuant to clause (f), (g) or (h) of the second paragraph of Section 4.04, or
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(2) if the Hedging Obligation is not Incurred pursuant to clause (f), (g) or (h) of the second paragraph of Section 4.04, then 105% of the aggregate net amount, if any, that would then be payable by the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary on a per counter-party basis pursuant to Section 6(e) of the ISDA Master Agreement (Multicurrency-Cross Border) in the form published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association in 1992 (the ISDA Form), as if the date of determination were a date that constitutes or is substantially equivalent to an Early Termination Date, as defined in the ISDA Form, with respect to all transactions governed by the ISDA Form, plus the equivalent amount under the terms of any other Hedging Obligations that are not Incurred pursuant to clause (f), (g) or (h) of the second paragraph of Section 4.04, each such amount to be estimated in good faith by the Company.
Debt Issuances means, with respect to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, one or more issuances after the Issue Date of Debt evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar securities or instruments.
Default means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
Disqualified Stock means, with respect to any Person, 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 either case at the option of the holder thereof) or otherwise:
(a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise,
(b) is or may become redeemable or repurchaseable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, or
(c) is convertible or exchangeable at the option of the holder thereof for Debt or Disqualified Stock,
on or prior to, in the case of clause (a), (b) or (c), the first anniversary of the Stated Maturity of the Notes.
Disqualified Stock Dividends means all dividends with respect to Disqualified Stock of the Company held by Persons other than a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary. The amount of any dividend of this kind shall be equal to the quotient of the dividend divided by the difference between one and the maximum statutory federal income tax rate (expressed as a decimal number between 1 and 0) then applicable to the Company.
Dollar Equivalent means, with respect to any monetary amount in a currency other than U.S. dollars, at any time for the 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 by the Federal Reserve Board on the date of such determination.
EBITDA means, for any period, an amount equal to, for the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries:
(a) the sum of Consolidated Net Income for that period, plus the following to the extent reducing Consolidated Net Income for that period:
(1) the provision for taxes based on income or profits or utilized in computing net loss,
(2) Consolidated Fixed Charges,
(3) depreciation,
(4) amortization of intangibles,
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(5) any non-recurring expenses relating to, or arising from, any closures of facilities,
(6) restructuring costs, facilities relocation costs and acquisition integration costs and fees (including cash severance payments) made in connection with acquisitions,
(7) any non-cash impairment charge or asset write-off and the amortization of intangibles,
(8) inventory purchase accounting adjustments and amortization and impairment charges resulting from other purchase accounting adjustments in connection with acquisitions,
(9) any expenses or charges related to any offering of securities, acquisition, incurrence of Debt permitted to be incurred by this Indenture (whether or not successful), and
(10) any other non-cash items (other than any non-cash item to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenditures in any future period), minus
(b) all non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for that period (other than any such non-cash item to the extent that it has resulted or will result in the receipt of cash payments in any period).
Equipment Financing Transaction means any arrangement (together with any Refinancings thereof) with any Person pursuant to which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary Incurs Debt secured by a Lien on equipment or equipment related property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary.
Equity Offering means (i) an underwritten public equity offering of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company but only to the extent contributed to the Company in the form of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company or (ii) a private equity offering of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company, or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company but only to the extent contributed to the Company in the form of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company, other than any public offerings registered on Form S-8.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Existing Bank Credit Facility means, the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of March 21, 2014, among the Company, Levi Strauss & Co. (Canada), Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other agents and lenders from time to time party thereto, as amended as of the Issue Date.
Existing Policies means (1) the Companys estate tax repurchase policy under which the Company repurchases a portion of a deceased stockholders shares to generate funds for payment of estate taxes and (2) the Companys valuation policy under which the Company obtains an annual valuation of the Companys common stock, as both policies exist at the Issue Date or as they may exist from time to time, provided that if either of these policies is materially amended after the Issue Date in a manner less favorable to the Company than the policy as existing on the Issue Date, then that amended policy shall be deemed not to be an Existing Policy.
Fair Market Value means, with respect to any Property, the price that could be negotiated in an arms-length free market transaction, for cash, between a willing seller and a willing buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction. For purposes of Section 4.05 and Section 4.07 and the definitions of Qualified Receivables Transaction and Credit Facilities, Fair Market Value shall be determined, except as otherwise provided,
(a) if the Property has a Fair Market Value equal to or less than $25.0 million, by any Officer of the Company, or
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(b) if the Property has a Fair Market Value in excess of $25.0 million, by a majority of the Board of Directors and evidenced by a Board Resolution, dated within 12 months of the relevant transaction, delivered to the Trustee.
Foreign Restricted Subsidiary means any Restricted Subsidiary which is not organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof or the District of Columbia.
Future Guarantor means any Subsidiary of the Company that provides a Guarantee of the notes at any time after the Issue Date pursuant to Section 4.14.
GAAP means United States generally accepted accounting principles as in effect on the Issue Date, including those set forth in the Accounting Standards Codification of the Financial Accounting Standards Board and in the rules and regulations of the SEC governing the inclusion of financial statements (including pro forma financial statements) in periodic reports required to be filed pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act.
Government Obligations means direct obligations (or certificates representing an ownership interest in such obligations) of any country that is a member of the European Union on the Issue Date (including any agency or instrumentality thereof) for the payment of which the full faith and credit of such European Union country is pledged and which are not callable or redeemable at the issuers option.
Guarantee means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Debt of any other Person and any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of that Person:
(a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) the Debt of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreements to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise), or
(b) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part);
provided, however, that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.
The term Guarantee used as a verb has a corresponding meaning. The term Guarantor shall mean any Person Guaranteeing any obligation.
Hedging Obligation of any Person means any obligation of that Person pursuant to any Interest Rate Agreement, Currency Exchange Protection Agreement, Commodity Price Protection Agreement or any other similar agreement or arrangement.
Holder or Noteholder means the Person in whose name the Note is registered on the Note register described in Section 2.04.
Incur means, with respect to any Debt or other obligation of any Person, to create, issue, incur (by merger, conversion, exchange or otherwise), extend, assume, Guarantee or become liable in respect of that Debt or other obligation or the recording, as required pursuant to GAAP or otherwise, of any Debt or obligation on the balance sheet of that Person (and Incurrence and Incurred shall have meanings correlative to the foregoing); provided, however, that a change in GAAP that results in an obligation of that Person that exists at such time, and is not theretofore classified as Debt, becoming Debt shall not be deemed an Incurrence of that Debt; provided further, however, that any Debt or other obligations of a Person existing at the time the Person becomes a Subsidiary (whether by merger, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) shall be deemed to be Incurred by that Subsidiary at the time it becomes a Subsidiary; and provided further, however, that solely for purposes of determining compliance with Section 4.04, amortization of debt discount or premium shall not be deemed to be the Incurrence of Debt, provided that in the case of Debt sold at a discount or at a premium, the amount of the Debt Incurred shall at all times be the aggregate principal amount at Stated Maturity.
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Indenture means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time.
Interest Rate Agreement means, for any Person, any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate option agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect against fluctuations in interest rates.
Investment by any Person means any direct or indirect loan (other than advances to customers and suppliers in the ordinary course of business that are recorded as accounts receivable on the balance sheet of that Person), advance or other extension of credit or capital contribution (by means of transfers of cash or other Property to others or payments for Property or services for the account or use of others, or otherwise) to, or Incurrence of a Guarantee of any obligation of, or purchase or acquisition of Capital Stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other securities or evidence of Debt issued by, any other Person. For purposes of Section 4.05, Section 4.10 and the definition of Restricted Payment, Investment shall include the portion (proportionate to the Companys equity interest in the Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of any Subsidiary of the Company at the time that the Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that upon a redesignation of that Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Company shall be deemed to continue to have a permanent Investment in an Unrestricted Subsidiary of an amount (if positive) equal to:
(a) the Companys Investment in that Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation, less
(b) the portion (proportionate to the Companys equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of that Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation.
In determining the amount of any Investment made by transfer of any Property other than cash, the Property shall be valued at its Fair Market Value at the time of the Investment.
Investment Grade Rating means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moodys and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P.
Issue Date means February 28, 2017.
Lien means, with respect to any Property of any Person, any mortgage or deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, security interest, lien, charge, easement (other than any easement not materially impairing usefulness or marketability), encumbrance, preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever on or with respect to that Property (including any Capital Lease Obligation, conditional sale or other title retention agreement having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing or any Sale and Leaseback Transaction).
Moodys means Moodys Investors Service, Inc. or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.
Net Available Cash from any Asset Sale means cash payments received therefrom (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received, but excluding any other consideration received in the form of assumption by the acquiring Person of Debt or other obligations relating to the Property that is the subject of that Asset Sale or received in any other non-cash form), in each case net of:
(a) all legal, title and recording tax expenses, commissions and other fees (including, without limitation, brokers or investment bankers commissions or fees) and expenses incurred, and all Federal, state, provincial, foreign and local taxes required to be accrued as a liability under GAAP, as a consequence of the Asset Sale,
(b) all payments made on any Debt that is secured by any Property subject to the Asset Sale, in accordance with the terms of any Lien upon or other security agreement of any kind with respect to that Property, or which must by its terms, or in order to obtain a necessary consent to the Asset Sale, or by applicable law, be repaid out of the proceeds from the Asset Sale,
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(c) all distributions and other payments required to be made to noncontrolling interest holders in Subsidiaries or joint ventures as a result of the Asset Sale, and
(d) the deduction of appropriate amounts provided by the seller as a reserve, in accordance with GAAP, against any liabilities associated with the Property disposed in the Asset Sale and retained by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Asset Sale.
Notes have the meaning in the second paragraph of the preamble.
Officer means the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or the Assistant Treasurer of the Company.
Officers Certificate means a certificate signed by two Officers of the Company, at least one of whom shall be the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.
Opinion of Counsel means a written opinion from legal counsel which is acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company.
Permitted Business means any business that is reasonably similar, ancillary or related to, or a reasonable extension, development or expansion of, the businesses in which the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries are engaged in on the Issue Date.
Permitted Holders means the holders of Voting Stock as of the Issue Date, together with any Person who is a Permitted Transferee of the holders, as that term is defined in the Stockholders Agreement dated as of April 15, 1996 between the Company and the stockholders of the Company party thereto, as amended, as that Stockholders Agreement was in effect on the Issue Date, except that transferees pursuant to Section 2.2(a)(x) of that Stockholders Agreement shall not be deemed to be Permitted Transferees for purposes of this Indenture.
Permitted Liens means:
(a) Liens (including, without limitation and to the extent constituting a Lien, negative pledges) to secure Debt in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (x) the amount permitted to be Incurred under clause (b) of the second paragraph of Section 4.04, regardless of whether the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries are actually subject to the covenant contained in Section 4.04 at the time the Lien is Incurred and (y) an amount that does not cause the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio to exceed 3.50 to 1.0;
(b) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies on the Property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary if the same shall not at the time be delinquent or thereafter can be paid without penalty, or are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently concluded, provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision that shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made therefor;
(c) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers, warehousemens and mechanics Liens and other similar Liens, on the Property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary arising in the ordinary course of business and securing payment of obligations that are not more than 60 days past due or are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings;
(d) Liens on the Property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary Incurred in the ordinary course of business to secure performance of obligations with respect to statutory or regulatory requirements, performance or return-of-money bonds, surety bonds or other obligations of a like nature and
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Incurred in a manner consistent with industry practice, including bankers liens and rights of set-off, in each case which are not Incurred in connection with the borrowing of money, the obtaining of advances or credit or the payment of the deferred purchase price of Property and which do not in the aggregate impair in any material respect the use of Property in the operation of the business of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole;
(e) Liens on Property at the time the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary acquired the Property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that any Lien of this kind may not extend to any other Property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided further, however, that the Liens shall not have been Incurred in anticipation of or in connection with the transaction or series of transactions pursuant to which the Property was acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(f) Liens on the Property of a Person at the time that Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that any Lien of this kind may not extend to any other Property of the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary that is not a direct Subsidiary of that Person; provided further, however, that the Lien was not Incurred in anticipation of or in connection with the transaction or series of transactions pursuant to which the Person became a Restricted Subsidiary;
(g) pledges or deposits by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary under workers compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Debt) or leases to which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary is party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, or deposits for the payment of rent, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(h) Liens (including, without limitation and to the extent constituting Liens, negative pledges), assignments and pledges of rights to receive premiums, interest or loss payments or otherwise arising in connection with workers compensation loss portfolio transfer insurance transactions or any insurance or reinsurance agreements pertaining to losses covered by insurance, and Liens (including, without limitation and to the extent constituting Liens, negative pledges) in favor of insurers or reinsurers on pledges or deposits by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary under workmens compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation;
(i) utility easements, building restrictions and such other encumbrances or charges against real Property as are of a nature generally existing with respect to properties of a similar character;
(j) Liens arising out of judgments or awards against the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary with respect to which the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceeding for review;
(k) Liens in favor of surety bonds or letters of credit issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of its business, provided that these letters of credit do not constitute Debt;
(l) leases or subleases of real property granted by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to any other Person in the ordinary course of business and not materially impairing the use of the real property in the operation of the business of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary;
(m) Liens (including, without limitation and to the extent constituting Liens, negative pledges) on intellectual property arising from intellectual property licenses entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(n) Liens or negative pledges attaching to or related to joint ventures engaged in a Related Business, restricting Liens on interests in those joint ventures;
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(o) Liens existing on the Issue Date not otherwise described in clauses (a) through (n) above;
(p) Liens not otherwise described in clauses (a) through (o) above on (x) the Property of any Foreign Subsidiary to secure any Debt permitted to be Incurred by the Foreign Subsidiary pursuant to Section 4.04 and (y) the Property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to secure any Debt permitted to be incurred under clause (l) of such Section;
(q) Liens on the Property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to secure any Refinancing, in whole or in part, of any Debt secured by Liens referred to in clause (d), (e), (f), (j) or (k) above; provided, however, that any Lien of this kind shall be limited to all or part of the same Property that secured the original Lien (together with improvements and accessions to such Property) and the aggregate principal amount of Debt that is secured by the Lien shall not be increased to an amount greater than the sum of:
(1) the outstanding principal amount, or, if greater, the committed amount, of the Debt secured by Liens described under clause (d), (e), (f), (j) or (k) above, as the case may be, at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Indenture, and
(2) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums and defeasance costs, incurred by the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the Refinancing;
(r) Liens not otherwise permitted by clauses (a) through (q) above that are Liens permitted by the Existing Bank Credit Facility as they exist on the Issue Date;
(s) Liens on cash or Temporary Cash Investments held as proceeds of Permitted Refinancing Debt pending the payment, purchase, defeasance or other retirement of the Debt being Refinanced; and
(t) Liens not otherwise permitted by clauses (a) through (s) above encumbering assets having an aggregate Fair Market Value not in excess of the greater of (i) $250.0 million and (ii) 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, as determined based on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter ending at least 45 days prior to the date the Lien shall be Incurred.
Permitted Refinancing Debt means any Debt that Refinances any other Debt, including any successive Refinancings, so long as:
(a) the new Debt is in an aggregate principal amount (or if Incurred with original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) not in excess of the sum of:
(1) the aggregate principal amount (or if Incurred with original issue discount, the aggregate accreted value) then outstanding of the Debt being Refinanced, and
(2) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums and defeasance costs, related to the Refinancing,
(b) the Average Life of the new Debt is equal to or greater than the Average Life of the Debt being Refinanced,
(c) the Stated Maturity of the new Debt is no earlier than the Stated Maturity of the Debt being Refinanced, and
(d) the new Debt shall not be senior in right of payment to the Debt that is being Refinanced;
provided, however, that Permitted Refinancing Debt shall not include:
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(1) Debt of a Subsidiary that Refinances Debt of the Company, or
(2) Debt of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that Refinances Debt of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
Person means any individual, corporation, company (including any limited liability company), association, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.
Preferred Stock means any Capital Stock of a Person, however designated, which entitles the holder thereof to a preference with respect to the payment of dividends, or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of that Person, over shares of any other class of Capital Stock issued by that Person.
Preferred Stock Dividends means all dividends with respect to Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries held by Persons other than the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary. The amount of any dividend of this kind shall be equal to the quotient of the dividend divided by the difference between one and the maximum statutory federal income rate (expressed as a decimal number between 1 and 0) then applicable to the issuer of the Preferred Stock.
principal of any Debt (including the Notes) means the principal amount of such Debt plus the premium, if any, on such Debt.
Productive Assets means assets (other than securities and inventory) that are used or usable by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in Permitted Businesses.
pro forma means, with respect to any calculation made or required to be made pursuant to the terms hereof, a calculation performed in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act, as interpreted in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, or otherwise a calculation made in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, as the case may be.
Property means, with respect to any Person, any interest of that Person in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible, including Capital Stock in, and other securities of, any other Person. For purposes of any calculation required pursuant to this Indenture, the value of any Property shall be its Fair Market Value.
Purchase Money Debt means Debt:
(a) consisting of the deferred purchase price of property, conditional sale obligations, obligations under any title retention agreement, other purchase money obligations and obligations in respect of industrial revenue bonds, in each case where the maturity of the Debt does not exceed the anticipated useful life of the Property being financed, and
(b) Incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or lease by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Property, including additions and improvements thereto;
provided, however, that the Debt is Incurred within 180 days after the acquisition, construction or lease of the Property by the Company or Restricted Subsidiary.
Qualified Capital Stock means any Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Stock.
Qualified Receivables Transaction means any transaction or series of transactions that may be entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may sell, convey or otherwise transfer to:
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(a) a Receivables Entity (in the case of a transfer by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), and
(b) any other Person (in the case of a transfer by a Receivables Entity),
or may grant a security interest in, any accounts receivable (whether now existing or arising in the future) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and any assets related thereto including, without limitation, all collateral securing those accounts receivable, all contracts and all Guarantees or other obligations in respect of those accounts receivable, proceeds of those accounts receivable and other assets which are customarily transferred or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted in connection with asset securitization transactions involving accounts receivable; provided that:
(1) if the transaction involves a transfer of accounts receivable with Fair Market Value equal to or greater than $25.0 million, the Board of Directors shall have determined in good faith that the Qualified Receivables Transaction is economically fair and reasonable to the Company and the Receivables Entity,
(2) all sales of accounts receivable and related assets to or by the Receivables Entity are made at Fair Market Value, and
(3) the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof shall be market terms (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors).
The grant of a security interest in any accounts receivable of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to secure the Credit Facilities shall not be deemed a Qualified Receivables Transaction.
Rating Agencies mean Moodys and S&P.
Real Estate Financing Transaction means any arrangement with any Person pursuant to which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary Incurs Debt secured by a Lien on real property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and related personal property together with any Refinancings thereof.
Receivables Entity means a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company (or another Person formed for the purposes of engaging in a Qualified Receivables Transaction with the Company in which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company makes an Investment and to which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company transfers accounts receivable and related assets) which engages in no activities other than in connection with the financing of accounts receivable of the Company and its Subsidiaries, all proceeds thereof and all rights (contractual or other), collateral and other assets relating thereto, and any business or activities incidental or related to that business, and (with respect to any Receivables Entity formed after the Issue Date) which is designated by the Board of Directors (as provided below) as a Receivables Entity and
(a) no portion of the Debt or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise) of which
(1) is Guaranteed by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (excluding Guarantees of obligations (other than the principal of, and interest on, Debt) pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings),
(2) is recourse to or obligates the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in any way other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings, or
(3) subjects any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings;
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(b) with which neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of the Company has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding other than on terms which the Company reasonably believes to be no less favorable to the Company or the Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of the Company, and
(c) to which neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of the Company has any obligation to maintain or preserve the entitys financial condition or cause the entity to achieve certain levels of operating results other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings.
Any designation of this kind by the Board of Directors shall be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors giving effect to the designation and an Officers Certificate certifying that the designation complied with the foregoing conditions.
Refinance means, in respect of any Debt, to refinance, extend, renew, refund, repay, prepay, repurchase, redeem, defease or retire, or to issue other Debt, in exchange or replacement for, that Debt. Refinanced and Refinancing shall have correlative meanings.
Related Business means any business that is related, ancillary or complementary to the businesses of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries on the Issue Date.
Repay means, in respect of any Debt, to repay, prepay, repurchase, redeem, legally defease or otherwise retire that Debt. Repayment and Repaid shall have correlative meanings. For purposes of Section 4.04 and Section 4.07 and the definition of Consolidated Fixed Charges Coverage Ratio, Debt shall be considered to have been Repaid only to the extent the related loan commitment, if any, shall have been permanently reduced in connection therewith.
