________________________________________________________________________________
▇▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇' HOLDING COMPANY, INC.
Issuer
SERIES A AND SERIES B
14% SENIOR SECURED DISCOUNT NOTES DUE 2005
INDENTURE
______________________________________
Dated as of August 24, 1998
______________________________________
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
Trustee
________________________________________________________________________________
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PAGE
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ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE................................ 1
SECTION 1.01. DEFINITIONS........................................................... 1
SECTION 1.02. OTHER DEFINITIONS..................................................... 15
SECTION 1.03. INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF TRUST INDENTURE ACT..................... 16
SECTION 1.04. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION................................................. 16
ARTICLE 2. THE NOTES................................................................. 16
SECTION 2.01. FORM AND DATING....................................................... 16
SECTION 2.02. EXECUTION AND AUTHENTICATION.......................................... 17
SECTION 2.03. REGISTRAR AND PAYING AGENT............................................ 18
SECTION 2.04. PAYING AGENT TO HOLD MONEY IN TRUST................................... 18
SECTION 2.05. HOLDER LISTS.......................................................... 18
SECTION 2.06. TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE................................................. 19
SECTION 2.07. REPLACEMENT NOTES..................................................... 30
SECTION 2.08. OUTSTANDING NOTES..................................................... 30
SECTION 2.09. TREASURY NOTES........................................................ 31
SECTION 2.10. TEMPORARY NOTES....................................................... 31
SECTION 2.11. CANCELLATION.......................................................... 31
SECTION 2.12. DEFAULTED INTEREST.................................................... 31
ARTICLE 3. REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT................................................. 32
SECTION 3.01. NOTICES TO TRUSTEE.................................................... 32
SECTION 3.02. SELECTION OF NOTES TO BE REDEEMED..................................... 32
SECTION 3.03. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION.................................................. 32
i
SECTION 3.04 EFFECT OF NOTICE OF REDEMPTION.................................................................. 33
SECTION 3.05. DEPOSIT OF REDEMPTION PRICE..................................................................... 33
SECTION 3.06. NOTES REDEEMED IN PART.......................................................................... 34
SECTION 3.07. OPTIONAL REDEMPTION............................................................................. 34
SECTION 3.08 MANDATORY REDEMPTION............................................................................. 34
SECTION 3.09 OFFER TO PURCHASE BY APPLICATION OF EXCESS PROCEEDS.............................................. 34
ARTICLE 4. COVENANTS........................................................................................... 36
SECTION 4.01. PAYMENT OF NOTES................................................................................ 36
SECTION 4.02. MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY................................................................. 37
SECTION 4.03. REPORTS......................................................................................... 37
SECTION 4.04. COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE.......................................................................... 37
SECTION 4.05. TAXES........................................................................................... 38
SECTION 4.06. STAY, EXTENSION AND USURY LAWS.................................................................. 38
SECTION 4.07. RESTRICTED PAYMENTS............................................................................. 38
SECTION 4.08. DIVIDEND AND OTHER PAYMENT RESTRICTIONS AFFECTING SUBSIDIARIES.................................. 40
SECTION 4.09. INCURRENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS AND ISSUANCE OF PREFERRED STOCK...................................... 41
SECTION 4.10. ASSET SALES..................................................................................... 43
SECTION 4.11. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES................................................................... 43
SECTION 4.12. LIENS........................................................................................... 44
SECTION 4.13. LINE OF BUSINESS................................................................................ 44
SECTION 4.14. CORPORATE EXISTENCE............................................................................. 44
SECTION 4.15. OFFER TO REPURCHASE UPON CHANGE OF CONTROL...................................................... 45
SECTION 4.16. LIMITATION ON ISSUANCES AND SALES OF CAPITAL STOCK OF WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARIES................. 46
SECTION 4.17. ADVANCES TO SUBSIDIARIES........................................................................ 46
SECTION 4.18. PAYMENTS FOR CONSENT............................................................................ 47
ii
SECTION 4.19. CALCULATION OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT.......................................................... 47
ARTICLE 5. SUCCESSORS.......................................................................................... 47
SECTION 5.01 MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, OR SALE OF ASSETS......................................................... 47
SECTION 5.02. SUCCESSOR CORPORATION SUBSTITUTED............................................................... 47
ARTICLE 6. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES............................................................................... 48
SECTION 6.01. EVENTS OF DEFAULT............................................................................... 48
SECTION 6.02. ACCELERATION.................................................................................... 49
SECTION 6.03. OTHER REMEDIES.................................................................................. 50
SECTION 6.04 WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS.......................................................................... 50
SECTION 6.05. CONTROL BY MAJORITY............................................................................. 51
SECTION 6.06. LIMITATION ON SUITS............................................................................. 51
SECTION 6.07. RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF NOTES TO RECEIVE PAYMENT................................................... 51
SECTION 6.08. COLLECTION SUIT BY TRUSTEE...................................................................... 51
SECTION 6.09. TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM................................................................ 52
SECTION 6.10. PRIORITIES...................................................................................... 52
SECTION 6.11. UNDERTAKING FOR COSTS........................................................................... 52
ARTICLE 7. TRUSTEE............................................................................................. 53
SECTION 7.01. DUTIES OF TRUSTEE............................................................................... 53
SECTION 7.02. RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE............................................................................... 54
SECTION 7.03. INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE.................................................................... 54
SECTION 7.04. TRUSTEE'S DISCLAIMER............................................................................ 55
SECTION 7.05. NOTICE OF DEFAULTS.............................................................................. 55
SECTION 7.06. REPORTS BY TRUSTEE TO HOLDERS OF THE NOTES...................................................... 55
SECTION 7.07. COMPENSATION AND INDEMNITY...................................................................... 55
SECTION 7.08 REPLACEMENT OF TRUSTEE........................................................................... 56
iii
SECTION 7.09. SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE BY MERGER, ETC................................................................ 57
SECTION 7.10. ELIGIBILITY; DISQUALIFICATION................................................................... 57
SECTION 7.11. PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST COMPANY............................................... 57
SECTION 7.12. TRUSTEE'S APPLICATION FOR INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE COMPANY......................................... 58
ARTICLE 8. LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE............................................................ 58
SECTION 8.01. OPTION TO EFFECT LEGAL DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE........................................ 58