Restricted Payment means:
(a) any dividend or distribution (whether made in cash, securities or other Property) declared or paid on or with respect to any shares of Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (including any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary), except for any dividend or distribution that is made to the Company or the parent of the Restricted Subsidiary or any dividend or distribution payable solely in shares of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;
(b) the purchase, repurchase, redemption, acquisition or retirement for value of any Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than from the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) or any securities exchangeable for or convertible into Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, including the exercise of any option to exchange any Capital Stock (other than for or into Capital Stock of the Company that is not Disqualified Stock);
(c) the purchase, repurchase, redemption, acquisition or retirement for value, prior to the date for any scheduled maturity, sinking fund or amortization or other installment payment, of any Subordinated Obligation (other than the purchase, repurchase or other acquisition of any Subordinated Obligation purchased in anticipation of satisfying a scheduled maturity, sinking fund or amortization or other installment obligation, in each case due within one year of the date of acquisition); or
(d) the issuance, sale or other disposition of Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary to a Person other than the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary if the result thereof is that the Restricted Subsidiary shall cease to be a Restricted Subsidiary, in which event the amount of the Restricted Payment shall be the Fair Market Value of the remaining interest, if any, in the former Restricted Subsidiary held by the Company and the other Restricted Subsidiaries.
Restricted Subsidiary means any Subsidiary of the Company other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
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S&P means S&P Global Ratings (a division of S&P Global Inc.) or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.
Sale and Leaseback Transaction means any direct or indirect arrangement relating to Property now owned or hereafter acquired whereby the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers that Property to another Person and the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary leases it from that other Person together with any Refinancings thereof.
SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Significant Subsidiary means any Subsidiary that would be a Significant Subsidiary of the Company within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC.
Standard Securitization Undertakings means representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities entered into by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company which are customary in an accounts receivable securitization transaction involving a comparable company.
Stated Maturity means, with respect to any security, the date specified in the security as the fixed date on which the payment of principal of the security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision (but excluding any provision providing for the repurchase of the security at the option of the holder thereof upon the happening of any contingency beyond the control of the issuer unless that contingency has occurred).
Subordinated Obligation means any Debt of the Company (whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter Incurred) that is subordinate or junior in right of payment to the Notes pursuant to a written agreement to that effect.
Subsidiary means, in respect of any Person, any corporation, company (including any limited liability company), association, partnership, joint venture or other business entity of which a majority of the total voting power of the Voting Stock is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by:
(a) that Person,
(b) that Person and one or more Subsidiaries of that Person, or
(c) one or more Subsidiaries of that Person.
Temporary Cash Investments means any of the following:
(a) Investments in U.S. Government Obligations maturing within 365 days of the date of acquisition thereof;
(b) Investments in time deposit accounts, bankers acceptances, certificates of deposit and money market deposits maturing within 180 days of the date of acquisition thereof issued by a bank or trust company organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof having capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating in excess of $500.0 million or issued by a commercial bank organized under the laws of any other country that is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development having total assets in excess of $500.0 million (or its foreign currency equivalent at the time), and in any case whose long-term debt is rated A-3 or A- or higher according to Moodys or S&P (or a similar equivalent rating by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act));
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(c) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 30 days for underlying securities of the types described in clause (a) entered into with:
(1) a bank meeting the qualifications described in clause (b) above, or
(2) any primary government securities dealer reporting to the Market Reports Division of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York;
(d) Investments in commercial paper, maturing not more than 270 days after the date of acquisition, issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Company) organized and in existence under the laws of the United States of America or any other country that is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and in any case with a rating at the time as of which any Investment therein is made of P-1 (or higher) according to Moodys or A-1 (or higher) according to S&P (or a similar equivalent rating by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act)); and
(e) direct obligations (or certificates representing an ownership interest in such obligations) of any state of the United States of America (including any agency or instrumentality thereof) for the payment of which the full faith and credit of such state is pledged and which are not callable or redeemable at the issuers option, provided that:
(1) the long-term debt of the state is rated A-3 or A- or higher according to Moodys or S&P (or a similar equivalent rating by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act)), and
(2) the obligations mature within 180 days of the date of acquisition thereof.
TIA means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of this Indenture; provided, however, that, in the event the TIA is amended after such date, TIA means, to the extent required by any such amendments, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.
Trust Officer means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs such functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such persons knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
Trustee means the party named as such in this Indenture until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.
Uniform Commercial Code means the New York Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time.
United States means the United States of America (including the states and the District of Columbia) and its territories, possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.
United States Person means any person who is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia (other than a partnership that is not treated as a United States person under any applicable Treasury regulations), or any estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source.
Unrestricted Subsidiary means:
(a) any Subsidiary of the Company that is designated after the Issue Date as an Unrestricted Subsidiary as permitted or required pursuant to Section 4.10 and is not thereafter redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary as permitted pursuant thereto; and
(b) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
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U.S. Government Obligations means direct obligations (or certificates representing an ownership interest in such obligations) of the United States of America (including any agency or instrumentality thereof) for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged and which are not callable or redeemable at the issuers option.
Voting Stock of any Person means all classes of Capital Stock or other interests (including partnership interests) of that Person then outstanding and normally entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof.
Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary means, at any time, a Restricted Subsidiary all the Voting Stock of which (except directors qualifying shares) is at that time owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company and its other Wholly Owned Subsidiaries.
SECTION 1.02. Other Definitions.
Term |
Defined in Section | |
Affiliate Transaction |
4.09 | |
Bankruptcy Law |
6.01 | |
Change of Control Offer |
4.12 | |
Change of Control Payment Date |
4.12 | |
Change of Control Purchase Price |
4.12 | |
covenant defeasance option |
8.01 | |
Custodian |
6.01 | |
Event of Default |
6.01 | |
Exchange Note |
Appendix A | |
Global Note |
Appendix A | |
legal defeasance option |
8.01 | |
Legal Holiday |
10.09 | |
Offer Amount |
4.07 | |
Offer Period |
4.07 | |
OID |
2.01 | |
Original Notes |
2.01 | |
Paying Agent |
2.04 | |
Prepayment Offer |
4.07 | |
Principal Paying Agent |
2.04 | |
Registered Exchange Offer |
Appendix A | |
Registrar |
2.04 | |
Shelf Registration Statement |
Appendix A | |
Surviving Person |
5.01 | |
Suspended Covenants |
4.01 |
SECTION 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. This Indenture is subject to the mandatory provisions of the TIA, which are incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms have the following meanings:
Commission means the SEC.
indenture securities means the Notes.
indenture security holder means a Noteholder.
indenture to be qualified means this Indenture.
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indenture trustee or institutional trustee means the Trustee.
obligor on these Indenture securities means the Company and any other obligor on these Indenture securities.
All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule have the meanings assigned to them by such definitions.
SECTION 1.04. Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(2) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;
(3) or is not exclusive;
(4) including means including without limitation;
(5) words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular;
(6) unsecured Debt shall not be deemed to be subordinate or junior to secured Debt merely by virtue of its nature as unsecured Debt;
(7) the principal amount of any non-interest bearing or other discount security at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP; and
(8) the principal amount of any Preferred Stock shall be the greater of (i) the maximum liquidation value of such Preferred Stock or (ii) the maximum mandatory redemption or mandatory repurchase price with respect to such Preferred Stock.
ARTICLE II
The Notes
SECTION 2.01. Amount of Notes; Issuable in Series. The aggregate principal amount of Notes which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. All Notes shall be substantially identical in all respects other than issue prices, issuance dates and ISIN numbers and/or Common Code. The Notes may be issued in one or more series; provided, however, that any Notes issued with original issue discount (OID) for Federal income tax purposes shall not be issued as part of the same series as any Notes that are issued with a different amount of OID or are not issued with OID. All Notes of any one series shall be substantially the same except as to denomination, issuance date and in some cases, may have a different first interest payment.
Subject to Section 2.03, the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent on its behalf shall authenticate Notes for original issue on the Issue Date in the aggregate principal amount of 475.0 million (the Original Notes). With respect to any Notes issued after the Issue Date (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, Original Notes pursuant to Section 2.07, 2.08, 2.09 or 3.06 or Appendix A), there shall be established in or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, and subject to Section 2.03, set forth, or determined in the manner provided in an Officers Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of such Notes:
(1) whether such Notes shall be issued as part of a new or existing series of Notes and the title of such Notes (which shall distinguish the Notes of the series from Notes of any other series);
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(2) the aggregate principal amount of such Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes of the same series pursuant to Section 2.07, 2.08, 2.09 or 3.06 or Appendix A and except for Notes which, pursuant to Section 2.03, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);
(3) the issue price and issuance date of such Notes, including the date from which interest on such Notes shall accrue;
(4) if applicable, that such Notes shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Notes and, in such case, the respective depositories for such Global Notes, the form of any legend or legends that shall be borne by any such Global Note in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Exhibit A and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Section 2.3 of Appendix A in which any such Global Note may be exchanged in whole or in part for Notes registered, and any transfer of such Global Note in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the Common Depositary or a nominee thereof; and
(5) if applicable, that such Notes shall not be issued in the form of Initial Notes subject to Appendix A, but shall be issued in the form of Exchange Notes as set forth in Exhibit A.
If any of the terms of any series are established by action taken pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers Certificate or the trust indenture supplemental hereto setting forth the terms of the series.
SECTION 2.02. Form and Dating. Provisions relating to the Initial Notes of each series and the Exchange Notes are set forth in Appendix A, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made part of this Indenture. The Initial Notes of each series and the certificate of authentication included therein shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Exchange Notes and the certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Notes of each series may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Company is subject, if any, or usage, provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The terms of the Notes of each series set forth in Exhibit A are part of the terms of this Indenture. The Notes shall be issuable in denominations of 100,000 and integral multiples of 1,000 in excess thereof.
SECTION 2.03. Execution and Authentication. Two Officers shall sign the Notes for the Company by manual signature. The Companys seal may be impressed, affixed, imprinted or reproduced on the Notes and may be in facsimile form.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent authenticates the Note, the Note shall be valid nevertheless.
At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Notes of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a written order of the Company in the form of an Officers Certificate for the authentication and delivery of such Notes, and the Authenticating Agent in accordance with such written order of the Company shall authenticate and deliver such Notes.
A Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Note. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.
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The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent reasonably acceptable to the Company to authenticate any series of Notes. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an Authenticating Agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An Authenticating Agent has the same rights as any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and demands. HSBC Bank plc will act as initial Authenticating Agent.
SECTION 2.04. Registrar and Paying Agent.
The Company shall maintain one or more Paying Agents (each, a Paying Agent) for the notes, including one Paying Agent in the City of London (the Principal Paying Agent). The initial Principal Paying Agent for the notes will be HSBC Bank plc in the City of London.
The Company will also maintain one or more registrars (each, a Registrar) and one or more transfer agents in the City of London or a European Union member state. The initial Registrar and transfer agent will be HSBC Bank plc. The Registrar will maintain a register reflecting ownership of book-entry and definitive registered notes outstanding from time to time, if any, and will facilitate transfers of book-entry and definitive registered notes on behalf of the Company. The transfer agent shall perform the functions of a transfer agent.
The Company may change any Paying Agent, Registrar or transfer agent for the notes without prior notice to the Holders of the notes. However, if and for so long as any notes are listed on the Official List of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and the rules of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange so require, the Company will publish notice of the change in a Paying Agent, Registrar or transfer agent in a leading newspaper of general circulation in Luxembourg or, to the extent and in the manner permitted by such rules, post such notice on the official website of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (www.bourse.lu). The Company or any of its subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar in respect of the notes.
SECTION 2.05. Money Held by the Paying Agent. On each due date of the principal and interest on any Note, prior to 10:00 a.m. London Time, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such principal and interest when so becoming due. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and account for any funds disbursed and the Trustee may at any time during the continuance of any payment default under the Notes, upon written request to any Paying Agent, require such Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed. Moneys held by any Paying Agent need not be segregated except as required by law and it shall not be liable to any person for interest thereon. No Agent shall exercise any right of set-off or lien or similar claim over moneys paid to it or under this Indenture and shall not be liable to account to the Company for any interest or other amounts in respect of such moneys. All payments to be made by a Paying Agent hereunder shall be made without charging any commission or fee to the Holders or any of them. If the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it as a separate trust fund. Upon complying with this Section, the Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee.
SECTION 2.06. Noteholder Lists. The Registrar shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Noteholders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee, in writing at least five 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 Noteholders.
SECTION 2.07. Replacement Notes. If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Registrar or if the Holder of a Note claims that such Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate a replacement Note if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met and the Holder satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee and/or the Authenticating Agent, as applicable. If required by the Trustee or the Company, such Holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the Company and the Trustee (and the Paying Agent, Registrar and Authenticating Agent, if not the Trustee) to protect the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar and any co-registrar from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Company and the Trustee may charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Note.
Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company.
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SECTION 2.08. Outstanding Notes. Notes outstanding at any time are all Notes authenticated by the Authenticating Agent, except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section as not outstanding. A Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note.
If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee and the Company receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.
If the Paying Agent holds, in accordance with this Indenture, on a redemption date or maturity date, money sufficient to pay all principal and interest payable on that date with respect to the Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as the case may be, then on and after that date such Notes (or portions thereof) cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.
SECTION 2.09. Temporary Notes. Until definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of definitive Notes but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate definitive Notes and deliver them in exchange for temporary Notes.
SECTION 2.10. Cancellation. The Company at any time may deliver Notes to a Paying Agent for cancellation. Each Paying Agent shall forward to the Registrar any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Paying Agents and no one else shall cancel and dispose of all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation in its customary manner. The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes it has redeemed, paid or delivered to a Paying Agent for cancellation, except pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.
SECTION 2.11. Defaulted Interest. If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, the Company shall pay the defaulted interest (plus interest on such defaulted interest to the extent lawful) in any lawful manner. The Company may pay the defaulted interest to the persons who are Noteholders on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix or cause to be fixed any such special record date and payment date to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee and shall promptly mail to each Noteholder a notice that states the special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid.
SECTION 2.12. ISIN or Common Code Numbers. The Company in issuing the Notes may use ISIN or Common Code numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use ISIN or Common Code numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided, however, that neither the Company nor the Trustee shall have any responsibility for any defect in the ISIN or Common Code number that appears on any Note, check, advice of payment or redemption notice, and 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 and the Agents of any change in such numbers.
ARTICLE III
Redemption
SECTION 3.01. Notices to Trustee. If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to paragraph 5 of the Notes, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of the redemption date, the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and that such redemption is being made pursuant to paragraph 5 of the Notes.
The Company shall give each notice to the Trustee and the Agents provided for in this Section at least 25 days before the redemption date unless the Trustee consents to a shorter period; provided that the Trustee shall not agree to a period shorter than 5 Business Days without the consent of the Paying Agent. Such notice shall be accompanied by an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel from the Company to the effect that such redemption will comply with the conditions herein.
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SECTION 3.02. Selection of Notes To Be Redeemed. If fewer than all of the Notes are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed pro rata or by lot or another method the Trustee deems to be fair and appropriate in accordance with the applicable procedures of the depository. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed, no Notes of a principal amount of 100,000 or less shall be redeemed in part. If money sufficient to pay the redemption price on the Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed on the redemption date is deposited with the Paying Agent on the redemption date and certain other conditions are satisfied, then on and after such redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on such Notes (or such portion thereof) called for redemption. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption. The Trustee shall notify the Company and the Agents promptly of the Notes or portions of Notes to be redeemed.
SECTION 3.03. Notice of Redemption. At least 10 days but not more than 60 days before a date for redemption of Notes, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by first-class mail, and in the case of Notes held in book entry form, by electronic transmission, to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed.
The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed (including any Common Code or ISIN numbers) and shall state:
(1) the redemption date;
(2) the redemption price or the information specified in clause (c) of paragraph 5 of the Notes;
(3) the name and address of the applicable Paying Agent;
(4) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;
(5) if fewer than all the outstanding Notes are to be redeemed, the identification and principal amounts of the particular Notes to be redeemed;
(6) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on Notes (or portion thereof) called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;
(7) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the ISIN or Common Code number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes; and
(8) whether such notice is conditional and the timeframe for satisfying such conditions.
At the Companys written request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Companys name and at the Companys expense. In such event, the Company shall provide the Trustee with the information required by this Section at least 25 days before the redemption date unless the Trustee consents to a shorter period.
If the Company elects to provide, in lieu of the redemption price, the information specified in clause (c) of paragraph 5 of the Notes in the notice of redemption, the Trustee shall give the notice of the redemption price, in the Companys name and the Companys expense, one business day prior to the redemption date.
SECTION 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption. Once notice of redemption is mailed, Notes called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price stated in the notice. Upon surrender to the applicable Paying Agent, such Notes shall be paid at the redemption price stated in the notice, plus accrued interest to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the related interest payment date that is on or prior to the date of redemption). Failure to give notice or any defect in the notice to any Holder shall not affect the validity of the notice to any other Holder.
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SECTION 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price. On the redemption date prior to 10:00 a.m. London time, the Company shall deposit with the applicable Paying Agent (or, if the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary is the Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) money in euros sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the related interest payment date that is on or prior to the date of redemption) on all Notes to be redeemed on that date other than Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption that have been delivered by the Company to that Paying Agent for cancellation.
SECTION 3.06. Notes Redeemed in Part. Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Company shall execute and the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate for the Holder (at the Companys expense) a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered.
ARTICLE IV
Covenants
SECTION 4.01. Covenant Suspension. During any period of time that:
(a) the Notes have Investment Grade Ratings from both Rating Agencies, and
(b) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture,
the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to the following Sections of this Indenture: Section 4.04, Section 4.05, Section 4.07, Section 4.08, clause (x) of the third paragraph (and as referred to in the first paragraph) of Section 4.10, and clause (d) of Section 5.01 (collectively, the Suspended Covenants). In the event that the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenants for any period of time as a result of the preceding sentence and, subsequently, one or both of the Rating Agencies withdraws its ratings or downgrades the ratings assigned to the Notes below the required Investment Grade Rating or a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing, then the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries will thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants for all periods after that withdrawal, downgrade, Default or Event of Default and, furthermore, compliance with the provisions of Section 4.05 with respect to Restricted Payments made after the time of the withdrawal, downgrade, Default or Event of Default will be calculated in accordance with the terms of that covenant as though that covenant had been in effect during the entire period of time from the Issue Date, provided that there will not be deemed to have occurred a Default or Event of Default with respect to that covenant during the time that the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries were not subject to the Suspended Covenants (or after that time based solely on events that occurred during that time).
SECTION 4.02. Payment of Notes. The Company shall promptly pay the principal of and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes and in this Indenture. Principal and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if on such date the Trustee or the applicable Paying Agent holds in accordance with this Indenture money sufficient to pay all principal and interest then due.
The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate specified therefor in the Notes, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by the Notes to the extent lawful.
SECTION 4.03. SEC Reports. Notwithstanding that the Company may not be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company shall file with the SEC and provide the Trustee and Holders of Notes with annual reports and information, documents and other reports as are specified in Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act and applicable to a U.S. corporation subject to those Sections, and the information, documents and reports to be so filed and provided at the times specified for the filing of the information,
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documents and reports under those Sections; provided, however, that (i) the Company shall not be so obligated to file the information, documents and reports with the SEC if the SEC does not permit those filings and (ii) the electronic filing with the SEC through the SECs Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval System (or any successor system providing for free public access to such filings) shall satisfy the Companys obligation to provide such reports, information and documents to the Trustee and the Holders of Notes, it being understood that the Trustee shall have no responsibility to determine whether or not such information has been filed. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustees receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Companys compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to conclusively rely exclusively on Officers Certificates).
If and so long as the Notes are listed on the Official List of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and admitted for trading on the Euro MTF Market and the rules of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange so require, copies of the reports, information and documents required under the paragraph above shall be made available at the offices of the Paying Agent or, to the extent and in the manner permitted by such rules, or such reports, information and documents shall be posted on the official website of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (www.bourse.lu).
SECTION 4.04. Limitation on Debt. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, Incur, directly or indirectly, any Debt unless, after giving effect to the application of the proceeds thereof, no Default or Event of Default would occur as a consequence of the Incurrence or be continuing following the Incurrence and either:
(1) the Debt is Debt of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and after giving effect to the Incurrence of the Debt and the application of the proceeds thereof, the Consolidated Fixed Charges Coverage Ratio would be greater than 2.00 to 1.00; provided, that the aggregate amount of Debt that may be Incurred pursuant to the foregoing by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Future Guarantor shall not at any one time be outstanding in an amount exceeding the greater of (i) $200.0 million and (ii) 12% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, or
(2) the Debt is Permitted Debt.
Permitted Debt means:
(a) Debt of the Company evidenced by the Original Notes;
(b) Debt of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary Incurred under any Credit Facilities, Incurred by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Real Estate Financing Transaction, a Sale and Leaseback Transaction, an Equipment Financing Transaction or Debt Issuances, Debt Incurred by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in respect of Capital Lease Obligations and Purchase Money Debt, or Incurred by a Receivables Entity in a Qualified Receivables Transaction that is not recourse to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (except for Standard Securitization Undertakings), provided that the aggregate principal amount of all Debt of this kind at any one time outstanding shall not exceed the greater of:
(1) $1.9 billion, which amount shall be permanently reduced by the amount of Net Available Cash from an Asset Sale used to Repay Debt Incurred pursuant to this clause (b) pursuant to Section 4.07, and
(2) the sum of the amounts equal to:
(A) 60% of the book value of the inventory of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, and
(B) 85% of the book value of the accounts receivable of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, in the case of each of clauses (A) and (B) as of the most recently ended quarter of the Company for which financial statements of the Company have been provided to the Holders of Notes;
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(c) Debt of the Company owing to and held by any Restricted Subsidiary and Debt of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to and held by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that (1) any subsequent issue or transfer of Capital Stock or other event that results in any Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any subsequent transfer of that Debt (except to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute the Incurrence of that Debt by the issuer thereof, and (2) if the Company is the obligor on that Debt, the Debt is expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all obligations with respect to the Notes;
(d) Debt of a Restricted Subsidiary outstanding on the date on which that Restricted Subsidiary was acquired by the Company or otherwise became a Restricted Subsidiary (other than Debt Incurred as consideration in, or to provide all or any portion of the funds or credit support utilized to consummate, a transaction or series of transactions pursuant to which the Restricted Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or was otherwise acquired by the Company), provided that at the time that Person was acquired by the Company or otherwise became a Restricted Subsidiary and after giving effect to the Incurrence of that Debt, (i) the Company would have been able to Incur $1.00 of additional Debt pursuant to clause (1) of the first paragraph of this Section 4.04 or (ii) the Consolidated Fixed Charges Coverage Ratio would have been greater than such ratio immediately prior to such transaction;
(e) Debt Incurred as consideration in, or to provide all or any portion of the funds or credit support utilized to consummate, a transaction or series of transactions pursuant to which a Person became a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or was otherwise acquired by the Company; provided at the time that Person was acquired by the Company or otherwise became a Restricted Subsidiary and after giving effect to the Incurrence of that Debt, (i) the Company would have been able to Incur $1.00 of additional Debt pursuant to clause (1) of the first paragraph of this covenant or (ii) the Consolidated Fixed Charges Coverage Ratio would have been greater than such ratio immediately prior to such transaction and would be at least 1.75 to 1.0;
(f) Debt under Interest Rate Agreements entered into by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary for the purpose of limiting interest rate risk in the ordinary course of the financial management of the Company or that Restricted Subsidiary and not for speculative purposes, provided that the obligations under those agreements are related to payment obligations on Debt otherwise permitted by the terms of this Section 4.04;
(g) Debt under Currency Exchange Protection Agreements entered into by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary for the purpose of limiting currency exchange rate risks directly related to transactions entered into by the Company or that Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;
(h) Debt under Commodity Price Protection Agreements entered into by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of the financial management of the Company or that Restricted Subsidiary and not for speculative purposes;
(i) Debt in connection with one or more standby letters of credit or performance bonds issued by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business or pursuant to self-insurance obligations and not in connection with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of advances or credit;
(j) Debt arising from agreements of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, incurred in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or Capital Stock of a Subsidiary, other than Guarantees of Debt Incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Capital Stock; provided, however, that the maximum aggregate liability in respect of all such Debt shall at no time exceed the gross proceeds actually received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such disposition;
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(k) Debt outstanding on the Issue Date not otherwise described in clauses (a) through (j) above;
(l) Debt of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any one time not to exceed the greater of $200.0 million and 12% of the Companys Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (as calculated at the time of incurrence);
(m) Debt of one or more Foreign Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any one time not to exceed the greater of $200.0 million and 12% of the Companys Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (as calculated at the time of incurrence);
(n) Guarantees of Debt otherwise permitted herein by a Future Guarantor; and
(o) Permitted Refinancing Debt Incurred in respect of Debt Incurred pursuant to clause (1) of the first paragraph of this Section 4.04 and clauses (a), (d), (e) and (k) above.
For purposes of determining compliance with any restriction on the incurrence of Debt in dollars where Debt is denominated in a different currency, the amount of such Debt will be the Dollar Equivalent determined on the date of such determination, provided that if any such Debt denominated in a different currency is subject to a Currency Exchange Protection Agreement (with respect to dollars) covering principal amounts payable on such Debt, the amount of such Debt expressed in euros will be adjusted to take into account the effect of such agreement. The principal amount of any Permitted Refinancing Debt Incurred in the same currency as the Debt being Refinanced will be the Dollar Equivalent of the Debt Refinanced determined on the date such Debt being Refinanced was initially Incurred. Notwithstanding any other provision of this covenant, for purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.04, increases in Debt solely due to fluctuations in the exchange rates of currencies will not be deemed to exceed the maximum amount that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may Incur under any of clauses (a) through (o) of this Section 4.04.
For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.04:
(A) in the event that an item of Debt meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Debt described above, the Company, in its sole discretion, will classify such item of Debt at the time of Incurrence and only be required to include the amount and type of such Debt in one of the above clauses; and
(B) the Company will be entitled to divide and classify and reclassify an item of Debt in more than one of the types of Debt described above.
SECTION 4.05. Limitation on Restricted Payments. The Company shall not make, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment if at the time of, and after giving effect to, the proposed Restricted Payment,
(a) a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
(b) the Company could not Incur at least $1.00 of additional Debt pursuant to clause (1) of the first paragraph of Section 4.04, or
(c) the aggregate amount of that Restricted Payment and all other Restricted Payments declared or made after the Issue Date (the amount of any Restricted Payment, if made other than in cash, to be based upon Fair Market Value) would exceed an amount equal to the sum of:
(1) 50% of the aggregate amount of Consolidated Net Income accrued during the period (treated as one accounting period) from November 28, 2016, to the end of the most recent
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fiscal quarter ending at least 45 days prior to the date of the Restricted Payment (or if the aggregate amount of Consolidated Net Income for such period shall be a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit), plus
(2) Capital Stock Sale Proceeds received after the Issue Date, plus
(3) the sum of:
(A) the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from the issuance or sale after the Issue Date of convertible or exchangeable Debt that has been converted into or exchanged for Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company, and
(B) the aggregate amount by which Debt of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary is reduced on the Companys consolidated balance sheet on or after the Issue Date upon the conversion or exchange of any Debt issued or sold on or prior to the Issue Date that is convertible or exchangeable for Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company,
excluding, in the case of clause (A) or (B):
(x) any Debt issued or sold to the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Company or any Subsidiary for the benefit of their employees, and
(y) the aggregate amount of any cash or other Property distributed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary upon any such conversion or exchange, plus
(4) an amount equal to the sum of:
(A) the net reduction in Investments in any Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary resulting from dividends, repayments of loans or advances or other transfers of Property made after the Issue Date, in each case to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from that Person, less the cost of the disposition of those Investments, and
(B) the lesser of the net book value or the Fair Market Value of the Companys equity interest in an Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time the Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated a Restricted Subsidiary (provided that such designation occurs after the Issue Date);
provided, however, that the foregoing sum shall not exceed, in the case of any Person, the amount of Investments previously made (and treated as a Restricted Payment) by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in that Person; plus
(5) an amount equal to the restricted payment availability as of the Issue Date under the provisions corresponding to the foregoing in the indenture governing the Companys 5.00% Senior Notes due 2025, which approximated $993.0 million as of November 27, 2016.
Notwithstanding the foregoing limitation, the Company may:
(a) pay dividends on its Capital Stock within 60 days of the declaration thereof if, on said declaration date, the dividends could have been paid in compliance with this Indenture; provided, however, that the dividend shall be included in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;
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(b) purchase, repurchase, redeem, legally defease, acquire or retire for value Capital Stock of the Company or Subordinated Obligations in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock and other than Capital Stock issued or sold to a Subsidiary of the Company or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Company or any Subsidiary for the benefit of their employees); provided, however, that
(1) the purchase, repurchase, redemption, legal defeasance, acquisition or retirement shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments, and
(2) the Capital Stock Sale Proceeds from the exchange or sale shall be excluded from the calculation pursuant to clause (c)(2) above;
(c) purchase, repurchase, redeem, legally defease, acquire or retire for value any Subordinated Obligations in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Permitted Refinancing Debt; provided, however, that the purchase, repurchase, redemption, legal defeasance, acquisition or retirement shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;
(d) pay scheduled dividends (not constituting a return on capital) on Disqualified Stock of the Company issued pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.04;
(e) permit a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary to pay dividends to shareholders of that Restricted Subsidiary that are not the parent of that Restricted Subsidiary, so long as the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that is the parent of that Restricted Subsidiary receives dividends on a pro rata basis or on a basis that results in the receipt by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that is the parent of that Restricted Subsidiary of dividends or distributions of greater value than it would receive on a pro rata basis;
(f) make cash payments in lieu of fractional shares in connection with the exercise of warrants, options or other securities convertible into Capital Stock of the Company; provided, however, that such repurchases shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;
(g) make repurchases of shares of common stock of the Company deemed to occur upon the exercise of options to purchase shares of common stock of the Company if such shares of common stock of the Company represent a portion of the exercise price of such options; provided, however, that such repurchases shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;
(h) pay dividends on the common stock of the Company following the first Equity Offering of the Company after the Issue Date in an annual amount not to exceed 6% of the net cash proceeds received by the Company in such Equity Offering; provided, however, that such dividends shall be included in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;
(i) repurchase shares of, or options to purchase shares of, common stock of the Company from current or former officers, directors or employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or permitted transferees of such current or former officers, directors or employees), pursuant to the terms of agreements (including employment agreements) or plans approved by the Board of Directors under which such individuals acquire shares of such common stock; provided, however, that the aggregate amount of such repurchases shall not exceed $30.0 million in any calendar year (with unused amounts in any calendar year carried over to succeeding calendar years subject to a maximum of $60.0 million in any calendar year); and provided further, however, that such repurchases shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;
(j) purchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Subordinated Obligations upon a Change of Control of the Company or an Asset Sale by the Company, to the extent required by any agreement pursuant to which such Subordinated Obligations were issued, but only if the Company has previously made the offer to purchase notes required under Section 4.12 or Section 4.07; provided, however, that such payments shall be included in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;
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(k) make other Restricted Payments not to exceed $150.0 million in the aggregate; provided, however, that such other payments shall be included in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments; and
(l) make other Restricted Payments, provided that after giving pro forma effect to such Restricted Payment the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio will be less than or equal to 2.50 to 1.00; provided, however, that such other payments shall be included in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments.
SECTION 4.06. Limitation on Liens. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, Incur or suffer to exist, any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of its Property (including Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary), whether owned at the Issue Date or thereafter acquired, or any interest therein or any income or profits therefrom, unless it has made or will make effective provision whereby the Notes will be secured by that Lien equally and ratably with (or prior to) all other Debt of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary secured by that Lien.
SECTION 4.07. Limitation on Asset Sales.
(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, consummate any Asset Sale unless:
(i) the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary receives consideration at the time of the Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the Property subject to such Asset Sale;
(ii) at least 75% of the consideration paid to the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such Asset Sale is in the form of cash or cash equivalents or the assumption by the purchaser of liabilities of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes) as a result of which the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries are no longer obligated with respect to such liabilities; and
(iii) the Company delivers an Officers Certificate to the Trustee certifying that such Asset Sale complies with the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii).
For the purposes of this Section 4.07:
(1) in the case of a transaction involving a sale of any distribution center by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and the establishment of an outsourcing arrangement in which the purchaser assumes distribution responsibilities on behalf of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary, any credits or other consideration the purchaser grants to the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary as part of the purchase price of the distribution center, which credits or other consideration effectively offset future payments due from the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary to the purchaser as part of the outsourcing arrangement, will be considered to be cash equivalents;
(2) securities or other assets received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from the transferee that are converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash within 180 days shall be considered to be cash to the extent of the cash received in that conversion;
(3) any cash consideration paid to the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the Asset Sale that is held in escrow or on deposit to support indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations in respect of such Asset Sale shall be considered to be cash;
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(4) Productive Assets received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the Asset Sale shall be considered to be cash; and
(5) the requirement that at least 75% of the consideration paid to the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the Asset Sale be in the form of cash or cash equivalents shall also be considered satisfied if the cash received constitutes at least 75% of the consideration received by the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such Asset Sale, determined on an after-tax basis.
(b) The Net Available Cash (or any portion thereof) from Asset Sales may be applied by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, to the extent the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary elects (or is required by the terms of any Debt):
(i) to Repay Debt of the Company (excluding, in any such case, any Debt that (A) constitutes a Subordinated Obligation or (B) is owed to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company); or
(ii) to reinvest in Additional Assets (including by means of an Investment in Additional Assets by a Restricted Subsidiary with Net Available Cash received by the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary), provided, however, that the Net Available Cash (or any portion thereof) from Asset Sales from the Company to any Subsidiary must be reinvested in Additional Assets of the Company.
(c) Any Net Available Cash from an Asset Sale not applied in accordance with the preceding paragraph within 360 days from the date of the receipt of such Net Available Cash or that the Company earlier elects to so designate shall constitute Excess Proceeds.
When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds not previously subject to a Prepayment Offer (as defined below) exceeds $100.0 million (taking into account income earned on those Excess Proceeds, if any), the Company will be required to make an offer to purchase (the Prepayment Offer) the Notes, which offer shall be in the amount of the Allocable Excess Proceeds, on a pro rata basis according to principal amount, at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the purchase date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), in accordance with the procedures (including prorating in the event of oversubscription) set forth in this Indenture. To the extent that any portion of the amount of Net Available Cash remains after compliance with the preceding sentence and provided that all Holders of Notes have been given the opportunity to tender their Notes for purchase in accordance with this Indenture, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary may use the remaining amount for any purpose permitted by this Indenture and the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset to zero.
The term Allocable Excess Proceeds will mean the product of:
(a) the Excess Proceeds, and
(b) a fraction,
(1) the numerator of which is the aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding on the date of the Prepayment Offer, and
(2) the denominator of which is the sum of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding on the date of the Prepayment Offer and the aggregate principal amount of other Debt of the Company outstanding on the date of the Prepayment Offer that is pari passu in right of payment with the Notes and subject to terms and conditions in respect of Asset Sales similar in all material respects to the covenant described hereunder and requiring the Company to make an offer to purchase such Debt at substantially the same time as the Prepayment Offer.
(d) (1) Not later than five Business Days after the Company is obligated to make a Prepayment Offer as described in the preceding paragraph, the Company shall send a written notice, by first-class mail (or electronic transmission in the case of Notes held in book entry form), to the Holders of Notes, accompanied by information
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regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries as the Company in good faith believes will enable the Holders to make an informed decision with respect to that Prepayment Offer. The notice shall state, among other things, the purchase price and the purchase date, which shall be, subject to any contrary requirements of applicable law, a Business Day no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date the notice is mailed.
(2) Not later than the date upon which written notice of a Prepayment Offer is delivered to the Trustee as provided above, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers Certificate as to (i) the amount of the Prepayment Offer (the Offer Amount), (ii) the allocation of the Net Available Cash from the Asset Sales pursuant to which such Prepayment Offer is being made and (iii) the compliance of such allocation with the provisions of clause (c) of this section 4.07. On or before the purchase date, the Company shall also irrevocably deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary is the Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) in Temporary Cash Investments (other than in those enumerated in clause (b) of the definition of Temporary Cash Investments), maturing on the last day prior to the purchase date or on the purchase date if funds are immediately available by open of business, an amount equal to the Offer Amount to be held for payment in accordance with the provisions of this Section. Upon the expiration of the period for which the Prepayment Offer remains open (the Offer Period), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation the Notes or portions thereof that have been properly tendered to and are to be accepted by the Company. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall, on the purchase date, mail or deliver payment to each tendering Holder in the amount of the purchase price. In the event that the aggregate purchase price of the Notes delivered by the Company to the Trustee is less than the Offer Amount, the Trustee or the Paying Agent shall deliver the excess to the Company immediately after the expiration of the Offer Period for application in accordance with this Section.
(3) Holders electing to have a Note purchased shall be required to surrender the Note, with an appropriate form duly completed, to the Company or its agent at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days prior to the purchase date. Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Trustee or the Company receives not later than one Business Day prior to the purchase date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note that was delivered for purchase by the Holder and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have such Note purchased. If at the expiration of the Offer Period the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders exceeds the Offer Amount, the Company shall select the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis for all Notes, (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in denominations of 100,000, or integral multiples of 1,000 thereafter, shall be purchased). Holders whose Notes are purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered.
(4) At the time the Company delivers Notes to the Trustee that are to be accepted for purchase, the Company shall also deliver an Officers Certificate stating that such Notes are to be accepted by the Company pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Section. A Note shall be deemed to have been accepted for purchase at the time the Trustee or the applicable Paying Agent mails or delivers payment therefor to the surrendering Holder.
(e) The Company will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to this Section. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of this Section, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section by virtue thereof.
SECTION 4.08. Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist any consensual restriction on the right of any Restricted Subsidiary to:
(a) pay dividends, in cash or otherwise, or make any other distributions on or in respect of its Capital Stock, or pay any Debt or other obligation owed, to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary,
(b) make any loans or advances to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary, or
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(c) transfer any of its Property to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary.
The foregoing limitations will not apply:
(1) with respect to clauses (a), (b) and (c), to restrictions:
(A) in effect on the Issue Date,
(B) relating to Debt of a Restricted Subsidiary and existing at the time it became a Restricted Subsidiary if such restriction was not created in connection with or in anticipation of the transaction or series of transactions pursuant to which that Restricted Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary or was acquired by the Company,
(C) that result from the Refinancing of Debt Incurred pursuant to an agreement referred to in clause (1)(A) or (B) above or in clause (2)(A) or (B) below, provided that restriction is no less favorable to the Holders of Notes than those under the agreement evidencing the Debt so Refinanced,
(D) resulting from the Incurrence of any Permitted Debt described in clause (b) of the second paragraph of Section 4.04, provided that the restriction is no less favorable to the Holders of Notes than the restrictions of the same type contained in this Indenture, or
(E) constituting Standard Securitization Undertakings relating solely to, and restricting only the rights of, a Receivables Entity in connection with a Qualified Receivables Transaction, and
(2) with respect to clause (c) only, to restrictions:
(A) relating to Debt that is permitted to be Incurred and secured without also securing the Notes pursuant to Section 4.04 and Section 4.06 that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the Property securing that Debt,
(B) encumbering Property at the time the Property was acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, so long as the restriction relates solely to the Property so acquired and was not created in connection with or in anticipation of the acquisition,
(C) resulting from customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of leases or customary provisions in other agreements (including, without limitation, intellectual property licenses entered into in the ordinary course of business) that restrict assignment of the agreements or rights thereunder, or
(D) which are customary restrictions contained in asset sale agreements limiting the transfer of Property pending the closing of the sale.
SECTION 4.09. Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, conduct any business or enter into or suffer to exist any transaction or series of transactions (including the purchase, sale, transfer, assignment, lease, conveyance or exchange of any Property or the rendering of any service) with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Company (an Affiliate Transaction), unless:
(a) the terms of such Affiliate Transaction are:
(1) set forth in writing, and
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(2) no less favorable to the Company or that Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those that could be obtained in a comparable arms-length transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company, and
(b) if the Affiliate Transaction involves aggregate payments or value in excess of $25.0 million, the Board of Directors (including a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors) approves the Affiliate Transaction and, in its good faith judgment, believes that the Affiliate Transaction complies with clauses (a)(1) and (2) of this paragraph as evidenced by a Board Resolution promptly delivered to the Trustee.
Notwithstanding the foregoing limitation, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may enter into or suffer to exist the following:
(a) any transaction or series of transactions between the Company and one or more Restricted Subsidiaries or between two or more Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, provided that no more than 5% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock (on a fully diluted basis) of any such Restricted Subsidiary is owned by an Affiliate of the Company (other than a Restricted Subsidiary);
(b) any Restricted Payment permitted to be made pursuant to Section 4.05;
(c) the payment of compensation (including amounts paid pursuant to employee benefit plans) for the personal services of officers, directors and employees of the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, so long as, in the case of executive officers and directors, the Board of Directors in good faith shall have approved the terms thereof and deemed the services theretofore or thereafter to be performed for the compensation to be fair consideration therefor;
(d) loans and advances to employees made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with applicable laws and consistent with the past practices of the Company or that Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, provided that those loans and advances do not exceed $20.0 million in the aggregate at any one time outstanding;
(e) any transaction effected as part of a Qualified Receivables Transaction or any transaction involving the transfer of accounts receivable of the type specified in the definition of Credit Facility and permitted under clause (b) of the second paragraph of Section 4.04;
(f) the Existing Policies or any transaction contemplated thereby; and
(g) any sale of shares of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company.
SECTION 4.10. Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries. The Board of Directors may designate any Subsidiary of the Company to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if:
(a) the Subsidiary to be so designated does not own any Capital Stock or Debt of, or own or hold any Lien on any Property of, the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary, and
(b) any of the following:
(1) the Subsidiary to be so designated has total assets of $1,000 or less,
(2) if the Subsidiary has consolidated assets greater than $1,000, then the designation would be permitted under Section 4.05, or
(3) the designation is effective immediately upon the entity becoming a Subsidiary of the Company.