SECTION 8.02. LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND DISCHARGE.................................................................. 58
SECTION 8.03. COVENANT DEFEASANCE............................................................................. 59
SECTION 8.04 CONDITIONS TO LEGAL OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE....................................................... 59
SECTION 8.05. DEPOSITED MONEY AND GOVERNMENT SECURITIES TO BE HELD IN TRUST; OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS... 60
SECTION 8.06. REPAYMENT TO COMPANY............................................................................ 61
SECTION 8.07. REINSTATEMENT................................................................................... 61
ARTICLE 9. AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER.................................................................... 61
SECTION 9.01. WITHOUT CONSENT OF HOLDERS OF NOTES............................................................. 61
SECTION 9.02. WITH CONSENT OF HOLDERS OF NOTES................................................................ 62
SECTION 9.03. COMPLIANCE WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT............................................................. 63
SECTION 9.04. REVOCATION AND EFFECT OF CONSENTS............................................................... 64
SECTION 9.05. NOTATION ON OR EXCHANGE OF NOTES................................................................ 64
SECTION 9.06. TRUSTEE TO SIGN AMENDMENTS, ETC................................................................. 64
ARTICLE 10. COLLATERAL AND SECURITY........................................................................... 64
SECTION 10.01. PLEDGE AGREEMENT............................................................................... 64
SECTION 10.02. RECORDING AND OPINIONS......................................................................... 65
SECTION 10.03. RELEASE OF COLLATERAL.......................................................................... 65
SECTION 10.04. CERTIFICATES OF THE COMPANY.................................................................... 66
iv
SECTION 10.05. CERTIFICATES OF THE TRUSTEE.................................................................... 66
SECTION 10.06. AUTHORIZATION OF ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY THE TRUSTEE UNDER THE PLEDGE AGREEMENT................. 67
SECTION 10.07. AUTHORIZATION OF RECEIPT OF FUNDS BY THE TRUSTEE UNDER THE PLEDGE AGREEMENT.................... 67
SECTION 10.08. TERMINATION OF SECURITY INTEREST............................................................... 67
ARTICLE 11. MISCELLANEOUS...................................................................................... 67
SECTION 11.01. TRUST INDENTURE ACT CONTROLS................................................................... 67
SECTION 11.02. NOTICES........................................................................................ 67
SECTION 11.03. COMMUNICATION BY HOLDERS OF NOTES WITH OTHER HOLDERS OF NOTES.................................. 68
SECTION 11.04. CERTIFICATE AND OPINION AS TO CONDITIONS PRECEDENT............................................. 69
SECTION 11.05. STATEMENTS REQUIRED IN CERTIFICATE OR OPINION.................................................. 69
SECTION 11.06. RULES BY TRUSTEE AND AGENTS.................................................................... 69
SECTION 11.07. NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND STOCKHOLDERS....................... 69
SECTION 11.08. GOVERNING LAW.................................................................................. 70
SECTION 11.09. NO ADVERSE INTERPRETATION OF OTHER AGREEMENTS.................................................. 70
SECTION 11.10. SUCCESSORS..................................................................................... 70
SECTION 11.11. SEVERABILITY................................................................................... 70
SECTION 11.12. COUNTERPART ORIGINALS.......................................................................... 70
SECTION 11.13. TABLE OF CONTENTS, HEADINGS, ETC............................................................... 70
EXHIBITS
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EXHIBIT A FORM OF NOTE
EXHIBIT B FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
EXHIBIT C FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE
EXHIBIT D FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF ACQUIRING IAI
EXHIBIT E FORM OF PLEDGE AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT F FORM OF SUBSIDIARY INTERCOMPANY NOTE
EXHIBIT G LIST OF NON-CORE STORES
v
INDENTURE dated as of August 24, 1998 between ▇▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇' Holding
Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and The Bank of New York,
a New York banking corporation as trustee (the "Trustee").
The Company and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each
other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the 14% Series A
Notes due 2005 (the "Series A Notes") and the 14% Series B Notes due 2005 (the
"Series B Notes" and, together with the Series A Notes, the "Notes"):
ARTICLE 1.
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
SECTION 1.01. DEFINITIONS.
"Accreted Value" means, for each $1,000 face amount of Notes, as of
any date of determination prior to December 1, 2002, the sum of (i) $561.17 and
(ii) that portion of the excess of the principal amount of each Note over
$561.17 which shall have been accreted thereon through such date, such amount to
be so accreted on a daily basis and compounded semi-annually on each June 1 and
December 1 at the rate of 14% per annum from the Issue Date.
"Acquired Indebtedness" means, with respect to any specified Person,
(i) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is
merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person, excluding,
however, Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such
other Person merging with or into or becoming a Subsidiary of such specified
Person, and (ii) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any assets acquired
by such specified Person.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, "control"
(including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlling," "controlled by"
and "under common control with"), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean
the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise; provided, however,
that beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the voting securities of a Person
shall be deemed to be control.
"Agent" means any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-registrar.
"Applicable Procedures" means, with respect to any transfer or
exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and
procedures of the Depositary that apply to such transfer or exchange.
"Asset Sale" means (i) the sale, lease, conveyance or other
disposition of any assets or rights (including, without limitation, by way of a
sale and leaseback) other than sales of inventory in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practices (provided that the sale, lease,
conveyance other
disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be governed by Section 4.15 hereof and/or
provisions described in Section 5.02 hereof and not by the provisions of Section
4.10 hereof, and (ii) the issue or sale by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries of Equity Interests of any of the Company's Subsidiaries, in the
case of either clause (i) or (ii), whether in a singe transaction or a series of
related transactions (A) that have a fair market value in excess of $1.0 million
or (B) for net proceeds in excess of $1.0 million. Not withstanding the
foregoing, (i) a transfer of assets by the Company to a Wholly Owned Subsidiary
or by a Wholly Owned Subsidiary to the Company or to another Wholly Owned
Subsidiary, (ii) an issuance of Equity Interests by a Wholly Owned Subsidiary to
the Company or to another Wholly Owned Subsidiary, (iii) a Restricted Payment
that is permitted by Section 4.07 hereof, (iv) arrangements providing for the
receipt by the Company or any Subsidiary of franchise and royalty fees but not
otherwise involving the sale of assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
(other than inventory in the ordinary course of business) and (v) a disposition
of any Non-Core Stores will not be deemed to be Asset Sales.
"Bankruptcy Law" means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or
state law for the relief of debtors.
"Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the Company, or
any authorized committee of the Board of Directors.
"Business Day" means any day other than a Legal Holiday.
"Capital Lease Obligation" means, at the time any determination
thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease
that would at such time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in
accordance with GAAP.
"Capital Stock" means (i) in the case of a corporation, corporate
stock, (ii) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all
shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however
designated) of corporate stock, (iii) in the case of a partnership or limited
liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or
limited) and (iv) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person
the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of
assets of, the issuing Person.