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Unless so designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, any Person that becomes a Subsidiary of the Company will be classified as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that the Subsidiary shall not be designated a Restricted Subsidiary and shall be automatically classified as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if either of the requirements set forth in clauses (x) and (y) of the second immediately following paragraph will not be satisfied after giving pro forma effect to the classification or if the Person is a Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
Except as provided in the first sentence of the preceding paragraph, no Restricted Subsidiary may be redesignated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary. In addition, neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary shall at any time be directly or indirectly liable for any Debt that provides that the holder thereof may (with the passage of time or notice or both) declare a default thereon or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its Stated Maturity upon the occurrence of a default with respect to any Debt, Lien or other obligation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary in existence and classified as an Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary is liable for that Debt (including any right to take enforcement action against that Unrestricted Subsidiary).
The Board of Directors may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary if, immediately after giving pro forma effect to the designation,
(x) the Company could Incur at least $1.00 of additional Debt pursuant to clause (1) of the first paragraph of Section 4.04, and
(y) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom.
Any designation or redesignation of this kind by the Board of Directors will be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a Board Resolution giving effect to the designation or redesignation and an Officers Certificate that:
(a) certifies that the designation or redesignation complies with the foregoing provisions, and
(b) gives the effective date of the designation or redesignation, and the filing with the Trustee to occur within 45 days after the end of the fiscal quarter of the Company in which the designation or redesignation is made (or, in the case of a designation or redesignation made during the last fiscal quarter of the Companys fiscal year, within 90 days after the end of that fiscal year).
SECTION 4.11. [Reserved].
SECTION 4.12. Change of Control.
(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, unless the Company has exercised its right, if any, to redeem the Notes in full, each Holder of Notes shall have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part of such Holders Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the Change of Control Offer) at a purchase price (the Change of Control Purchase Price) equal to 101.0% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the purchase date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).
(b) Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company shall (i) cause a notice of the Change of Control Offer to be sent at least once to the Dow Jones News Service or similar business news service in the United States and (ii) send, by first-class mail (or electronic transmission in the case of Notes held in book entry form), with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder of Notes, at such Holders address appearing in the Note Register, a notice stating: (A) that a Change of Control has occurred and a Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.12 and that all Notes timely tendered will be accepted for purchase; (B) the Change of Control Purchase Price and the purchase date, which shall be, subject to any contrary requirements of applicable law, a Business Day no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the Change of Control Payment Date); (C) the circumstances and relevant facts regarding the Change of Control (including information with
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respect to pro forma historical income, cash flow and capitalization after giving effect to the Change of Control); and (D) the procedures that Holders of Notes must follow in order to tender their Notes (or portions thereof) for payment and the procedures that Holders of Notes must follow in order to withdraw an election to tender Notes (or portions thereof) for payment.
(c) Holders electing to have a Note purchased shall be required to surrender the Note (for Notes held in book-entry form, in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Clearing Systems), with an appropriate form duly completed, to the Company or its agent at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days prior to the Change of Control Payment Date. Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Trustee or the Company receives not later than one Business Day prior to the Change of Control Payment Date, a facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note that was delivered for purchase by the Holder and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have such Note purchased (for Notes held in book-entry form, in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Clearing Systems).
(d) Prior to the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall irrevocably deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company or any of its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries is acting as the Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust) in cash an amount equal to the Change of Control Purchase Price payable to the Holders entitled thereto, to be held for payment in accordance with the provisions of this Section. On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee the Notes or portions thereof that have been properly tendered to and are to be accepted by the Company for payment. The Paying Agent shall, on the Change of Control Payment Date, mail or deliver payment to each tendering Holder of the Change of Control Purchase Price. In the event that the aggregate Change of Control Purchase Price is less than the amount delivered by the Company to the Paying Agent, the Paying Agent shall deliver the excess to the Company immediately after the Change of Control Payment Date.
(e) The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.
(f) The Company will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the purchase of Notes pursuant to this Section. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section by virtue thereof.
(g) If and for so long as the Notes are listed on the Official List of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and the rules of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange so require, the Company will publish a notice of any merger, consolidation or amalgamation described above, or any sale, transfer, assignment, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Property of the Company described above, in a leading newspaper of general circulation in Luxembourg or, to the extent and in the manner permitted by such rules, post such notice on the official website of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (www.bourse.lu) and, for so long as the rules of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange so require, notify the Luxembourg Stock Exchange of any such transaction.
SECTION 4.13. Further Instruments and Acts. Upon request of the Trustee, the Company shall execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purpose of this Indenture.
SECTION 4.14. Future Subsidiary Guarantors. The Company may, at any time after the Issue Date, cause one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries to Guarantee the Notes. Upon any Guarantee of the Notes by a Future Guarantor, such Future Guarantor will execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which such Future Guarantor shall Guarantee payment of the Notes.
SECTION 4.15. Payment of Additional Amounts.
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The Company will, subject to the exceptions and limitations set forth below, pay additional amounts on the Notes as are necessary in order that each payment made by the Company or a Paying Agent to a beneficial owner of the Notes who is not a United States person (as defined below), after deduction by any applicable withholding agent of any present or future tax, assessment or other governmental charge (including any interest, penalties, or other additions to tax) of the United States or a political subdivision or taxing authority of or in the United States, imposed by withholding with respect to the payment, will not be less than the amount provided in the Notes to be then due and payable; provided, however, that the foregoing obligation to pay additional amounts shall not apply:
(a) to any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld solely by reason of the Holder, or a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member or shareholder of the Holder if the Holder is an estate, trust, partnership or corporation, or a person holding a power over an estate or trust administered by a fiduciary holder, being considered as:
(1) being or having been engaged in a trade or business in the United States or having or having had a permanent establishment in the United States;
(2) having another current or former connection with the United States, including being or having been a citizen or resident of the United States, but excluding a connection resulting solely from acquiring, owning or disposing of the notes, receiving payment thereunder or enforcing its rights thereunder;
(3) being or having been a 10-percent shareholder of the Company as defined in section 871(h)(3) of the Code or any successor provision or a controlled foreign corporation described in section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (or any successor provision); or
(4) being a bank receiving payments on an extension of credit made pursuant to a loan agreement entered into the ordinary course of its trade or business;
(b) to any Holder that is not the sole beneficial owner of the Notes, or a portion of the Notes, or that is a fiduciary or partnership, but only to the extent that a beneficiary or settlor with respect to the fiduciary, a beneficial owner or member of the partnership would not have been entitled to the payment of an additional amount had the beneficiary, settlor, beneficial owner or member received directly its beneficial or distributive share of the payment;
(c) to any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that would not have been imposed but for the failure of the Holder or any other Person to comply with certification, identification or information reporting requirements concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connection with the United States of the Holder or beneficial owner of the Notes, if compliance is required by statute, by regulation of the United States Treasury Department or by an applicable income tax treaty to which the United States is a party as a precondition to any exemption from, or reduction in, such tax, assessment or other governmental charge to which the holder is legally entitled;
(d) to any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is imposed otherwise than by withholding from the payment;
(e) to any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, excise, transfer, wealth or personal property tax or similar tax, assessment or other governmental charge;
(f) to any tax, assessment or other governmental charge required to be withheld by any Paying Agent from any payment of principal of or interest on any Note, if such payment can be made without such withholding by at least one other Paying Agent;
(g) to any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that would not have been imposed but for the presentation by the Holder of any Note, where presentation is required, for payment on a date more than 30 days after the date on which payment became due and payable or the date on which payment thereof is duly provided for, whichever occurs later;
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(h) to any U.S. federal back-up withholding tax under Section 3406 of the Code;
(i) to any U.S. federal withholding tax imposed on a foreign organization that is a private foundation pursuant to Section 1443(b) of the Code;
(j) to any tax imposed under Sections 1471- 1474 of the Code as of the date hereof (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future United States Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder or official governmental interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to current Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), and any applicable intergovernmental agreements (and related laws) and official administrative guidance implementing the foregoing; or
(k) in the case of any combination of items (a) through (j).
SECTION 4.16. Maintenance of Listing
The Company will (i) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Notes to be listed, subject to notice of issuance, on the Official List of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and admitted to trading on the Euro MTF Market as promptly as practicable after the Issue Date, and (ii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain such listing for as long as any of the Notes are outstanding. If the Notes fail to be, or at any time cease to be, listed on the Official List of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and admitted to trading on the Euro MTF Market, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to list the Notes on another recognized stock exchange in western Europe as promptly as practicable after the date on which the Notes are not so listed or admitted.
ARTICLE V
Successor Company
SECTION 5.01. When Company May Merge or Transfer Assets. The Company shall not merge, consolidate or amalgamate with or into (other than a merger of a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary into the Company), or sell, transfer, assign, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all its Property in any one transaction or series of transactions to, any Person unless:
(a) the Company shall be the surviving Person (the Surviving Person) or the Surviving Person (if other than the Company) formed by that merger, consolidation or amalgamation or to which that sale, transfer, assignment, lease, conveyance or disposition is made shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia;
(b) the Surviving Person (if other than the Company) expressly assumes, by supplemental indenture in form satisfactory to the Trustee, executed and delivered to the Trustee by that Surviving Person, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, all the Notes, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Company;
(c) immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of transactions on a pro forma basis, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(d) immediately after giving effect to that transaction or series of transactions on a pro forma basis, the Company or the Surviving Person, as the case may be, (i) would be able to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Debt under clause (1) of the first paragraph of Section 4.04, or (ii) the Consolidated Fixed Charges Coverage Ratio would be greater than such ratio immediately prior to such transaction, provided,
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however, that this clause (d) shall not be applicable to the Company merging, consolidating or amalgamating with or into an Affiliate incorporated solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Company in another State of the United States so long as the amount of Debt of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries is not increased thereby; and
(e) the Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that the transaction and the supplemental indenture, if any, in respect thereto comply with this Section and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the transaction and the execution and delivery of a supplemental indenture, as applicable, have been satisfied.
The Surviving Person shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of the Company under this Indenture, but the predecessor Company in the case of:
(a) a sale, transfer, assignment, conveyance or other disposition (unless that sale, transfer, assignment, conveyance or other disposition is of all the assets of the Company as an entirety or virtually as an entirety), or
(b) a lease,
shall not be released from any obligation to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, the Notes.
If and for so long as any notes are listed on the Official List of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and the rules of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange so require, the Company will publish a notice of any merger, consolidation or amalgamation described above, or any sale, transfer, assignment, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Property of the Company described above, in a leading newspaper of general circulation in Luxembourg or, to the extent and in the manner permitted by such rules, post such notice on the official website of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (www.bourse.lu) and, for so long as the rules of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange so require, notify the Luxembourg Stock Exchange of any such transaction.
ARTICLE VI
Defaults and Remedies
SECTION 6.01. Events of Default. The following events shall be Events of Default:
(1) the Company defaults in any payment of interest on any Note when the same becomes due and payable, and such default continues for a period of 30 days;
(2) the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, on any Note when the same becomes due and payable at its Stated Maturity, upon acceleration, redemption, optional redemption, required repurchase or otherwise;
(3) the Company fails to comply with Article V;
(4) the Company fails to comply with any other covenant or agreement in the Notes or in this Indenture (other than a failure that is the subject of the foregoing clause (1), (2) or (3)) and such failure continues for 60 days after written notice is given to the Company as specified below;
(5) a default under any Debt by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that results in acceleration of the maturity of that Debt, or failure to pay any Debt at maturity, in an aggregate amount greater than $50.0 million or its foreign currency equivalent at the time;
(6) the Company or any Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
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(A) commences a voluntary case;
(B) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case;
(C) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for any substantial part of its property; or
(D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;
or takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency;
(7) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(A) is for relief against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case;
(B) appoints a Custodian of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or for any substantial part of its property;
(C) orders the winding up or liquidation of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary; or
(D) grants any similar relief under any foreign laws; and in each such case the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 30 days; or
(8) any judgment or judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $50.0 million (or its foreign currency equivalent at the time) that shall be rendered against the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and that shall remain unsatisfied, undischarged, unvacated, unbonded or unstayed for a period of 60 consecutive days or more after such judgment becomes final.
The foregoing will constitute Events of Default whatever the reason for any such Event of Default and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body.
The term Bankruptcy Law means Title 11, United States Code, or any similar Federal or state law for the relief of debtors. The term Custodian means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, custodian or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
A Default under clause (4) is not an Event of Default until the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding notify the Company (and in the case of such notice by Holders, the Trustee) of the Default and the Company does not cure that Default within the time specified after receipt of such notice. The notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that such notice is a Notice of Default.
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days after the occurrence thereof, written notice in the form of an Officers Certificate of any Event of Default and any event that with the giving of notice and the lapse of time would become an Event of Default, its status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
SECTION 6.02. Acceleration. If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(6) or (7) with respect to the Company) shall have occurred and be continuing, the Trustee or the registered Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding may by notice to the Company and the Trustee declare to be immediately due and payable the principal amount of all the applicable Notes then outstanding, plus accrued but unpaid interest to the date of acceleration. Upon such a declaration,
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such principal and interest shall be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(6) or (7) with respect to the Company occurs, the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Notes shall be due and payable immediately without any declaration or other act by the Trustee or the Holder of the Notes. After any such acceleration but before a judgment or decree based on acceleration is obtained by the Trustee, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee and the Company may rescind any declaration of acceleration if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default have been cured or waived except nonpayment of principal, premium, or interest that has become due solely because of the acceleration. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto.
SECTION 6.03. Other Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.
The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Noteholder 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. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies are cumulative.
SECTION 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may waive an existing Default and its consequences except (i) a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on a Note or (ii) a Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.02 cannot be amended without the consent of each Noteholder affected. When a Default is waived, it is deemed cured, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any consequent right.
SECTION 6.05. Control by Majority. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to the Notes. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Noteholders or would involve the Trustee in personal liability; provided, however, that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction. Subject to Section 7.01, in case an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers hereunder at the request or direction of any of the Holders, unless the Holders shall have offered to the Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against loss, liability or expense.
SECTION 6.06. Limitation on Suits. No Holder will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any remedy hereunder, unless:
(1) such Holder shall have previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default;
(2) the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding shall have made a written request, and such Holder or Holders shall have offered indemnity, to the Trustee reasonably satisfactory to it against loss, liability or expense to institute such proceeding as trustee; and
(3) the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute the proceeding within 60 days after such notice, request and offer.
The foregoing limitations on the pursuit of remedies by a Noteholder shall not apply to a suit instituted by a Holder of Notes for the enforcement of payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on such Note on or after the applicable due date specified in such Note. A Noteholder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Noteholder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Noteholder (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).
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SECTION 6.07. Rights of Holders to Receive Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on the Notes held by such Holder, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Notes, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.
SECTION 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(1) or (2) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount then due and owing (together with interest on any unpaid interest to the extent lawful) and the amounts provided for in this Indenture.
SECTION 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. The Trustee may 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 and the Noteholders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company, its creditors or its property and, unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations, may vote on behalf of the Holders in any election of a trustee in bankruptcy or other Person performing similar functions, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make 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 it for such compensation as agreed upon in writing by the parties hereto, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and its counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under this Indenture, or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under this Indenture 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.
SECTION 6.10. Priorities. If the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article 6, it shall pay out the money or property in the following order:
FIRST: to the Trustee, including its agents and counsel, for amounts due under this Indenture;
SECOND: to Noteholders for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal and interest, respectively; and
THIRD: to the Company.
The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Noteholders pursuant to this Section. At least 15 days before such record date, the Company shall mail to each Noteholder and the Trustee a notice that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.
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 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 pursuant to Section 6.07 or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes.
SECTION 6.12. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws. The Company (to the extent it may lawfully do so) shall not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or
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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 shall not 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 had been enacted.
ARTICLE VII
Trustee
SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee.
(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise 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 Persons own affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(1) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied duties, covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(2) in the absence of willful misconduct on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee 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 any mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein.
(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(1) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section;
(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Trust Officer unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
(3) 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 the terms of this Indenture.
(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.
(e) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company.
(f) Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
(g) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers.
(h) Every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section and to the provisions of the TIA and the provisions of this Article VII shall apply to the Agents and to the Trustee (to the extent it shall act in the capacity of Registrar or Paying Agent).
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SECTION 7.02. Rights of Trustee.
(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely on any document (whether in its original or facsimile form) 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. The Trustee may, however, in its discretion make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney at the expense of the Company and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it shall be entitled to receive an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel. 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.
(c) The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.
(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers; provided, however, that the Trustees conduct does not constitute willful misconduct or negligence.
(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection, and the advice or opinion of counsel with respect to legal matters relating to this Indenture and the Notes shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect to any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.
(f) The permissive rights of the Trustee to do things enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty unless so specified herein.
(g) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by the Trustee in compliance with such request or direction.
(h) The Trustee may employ or retain accountants, appraisers or other experts or advisers as it may reasonably require for the purpose of determining and discharging its rights and duties hereunder and shall not be responsible for any misconduct on the part of any of them.
(i) 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.
(j) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless (i) a Trust Officer has actual knowledge thereof or (ii) unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee from the Company or any Holder of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (in accordance with the notice provisions of this Indenture) and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.
(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, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.
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(l) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.
(m) The Trustee may request that the Company deliver a certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture.
(n) Under no circumstances shall the Trustee be liable in its individual capacity for the obligations evidenced by the Notes.
(o) The Trustee shall have no obligation to pursue any action that is not in accordance with applicable law.
The provisions of this Section 7.02 shall survive satisfaction and discharge or the termination, for any reason, of this Indenture and the resignation and/or removal of the Trustee.
SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Sections 7.10 and 7.11.
SECTION 7.04. Trustees Disclaimer. The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity, priority or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Companys use of the proceeds from the Notes, and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Company in this Indenture or in any other document other than the certificate of authentication executed by the Trustee.
SECTION 7.05. Notice of Defaults. If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each Noteholder notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it is known to a Trust Officer 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 or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as the Trustee in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Noteholders.
SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders. As promptly as practicable after each December 31 beginning with December 31, 2017, and in any event prior to February 28 in each year, the Trustee shall mail to each Noteholder a brief report dated as of December 31 each year that complies with TIA § 313(a), if and to the extent required by such subsection. The Trustee shall also comply with TIA § 313(b).
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Noteholders shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange (if any) on which the Notes are listed. The Company agrees to notify promptly the Trustee whenever the Notes become listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.
SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity. The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation for its services as agreed upon in writing by the parties hereto. The Trustees compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred or made by it, including costs of collection, in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustees agents, counsel, accountants and experts. The Company shall indemnify, defend, protect and hold the Trustee harmless from and against any and all loss, liability, damages, cost or expense (including reasonable attorneys fees) incurred by it in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder and/or the transactions contemplated under this Indenture and the Trustee shall have no liability or responsibility for any action or inaction on the part of any Agent or any successor trustee. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder except to the extent that the Company shall have been actually prejudiced as a result of such failure. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Trustee through the Trustees own
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willful misconduct or negligence, as finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction. The Company need not pay for any settlement made by the Trustee without the Companys consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld. All indemnifications and releases from liability granted hereunder to the Trustee shall extend to its officers, directors, employees, agents, successors and assigns.
To secure the Companys payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee other than money or property held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Notes.
The Companys payment obligations pursuant to this Section shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the discharge of this Indenture. When the Trustee incurs expenses after the occurrence of a Default specified in Section 6.01(6) or (7) with respect to the Company, the expenses are intended to constitute expenses of administration under the Bankruptcy Law.
SECTION 7.08. Replacement of Trustee. The Trustee may resign at any time by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and may appoint a successor Trustee. No resignation or removal shall be effective until a successor Trustee has been appointed and has accepted its appointment. The Company shall remove the Trustee if:
(1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;
(2) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;
(3) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or
(4) the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.
If the Trustee resigns, is removed by the Company or by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding and such Holders do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee.
A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Noteholders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.07.
If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, at the expense of the Company, or the Holders of 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, any Noteholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Note for at least six months may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.
Notwithstanding the replacement or resignation of the Trustee pursuant to this Section, the Companys obligations under Section 7.07 shall continue for the benefit of the Trustee and survive the termination of this Indenture.
SECTION 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger. If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation or banking association without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.
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In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Notes shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver such Notes so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Notes shall not have been authenticated, any such successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Notes either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Notes or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.
SECTION 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification. The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of TIA § 310(a). The Trustee shall have (or, in the case of a corporation included in a bank holding company system, the related bank holding company shall have) a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its (or its related bank holding companys) most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 310(b), subject to the penultimate paragraph thereof; provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of TIA § 310(b)(1) any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Company are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in TIA § 310(b)(1) are met.
SECTION 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company. The Trustee shall comply with 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.
ARTICLE VIII
Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance
SECTION 8.01. Discharge of Liability on Notes; Defeasance.