"Cash Equivalents" means (i) United States dollars, (ii) securities
issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States
government or any agency or instrumentality thereof having maturities of not
more than six months from the date of acquisition, (iii) marketable direct
obligations issued by any State of the United States or any local government or
other political subdivision thereof rated (at the time of the acquisition of
such security) at least "AA" by S&P or the equivalent thereof by ▇▇▇▇▇'▇ and
having the maturities of not more than one year from the acquisition of such
security, (iv) certificates of deposit and eurodollar time deposits with
maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition, bankers'
acceptances with maturities not exceeding six months and overnight bank
deposits, in each case, with any domestic commercial bank having capital and
surplus in excess of $500,000,000 and a ▇▇▇▇▇ Bank Watch Rating of "B" or better
or with any registered broker-dealer whose commercial paper is rated at least
"A-1" by S&P or the equivalent thereof by ▇▇▇▇▇'▇, (v) repurchase obligations
with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types
2
described in clauses (ii) and (iv) above entered into with any financial
institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (iv) above, (vi)
commercial paper rated at least "A-1" by S&P or the equivalent thereof by
▇▇▇▇▇'▇ and, in each case, maturing within six months after the date of
acquisition, and (vii) investments in money market funds all of whose assets
consist of securities described in clauses (ii) through (vi) above.
"Change of Control" means the occurrence of any of the following: (i)
the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of
merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole to any "person" (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange
Act) other than the Principals or their Related Parties; (ii) the adoption of a
plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company; (iii) the
consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or
consolidation) the result of which is that any "person" (as defined above),
other than the Principals or their Related Parties, becomes the "beneficial
owner" (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange
Act, except that a person shall be deemed to have "beneficial ownership" of all
securities that such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is
currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent
condition), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the
Company (measured by voting power rather than number of shares); or (iv) the
first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the
Company are not Continuing Directors. For purposes of this definition, any
transfer of an equity interest of an entity that was formed for the purpose of
acquiring Voting Stock of the Company will be deemed to be a transfer of such
portion of such Voting Stock as corresponds to the portion of such equity of
such entity that has been so transferred.
"Company" means ▇▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇' Holding Company, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, and any and all successors thereto.
"Consolidated Cash Flow" means, with respect to any Person for any
period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period plus (i) an
amount equal to any extraordinary loss plus any net loss realized in connection
with an Asset Sale (to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such
Consolidated Net Income), plus (ii) provision for taxes based on income or
profits of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that
such provision for taxes was included in computing such Consolidated Net Income,
plus (iii) consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Subsidiaries for
such period, whether paid or accrued and whether or not capitalized (including,
without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue
discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred
payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with
Capital Lease Obligations, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges
incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers' acceptance financings, and
net payments (if any) pursuant to Hedging Obligations), to the extent that any
such expense was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income, plus (iv)
depreciation, amortization (including amortization of goodwill and other
intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid
in a prior period) and other non-cash expenses (excluding any such non-cash
expense to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash
expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was
paid in a prior period) of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period to
the extent that such depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses were
deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income, minus (v) non-cash items
increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, in each case, on a
consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP. Notwithstanding the
foregoing,
3
the provision for taxes on the income or profits of, and the depreciation and
amortization and other non-cash charges of, a Subsidiary of the referent Person
shall be added to Consolidated Net Income to compute Consolidated Cash Flow only
to the extent and in the same proportion that the net income of such Subsidiary
was included in calculating Consolidated Net Income and only if a corresponding
amount would be permitted at the date of determination to be dividended to the
Company by such Subsidiary without prior governmental approval (that has not
been obtained), and without direct or indirect restriction pursuant to the terms
of its charter and all agreements, instruments, judgments, decrees, orders,
statutes, rules and governmental regulations applicable to that Subsidiary or
its stockholders.
"Consolidated Net Income" means, with respect to any Person for any
period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Subsidiaries for
such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP;
provided that (i) the Net Income (but not loss) of any Person that is not a
Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting shall be
included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in
cash to the referent Person or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary thereof, (ii) the Net
Income of any Subsidiary shall be excluded to the extent that the declaration or
payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Subsidiary of that Net
Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior
governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly,
by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment,
decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that
Subsidiary or its stockholders, (iii) the Net Income of any Person acquired in a
pooling of interests transaction for any period prior to the date of such
acquisition shall be excluded and (iv) the cumulative effect of a change in
accounting principles shall be excluded.
"Consolidated Net Worth" means, with respect to any Person as of any
date, the sum of (i) the consolidated equity of the common stockholders of such
Person and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date plus (ii) the
respective amounts reported on such Person's balance sheet as of such date with
respect to any series of preferred stock (other than Disqualified Stock) that by
its terms is not entitled to the payment of dividends unless such dividends may
be declared and paid only out of net earnings in respect of the year of such
declaration and payment, but only to the extent of any cash received by such
Person upon issuance of such preferred stock, less (x) all write-ups (other than
write-ups resulting from foreign currency translations and write-ups of tangible
assets of a going concern business made within 12 months after the acquisition
of such business) subsequent to the Issue Date in the book value of any asset
owned by such Person or a consolidated Subsidiary of such Person, (y) all
investments as of such date in unconsolidated Subsidiaries and in Persons that
are not Subsidiaries (except, in each case, Permitted Investments), and (z) all
unamortized debt discount and expense and unamortized deferred charges as of
such date, all of the foregoing determined in accordance with GAAP.
"Continuing Directors" means, as of any date of determination, any
member of the Board of Directors of the Company who (i) was a member of such
Board of Directors on the Issue Date or (ii) was nominated for election or
elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the
Continuing Directors who were members of such Board at the time of such
nomination or election.
"Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee" shall be at the address of the
Trustee specified in Section 11.02 hereof or such other address as to which the
Trustee may give notice to the Company.
4
"Credit Facility" means, with respect to MFOC, one or more debt
facilities or commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional
lenders (including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents,
instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith) providing for
revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the
sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to
borrow from such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit up to a
maximum aggregate amount of not more than $15.0 million, in each case, as
amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole
or in part from time to time.
"Custodian" means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or
similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
"Default" means any event that is or with the passage of time or the
giving of notice or both would be an Event of Default.
"Definitive Note" means a certificated Note registered in the name of
the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06 hereof, in the
form of Exhibit A hereto except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note
Legend and shall not have the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global
Note" attached thereto.
"Depositary" means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in
whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.03 hereof as
the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto
appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the
applicable provision of this Indenture.
"Disqualified Stock" means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by
the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is
exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily
redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at
the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date
that is 91 days after the date on which the Notes mature, provided that a class
of Capital Stock shall not be Disqualified Stock solely as a result of any
maturity or redemption that is conditioned upon, and subject to, compliance with
Section 4.07.
"Equity Interests" means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or
other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is
convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Exchange MFOC Senior Notes" means Series B 10 1/8% Senior Notes due
2004 of MFOC issued in exchange for the Series C Senior Notes.
"Exchange Notes" means the Notes issued in the Exchange Offer pursuant
to Section 2.06(f) hereof.
"Exchange Offer" has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights
Agreement.
5
"Exchange Offer Registration Statement" has the meaning set forth in
the Registration Rights Agreement.
"Existing Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (including preferred stock of Pretzel Time outstanding on the Issue
Date but excluding any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
under any Credit Facility existing on the Issue Date) in existence on the Issue
Date, until such amounts are repaid.
"Fixed Charges" means, with respect to any Person for any period, the
sum, without duplication, of (i) the consolidated interest expense of such
Person and its Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued (including,
without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue
discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred
payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with
Capital Lease Obligations, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges
incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers' acceptance financings, and
net payments (if any) pursuant to Hedging Obligations), (ii) the consolidated
interest expense of such Person and its Subsidiaries that was capitalized during
such period, (iii) any interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person that
is guaranteed by such Person or one of its Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on
assets of such Person or one of its Subsidiaries (whether or not such guarantee
or Lien is called upon), and (iv) the product of (A) all dividend payments,
whether or not in cash, on any series of preferred stock of such Person or any
of its Subsidiaries, other than dividend payments on Equity Interests payable
solely in Equity Interests of the Company, times (B) a fraction, the numerator
of which is one and the denominator of which is one minus the then current
combined federal, state and local statutory tax rate of such Person, expressed
as a decimal, in each case, on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.
"Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" means with respect to any Person for any
period, the ratio of the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for such period
to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, guarantees or redeems any
Indebtedness (other than revolving credit borrowings) or issues preferred stock
subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to the date on which the event for
which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the
"Calculation Date"), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated
giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee or redemption
of Indebtedness, or such issuance or redemption of preferred stock, as if the
same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter reference
period. In addition, for purposes of making the computation referred to above,
(i) acquisitions that have been made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
including through mergers or consolidations and including any related financing
transactions, during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such
reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date shall be deemed to have
occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period and Consolidated
Cash Flow for such reference period shall be calculated without giving effect to
clause (iii) of the proviso set forth in the definition of Consolidated Net
Income, (ii) the Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to discontinued operations,
as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses disposed of
prior to the Calculation Date, shall be excluded, (iii) the Fixed Charges
attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP,
and operations or businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, shall be
excluded, but only to the extent that the obligations giving rise to such Fixed
Charges will not be obligations of the referent Person or any of its
Subsidiaries following the Calculation Date, and (iv) the financial information
of the Company with respect to any portion of the four fiscal quarters prior
6
to November 26, 1997 may be adjusted to eliminate certain historical expenses
that are not expected to recur after the consummation of the Pretzel
Contributions so long as such adjustments are not deemed to be contrary to the
requirements of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act. In calculating the
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for any period, to the extent that the proceeds from
the incurrence of any Indebtedness are to be used to fund the acquisition of
Equity Interests or assets in a Permitted Business, the Company may include any
pro forma adjustments permitted by Regulation S-X under the Securities Act in
its calculation of the amount of Consolidated Cash Flow that relate solely to
such acquisition, so long as such pro forma adjustments are not deemed to be
contrary to the requirements of Rule 11-02 of Regulation S-X under the
Securities Act.
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the
opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of
the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such
other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting
profession, which are in effect on the Issue Date.
"Global Note" means a global note in the form of Exhibit A hereto
bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited
with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its
nominee that will be issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal
amount of the Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A.
"Global Note Legend" means the legend set forth in Section
2.06(g)(ii), which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under
this Indenture.
"Government Securities" means direct obligations of, or obligations
guaranteed by, the United States of America, and the payment for which the
United States pledges its full faith and credit.
"guarantee" means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable
instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or
indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, letters of credit and
reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any
Indebtedness.
"Hedging Obligations" means, with respect to any Person, the
obligations of such Person under (i) interest rate swap agreements, interest
rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements and (ii) other
agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations
in interest rates or foreign currency exchange rates.
"Holder" means a Person in whose name a Note is registered.
"Indebtedness" means, with respect to any Person, any indebtedness of
such Person, whether or not contingent, in respect of borrowed money or
evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of
credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof) or banker's acceptances
or representing Capital Lease Obligations or the balance deferred and unpaid of
the purchase price of any property or representing any Hedging Obligations,
except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable, if
and to the extent any of the foregoing indebtedness (other than letters of
credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet
of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP, as well as all indebtedness of
others secured by a Lien on any asset
7
of such Person (whether or not such indebtedness is assumed by such Person) and,
to the extent not otherwise included, the guarantee by such Person of any
indebtedness of any other Person. The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as
of any date shall be (i) the accreted value thereof, in the case of any
Indebtedness that does not require current payments of interest, and (ii) the
principal amount thereof, together with any interest thereon that is more than
30 days past due, in the case of any other Indebtedness.
"Indenture" means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time
to time.
"Indirect Participant" means a Person who holds a beneficial interest
in a Global Note through a Participant.
"Institutional Accredited Investor" means an institution that is an
"accredited investor" as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the
Securities Act, who are not also QIBs.
"Investments" means, with respect to any Person, all investments by
such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of direct or
indirect loans (including guarantees of Indebtedness or other obligations),
advances or capital contributions (excluding commission, travel and similar
advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business),
purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity
Interests or other securities, together with all items that are or would be
classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP,
provided that an acquisition of assets, Equity Interests or other securities by
the Company for consideration consisting of common stock of the Company shall
not be deemed to be an Investment. If the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity Interests of any direct or
indirect Subsidiary of the Company such that, after giving effect to any such
sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Subsidiary of the Company, the
Company shall be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale
or disposition equal to the fair market value of the Equity Interests of such
Subsidiary not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in
Section 4.07 hereof.
"IPO" means the first underwritten offering, with gross proceeds of
more than $20 million, of the MFH Common Stock that is registered under the
Securities Act or admitted to listing on a recognized stock exchange or
automated quotation system.