(a) When (i) the Company delivers to the Paying Agent all outstanding Notes (other than Notes replaced pursuant to Section 2.07) for cancellation or (ii) all outstanding Notes have become due and payable, whether at maturity or as a result of the mailing of a notice of redemption pursuant to Article III and the Company irrevocably deposits with the Trustee funds sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all outstanding Notes, including interest thereon to maturity or such redemption date (other than Notes replaced pursuant to Section 2.07), and if in either case the Company pays all other sums payable hereunder by the Company, then this Indenture shall, subject to Section 8.01(c), cease to be of further effect. The Trustee shall acknowledge satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture on written demand of the Company accompanied by an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions to the satisfaction and discharge have been complied with, and at the cost and expense of the Company.
(b) Subject to Sections 8.01(c) and 8.02, the Company at any time may terminate (i) all of its obligations under the Notes and this Indenture (legal defeasance option) or (ii) its obligations under Sections 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10 and 4.12 and the operation of Sections 6.01(5), 6.01(6), 6.01(7) and 6.01(8) (but, in the case of Sections 6.01(6) and (7), with respect only to Significant Subsidiaries) and the limitations contained in clause (d) of Section 5.01 (covenant defeasance option). The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option.
If the Company exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of the Notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If the Company exercises its covenant defeasance option, payment of the Notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.01(4) (with respect to the covenants of Article IV identified in the immediately preceding paragraph), 6.01(5), 6.01(6), 6.01(7) or 6.01(8) (with respect only to Significant Subsidiaries in the case of Sections 6.01(6) and 6.01(7)) or because of the failure of the Company to comply with the limitations contained in clause (d) of Section 5.01.
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Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein and upon request of the Company, accompanied by an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent specified herein relating to the defeasance contemplated have been complied with, the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of those obligations that the Company terminates.
(c) Notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, the Companys obligations in Sections 2.04, 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 7.07, 7.08, 8.05 and 8.06 shall survive until the Notes have been paid in full. Thereafter, the Companys obligations in Sections 7.07 and 8.05 shall survive such satisfaction or discharge.
SECTION 8.02. Conditions to Defeasance. The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option only if:
(1) the Company irrevocably deposits with the Paying Agent money in euros or euro-denominated Government Obligations for the payment of principal of and interest (including premium, if any) on the Notes to maturity or redemption;
(2) the Company delivers to the Trustee a certificate from a nationally recognized accounting firm expressing their opinion that the payments of principal and interest when due and without reinvestment on the deposited Government Obligations plus any deposited money without investment will provide cash at such times and in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay principal and interest (including premium, if any) when due on all the Notes to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;
(3) 123 days pass after the deposit is made and during the 123-day period no Default specified in Section 6.01(6) or (7) occurs with respect to the Company or any other Person making the deposit that is continuing at the end of the period;
(4) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of the deposit and after giving effect thereto;
(5) the deposit does not constitute a default under any other agreement or instrument binding on the Company;
(6) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the trust resulting from the deposit does not constitute, or is qualified as, a regulated investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940;
(7) in the case of the legal defeasance option, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Noteholders will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred;
(8) in the case of the covenant defeasance option, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Noteholders will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred; and
(9) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance and discharge of the Notes as contemplated by this Article VIII have been complied with.
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Before or after a deposit, the Company may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Notes at a future date in accordance with Article III.
SECTION 8.03. Application of Trust Money. The Trustee shall hold money or Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to this Article VIII. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from Government Obligations through the Paying Agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes.
SECTION 8.04. Repayment to Company. The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall promptly turn over to the Company upon written request any excess money or securities held by them upon satisfaction of the conditions and occurrence of the events set forth in this Article VIII.
Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, and, thereafter, Noteholders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors.
SECTION 8.05. Indemnity for Government Obligations. The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against deposited Government Obligations or the principal and interest received on such Government Obligations.
SECTION 8.06. Reinstatement. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Obligations in accordance with this Article VIII by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Companys obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article VIII until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or Government Obligations in accordance with this Article VIII; provided, however, that, if the Company has made any payment of interest on or principal of any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
ARTICLE IX
Amendments
SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of Holders. The Company and the Trustee may amend this Indenture or the Notes without notice to or consent of any Noteholder:
(1) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency, as evidenced in an Officers Certificate;
(2) to comply with Article V;
(3) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes; provided, however, that the uncertificated Notes are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code or in a manner such that the uncertificated Notes are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code;
(4) to add Guarantees with respect to the Notes;
(5) to secure the Notes, to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company;
(6) to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with qualifying, or maintaining the qualification of, this Indenture under the TIA;
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(7) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Noteholder in any material respect; or
(8) to provide for the issuance of additional Notes in accordance with this Indenture.
After an amendment under this Section becomes effective, the Company shall mail to Noteholders a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all Noteholders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section.
SECTION 9.02. With Consent of Holders. The Company and the Trustee may amend this Indenture or the Notes without notice to any Noteholder but with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes). However, without the consent of each Noteholder affected thereby, an amendment may not:
(1) reduce the amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment or waiver;
(2) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any Note;
(3) reduce the principal of or extend the Stated Maturity of any Note
(4) make any Note payable in money other than euros;
(5) reduce the amount payable upon the redemption or repurchase of any Note under Article III or Section 4.07 or 4.12, change the time at which any Note may be redeemed in accordance with Article III, or, at any time after a Change of Control or Asset Sale has occurred, change the time at which the Change of Control Offer relating thereto or Prepayment Offer must be made or at which the Notes must be repurchased pursuant to such Change of Control Offer or Prepayment Offer;
(6) subordinate the Notes to any other obligations of the Company;
(7) release any security interest that may have been granted in favor of the Holders other than pursuant to the terms of the agreement granting that security interest;
(8) make any change in Section 6.04 or 6.07 or the second sentence of this Section; or
(9) subordinate the Notes to any other obligation of the Company.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.
After an amendment under this Section becomes effective, the Company shall mail to each Noteholder at such Noteholders address appearing in the security register (with a copy to the Trustee) a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all Noteholders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section.
If and for so long as any notes are listed on the Official List of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and the rules of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange so require, the Company will publish notice of any amendment, supplement and waiver in a leading newspaper of general circulation in Luxembourg or, to the extent and in the manner permitted by such rules, post such notice on the official website of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (www.bourse.lu).
SECTION 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. Every amendment to this Indenture or the Notes shall comply with the TIA as then in effect.
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SECTION 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers. A consent to an amendment or a waiver by a Holder of a Note shall bind the Holder and every subsequent Holder of that Note or portion of the Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holders Note, even if notation of the consent or waiver is not made on the Note. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent or waiver as to such Holders Note or portion of the Note if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date the amendment or waiver becomes effective. After an amendment or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Noteholder. An amendment or waiver becomes effective upon the execution of such amendment or waiver by the Trustee.
The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Noteholders entitled to give their consent or take any other action described above or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Noteholders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date.
SECTION 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Notes. If an amendment changes the terms of a Note, the Trustee may require the Holder of the Note to deliver such Note to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Note regarding the changed terms and return such Note to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company in exchange for the Note shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Note that reflects the changed terms. Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Note shall not affect the validity of such amendment.
SECTION 9.06. Trustee To Sign Amendments. The Trustee shall sign any amendment authorized pursuant to this Article IX if the amendment does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may but need not sign it. In signing such amendment the Trustee shall receive indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it and to receive, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such amendment is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms.
SECTION 9.07. Payment for Consent. Neither the Company nor any Affiliate of the Company shall, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any Holder for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture or the Notes unless such consideration is offered to be paid to all Holders that so consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.
ARTICLE X
Miscellaneous
SECTION 10.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls. If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision that is required to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, the required provision shall control.
SECTION 10.02. Notices. Any notice or communication shall be in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail or sent by facsimile (with a hard copy delivered in person or by mail promptly thereafter) and addressed as follows:
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if to the Company:
Levi Strauss & Co.
Levis Plaza
1155 Battery Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
Attention of: Legal Department
Facsimile: (415) 501-1342
with a copy to:
Levi Strauss & Co.
1155 Battery Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
Attention: Assistant Treasurer
Facsimile No: (415) 501-1342
and
Levi Strauss & Co.
1155 Battery Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
Attention: Manager of Treasury Operations
Facsimile No: (415) 501-1342
and
Levi Strauss & Co.
1155 Battery Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
Attention: Office of the General Counsel
Facsimile No: (415) 501-7650
if to the Trustee:
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
333 S. Grand Ave., 5th Floor, Suite 5A
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Facsimile: (213) 253-7598
Attention of: Corporate, Municipal and Escrow Services
The Company or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Any notice or communication mailed to a Noteholder shall be mailed to the Noteholder at the Noteholders address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar and shall be sufficiently given if so mailed within the time prescribed.
Notices regarding the Notes will be (a) if and so long as Notes are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and the rules of such exchange shall so require, published by the Company in a newspaper having a general circulation in Luxembourg or, to the extent and in the manner permitted by such rules, posted on the website at the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (www.bourse.lu)) and (b) sent to the Trustee. If and so long as such Notes are listed on any other securities exchange, notices will also be given in accordance with any applicable requirements of such securities exchange.
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Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Noteholder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Noteholders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.
SECTION 10.03. Communication by Holders with Other Holders. Noteholders may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Noteholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).
SECTION 10.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:
(1) an Officers Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and
(2) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.
SECTION 10.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Indenture shall include:
(1) a statement that the individual making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;
(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(3) a statement that, in the opinion of such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such individual, such covenant or condition has been fully complied with.
SECTION 10.06. Annual Officers Certificate as to Compliance. Not later than June 1 every year, beginning with June 1, 2017, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee a certificate (which need not comply with Section 10.05 of this Indenture) executed by the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of the Company as to such officers knowledge of the Companys compliance with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture, such compliance to be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under this Indenture.
SECTION 10.07. When Notes Disregarded. 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 disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Also, subject to the foregoing, only Notes outstanding at the time shall be considered in any such determination.
SECTION 10.08. Rules by Trustee, Paying Agents and Registrar. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Noteholders. The Agents may make reasonable rules for their functions.
SECTION 10.09. Legal Holidays. A Legal Holiday is a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions are not required to be open in the State of New York. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday, payment shall be made on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period. If a regular record date is a Legal Holiday, the record date shall not be affected.
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SECTION 10.10. Governing Law; Jury Trial Waiver; Submission to Jurisdiction. THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE HOLDERS AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY NEW YORK STATE COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK OR ANY FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK IN RESPECT OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE AND THE NOTES, AND IRREVOCABLY ACCEPTS FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS.
SECTION 10.11. No Recourse Against Others. A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Note, each Noteholder shall waive and release all such liability. The waiver and release shall be part of the consideration for the issue of the Notes.
SECTION 10.12. Successors. All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.
SECTION 10.13. Multiple 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. One signed copy is enough to prove this Indenture. Delivery of an executed signature page by facsimile or electronic transmission (e.g. pdf or tif) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.
SECTION 10.14. Table of Contents; Headings. The table of contents, cross-reference sheet and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
SECTION 10.15. Force Majeure. In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee 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 10.16. U.S.A. Patriot Act. The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, 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. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information within the Companys custody or control or as the Company may reasonably obtain that the Trustee may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.
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SECTION 10.17. Judgment Currency.
Any payment on account of an amount that is payable in euro which is made to or for the account of any Holder of Notes or the Trustee or Paying Agent in lawful currency of any other jurisdiction (the Judgment Currency), whether as a result of any judgment or order or the enforcement thereof or the liquidation of the Company or a Future Guarantor, shall constitute a discharge of the Companys or the Future Guarantors obligation under this Indenture and the notes or the Guarantee of the Notes, as the case may be, only to the extent of the amount of euros which such Holder or the Trustee, as the case may be, could purchase in the London foreign exchange markets with the amount of the Judgment Currency in accordance with normal banking procedures at the rate of exchange prevailing on the first business day following receipt of the payment in the Judgment Currency. If the amount of euros that could be so purchased is less than the amount of euros originally due to such Holder or the Trustee, as the case may be, the Company and any Future Guarantors shall indemnify and hold harmless the Holder or the Trustee, as the case may be, from and against all loss or damage arising out of, or as a result of, such deficiency. This indemnity shall constitute an obligation separate and independent from the other obligations contained in this Indenture or the Notes, shall give rise to a separate and independent cause of action, shall apply irrespective of any indulgence granted by any holder or the Trustee from time to time and shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any judgment or order for a liquidated sum in respect of an amount due hereunder or under any judgment or order.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. | ||
By: | /s/ Chris Ogle | |
Name: Chris Ogle | ||
Title: Vice President and Treasurer |
[Signature Page to the Indenture]
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||
By: | /s/ Maddy Hughes | |
Name: Maddy Hughes | ||
Title: Vice President |
[Signature Page to the Indenture]
APPENDIX A
PROVISIONS RELATING TO INITIAL NOTES
AND EXCHANGE NOTES
1. | Definitions |
1.1 | Definitions |
For the purposes of this Appendix A the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:
Clearing Systems means Euroclear and Clearstream.
Clearstream means Clearstream Banking, société anonyme or any successor securities clearing agency.
Common Depositary means with respect to the Notes, HSBC Bank plc, its nominees and their respective successors, acting in the capacity of common depository for Euroclear and Clearstream or, as applicable, such other nominee of or custodian for Euroclear and/or Clearstream, as applicable, as may be acceptable to the Company and named or otherwise appointed in accordance with the customary practice or policies of Euroclear or Clearstream,
Definitive Note means a certificated Initial Note or Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note bearing, if required, the restricted securities legend set forth in Section 2.3(c).
Distribution Compliance Period means, with respect to any Notes, the period of 40 consecutive days beginning on the later of (i) the day on which such Notes are first offered to Persons other than distributors (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) in reliance on Regulation S and (ii) the issue date with respect to such Notes.
Euroclear means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear Clearance System or any successor securities clearing agency.
Exchange Notes means the 3.375% Senior Notes due 2027 to be issued pursuant to this Indenture in connection with a Registered Exchange Offer pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.
Initial Notes means 3.375% Senior Notes due 2027, to be issued from time to time, in one or more series as provided for in this Indenture.
Initial Purchasers means Merrill Lynch International, Goldman, Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan Securities plc, Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc., Scotiabank Europe plc and Wells Fargo Securities International Limited.
Original Notes means Notes issued on February 28, 2017.
Private Exchange means the offer by the Company, pursuant to Section 2 of the Registration Rights Agreement or pursuant to any similar provision of any other Registration Rights Agreement, to issue and deliver to certain purchasers, in exchange for the Initial Notes held by such purchasers as part of their initial distribution, a like aggregate principal amount of Private Exchange Notes.
Appendix A-1
Private Exchange Notes means the Notes to be issued pursuant to this Indenture in connection with a Private Exchange pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement.
Purchase Agreement means the Purchase Agreement dated February 23, 2017, between the Company and Merrill Lynch International, as representative of the Initial Purchasers, relating to the Original Notes, or any similar agreement relating to any future sale of Initial Notes by the Company.
QIB means a qualified institutional buyer as defined in Rule 144A.
Registered Exchange Offer means the offer by the Company, pursuant to a 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 (i) the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of February 28, 2017, between the Company and Merrill Lynch International on behalf of itself and the other Initial Purchasers relating to the Original Notes, or (ii) any similar agreement relating to any additional Initial Notes.
Shelf Registration Statement means a registration statement issued by the Company in connection with the offer and sale of Initial Notes or Private Exchange Notes pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.
Transfer Restricted Notes means Definitive Notes and any other Notes that bear or are required to bear the legend set forth in Section 2.3(c) hereto.
1.2 Other Definitions
Term |
Defined in Section: | |
Agent Members |
2.1(b) | |
Global Note |
2.1(a) | |
Permanent Regulation S Global Note |
2.1(a) | |
Regulation S |
2.1 | |
Regulation S Global Note |
2.1(a) | |
Rule 144A |
2.1 | |
Rule 144A Global Note |
2.1(a) | |
Temporary Regulation S Global Note |
2.1(a) |
2. The Notes
2.1 Form and Dating
The Initial Notes will be offered and sold by the Company, from time to time, pursuant to one or more Purchase Agreements. The Initial Notes will be resold initially only to QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act (Rule 144A) and in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act (Regulation S). Initial Notes may thereafter be transferred to, among others, QIBs, purchasers in reliance on Regulation S under Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act, subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein.
Appendix A-2
(a) Global Notes. Initial Notes initially resold pursuant to Rule 144A shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent global Notes in definitive, fully registered form (collectively, the Rule 144A Global Note) with the restricted securities legend set forth in Exhibit A to this Indenture, and Initial Notes initially resold pursuant to Regulation S shall be issued initially in the form of one or more global securities in registered form with the global securities legend and the applicable restricted securities legend set forth in Exhibit A to this Indenture (the Temporary Regulation S Global Note) or with such other legends as may be appropriate. Except as set forth in this Section 2.1(a) and Section 2.3(b), beneficial ownership interest in a Temporary Regulation S Global Note will be exchangeable for interests in a Rule 144A Global Note or a permanent global note (the Permanent Regulation S Global Note and, together with the Temporary Regulation S Global Note, the the Regulation S Global Note) or a Definitive Note in registered certificated form only after the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period and then only upon certification in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee that beneficial ownership interests in such Temporary Regulation S Global Note are owned either by non-U.S. persons or U.S. persons who purchased such interests in a transaction that did not require registration under the Securities Act without interest coupons and with the global securities legend and restricted securities legend set forth in Exhibit A to this Indenture, which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Initial Notes represented thereby with the Common Depositary, and registered in the name of the Common Depositary or its nominee, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent as provided in this Indenture. The Rule 144A Global Note and Regulation S Global Note are collectively referred to herein as Global Notes. The aggregate principal amount of the Global Notes may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Registrar as hereinafter provided.
(b) Book-Entry Provisions. This Section 2.1(b) shall apply only to a Global Note deposited with the Common Depositary.
The Company shall execute and the Authenticating Agent shall, in accordance with this Section 2.1(b) and pursuant to an order of the Company, authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global Notes that (a) shall be registered in the name of the Common Depositary or its nominee and (b) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the Common Depositary.
Members of, or participants, in Euroclear or Clearstream (Agent Members) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Common Depositary or under such Global Note, and the Common Depositary or its nominee as registered holder of such Global Note may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of such Global Note 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 Common Depositary or impair, as between Euroclear and Clearstream and their Agent Members, the operation of customary practices of the Clearing Systems governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Note.
(c) Definitive Notes. Except as provided in Section 2.3 or 2.4, owners of beneficial interests in Global Notes will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Definitive Notes.
2.2 Authentication. The Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver: (1) Original Notes for original issue in an aggregate principal amount of 475 million, (2) additional Initial Notes, if and when issued, in an aggregate principal amount as established in or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company and (3) the 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 or Private Exchange Notes, as applicable, upon a written order of the Company signed by two Officers or by an Officer and either an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary of the Company. Such order shall specify the
Appendix A-3
amount of the Notes to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated and whether the Notes are to be Initial Notes or Exchange Notes. The aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding at any time may not exceed the aggregate principal amount established in or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company, except as provided in Section 2.08 of this Indenture.
2.3 Transfer and Exchange.
(a) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes. When Definitive Notes are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request:
(x) to register the transfer of such Definitive Notes; or
(y) to exchange such Definitive Notes for an equal principal amount of Definitive Notes of other authorized denominations,
the Registrar or co-registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its reasonable requirements for such transaction are met; provided, however, that the Definitive Notes surrendered for transfer or exchange:
(i) shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar or co-registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing; and
(ii) if such Definitive Notes bear a restricted securities legend, they are being transferred or exchanged pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or pursuant to clause (A), (B) or (C) below, and are accompanied by the following additional information and documents, as applicable:
(A) if such Definitive Notes are being delivered to the Registrar by a Holder for registration in the name of such Holder, without transfer, a certification from such Holder to that effect; or
(B) if such Definitive Notes are being transferred to the Company, a certification to that effect; or
(C) if such Definitive Notes are being transferred pursuant to an exemption from registration in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, (i) a certification to that effect and (ii) if the Company or the Trustee so requests, an opinion of counsel or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to it as to the compliance with the restrictions set forth in the legend set forth in Section 2.3(c)(i).
(b) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes.
(i) The transfer and exchange of Global Notes or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the Common Depositary, in accordance with this Indenture (including applicable restrictions on transfer set forth herein, if any) and the procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream therefor. A transferor of a beneficial interest in a Global Note shall deliver a written order given in accordance with Euroclears and Clearstreams procedures containing information regarding the participant account of Euroclear or Clearstream to be credited with a beneficial interest in the Global Note and such account shall be credited in accordance with such instructions with a beneficial interest in the Global Note and the account of the Person making the transfer shall be debited by an amount equal to the beneficial interest in the Global Note being transferred.
Appendix A-4
(ii) If the proposed transfer is a transfer of a beneficial interest in one Global Note to a beneficial interest in another Global Note, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of the Global Note to which such interest is being transferred in an amount equal to the principal amount of the interest to be so transferred, and the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and a corresponding decrease in the principal amount of the Global Note from which such interest is being transferred.