"Issue Date" means August 24, 1998.
"Legal Holiday" means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking
institutions in the City of New York or at a place of payment are authorized by
law, regulation or executive order to remain closed. If a payment date is a
Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the
next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue on
such payment for the intervening period.
"Letter of Transmittal" means the letter of transmittal to be prepared
by the Company and sent to all Holders of the Notes for use by such Holders in
connection with the Exchange Offer.
"Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge,
charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset,
whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise
8
perfected under applicable law (including any conditional sale or other title
retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other
agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement
to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent
statutes) of any jurisdiction), provided that the definition of "Lien" shall not
include any option, call or similar right relating to treasury shares of the
Company to the extent that such option, call or right is granted (i) under any
employee stock option plan, employee stock ownership plan or similar plan or
arrangement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or (ii) in connection with the
issuance of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09
hereof.
"Liquidated Damages" means all liquidated damages then owing pursuant
to the Registration Rights Agreement.
"MFH Capital Contributions" means the MFH Equity Infusion and all
future capital contributions or purchases made by MFH to or from MFOC in
exchange for capital stock of MFOC.
"MFH Equity Infusion" means the capital contribution by MFH to MFOC of
the net proceeds of the offering of the Units.
"MFOC" means ▇▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇' Original Cookies, Inc., a Delaware
corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.
"MFOC Indenture" means the indenture, dated as of November 26, 1997,
governing the MFOC Notes.
"MFOC Notes" means the Series A/B Senior Notes, the Series C Senior
Notes and the Exchange MFOC Senior Notes.
"Moody's" means ▇▇▇▇▇'▇ Investors Service, Inc.
"Net Income" means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss)
of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in
respect of preferred stock dividends, excluding, however, (i) any gain (but not
loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such gain (but not
loss), realized in connection with (A) any Asset Sale (including, without
limitation, dispositions pursuant to sale and leaseback transactions), or (B)
the disposition of any securities by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or
the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of its
Subsidiaries, and (ii) any extraordinary or nonrecurring gain (but not loss),
together with any related provision for taxes on such extraordinary or
nonrecurring gain (but not loss).
"Net Proceeds" means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including,
without limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of
any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale but only as and when
received), net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale (including,
without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales
commissions) and any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, taxes
paid or payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax
credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements), amounts required to be
applied to the permanent repayment of, or permanent reduction in availability or
commitment under, Indebtedness secured by a
9
Lien on the asset or assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale and any
reserve for adjustment in respect of the sale price of such asset or assets
established in accordance with GAAP.
"Non-Core Stores" means the stores listed on Exhibit G to this
Indenture.
"Non-U.S. Person" means a Person who is not a U.S. Person.
"Notes" has the meaning assigned to it in the preamble to this
Indenture.
"Note Custodian" means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the
Notes in global form, or any successor entity thereto.
"Obligations" means any principal, interest, penalties, fees,
indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under
the documentation governing any Indebtedness.
"Offering" means the offering of the Notes by the Company.
"Officer" means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the
Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer,
the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the
Controller, the Secretary or any Vice-President of such Person.
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed on behalf of the
Company by two Officers of the Company, one of whom must be the principal
executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the
principal accounting officer of the Company, that meets the requirements of
Section 11.05 hereof.
"Opinion of Counsel" means an opinion from legal counsel who is
reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of Section
11.05 hereof. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company or the Trustee.
"Participant" means, with respect to the Depositary, a Person who has
an account with the Depositary.
"Permitted Business" means the same or a similar line of business as
the Company and its Subsidiaries were engaged in on the Issue Date, including,
without limitation, the specialty retail snack-food business.
"Permitted Investments" means (a) any Investment in the Company or in
a Wholly Owner Subsidiary of the Company that is engaged in a Permitted
Business, (b) any Investment in Cash Equivalents, (c) any Investment by the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in a Person, if as a result of such
Investment (i) such Person becomes a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company that
is engaged in a Permitted Business or (ii) such Person is merged, consolidated
or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its
assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of
the Company and that is engaged in a Permitted Business, (d) any Restricted
Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an
Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.10 hereof,
(e) any acquisition of assets solely in exchange
10
for the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the
Company, (f) any Investments in accounts and notes receivable acquired in the
ordinary course of business, (g) any Investments in notes of employees,
officers, directors and their transferees and Affiliates issued to the Company
or MFOC representing payment of the exercise price of options to purchase common
stock of the Company, (h) any Investments by the Company or MFOC in Hedging
Obligations otherwise permitted to be incurred under this Indenture, (i) any
Investments existing on the Issue Date and (j) any purchase of any and all
remaining common stock of Pretzel Time.
"Permitted Liens" means (i) Liens securing Indebtedness under a Credit
Facility that was permitted by the terms of the Indenture to be incurred, (ii)
Liens in favor of the Company or MFOC, (iii) Liens on property of a Person
existing at the time such Person is merged into or consolidated with the Company
or any Subsidiary of the Company, provided that such Liens were in existence
prior to the contemplation of such merger or consolidation and do not extend to
any assets other than those of the Person merged into or consolidated with the
Company, (iv) Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition thereof by
the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, provided that such Liens were in
existence prior to the contemplation of such acquisition and do not extend to
any assets of the Company or any Subsidiary other than the property so acquired,
(v) Liens to secure the performance of statutory obligations, surety or appeal
bonds, performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature incurred in the
ordinary course of business, (vi) Liens to secure Indebtedness (including
Capital Lease Obligations) permitted by clauses (iv) and (xi) of Section 4.09(b)
hereof, provided that, in the case of Indebtedness permitted by such clause
(iii), covering only the assets acquired with such Indebtedness, (vii) Liens
existing on the Issue Date, (viii) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental
charges or claims that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested in
good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently
concluded, provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision as shall be
required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made therefor, and (ix) Liens
incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Subsidiary of
the Company that (A) are not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money
or the obtaining of advances or credit (other than trade credit in the ordinary
course of business) and (B) do not in the aggregate materially detract from the
value of the property or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of
business by the Company or such Subsidiary.
"Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness" means any Indebtedness of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds
of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund other
Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, provided that (i) the
principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of (or accreted
value, if applicable), plus accrued interest on, the Indebtedness so extended,
refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded (plus the amount of
reasonable expenses incurred in connection therewith), (ii) such Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity
date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than
the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being extended,
refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded, (iii) if the Indebtedness
being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded is
subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, such Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of,
and is subordinated in right of payment to, the Notes on terms at least as
favorable to the Holders of Notes as those contained in the documentation
governing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced,
defeased or refunded, and (iv) such Indebtedness is incurred either by the
Company or
11
by the Subsidiary who is the obligor on the Indebtedness being extended,
refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint
venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or
government or agency or political subdivision thereof (including any subdivision
or ongoing business of any such entity or substantially all of the assets of any
such entity, subdivision or business).
"Pledge Agreement" means the Pledge Agreement dated as of the date of
this Indenture and substantially in the form attached as Exhibit E hereto, as
such agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.
"Pledged Collateral" means any assets of the Company defined as
Pledged Collateral in the Pledge Agreement.
"Pretzel Contributions" means the contribution from the Company to
MFOC of the pretzel business formerly owned by H&M Concepts Ltd. Co., an Idaho
liability company, and its subsidiaries, and the common stock of Pretzel Time.
"Pretzel Time" means Pretzel Time, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation.
"Pretzel Time Employment Agreement" means that certain Employment
Agreement, dated as of September 2, 1997, between Pretzel Time and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.
"Pretzel Time Management Agreement" means that certain Management
Agreement, dated as of September 2, 1997, between the Company and Pretzel Time.
"Principals" means ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇. and Capricorn Investors II,
L.P.
"Private Placement Legend" means the legend set forth in Section
2.06(g)(i) to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture except where
otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.
"Public Equity Offering" means a public offering registered under the
Securities Act (except for any registration pursuant to Form S-8) of common
stock of the Company.
"QIB" means a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined in Rule 144A.
"Registration Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights
Agreement, dated as of August 24, 1998, by and among the Company and the other
parties named on the signature pages thereof, as such agreement may be amended,
modified or supplemented from time to time.
"Related Party" with respect to any Principal means (a) any greater
than 50% owned Subsidiary, or spouse or immediate family member (in the case of
an individual) of such Principal or (b) trust, corporation, general partnership
or other entity, the beneficiaries, stockholders, partners, owners or Persons
beneficially holding a greater than 50% controlling interest of which consist,
or a limited partnership, the general partner of which consists, of the
Principals and/or such other Persons referred to in the immediately preceding
clause (a).
12
"Responsible Officer" means, when used with respect to the Trustee,
any officer within the Corporate Trust Administration of the Trustee (or any
successor group of the Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee customarily
performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated
officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter,
any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of
and familiarity with the particular subject.
"Restricted Broker-Dealer" has the meaning set forth in the
Registration Rights Agreement.
"Restricted Definitive Note" means a Definitive Note bearing the
Private Placement Legend.
"Restricted Global Note" means a Global Note bearing the Private
Placement Legend.
"Restricted Investment" means any Investment other than a Permitted
Investment.
"Rule 144" means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.
"Rule 144A" means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.
"Rule 903" means Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act.
"Rule 904" means Rule 904 promulgated the Securities Act.
"S&P" means Standard & Poor's Ratings Service, a division of The
▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ Companies, Inc.
"SEC" or "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Separation Date" means the earliest of (i) 180 days following the
Issue Date, (ii) the date of redemption of the Notes, (iii) the date on which a
registration statement with respect to a registered exchange offer for the Notes
is declared effective under the Securities Act, (iv) the date a shelf
registration statement with respect to the Notes is declared effective under the
Securities Act, (v) such date as ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Company, Inc., in its sole
discretion, shall determine, (vi) the occurrence of a Change of Control and
(vii) upon an IPO. On the Separation Date, the Notes and Warrants will be
automatically separated.
"Series A/B Senior Notes" means MFOC's 10 1/8% Series A Senior Notes
due 2004 initially issued and sold on November 26, 1997 and MFOC's 10 1/8%
Series B Senior Notes due 2004 issued pursuant to an exchange offer on June 2,
1998.
"Series C Senior Notes" means MFOC's 10 1/8% Series C Senior Notes due
2004 being offered by MFOC concurrently with the Company's offering of the
Notes.
"Shelf Registration Statement" means the Shelf Registration Statement
as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement.
13
"Significant Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary that would be a
"significant subsidiary" as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X,
promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Regulation is in effect on
the Issue Date.
"Stated Maturity" means with respect to any installment of interest or
principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which such payment of
interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the original documentation
governing such Indebtedness, and shall not include any contingent obligations to
repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date
originally scheduled for the payment thereof.
"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation,
association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting
power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of
any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees
thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such
Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination
thereof) and (ii) any partnership (A) the sole general partner or the managing
general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (B)
the only general partners of which are such Person or of one or more
Subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof).
"Subsidiary Intercompany Notes" means the intercompany notes, if any,
issued by Subsidiaries of the Company in favor of the Company to evidence
advances by the Company, in each case, in the form attached as Exhibit F to this
Indenture.
"Tax Sharing Agreement" means any tax allocation agreement between the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries with the Company or any direct or indirect
shareholder of the Company with respect to consolidated or combined tax returns
including the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, but, in each case, only to the
extent that amounts payable from time to time by the Company or any such
Subsidiary under any such agreement do not exceed the corresponding tax payments
that the Company or such Subsidiary would have been required to make to any
relevant taxing authority had the Company or such Subsidiary not joined in such
consolidated or combined returns, but instead had filed returns including only
the Company and its Subsidiaries.
"TIA" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. (S)(S) 77aaa-
77bbbb) as in effect on the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the
TIA.
"Trustee" means the party named as such above until a successor
replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and
thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.
"Unrestricted Global Note" means a permanent Global Note in the form
of Exhibit A attached hereto that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the
"Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note" attached thereto, and
that is deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the
Depositary, representing a series of Notes that do not bear the Private
Placement Legend.
"Unrestricted Definitive Note" means one or more Definitive Notes that
do not bear and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.
14
"U.S. Person" means a U.S. person as defined in Rule 902(o) under the
Securities Act.
"Voting Stock" of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of
such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of
Directors of such Person.
"Warrant Agent" means The Bank of New York.
"Warrant Agreement" means the Warrant Agreement dated as of August 24,
1998, by and among the Company and the Warrant Agent.
"Warrants" means the 55,000 Warrants to purchase an aggregate of
172,926 shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Warrant Agreement.
"Weighted Average Life to Maturity" means, when applied to any
Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (i) the sum
of the products obtained by multiplying (A) the amount of each then remaining
installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of
principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (B) the
number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between
such date and the making of such payment, by (b) the then outstanding principal
amount of such Indebtedness.