(iii) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Appendix A (other than the provisions set forth in Section 2.4), a Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except by the Common Depositary to a nominee of the Common Depositary or by a nominee of the Common Depositary to the Common Depositary or another nominee of the Common Depositary or by the Common Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Common Depositary or a nominee of such successor Common Depositary.
(iv) In the event that a Global Note is exchanged for Definitive Notes pursuant to Section 2.4 prior to the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer or the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Notes, such Notes may be exchanged only in accordance with such procedures as are substantially consistent with the provisions of this Section 2.3 (including the certification requirements set forth on the reverse of the Initial Notes intended to ensure that such transfers comply with Rule 144A, Regulation S or such other applicable exemption from registration under the Securities Act, as the case may be) and such other procedures as may from time to time be adopted by the Company.
(v) Restrictions on Transfer of Temporary Regulation S Global Notes.
(A) During the Distribution Compliance Period, beneficial ownership interests in Temporary Regulation S Global Notes may only be sold, pledged or transferred (i) to Company, (ii) in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 904 of Regulation S (other than a transaction resulting in an exchange for an interest in a Permanent Regulation S Global Note) or (iii) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, in each case in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any State of the United States; and
(B) Beneficial interests in a Rule 144A Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in a Regulation S Global Note, whether before or after the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, only if the transferor first delivers to the Trustee a written certificate (in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee) to the effect that such transfer is being made in accordance with Rule 903 or 904 of Regulation S or Rule 144 (if applicable).
(c) Legend.
(i) Except as permitted by the following paragraphs (ii), (iii) and (iv), each certificate evidencing the Global Notes and the Definitive Notes (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
THE SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) EVIDENCED HEREBY WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SECTION 5 OF THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT), AND THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH
Appendix A-5
PURCHASER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM
THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER. THE HOLDER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT:
(A) SUCH SECURITY MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY:
(i)(a) TO A PERSON WHO THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (b) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (c) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 903 OR 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (d) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL AND OTHER CERTIFICATIONS AND DOCUMENTS IF THE COMPANY SO REQUESTS),
(ii) TO THE COMPANY, OR
(iii) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
AND, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND IN EACH CASE SUBJECT TO ANY REQUIREMENT OF LAW THAT THE DISPOSITION OF THIS SECURITY BY THE HOLDER OR BY ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT OR ACCOUNTS BE AT ALL TIMES WITHIN ITS OR THEIR CONTROL; AND
(B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER FROM IT OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN (A) ABOVE.
THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE ACQUIRED OR HELD WITH THE ASSETS OF (I) AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3(3) OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (ERISA)) THAT IS SUBJECT TO ERISA, (II) A PLAN WHICH IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE CODE), (III) ANY ENTITY DEEMED UNDER ERISA TO HOLD PLAN ASSETS OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING BY REASON OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS OR PLANS INVESTMENT IN SUCH ENTITY, OR (IV) A GOVERNMENTAL PLAN, CHURCH PLAN OR NON-U.S. PLAN SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAW THAT IS SIMILAR IN PURPOSE OR EFFECT TO THE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY OR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION PROVISIONS OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE (SIMILAR LAW), UNLESS THE ACQUISITION AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY (AND ANY EXCHANGE OF THE NOTE FOR AN EXCHANGE NOTE) BY THE PURCHASER OR TRANSFEREE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR A SIMILAR VIOLATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAW. BY ITS ACQUISITION OR HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY, EACH PURCHASER AND TRANSFEREE WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND WARRANTED THAT THE FOREGOING REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN SATISFIED.
Appendix A-6
Each Definitive Note will also bear the following additional legend:
IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.
(ii) Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Note (including any Transfer Restricted Note represented by a Global Note) pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act:
(A) in the case of any Transfer Restricted Note that is a Definitive Note, the Registrar shall permit the Holder thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Note for a Note that does not bear the legends set forth above and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Note; and
(B) in the case of any Transfer Restricted Note that is represented by a Global Note, the Registrar shall permit the Holder thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Note for a Note that does not bear the legends set forth above and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Note,
in either case, if the Holder certifies in writing to the Registrar that its request for such exchange was made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse of the Initial Note).
(iii) After a transfer of any Initial Notes or Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, during the period of the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Initial Notes or Private Exchange Notes, all requirements pertaining to restricted legends on such Initial Note or such Private Exchange Note will cease to apply and an Initial Note or Private Exchange Note, as the case may be, in global form without restricted legends will be available to the transferee of the beneficial interests of such Initial Notes or Private Exchange Notes. Upon the occurrence of any of the circumstances described in this paragraph, the Company will deliver an Officers Certificate to the Trustee instructing the Trustee to issue Notes without restricted legends.
(iv) Upon the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer with respect to the Initial Notes pursuant to which certain Holders of such Initial Notes are offered Exchange Notes in exchange for their Initial Notes, Exchange Notes in global form without the restricted legends will be available to Holders or beneficial owners that exchange such Initial Notes (or beneficial interests therein) in such Registered Exchange Offer. Upon the occurrence of any of the circumstances described in this paragraph, the Company will deliver the Exchange Notes accompanied by an Officers Certificate to the Trustee instructing the Trustee to authenticate the Exchange Notes without restricted legends.
(d) Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Note. At such time as all beneficial interests in a Global Note have either been exchanged for Definitive Notes, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, such Global Note shall be returned by the Common Depositary to the Registrar for cancellation pursuant to its customary practice. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for Definitive Notes, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced and an adjustment shall be made on the books and records of the Common Depositary with respect to such Global Note, and by the Common Depositary, to reflect such reduction.
(e) Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Notes.
(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate Definitive Notes and Global Notes at the Registrars or co-registrars request.
Appendix A-7
(ii) No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax, assessments, or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 3.06, 4.08 and 9.05 of this Indenture).
(iii) The Registrar or co-registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of or exchange of any Note selected for redemption (except, in the case of a Note to be redeemed in part, the portion of a Note not to be redeemed) or to transfer or exchange any Notes for a period beginning 15 days before the selection of Notes to be redeemed or 15 days before the mailing of a notice of redemption or an offer to repurchase Notes or 15 days before an interest payment date.
(iv) Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Note, the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar or any co-registrar may deem and treat the person in whose name a Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note is overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar or any co-registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
(v) All Notes issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.
(f) No Obligation of the Trustee.
(i) The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Note, a member of, or a participant in Euroclear or Clearstream or any other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Common Depositary or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Notes or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Common Depositary) of any notice (including any notice of redemption or repurchase) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Notes. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders under the Notes shall be given or made only to the registered Holders (which shall be the Common Depositary or its nominee in the case of a Global Note). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Note shall be exercised only through the Common Depositary subject to the applicable rules and procedures of Euroclear or Clearstream. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Clearing Systems with respect to their members, participants and any beneficial owners.
(ii) 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 (including any transfers between or among Clearing Systems participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
2.4 Definitive Notes
(a) A Global Note deposited with the Common Depositary pursuant to Section 2.1 shall be transferred to the beneficial owners thereof in the form of Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Note, in exchange for such Global Note, only if such transfer complies with Section 2.3 and (i) the Common Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a Common Depositary for such Global Note or if at any time the relevant Clearing System ceases to be a clearing agency registered
Appendix A-8
under the Exchange Act, and a successor Common Depositary or Clearing System is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notice, or (ii) a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (iii) the Company, in its sole discretion, notifies the Registrar in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of Definitive Notes under this Indenture.
(b) Any Global Note that is transferable to the beneficial owners thereof pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall be surrendered by the Common Depositary to the Registrar, to be so transferred, in whole or from time to time in part, without charge, and the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver, upon such transfer of each portion of such Global Note, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Notes of authorized denominations. Definitive Notes issued in exchange for any portion of a Global Note transferred pursuant to this Section shall be executed, authenticated and delivered only in denominations of 100,000 and any integral multiples of 1,000 in excess thereof and registered in such names as the Common Depositary shall direct. Any Definitive Note delivered in exchange for an interest in the Global Note shall, except as otherwise provided by Section 2.3(d), bear the restricted securities legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto.
(c) The registered Holder of a Global Note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action that a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Notes.
(d) In the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 2.4(a)(i), (ii) or (iii), the Company will promptly make available to the Registrar a reasonable supply of Definitive Notes in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons.
Appendix A-9
EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF FACE OF INITIAL NOTE]
[Global Euro Notes Legend]
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF HSBC BANK PLC, AS COMMON DEPOSITARY (THE COMMON DEPOSITARY) FOR EUROCLEAR BANK S.A./N.V. AND CLEARSTREAM BANKING SOCIÉTÉ ANONYME, OR ITS NOMINEE, HSBC ISSUER SERVICES COMMON DEPOSITARY NOMINEE (UK) LIMITED, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF ITS AUTHORIZED NOMINEE OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMON DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO ITS AUTHORIZED NOMINEE, OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMON DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE) ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, ITS AUTHORIZED NOMINEE, HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO THE COMMON DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEES OR TO SUCCESSORS THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSORS NOMINEES AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.
[Restricted Notes Legend]
THE SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) EVIDENCED HEREBY WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SECTION 5 OF THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT), AND THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER. THE HOLDER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT:
(A) | SUCH SECURITY MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY: |
(i)(a) TO A PERSON WHO THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (b) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (c) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 903 OR 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (d) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL AND OTHER CERTIFICATIONS AND DOCUMENTS IF THE COMPANY SO REQUESTS),
Appendix A-10
(ii) TO THE COMPANY, OR
(iii) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
AND, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND IN EACH CASE SUBJECT TO ANY REQUIREMENT OF LAW THAT THE DISPOSITION OF THIS SECURITY BY THE HOLDER OR BY ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT OR ACCOUNTS BE AT ALL TIMES WITHIN ITS OR THEIR CONTROL; AND
(B) | THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER FROM IT OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN (A) ABOVE. |
THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE ACQUIRED OR HELD WITH THE ASSETS OF (I) AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3(3) OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (ERISA)) THAT IS SUBJECT TO ERISA, (II) A PLAN WHICH IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE CODE), (III) ANY ENTITY DEEMED UNDER ERISA TO HOLD PLAN ASSETS OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING BY REASON OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS OR PLANS INVESTMENT IN SUCH ENTITY, OR (IV) A GOVERNMENTAL PLAN, CHURCH PLAN OR NON-U.S. PLAN SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAW THAT IS SIMILAR IN PURPOSE OR EFFECT TO THE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY OR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION PROVISIONS OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE (SIMILAR LAW), UNLESS THE ACQUISITION AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY (AND ANY EXCHANGE OF THE NOTE FOR AN EXCHANGE NOTE) BY THE PURCHASER OR TRANSFEREE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR A SIMILAR VIOLATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAW. BY ITS ACQUISITION OR HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY, EACH PURCHASER AND TRANSFEREE WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND WARRANTED THAT THE FOREGOING REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN SATISFIED.
[Definitive Notes Legend]
IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.
[Temporary Regulation S Legend]
THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE FOR DEFINITIVE NOTES, ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED HEREIN).
A-1
[FORM OF FACE OF INITIAL NOTE]
No. | |
3.375% Senior Notes due 2027
Common Code No. [ ]
ISIN No. [ ]
LEVI STRAUSS & CO., a Delaware corporation, promises to pay to HSBC Issuer Services Common Depositary Nominee (UK) Limited, or registered assigns, the principal sum of [ ] euros ( ) on March 15, 2027.
Interest Payment Dates: March 15 and September 15.
Record Dates: March 1 and September 1.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this instrument to be duly executed.
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. | ||
By: | ||
Name: Harmit Singh | ||
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||
By: | ||
Name: Chris Ogle | ||
Title: Vice President and Treasurer |
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AUTHENTICATING AGENTS CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION |
Dated: |
HSBC BANK PLC, | ||
not in its personal capacity, but as Authenticating Agent appointed by the Trustee, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., certifies that this is one of the Notes referred to in the Indenture. | ||
By: | ||
Authorized Signatory |
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[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF NOTE]
3.375% Senior Notes due 2027
1. | Interest |
(a) LEVI STRAUSS & CO., a Delaware corporation (such corporation, and its successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the Company), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this 3.375% Senior Note due 2027 (this Note and, together with any other 3.375% Senior Notes due 2027, the Notes) at the rate per annum shown above. The Company will pay interest semiannually on March 15 and September 15 of each year, commencing September 15, 2017. Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from February 28, 2017. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate borne by the Notes plus 1% per annum, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by the Notes to the extent lawful.
(b) Special Interest. The holder of this Note is entitled to the benefits under the terms of a Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of February 28, 2017, among the Company and the Initial Purchasers named therein (the Registration Rights Agreement).
2. | Method of Payment |
The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the March 1 or September 1 next preceding the interest payment date even if Notes are canceled after the record date and on or before the interest payment date. Holders must surrender Notes to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Company will pay principal and interest in euros or such other lawful currency of the participating Member States in the Third Stage of European Economic and Monetary Union of the Treaty Establishing the European Community that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments in respect of the Notes represented by a Global Note (including principal, premium and interest) will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by Euroclear or Clearstream. The Company will make all payments in respect of a Definitive Note (including principal, premium and interest), by mailing a check to the registered address of each Holder thereof; provided, however, that payments on a definitive Note will be made by wire transfer if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Paying Agent (with a copy to the Trustee) to such effect designating such account no later than 30 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Paying Agent may accept in its discretion).
3. | Paying Agent and Registrar |
Initially, HSBC Bank plc in the City of London will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may appoint and change any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar without notice. The Company or any of its domestically incorporated Wholly Owned Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar.
4. | Indenture |
The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of February 28, 2017 (the Indenture), between the Company and the Trustee. 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 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture (the TIA). Terms defined in the Indenture and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Noteholders are referred to the Indenture and the TIA for a statement of those terms.
The Indenture imposes certain limitations on the ability of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to, among other things, make certain Investments and other Restricted Payments, pay dividends and other distributions, incur Debt, enter into consensual restrictions upon the payment of certain dividends and distributions by such Restricted Subsidiaries, issue or sell shares of capital stock of such Restricted Subsidiaries, enter into or permit certain
A-1-5
transactions with Affiliates, create or incur Liens and make Asset Sales. The Indenture also imposes limitations on the ability of the Company to consolidate or merge with or into any other Person or sell, transfer, assign, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the Property of the Company.
5. | Optional Redemption |
(a) Except as set forth below, the Notes may not be redeemed prior to March 15, 2022. On and after that date, the Company may redeem the Notes in whole at any time or in part from time to time at the following redemption prices (expressed in percentages of principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date that is on or prior to the date of redemption), if redeemed during the 12-month period beginning on or after March 15 of the years set forth below:
Period |
Redemption Price | |||
2022 |
101.688 | % | ||
2023 |
101.125 | % | ||
2024 |
100.563 | % | ||
2025 and thereafter |
100.000 | % |
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to March 15, 2020 the Company may redeem up to 40% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued (including additional Initial Notes, if any) with the proceeds from one or more Equity Offerings by the Company, at a redemption price equal to 103.375% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date that is on or prior to the date of redemption); provided, however, that after giving effect to any such redemption, at least 60% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including additional Initial Notes, if any) remains outstanding. Any such redemption shall be made within 90 days of such Equity Offering.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may redeem all or any portion of the Notes, at once or over time, prior to March 15, 2022, at a redemption price equal to the sum of:
(a) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus
(b) the Applicable Premium,
plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).
In connection with any redemption of Notes described above, such redemption may, at the Companys discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including any related Equity Offering, issuance of Debt or other transaction. If such redemption or notice is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall state that, in the Companys discretion, such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all of such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the redemption date. If less than all of the notes are to be redeemed, the notes to be redeemed will be selected by the trustee on a pro rata basis, by lot or another method the Trustee deems to be fair and appropriate in accordance with the applicable procedures of the depository. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if less than all of the notes are to be redeemed, no notes of a principal amount of 100,000 or less shall be redeemed in part. If money sufficient to pay the redemption price on the notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed on the redemption date is deposited with the Paying Agent on or before the redemption date and certain other conditions are satisfied, then on and after such redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on such notes (or such portion thereof) called for redemption.
Applicable Premium means with respect to any Note on any redemption date, the excess of (i) the present value on such redemption date of (A) the redemption price of such Note on March 15, 2022 (such redemption price being described in the table appearing in clause (a) of this paragraph 5 exclusive of any accrued interest), plus (B) all required remaining scheduled interest payments due on such Note through March 15, 2022 (including any accrued and unpaid interest) computed using a discount rate equal to the Bund Rate plus 50 basis points, over (ii) the principal amount of such Note.
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Bund Rate means, as of any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the equivalent yield to maturity as of such redemption date of the Comparable German Bund Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable German Bund Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable German Bund Price for such relevant date, where:
(1) | Comparable German Bund Issue means the German Bundesanleihe security selected by any Reference German Bund Dealer as having a fixed maturity most nearly equal to the period from such redemption date to March 15, 2022, and that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of euro denominated corporate debt securities in a principal amount approximately equal to the then outstanding principal amount of the Notes and of a maturity most nearly equal to March 15, 2022; provided, however, that, if the period from such redemption date to March 15, 2022 is less than one year, a fixed maturity of one year shall be used; |
(2) | Comparable German Bund Price means, with respect to any relevant date, the average of all Reference German Bund Dealer Quotations for such date (which, in any event, must include at least two such quotations), after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference German Bund Dealer Quotations, or if the Company obtains fewer than four such Reference German Bund Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations; |
(3) | Reference German Bund Dealer means any dealer of German Bundesanleihe securities appointed by the Company in good faith; and |
(4) | Reference German Bund Dealer Quotations means, with respect to each Reference German Bund Dealer and any relevant date, the average as determined by the Company of the bid and offered prices for the Comparable German Bund Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Company by such Reference German Bund Dealer at 3:30 p.m. Frankfurt, Germany time on the third business day preceding the relevant date. |
(d) If, as a result of any change in, or amendment to, the laws (or any regulations or rulings promulgated under the laws) of the United States (or any political subdivision or taxing authority of or in the United States), or any change in, or amendments to, an official position regarding the application or interpretation of such laws, regulations or rulings, which change or amendment is announced and becomes effective after February 23, 2017, the Company becomes or, based upon a written opinion of independent counsel selected by the Company, will become obligated to pay additional amounts as described in Section 4.15 of the Indenture with respect to the Notes, then the Company may at any time at its option redeem, in whole, but not in part, the Notes on not less than 10 nor more than 60 days prior notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of their principal amount, together with interest accrued but unpaid on those Notes to the date fixed for redemption. Any such redemption may not take place more than 60 days prior to the date on which we would first be required to pay any additional amounts.
6. | Notice of Optional Redemption |
Notice of redemption will be mailed by first-class mail and in the case of Notes held in book entry form, by electronic transmission at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at his or her registered address. Any notice to Holders of Notes of such redemption pursuant to clause (c) in paragraph 5 needs to include the appropriate calculation of the redemption price, but does not need to include the redemption price itself. The actual redemption price, calculated as described in such clause (c), must be set forth in an Officers Certificate delivered to the Trustee no later than two Business Days prior to the redemption date. Notes in denominations larger than 100,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of 1,000. If money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed on the redemption date is deposited with the Paying Agent on or before the redemption date and certain other conditions are satisfied, on and after such date interest ceases to accrue on such Notes (or such portions thereof) called for redemption.
A-1-7
If the Company effects an optional redemption of the notes, it will, if and for so long as any notes are listed on the Official List of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and the rules of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange so require, inform the Luxembourg Stock Exchange of such optional redemption and confirm the aggregate principal amount of the notes that will remain outstanding immediately after such redemption.
7. | Sinking Fund |
The Notes are not subject to any sinking fund.
8. | Repurchase of Notes at the Option of Holders upon Change of Control |
Upon a Change of Control, unless the Company has exercised its right, if any, to redeem the Notes in full, any Holder of Notes will have the right, subject to certain conditions specified in the Indenture, to cause the Company to repurchase all or any part of the Notes of such Holder at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date that is on or prior to the date of purchase) as provided in, and subject to the terms of, the Indenture.
If and for so long as the notes are listed on the Official List of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and admitted for trading on the Euro MTF Market, the Company will publish notices relating to the Change of Control Offer (including with respect to the results thereof) in a leading newspaper of general circulation in Luxembourg or, to the extent and in the manner permitted by such rules, post such notices on the official website of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (www.bourse.lu).
9. | Denominations; Transfer; Exchange |
The Notes are in registered form without coupons, in minimum denomination of 100,000 and integral multiples of 1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture. Upon any transfer or exchange, the Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements or transfer documents and to pay any taxes required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer of or exchange any Notes selected for redemption (except, in the case of a Note to be redeemed in part, the portion of the Note not to be redeemed) or to transfer or exchange any Notes for a period beginning 15 days prior to a selection of Notes to be redeemed or 15 days before the mailing of a notice of redemption or an offer to repurchase Notes or 15 days before an interest payment date.