"Wholly Owned Subsidiary" of any Person means a Subsidiary of such
Person all of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of
which (other than directors' qualifying shares) shall at the time be owned by
such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person and one
or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.
SECTION 1.02. OTHER DEFINITIONS.
Defined in
Term Section
"Affiliate Transaction"........... 4.11
"Asset Sale"...................... 4.10
"Asset Sale Offer"................ 3.09
"Authentication Order"............ 2.02
"Change of Control Offer"......... 4.15
"Change of Control Payment"....... 4.15
"Change of Control Payment Date".. 4.15
"Covenant Defeasance"............. 8.03
"Event of Default"................ 6.01
"Excess Proceeds"................. 4.10
"incur"........................... 4.09
"Legal Defeasance"................ 8.02
"Offer Amount".................... 3.09
"Offer Period".................... 3.09
"Paying Agent".................... 2.03
"Payment Default"................. 6.01
"Permitted Indebtedness".......... 4.09
15
"Purchase Date"................... 3.09
"Registrar"....................... 2.03
"Restricted Payments"............. 4.07
SECTION 1.03. INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF TRUST INDENTURE ACT.
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the
provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.
The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following
meanings:
"indenture securities" means the Notes;
"indenture security Holder" means a Holder of a Note;
"indenture to be qualified" means this Indenture;
"indenture trustee" or "institutional trustee" means the Trustee; and
"obligor" on the Notes means the Company and any successor obligor
upon the Notes.
All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA,
defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA
have the meanings so assigned to them.
SECTION 1.04. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(2) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning
assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;
(3) "or" is not exclusive;
(4) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural
include the singular; and
(5) provisions apply to successive events and transactions.
ARTICLE 2.
THE NOTES
SECTION 2.01. FORM AND DATING.
(a) General. The Notes and the Trustee's certificate of authentication
shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The Notes may have
notations, legends or endorsements required by
16
law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Note shall be dated the date of its
authentication. The Notes shall be in denominations of $1,000 and integral
multiples thereof.
The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and
are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Company and the
Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to
such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any
provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture,
the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.
(b) Global Notes. Notes issued in global form shall be substantially
in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (including the Global Note Legend
thereon and the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note" attached
thereto). Notes issued in definitive form shall be substantially in the form of
Exhibit A attached hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and
without the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note" attached
thereto). Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as
shall be specified therein and each shall provide that it shall represent the
aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed
thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented
thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to
reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect
the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of
outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Note
Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions
given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.06 hereof.
(c) Notes Sold or Transferred to Institutional Accredited Investors.
Notes sold or transferred to Institutional Accredited Investors shall be issued
only in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note.
SECTION 2.02. EXECUTION AND AUTHENTICATION.
One Officer shall sign the Notes for the Company by manual or
facsimile signature. The Company's seal may be 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 a Note is authenticated, the Note shall nevertheless be valid.
A Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature
of the Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has
been authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee shall, upon a written order of the Company signed by one
Officer (an "Authentication Order"), authenticate Notes for original issue up to
the aggregate principal amount stated in paragraph 4 of the Notes. The
aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding at any time may not exceed such
amount except as provided in Section 2.07 hereof.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the
Company to authenticate Notes. An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes
whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to
authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent.
17
An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or
an Affiliate of the Company.
SECTION 2.03. REGISTRAR AND PAYING AGENT.
The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be
presented for registration of transfer or for exchange ("Registrar") and an
office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment ("Paying Agent"). The
Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange.
The Company may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional
paying agents. The term "Registrar" includes any co-registrar and the term
"Paying Agent" includes any additional paying agent. The Company may change any
Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company shall
notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party
to this Indenture. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity
as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any
of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.
The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") to
act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.
The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar and
Paying Agent and to act as Note Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.
SECTION 2.04. PAYING AGENT TO HOLD MONEY IN TRUST.
The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to
agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust for the benefit of
Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of
principal, premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on the Notes, and
will notify the Trustee in writing of any default by the Company in making any
such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a
Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any
time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee.
Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or
a Subsidiary) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company or
a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate
trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent.
Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Company, the
Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.
SECTION 2.05. HOLDER LISTS.
The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably
practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of
all Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA (S) 312(a). If the Trustee is
not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least seven
Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the
Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the
Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of
Notes and the Company shall otherwise comply with TIA (S) 312(a).
18
SECTION 2.06. TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE.
(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. A Global Note may not be
transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary,
by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the
Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary
or a nominee of such successor Depositary. All Global Notes will be exchanged by
the Company for Definitive Notes if (i) the Company delivers to the Trustee
written notice from the Depositary that it is unwilling or unable to continue to
act as Depositary or that it is no longer a clearing agency registered under the
Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the
Company within 120 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary or
(ii) the Company in its sole discretion determines that the Global Notes (in
whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and delivers a
written notice to such effect to the Trustee. Upon the occurrence of either of
the preceding events in (i) or (ii) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in
such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee in writing. Global Notes
also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections
2.07 and 2.10 hereof. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or
in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06
or Section 2.07 or 2.10 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form
of, and shall be, a Global Note. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another
Note other than as provided in this Section 2.06(a); however, beneficial
interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in
Section 2.06(b),(c) or (f) hereof.
(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes.
The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes shall be
effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this
Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Beneficial interests in the Restricted
Global Notes shall be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those
set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act. Transfers of
beneficial interests in the Global Notes also shall require compliance with
either subparagraph (i) or (ii) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of
the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:
(i) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note. Beneficial
interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take
delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted
Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the
Private Placement Legend. Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global
Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a
beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. No written orders or
instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the
transfers described in this Section 2.06(b)(i).
(ii) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global
Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests
that are not subject to Section 2.06(b)(i) above, the transferor of such
beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either (A) (1) a written
order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in
accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit
or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an
amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2)
instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing
information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such
increase or (B) (1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect
Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable
Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in
an amount
19
equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2)
instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information
regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to
effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above. Upon consummation of
an Exchange Offer by the Company in accordance with Section 2.06(f) hereof,
the requirements of this Section 2.06(b)(ii) shall be deemed to have been
satisfied upon receipt by the Registrar of the instructions contained in the
Letter of Transmittal delivered by the Holder of such beneficial interests in
the Restricted Global Notes. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for
transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this
Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the
Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s)
pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof.
(iii) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global
Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be
transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a
beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note if the transfer
complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(ii) above and the
Registrar receives a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including
the certifications in item (1) thereof.