10. | Persons Deemed Owners |
The registered Holder of this Note may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.
11. | Unclaimed Money |
If money for the payment of principal or interest remains unclaimed for two years, or prior to the applicable escheat date, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Company at its written request unless an abandoned property law designates another Person. After any such payment, Holders entitled to the money must look only to the Company and not to the Trustee for payment.
12. | Discharge and Defeasance |
Subject to certain conditions, the Company at any time may terminate some of or all its obligations under the Notes and the Indenture if the Company deposits with the Trustee money in euros or euro-dominated Government Obligations for the payment of principal and interest Notes (including premium, if any) on the Notes, in each case to redemption or maturity.
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13. | Amendment, Waiver |
Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, (i) the Indenture or the Notes may be amended without prior notice to any Noteholder but with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes and (ii) any default or noncompliance with any provision may be waived with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes. Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, without the consent of any Holder of Notes, the Company and the Trustee may amend the Indenture or the Notes (i) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency, as evidenced in an Officers Certificate; (ii) to comply with Article V of the Indenture; (iii) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes; (iv) to add Guarantees with respect to the Notes; (v) to secure the Notes, to add additional covenants or to surrender rights and powers conferred on the Company; (vi) to comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the TIA; (vii) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Noteholder in any material respect; or (viii) to provide for the issuance of additional Notes in accordance with the Indenture.
14. | Defaults and Remedies |
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding, subject to certain limitations, may declare all the Notes to be immediately due and payable. Certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency are Events of Default and shall result in the Notes being immediately due and payable upon the occurrence of such Events of Default without any further act of the Trustee or any Holder.
Holders of Notes may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may refuse to enforce the Indenture or the Notes unless it receives indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power under the Indenture. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind any declaration of acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree, and if all existing Events of Default have been cured or waived except nonpayment of principal or interest that has become due solely because of the acceleration.
15. | Trustee Dealings with the Company |
Subject to certain limitations imposed by the TIA, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Company or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.
16. | No Recourse Against Others |
A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Note, each Noteholder waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Notes.
17. | Authentication |
This Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or an authenticating agent) manually signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note.
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18. | Abbreviations |
Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Noteholder or an assignee, such as TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT (=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to Minors Act).
19. | Governing Law |
THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK BUT WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.
20. | Identification Numbers |
The Company has caused ISIN and Common Code numbers to be printed on the Notes and has directed the Trustee to use such numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Noteholders. 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 will furnish to any Holder of Notes upon written request and without charge to the Holder a copy of the Indenture which has in it the text of this Note.
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LEVI STRAUSS & CO. 3.375% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2027
ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign this Note, fill in the form below:
I or we assign and transfer this Note to
(Print or type assignees name, address and zip code)
(Insert assignees soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)
and irrevocably appoint agent 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 other side of this Note. |
In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate occurring while this Note is a Transfer Restricted Note, the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:
CHECK ONE BOX BELOW
(1) | ☐ | To the Company; or | ||
(2) | ☐ | Pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933; or | ||
(3) | ☐ | Inside the United States to a qualified institutional buyer (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933; or | ||
(4) | ☐ | Outside the United States in an offshore transaction within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act in compliance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act of 1933; or | ||
(5) | ☐ | Pursuant to another available exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933 |
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Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any person other than the registered holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (4), (5) or (6) is checked, the Trustee may require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company has reasonably requested 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 of 1933.
| ||||||
Your Signature |
Signature Guarantee: | ||||
Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized signature guaranty medallion program or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee |
Date: |
| |||||
Signature of Signature Guarantee |
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TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (3) ABOVE IS CHECKED.
The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a qualified institutional buyer within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigneds foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.
Dated: |
| |||||
NOTICE: To be executed by an executive officer |
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[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL NOTES]
SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE
The initial principal amount of this Global Note is [ ]. The following increases or decreases in this Global Note have been made:
Date of |
Amount of decrease in |
Amount of increase in |
Principal amount of this |
Signature of authorized |
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LEVI STRAUSS & CO. 3.375% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2027
OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE
If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.07 (Asset Sale) or 4.12 (Change of Control) of the Indenture, check the box:
☐
If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.07 or 4.12 of the Indenture, state the amount:
$
Date: | Your Signature: |
| ||||
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of the Note) |
Signature Guarantee: | ||||
Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized signature guaranty medallion program or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee |
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EXHIBIT B
Form of
Transferee Letter of Representation
Levi Strauss & Co.
In care of
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee
608 2nd Avenue South, 12th Floor
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Facsimile: (866) 969-1290
Attention of: Bondholder Communications
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This certificate is delivered to request a transfer of [ ] principal amount of the 3.375% Senior Notes due 2027 [Common Code Number] (the Notes) of LEVI STRAUSS & CO. (the Company).
Upon transfer, the Notes would be registered in the name of the new beneficial owner as follows:
Name:
Address:
Taxpayer ID Number:
The undersigned represents and warrants to you that:
1. We are an institutional accredited investor (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act)), purchasing for our own account or for the account of such an institutional accredited investor, and we are acquiring the Notes not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution in violation of the Securities Act. We have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and we invest in or purchase notes similar to the Notes in the normal course of our business. We, and any accounts for which we are acting, are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.
2. We understand that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and, unless so registered, may not be sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree on our own behalf and on behalf of any investor account for which we are purchasing Notes to offer, sell or otherwise transfer such Notes prior to the date that is two years after the later of the date of original issue and the last date on which the Company or any affiliate of the Company was the owner of such Notes (or any predecessor thereto) (the Resale Restriction Termination Date) only (a) to the Company, (b) pursuant to a registration statement that has been declared effective under the Securities Act, (c) in a transaction complying with the requirements of Rule 144A under the Securities Act (Rule 144A), to a person we reasonably believe is a qualified institutional buyer under Rule 144A (a QIB) that is purchasing for its own account or for the account of a QIB and to whom notice is given that the transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, (d) pursuant to offers and sales that occur outside the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (e) to an institutional accredited investor within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act that is purchasing for its own account or for the account of such an institutional accredited investor, or (f) pursuant to any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, subject in each of the foregoing cases to any requirement of law that the disposition of our property or the property of such investor account or accounts be at all times within our or their control and in compliance with any applicable state securities laws. The foregoing restrictions on resale will not apply subsequent to the Resale Restriction Termination Date. If any resale or other transfer of the Notes is proposed to be made pursuant
B-1
to clause (e) above prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date, the transferor shall deliver a letter from the transferee substantially in the form of this letter to the Company and the Trustee, which shall provide, among other things, that the transferee is an institutional accredited investor within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act and that it is acquiring such Notes for investment purposes and not for distribution in violation of the Securities Act. Each purchaser acknowledges that the Company and the Trustee reserve the right prior to the offer, sale or other transfer prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date of the Notes pursuant to clause (d), (e) or (f) above to require the delivery of an opinion of counsel, certifications or other information satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee.
TRANSFEREE: ,
By:
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Exhibit 4.2
EXECUTION VERSION
LEVI STRAUSS & CO.
475,000,000 3.375% Senior Notes due 2027
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
February 28, 2017
Merrill Lynch International
as Representative of the Several Initial Purchasers
c/o Merrill Lynch International
2 King Edward Street
London EC1A 1HQ, United Kingdom
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Levi Strauss & Co., a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware (the Company), proposes to issue and sell to certain purchasers as set forth in Schedule I to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below) (the Initial Purchasers) 475,000,000 principal amount of its 3.375% Senior Notes due 2027 (the Securities), in each case pursuant to, and upon the terms set forth in, the Purchase Agreement dated February 23, 2017 (the Purchase Agreement) relating to the initial placement of the Securities (the Initial Placement). To induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement and to satisfy a condition of your obligations thereunder, the Company agrees with you for your benefit and the benefit of the holders from time to time of the Securities (including the Initial Purchasers) (each a Holder and, together, the Holders), as follows:
1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture (as defined below). As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined terms shall have the following meanings:
Act shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
Affiliate of any specified person shall mean any other person that, directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified person. For purposes of this definition, control of a person shall mean the power, direct or indirect, to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such person whether by contract or otherwise; and the terms controlling and controlled shall have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
Broker-Dealer shall mean any broker or dealer registered as such under the Exchange Act.
Business Day shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City.
Commission shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
Exchange Offer Prospectus shall mean the prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the New Securities covered by such Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and all amendments and supplements thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.
Exchange Offer Registration Period shall mean the 180-day period following the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, exclusive of any period during which any stop order shall be in effect suspending the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.
Exchange Offer Registration Statement shall mean a registration statement of the Company on an appropriate form under the Act with respect to the Registered Exchange Offer, all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments thereto, in each case including the Exchange Offer Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.
Exchanging Dealer shall mean any Holder (which may include any Initial Purchaser) that is a Broker-Dealer and elects to exchange for New Securities any Securities that it acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (but not directly from the Company or any Affiliate of the Company).
Holder shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
Indenture shall mean the indenture relating to the Securities and the New Securities, dated as of February 28, 2017, between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
Initial Placement shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
Initial Purchaser shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
Issue Date shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) hereof.
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall mean any issuer free writing prospectus, as such term is defined in Rule 433 under the Act, relating to any portion of the Securities or the New Securities.
Losses shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(d) hereof.
Majority Holders shall mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Securities registered under a Registration Statement.
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Managing Underwriters shall mean the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that shall administer an underwritten offering.
New Securities shall mean debt securities of the Company identical in all material respects to the Securities (except that the interest rate step-up provisions and the transfer restrictions shall be modified or eliminated, as appropriate) and to be issued under the Indenture.
Prospectus shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that discloses information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A under the Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Securities or the New Securities covered by such Registration Statement, and all amendments and supplements thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.
Purchase Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
Registered Exchange Offer shall mean the proposed offer of the Company to issue and deliver to the Holders of the Securities that are not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in such offer, in exchange for the Securities, a like aggregate principal amount of the New Securities.
Registration Statement shall mean any Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement that covers any of the Securities or the New Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, any amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments (in each case including the Prospectus contained therein), all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.
Securities shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
Shelf Registration shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 3 hereof.
Shelf Registration Period has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b) hereof.
Shelf Registration Statement shall mean a shelf registration statement of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 hereof which covers some or all of the Securities or New Securities, as applicable, on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the Commission, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.
Trustee shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities or the New Securities, as applicable, under the Indenture.
underwriter shall mean any underwriter of Securities in connection with an offering thereof under a Shelf Registration Statement.
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2. Registered Exchange Offer. (a) The Company shall prepare and, not later than 90 days following the date of the original issuance of the Securities (the Issue Date) (or if such 90th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day), shall file with the Commission the Exchange Offer Registration Statement with respect to the Registered Exchange Offer. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective under the Act within 180 days of the Issue Date (or if such 180th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day).
(b) Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly commence the Registered Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to enable each Holder electing to exchange Securities for New Securities (assuming that such Holder is not an Affiliate of the Company, acquires the New Securities in the ordinary course of such Holders business, has no arrangements with any person to participate in the distribution of the New Securities and is not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer) to trade such New Securities from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions under the Act and without material restrictions under the securities laws of a substantial proportion of the several states of the United States.
(c) In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(i) mail to each registered Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;
(ii) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than 30 days and not more than 45 days after the date notice thereof is mailed to registered Holders (or, in each case, longer, if required by applicable law);
(iii) use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required, under the Act to ensure that it is available for sales of New Securities by Exchanging Dealers during the Exchange Offer Registration Period; provided that if any Initial Purchaser holds Securities that it acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (but not directly from the Company or any Affiliate of the Company) after the expiration of the Exchange Offer Registration Period, that Initial Purchaser shall have the right, for 90 days immediately following the expiration of the Exchange Offer Registration Period, to request the Company to prepare a prospectus for use by that Initial Purchaser for sales of New Securities, and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to prepare that prospectus for such use;
(iv) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan in New York City or the City of London, which may be the Trustee, the Principal Paying Agent or any Affiliate of either of them;
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(v) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Securities at any time prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last Business Day on which the Registered Exchange Offer is open;
(vi) prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, if requested or required by the Commission, provide a supplemental letter to the Commission (A) stating that the Company is conducting the Registered Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of the Commission in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (pub. avail. May 13, 1988) and Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (pub. avail. June 5, 1991); and (B) including a representation that the Company has not entered into any arrangement or understanding with any person to distribute the New Securities to be received in the Registered Exchange Offer and that, to the best of the Companys information and belief, each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer is acquiring the New Securities in the ordinary course of business and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of the New Securities; and
(vii) comply in all respects with all applicable laws.
(d) As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(i) accept for exchange all Securities tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer;
(ii) deliver to the Trustee or Principal Paying Agent for cancellation in accordance with Section 5(r) all Securities so accepted for exchange; and
(iii) cause the Authenticating Agent promptly to authenticate and deliver to each Holder of Securities a principal amount of New Securities equal to the principal amount of the Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.
(e) Each Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that any such Holder using the Registered Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the New Securities (x) could not under Commission policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement rely on the position of the Commission in Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (pub. avail. June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (pub. avail. May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the Commissions letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993 and similar no-action letters; and (y) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Act in connection with any secondary resale transaction which must be covered by an effective registration statement containing the selling security holder information required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K under the Act if the resales are of New Securities obtained by such Holder in exchange for Securities acquired by such Holder directly from the Company or one of its Affiliates. Accordingly, each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer shall be required to represent to the Company that, at the time of the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer:
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(i) any New Securities received by such Holder will be acquired in the ordinary course of business;
(ii) such Holder will have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of the Securities or the New Securities within the meaning of the Act; and
(iii) such Holder is not an Affiliate of the Company, or if it is an Affiliate, it will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Act to the extent applicable.
(f) If any Initial Purchaser determines that it is not eligible to participate in the Registered Exchange Offer with respect to the exchange of Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment, at the request of such Initial Purchaser, the Company shall issue and deliver to such Initial Purchaser or the person purchasing New Securities registered under a Shelf Registration Statement as contemplated by Section 3 hereof from such Initial Purchaser, in exchange for such Securities, a like principal amount of New Securities. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the same ISIN numbers and/or Common Codes for such New Securities as for New Securities issued pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer.
3. Shelf Registration. (a) If (i) due to any change in law or applicable interpretations thereof by the Commissions staff, the Company determines upon advice of its outside counsel that it is not permitted to effect the Registered Exchange Offer as contemplated by Section 2 hereof; (ii) for any other reason the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not declared effective within 180 days of the Issue Date (or if such 180th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day) or the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated within 210 days of the Issue Date (or if such 210th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day); (iii) any Initial Purchaser so requests within 45 days of consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer with respect to Securities that are not eligible to be exchanged for New Securities in the Registered Exchange Offer and that are held by it following consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer; (iv) any Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser) so requests within 45 days of consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer on the basis that such Holder was not eligible to participate in the Registered Exchange Offer or does not receive freely tradeable New Securities in the Registered Exchange Offer other than by reason of such Holder being an Affiliate of the Company (it being understood that a requirement to deliver a Prospectus in connection with market-making activities or other trading shall not result in the applicable securities not being freely tradeable); or (v) in the case of any Initial Purchaser that participates in the Registered Exchange Offer or acquires New Securities pursuant to Section 2(f) hereof, such Initial Purchaser does not receive freely tradeable New Securities in exchange for Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment (it being understood that (x) the requirement that an Initial Purchaser deliver a Prospectus containing the information required by Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Act in connection with sales of New Securities acquired in exchange for such Securities shall result in such New Securities being not freely tradeable; and (y) the requirement that an Exchanging Dealer deliver an Exchange Offer Prospectus in connection with sales of New Securities acquired in the Registered Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities shall not result in such New Securities being not freely tradeable), the Company shall effect a Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with subsection (b) below.
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(b) (i) The Company shall as promptly as practicable (but in no event more than 60 days after so required or requested pursuant to this Section 3), file with the Commission and thereafter shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause to become effective under the Act a Shelf Registration Statement, or shall, if permitted by Rule 430B under the Act, otherwise designate an existing effective filing with the Commission for use by the Holders as a Shelf Registration Statement, relating to the offer and sale of the Securities or the New Securities, as applicable, by the Holders thereof from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution elected by such Holders and set forth in such Shelf Registration Statement; provided, however, that no Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser) shall be entitled to have the Securities held by it covered by such Shelf Registration Statement unless such Holder agrees in writing to be bound by all of the provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder; and provided further, that with respect to New Securities received by an Initial Purchaser in exchange for Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment, the Company may, if permitted by current interpretations by the Commissions staff, file a post-effective amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement containing the information required by Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, in satisfaction of its obligations under this subsection with respect thereto, and any such Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as so amended, shall be referred to herein as, and governed by the provisions herein applicable to, a Shelf Registration Statement.
(ii) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by the Act, in order to permit the Prospectus forming part thereof to be usable by Holders for a period of two years from the Issue Date or such shorter period that will terminate when all the Securities or New Securities, as applicable, covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement (in any such case, such period being called the Shelf Registration Period). The Company shall be deemed not to have used its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective during the requisite period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result in Holders of Securities covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such Securities during that period, unless (A) such action is required by applicable law; or (B) such action is taken by the Company in good faith and for valid business reasons (not including avoidance of the Companys obligations hereunder), including the acquisition or divestiture of assets, so long as the Company promptly thereafter complies with the requirements of Section 5(k) hereof, if applicable. The Company is expressly permitted to suspend the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement in good faith in connection with the acquisition or divestiture of assets, so long as the Company promptly thereafter complies with the requirements of Section 5(k) hereof, if applicable.
4. Additional Interest. If (i) on or prior to the 90th day following the Issue Date, neither the Exchange Offer Registration Statement nor the Shelf Registration Statement has been filed with the Commission, (ii) on or prior to the 180th day following the Issue Date, neither the Exchange Offer Registration Statement nor the Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission, (iii) on or prior to the 210th day following the Issue Date, neither the Registered Exchange Offer has been consummated nor the Shelf Registration Statement has
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been declared effective or (iv) after either the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement is filed and declared effective the Registration Statement thereafter ceases to be effective or fails to be usable for its intended purpose without being succeeded immediately by a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement that cures such failure and that is itself immediately declared effective (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a Registration Default), the Company hereby agrees that the interest rate borne by the Securities shall be increased by 0.25% per annum during the 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of any Registration Default and shall increase by 0.25% per annum at the end of each subsequent 90-day period, but in no event shall such increase exceed 1.00% per annum. Following the cure of all Registration Defaults relating to any particular Securities, the interest rate borne by the relevant Securities will be reduced to the original interest rate borne by such Securities; provided, however, that, if after any such reduction in interest rate, a different Registration Default occurs, the interest rate borne by the relevant Securities shall again be increased pursuant to the foregoing provisions.
All obligations of the Company set forth in the preceding paragraph that are outstanding with respect to the Securities shall accrue to the New Securities until such time as all such obligations with respect to such security shall have been satisfied in full.
5. Additional Registration Procedures. In connection with any Shelf Registration Statement and, to the extent applicable, any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the following provisions shall apply.
(a) The Company shall:
(i) furnish to you, not less than five Business Days prior to the filing or designation thereof with the Commission, a copy of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any Shelf Registration Statement, and each amendment thereof and each amendment or supplement, if any, to the Prospectus included therein (including all documents incorporated by reference therein after the initial filing) and shall use its reasonable best efforts to reflect in each such document, when so filed with the Commission, such comments as you reasonably propose;
(ii) include the information set forth in Annex A hereto on the facing page of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, in Annex B hereto in the forepart of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in a section setting forth details of the Exchange Offer, in Annex C hereto in the underwriting or plan of distribution section of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and in Annex D hereto in the letter of transmittal delivered pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer;
(iii) if requested by an Initial Purchaser, include the information required by Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, in the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement;
(iv) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, include the names of the Holders that propose to sell Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement as selling security holders in such a manner as to permit such Holders to deliver the Prospectus contained therein to purchasers of Securities or New Securities, as applicable, in accordance with applicable law; and
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(v) unless the Shelf Registration Statement is an automatic shelf registration statement, the Company shall include the information required by Rule 430B(b)(2)(iii) under the Act.
(b) The Company shall ensure that:
(i) any Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and any Prospectus forming part thereof and any amendment or supplement thereto complies in all material respects with the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder;
(ii) any Registration Statement and any amendment thereto does not, when it becomes effective or is designated, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that the Holders shall ensure that written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Holder specifically for inclusion in such Registration Statement and any amendment thereto does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and
(iii) any Prospectus forming part of any Registration Statement, and any amendment or supplement to such Prospectus, does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Holders shall ensure that written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Holder specifically for inclusion in any such Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(c) The Company shall advise you, the Holders of Securities covered by any Shelf Registration Statement and any Exchanging Dealer under any Exchange Offer Registration Statement that has provided in writing to the Company a telephone or facsimile number and address for notices, and, if requested by you or any such Holder or Exchanging Dealer, shall confirm such advice in writing (which notice pursuant to clauses (ii) through (v) hereof shall be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus until the Company shall have remedied the basis for such suspension):
(i) when a Registration Statement and any amendment thereto has been filed with the Commission or any Registration Statement has been designated for use by the Holders and when the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective;
(ii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for additional information;
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(iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;
(iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the securities included therein for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose; and
(v) of the happening of any event that requires any change in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus so that, as of such date, the statements therein are not misleading and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.
(d) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement or the qualification of the securities therein for sale in any jurisdiction at the earliest possible time.
(e) The Company shall furnish to each Holder of Securities covered by any Shelf Registration Statement, without charge, at least one copy of such Shelf Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including all material incorporated therein by reference, and, if the Holder so requests in writing, all exhibits thereto (including exhibits incorporated by reference therein).
(f) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period, deliver to each Holder of Securities covered by any Shelf Registration Statement, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (including each preliminary Prospectus) included in such Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Holder may reasonably request. The Company consents to the use of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of Securities or New Securities, as applicable, in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities or New Securities, as applicable, covered by the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in the Shelf Registration Statement.
(g) The Company shall furnish to each Exchanging Dealer which so requests, without charge, at least one copy of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including all material incorporated by reference therein, and, if the Exchanging Dealer so requests in writing, all exhibits thereto (including exhibits incorporated by reference therein).
(h) The Company shall promptly deliver to each Initial Purchaser, each Exchanging Dealer and each other person required to deliver a Prospectus during the Exchange Offer Registration Period, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus included in such Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as any such person may reasonably request. The Company consents to the use of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by any Initial Purchaser, any Exchanging Dealer and any such other person that may be required to deliver a Prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer in connection with the offering and sale of the New Securities covered by the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.
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(i) Prior to the Registered Exchange Offer or any other offering of Securities or New Securities, as applicable, pursuant to any Registration Statement, the Company shall arrange, if necessary, for the qualification of the Securities or the New Securities, as applicable, for sale under the laws of such United States and European Union jurisdictions as any Holder shall reasonably request and will maintain such qualification in effect so long as required; provided that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to service of process in suits in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(j) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders of Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing New Securities or Securities to be issued or sold pursuant to any Registration Statement free of any restrictive legends and in such denominations and registered in such names as Holders may request.
(k) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by subsections (c)(ii) through (v) above, the Company shall promptly prepare a post-effective amendment to the applicable Registration Statement or an amendment or supplement to the related Prospectus or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to Initial Purchasers of the securities included therein, the Prospectus will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. In such circumstances, the period of effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement provided for in Section 2 and the Shelf Registration Statement provided for in Section 3(b) shall each be extended by the number of days from and including the date of the giving of a notice of suspension pursuant to Section 5(c) to and including the date when the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities or New Securities, as applicable, and any known Exchanging Dealer shall have received such amended or supplemented Prospectus pursuant to this Section.
(l) Not later than the effective date of any Registration Statement, the Company shall provide an ISIN number and/or Common Code for the Securities or the New Securities, as the case may be, registered under such Registration Statement and provide the Trustee with printed certificates or Global Notes for such Securities or New Securities, in a form eligible for deposit with the Common Depositary.
(m) The Company shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and shall make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable after the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act.
(n) The Company shall cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act in a timely manner.
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(o) The Company may require each Holder of Securities or New Securities, as applicable, to be sold pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the Company such information regarding the Holder and the distribution of such Securities or New Securities, as applicable, as the Company may from time to time reasonably require for inclusion in such Registration Statement and (ii) provide the indemnity contemplated by Section 7(b). The Company may exclude from such Shelf Registration Statement the Securities or New Securities, as applicable, of any Holder that fails to furnish such information or fails to provide the indemnity within a reasonable time after receiving such request.
(p) In the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall enter into such agreements (including, if requested, an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take all other reasonable, appropriate actions in order to expedite or facilitate the registration or the disposition of the Securities or New Securities, as applicable, and in connection therewith, if an underwriting agreement is entered into, cause the same to contain indemnification provisions and procedures no less favorable than those set forth in Section 7 (or such other provisions and procedures acceptable to the Majority Holders and the Managing Underwriters, if any) with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to Section 7.
(q) In the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall:
(i) make reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of Securities or New Securities, as applicable, to be registered thereunder, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by the Holders or any such underwriter all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries; provided, however, that any information that is designated in writing by the Company, in good faith, as confidential at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by the Holders or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent, unless such disclosure is made in connection with a court proceeding or required by law, or such information becomes available to the public generally or through a third party without an accompanying obligation of confidentiality; and provided further that the Company shall be entitled to coordinate such access to its financial and other records, corporate documents and properties in a manner that does not unreasonably interfere with the business operations of the Company or its subsidiaries;
(ii) cause the Companys officers, directors and employees to supply all relevant information reasonably requested by the Holders or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with any such Registration Statement as is customary for similar due diligence examinations; provided, however, that any information that is designated in writing by the Company, in good faith, as confidential at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by the Holders or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent, unless such disclosure is made in connection with a court proceeding or required by law, or such information becomes available to the public generally or through a third party without an accompanying obligation of confidentiality; and provided further that the Company shall be entitled to respond to such information requests in a coordinated fashion such that such requests do not unreasonably interfere with the business operations of the Company or its subsidiaries;
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(iii) make such representations and warranties to the Holders of Securities or New Securities, as applicable, registered thereunder and the underwriters, if any, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings and covering matters including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Purchase Agreement;
(iv) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and updates thereof (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Managing Underwriters, if any) addressed to each selling Holder and the underwriters, if any, covering such matters as are customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Holders and underwriters;
(v) obtain cold comfort letters and updates thereof from the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent registered public accounting firm of any subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be, included in the Registration Statement), addressed to each selling Holder of Securities or New Securities, as applicable, registered thereunder and the underwriters, if any, in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in cold comfort letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings; and
(vi) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Majority Holders and the Managing Underwriters, if any, including those to evidence compliance with Section 5(k) and with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company.
The actions set forth in clauses (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) of this subsection shall be performed at (A) the effectiveness or designation of such Registration Statement and each post-effective amendment thereto; and (B) each closing under any underwriting or similar agreement as and to the extent required thereunder.
(r) If a Registered Exchange Offer is to be consummated, upon delivery of the Securities by Holders to the Company (or to such other person as directed by the Company) in exchange for the New Securities, the Company shall mark, or cause to be marked, on the Securities so exchanged that such Securities are being canceled in exchange for the New Securities. In no event shall the Securities be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.
(s) In the event that any Broker-Dealer shall underwrite any Securities or New Securities, as applicable, or participate as a member of an underwriting syndicate or selling group or assist in the distribution (within the meaning of the Rules of Fair Practice and the By-Laws of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.) thereof, whether as a Holder of such Securities or New Securities, as applicable, or as an underwriter, a placement or sales agent or a broker or dealer in respect thereof, or otherwise, assist such Broker-Dealer in complying with the requirements of such Rules and By-Laws, including, without limitation, by:
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(i) if such Rules or By-Laws shall so require, engaging a qualified independent underwriter (as defined in such Rules) to participate in the preparation of the Registration Statement, to exercise usual standards of due diligence with respect thereto and, if any portion of the offering contemplated by such Registration Statement is an underwritten offering or is made through a placement or sales agent, to recommend the yield of such Securities or New Securities, as applicable;
(ii) indemnifying any such qualified independent underwriter to the extent of the indemnification of underwriters provided in Section 7 hereof; and
(iii) providing such information to such Broker-Dealer as may be required in order for such Broker-Dealer to comply with the requirements of such Rules.
(t) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to take all other steps necessary to effect the registration of the Securities or the New Securities, as the case may be, covered by a Registration Statement.
(u) The Company shall use its best efforts to have the New Securities admitted to listing on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. The Company shall use its best efforts to maintain such listing until none of the New Securities is outstanding or until such time as payment in respect of principal and interest and additional amounts, if any, in respect of the New Securities has been duly provided for, whichever is earlier.
6. Registration Expenses. The Company shall bear all expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under Sections 2, 3 and 5 hereof and, in the event of any Shelf Registration Statement, will reimburse the Holders for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm or counsel designated by the Majority Holders to act as counsel for the Holders in connection therewith, and, in the case of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, will reimburse the Initial Purchasers for the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel acting in connection therewith.
7. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, covered by any Registration Statement (including each Initial Purchaser and, with respect to any Prospectus delivery as contemplated in Section 5(h) hereof, each Exchanging Dealer), the directors, officers, employees and agents of each such Holder and each person who controls any such Holder within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in (i) the Registration Statement as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, (ii) any preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or (iii) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus approved for use by the Company, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them
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in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any such Holder specifically for inclusion therein. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have.
The Company also agrees to indemnify or contribute as provided in Section 7(d) to Losses of each underwriter of Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, registered under a Shelf Registration Statement, their directors, officers, employees or agents and each person who controls such underwriter on substantially the same basis as that of the indemnification of the Initial Purchasers and the selling Holders provided in this Section 7(a) and shall, if requested by any Holder, enter into an underwriting agreement reflecting such agreement, as provided in Section 5(p) hereof.
(b) Each Holder of securities covered by a Registration Statement (including each Initial Purchaser and, with respect to any Prospectus delivery as contemplated in Section 5(h) hereof, each Exchanging Dealer) severally and not jointly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs such Registration Statement and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each such Holder, but only with reference to written information relating to such Holder furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which any such Holder may otherwise have.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses; and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying partys choice at the indemnifying partys expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying partys election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest; (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or
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targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party; (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action; or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding. The indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for fees and expenses of more than one separate law firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) for all indemnified parties and all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as incurred. Such firm shall be designated by Merrill Lynch International in the case of the parties indemnified pursuant to Section 7(a) and by the Company in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 7(b). Each indemnified party shall use all reasonable efforts to cooperate with the indemnifying party in the defense of any such action or claim.
(d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason, then each applicable indemnifying party shall have a joint and several obligation to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending same) (collectively Losses) to which such indemnified party may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by such indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified party, on the other hand, from the Initial Placement and the Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses; provided, however, that in no case shall any Initial Purchaser or any subsequent Holder of any Security or New Security be responsible, in the aggregate, for any amount in excess of the purchase discount or commission applicable to such Security, or in the case of a New Security, applicable to the Security that was exchangeable into such New Security, as set forth in the Purchase Agreement, nor shall any underwriter be responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount or commission applicable to the securities purchased by such underwriter under the Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of such indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified party, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the Initial Placement (before deducting expenses) as set forth in the Purchase Agreement. Benefits received by the Initial Purchasers shall be deemed to be equal to the total purchase discounts and commissions as set forth in the Purchase Agreement, and benefits received by any other Holders shall be deemed
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to be equal to the value of receiving Securities or New Securities, as applicable, registered under the Act or selling Securities or New Securities, as applicable, under a Shelf Registration Statement. Benefits received by any underwriter shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, as set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any alleged untrue statement or omission relates to information provided by the indemnifying party, on the one hand, or by the indemnified party, on the other hand, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The parties agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section, each person who controls a Holder within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of such Holder shall have the same rights to contribution as such Holder, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (d).
(e) The provisions of this Section will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Holder or the Company or any of the directors, officers, employees, agents or controlling persons referred to in this Section hereof, and will survive the sale by a Holder of securities covered by a Registration Statement.
8. Underwritten Registrations. (a) If any of the Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, covered by any Shelf Registration Statement are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the Managing Underwriters shall be selected by the Majority Holders, provided, however, that such Managing Underwriters must be reasonably satisfactory to the Company.
(b) No person may participate in any underwritten offering pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement, unless such person (i) agrees to sell such persons Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements; (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements; and (iii) agrees to be bound by Section 7(b) hereof.
9. No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not, as of the date hereof, entered into, nor shall it, on or after the date hereof, enter into, any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders herein or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.
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10. Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, qualified, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, unless the Company has obtained the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of Securities (or, after the consummation of any Registered Exchange Offer in accordance with Section 2 hereof, of New Securities); provided that, with respect to any matter that directly or indirectly affects the rights of any Initial Purchaser hereunder, the Company shall obtain the written consent of each such Initial Purchaser against which such amendment, qualification, supplement, waiver or consent is to be effective. Notwithstanding the foregoing (except the foregoing proviso), a waiver or consent to departure from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given by the Majority Holders, determined on the basis of Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, being sold rather than registered under such Registration Statement.
11. Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail, telex, telecopier or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(a) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Section, which address initially is, with respect to each Holder, the address of such Holder maintained by the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy in like manner to Merrill Lynch International.
(b) if to you, initially at the respective addresses set forth in the Purchase Agreement; and
(c) if to the Company, initially at its address set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given when received.
The Initial Purchasers or the Company by notice to the other parties may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
12. Successors. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including, without the need for an express assignment or any consent by the Company thereto, subsequent Holders of Securities and the New Securities. The Company hereby agrees to extend the benefits of this Agreement to any Holder of Securities and the New Securities, and any such Holder who receives and accepts any benefits of this Agreement and who is thereafter bound by the obligations of this Agreement may specifically enforce the provisions of this Agreement as if an original party hereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Securities or New Securities in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture. Each Holder who receives and accepts any benefits of this Agreement will be deemed to agree to be bound by and comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
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13. Counterparts. This Agreement may be in signed counterparts, each of which shall an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
14. Headings. The headings used herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
15. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed in the State of New York.
16. Severability. In the event that any one of more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired or affected thereby, it being intended that all of the rights and privileges of the parties shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
17. Securities Held by the Company, etc. Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Securities or New Securities is required hereunder, Securities or New Securities, as applicable, held by the Company or its Affiliates shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.
[Signature pages follow]
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Company and the several Initial Purchasers.
Very truly yours, | ||
LEVI STRAUSS & CO., | ||
By: | /s/ Chris Ogle | |
Name: Chris Ogle | ||
Title: Vice President and Treasurer |
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The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written. | ||
MERRILL LYNCH INTERNATIONAL | ||
By: | /s/ Joseph Bishay | |
Name: Joseph Bishay | ||
Title: Managing Director | ||
For itself and the other several Initial Purchasers named in Schedule I to the Purchase Agreement. |
ANNEX A
Each Broker-Dealer that receives New Securities for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Securities. The Letter of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a Broker-Dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a Broker-Dealer in connection with resales of New Securities received in exchange for Securities where such Securities were acquired by such Broker-Dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed that, starting on the expiration date and ending on the close of business 180 days after the expiration date, it will make this Prospectus available to any Broker-Dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See Plan of Distribution.
ANNEX B
Each Broker-Dealer that receives New Securities for its own account in exchange for Securities, where such Securities were acquired by such Broker-Dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Securities. See Plan of Distribution.
ANNEX C
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each Broker-Dealer that receives New Securities for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Securities. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a Broker-Dealer in connection with resales of New Securities received in exchange for Securities where such Securities were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed that, starting on the expiration date and ending on the close of business 180 days after the expiration date, it will make this Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any Broker-Dealer for use in connection with any such resale. In addition, until , 201[ ], all dealers effecting transactions in the New Securities may be required to deliver a prospectus.
The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of New Securities by brokers-dealers. New Securities received by Broker-Dealers for their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the New Securities or a combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such Broker-Dealer and/or the purchasers of any such New Securities. Any Broker-Dealer that resells New Securities that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of such New Securities may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit resulting from any such resale of New Securities and any commissions or concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a Broker-Dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act.
For a period of 180 days after the expiration date, the Company will promptly send additional copies of this Prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this Prospectus to any Broker-Dealer that requests such documents in the Letter of Transmittal. The Company has agreed to pay all expenses incident to the Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the Holders of the Securities) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers or dealers and will indemnify the holders of the Securities (including any Broker-Dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
If the undersigned is not a Broker-Dealer, the undersigned represents that it acquired the New Securities in the ordinary course of its business, it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of New Securities and it has no arrangements or understandings with any person to participate in a distribution of the New Securities. If the undersigned is a Broker-Dealer that will receive New Securities for its own account in exchange for Securities, it represents that the Securities to be exchanged for New Securities were acquired by it as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Securities; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act.
ANNEX D
Rider A
☐ | CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO. |
Name: |
Address: |
Rider B
If the undersigned is not a Broker-Dealer, the undersigned represents that it acquired the New Securities in the ordinary course of its business, it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of New Securities and it has no arrangements with any person to participate in a distribution of the New Securities. If the undersigned is a Broker-Dealer that will receive New Securities for its own account in exchange for Securities, it represents that the Securities to be exchanged for New Securities were acquired by it as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Securities; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act.
Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Investor Contact: Edelita Tichepco Levi Strauss & Co. (415) 501-1953 Investor-relations@levi.com |
Media Contact: Amber Rensen Levi Strauss & Co. (415) 501-7777 newsmediarequests@levi.com |
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. PRICES PRIVATE PLACEMENT OF SENIOR NOTES
SAN FRANCISCO (February 23, 2017) Levi Strauss & Co. announced today the pricing of 475 million, approximately US$501 million, of its 3 3⁄8% senior notes due 2027 in a private placement conducted pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The sale of the notes is expected to close on February 28, 2017.
The company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering, together with cash on hand, to purchase its 6 7⁄8% senior notes due 2022 and to pay fees and expenses related to the offering and the purchase of such outstanding notes.
The notes have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws, and unless so registered, may not be offered or sold in the United States, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Statements in this press release regarding the private offering of debt securities shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any such securities.
Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding our notes offering and use of proceeds. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current assumptions, expectations and projections about future events. We use words like believe, will, so we can, when, anticipate, intend, estimate, expect, project and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of our senior management and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. Investors should consider the information contained in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year 2016, especially in the Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Risk Factors sections. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on our future results, performance or achievements. In light of
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these risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors, the forward-looking events discussed in this news release may not occur. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date stated, or if no date is stated, as of the date of this news release. We are not under any obligation and do not intend to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements contained in this news release to reflect circumstances existing after the date of this news release or to reflect the occurrence of future events even if experience or future events make it clear that any expected results expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements will not be realized.
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Exhibit 99.2
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Investor Contact: Edelita Tichepco Levi Strauss & Co. (415) 501-1953 Investor-relations@levi.com |
Media Contact: Amber Rensen Levi Strauss & Co. (415) 501-7777 newsmediarequests@levi.com |
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES PRIVATE PLACEMENT AND
ANNOUNCES NOTES TENDERED BY EXPIRATION TIME
SAN FRANCISCO (February 28, 2017) Levi Strauss & Co. (the Company) announced today that it has closed its private placement of 475 million aggregate principal amount 3 3⁄8% Senior Notes due 2027 (the Notes).
The Company also announced today that approximately $370.3 million (or approximately 71%) of its $525 million aggregate principal amount of 6 7⁄8% Senior Notes due 2022 (the 2022 Notes) were validly tendered on or before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on February 28, 2017 (the Expiration Time). Holders who indicated by the Expiration Time that they will deliver their 2022 Notes through the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated February 21, 2017 (the Offer to Purchase), must deliver their 2022 Notes by the close of business on March 2, 2017 in accordance with the Offer to Purchase.
The Company will use the net proceeds from the offering of the Notes, together with cash on hand, to purchase any 2022 Notes tendered by holders pursuant to the Offer to Purchase and to pay fees and expenses related to the offering of the Notes and the purchase of the 2022 Notes. The Company expects to make payments for the 2022 Notes on March 3, 2017, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase.
Improving the structural economics of LS&Co. has been an important focus for the past four years as we continue to position the company for long-term sustainable profitable growth, said Harmit Singh, executive vice president and chief financial officer at Levi Strauss & Co. Our diversified global business model and continued growth of our European operations coupled with the financial strength of our company allowed us to successfully price our Euro notes at a rate significantly lower than the notes we plan to redeem. The substantial annual interest expense savings generated by this reduction in our cost of debt will enable us to invest part of those savings into growth initiatives while also improving profitability, thereby enhancing shareholder value over the long term.
This press release is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell the Notes or any other security. Statements in this press release regarding the private offering of debt securities shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy such securities.
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About Levi Strauss & Co.
Levi Strauss & Co. is one of the worlds largest brand-name apparel companies and a global leader in jeanswear. The company designs and markets jeans, casual wear and related accessories for men, women and children under the Levis®, Dockers®, Signature by Levi Strauss & Co., and Denizen® brands. Its products are sold in more than 110 countries worldwide through a combination of chain retailers, department stores, online sites, and a global footprint of approximately 2,900 retail stores and shop-in-shops. Levi Strauss & Co.s reported fiscal 2016 net revenues were $4.6 billion. For more information, go to http://levistrauss.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding use of proceeds from the note offering. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current assumptions, expectations and projections about future events. We use words like believe, will, so we can, when, anticipate, intend, estimate, expect, project and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of our senior management and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. Investors should consider the information contained in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year 2016, especially in the Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Risk Factors sections. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on our future results, performance or achievements. In light of these risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors, the forward-looking events discussed in this news release may not occur. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date stated, or if no date is stated, as of the date of this news release. We are not under any obligation and do not intend to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements contained in this news release to reflect circumstances existing after the date of this news release or to reflect the occurrence of future events even if experience or future events make it clear that any expected results expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements will not be realized.
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