(iv) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted
Global Note for Beneficial Interests in the Unrestricted Global Note. A
beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be exchanged by any
Holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or
transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a
beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note if the exchange or
transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(ii) above and:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange
Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the holder
of the beneficial interest to be transferred, in the case of an exchange,
or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable
Letter of Transmittal that it is not (1) a broker-dealer, (2) a Person
participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who
is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;
(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;
(C) such transfer is effected by a Participating Broker-Dealer pursuant
to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the
Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(1) if the Holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global
Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in
an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of
Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(a) thereof; or
20
(2) if the Holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global
Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall
take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an
Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of
Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), an Opinion of
Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that
such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that
the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement
Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the
Securities Act.
If any such transfer is effected pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (D)
above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the
Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance
with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more
Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the
aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred pursuant to
subparagraph (B) or (D) above.
Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note cannot be
exchanged for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form
of, a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note.
(c) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes.
(i) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Restricted
Definitive Notes. If any Holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted
Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted
Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes
delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note, then, upon
receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:
(A) if the Holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global
Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted
Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C
hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(a) thereof;
(B) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a QIB in
accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, a certificate to the
effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item
(1) thereof;
(C) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a Non-U.S.
Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904
under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit
B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;
(D) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an
exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in
accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, a certificate to the
effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item
(3)(a) thereof;
21
(E) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to an
Institutional Accredited Investor in reliance on an exemption from the
registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in
subparagraphs (B) through (D) above, a certificate to the effect set forth
in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion
of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable;
(F) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in
Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or
(G) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an
effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate to
the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in
item (3)(c) thereof,
the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable
Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and
the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make
available for delivery to the Person designated in the instructions a
Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note
issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note
pursuant to this Section 2.06(c) shall be registered in such name or names and
in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such
beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the
Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall make
available for delivery such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names
such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a
beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section
2.06(c)(i) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all
restrictions on transfer contained therein.
(ii) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Unrestricted
Definitive Notes. A Holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note
may exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or may
transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the
form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note only if:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange
Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the Holder
of such beneficial interest, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee,
in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of
Transmittal that it is not (1) a broker-dealer, (2) a Person participating
in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an
affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;
(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;
(C) such transfer is effected by a Participating Broker-Dealer
pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with
the Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
22
(1) if the Holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global
Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note
that does not bear the Private Placement Legend, a certificate from such
Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in
item (1)(b) thereof; or
(2) if the Holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global
Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall
take delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note that does not bear
the Private Placement Legend, a certificate from such Holder in the form of
Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), an Opinion of
Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that
such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that
the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement
Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the
Securities Act.
(iii) Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to Unrestricted
Definitive Notes. If any Holder of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted
Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive
Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery
thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the
conditions set forth in Section 2.06(b)(ii) hereof, the Trustee shall cause
the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced
accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the Company shall execute
and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery to the
Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate
principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial
interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(iii) shall be registered in such
name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the
Holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through
instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant.
The Trustee shall make available for delivery such Definitive Notes to the
Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note
issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section
2.06(c)(iii) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.
(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests.
(i) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Restricted
Global Notes. If any Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note proposes to
exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note or to
transfer such Restricted Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery
thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note,
then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:
(A) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Note proposes to
exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, a
certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the
certifications in item (2)(b) thereof;
23
(B) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a
QIB in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, a
certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the
certifications in item (1) thereof;
(C) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a
Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903
or Rule 904 under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set
forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2)
thereof;
(D) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred
pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, a
certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the
certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;
(E) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect
set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item
(3)(b) thereof; or
(F) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred
pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities
Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto,
including the certifications in item (3)(c) thereof,
the Trustee shall cancel the Restricted Definitive Note, increase or cause
to be increased the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of clause
(A) above, the appropriate Restricted Global Note and in the case of clause
(B) above, the Global Note. In no event, shall an Institutional Accredited
Investor hold an interest in a Restricted Global Note.
(ii) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted
Global Notes. A Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note (including an
Institutional Accredited Investor) may exchange such Note for a beneficial
interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Restricted Definitive
Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial
interest in an Unrestricted Global Note only if:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the
Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement
and the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the
case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal
that it is not (1) a broker-dealer, (2) a Person participating in the
distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate
(as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;
(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;
(C) such transfer is effected by a Participating Broker-Dealer
pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance
with the Registration Rights Agreement; or
24
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(1) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to
exchange such Notes for a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted
Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C
hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(c) thereof; or
(2) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to
transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the
form of a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a
certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto,
including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the
Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an
Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to
the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the
Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein
and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to
maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in
this Section 2.06(d)(ii), the Trustee shall cancel the Definitive
Notes and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal
amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.
(iii) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in
Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may
exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note
or transfer such Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in
the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note at any
time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the
Trustee shall cancel the applicable Unrestricted Definitive Note and
increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of
the Unrestricted Global Notes.
If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a
beneficial interest is effected pursuant to subparagraphs (ii)(B), (ii)(D) or
(iii) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued,
the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in
accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more
Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the
principal amount of Definitive Notes so transferred.
(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes.
Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder's compliance with
the provisions of this Section 2.06(e), the Registrar shall register the
transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of
transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder shall present or surrender to the
Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written
instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by
such ▇▇▇▇▇▇ or by his attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the
requesting Holder shall provide any additional certifications, documents and
information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of
this Section 2.06(e).
(i) Restricted Definitive Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. Any
Restricted Definitive Note may be transferred to and registered in the name
of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive
Note if the Registrar receives the following:
25
(A) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A under the
Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the
form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1)
thereof;
(B) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule
904, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of
Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;
and
(C) if the transfer will be made pursuant to any other exemption
from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, then the
transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto,
including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel
required by item (3) thereof, if applicable.
(ii) Restricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. Any
Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an
Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person or Persons who take
delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note if:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the
Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement
and the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the
case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal
that it is not (1) a broker-dealer, (2) a Person participating in the
distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate
(as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;
(B) any such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights
Agreement;
(C) any such transfer is effected by a Participating Broker-
Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in
accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(1) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes
to exchange such Notes for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate
from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the
certifications in item (1)(d) thereof; or
(2) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes
to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the
form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in
the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4)
thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar
so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the
Company to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with
the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein
and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to
maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
26
(iii) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes.
A Holder of Unrestricted Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a
Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive
Note. Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar
shall register the Unrestricted Definitive Notes pursuant to the
instructions from the Holder thereof.
(f) Exchange Offer. Upon the occurrence of the Exchange Offer in
accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company shall issue and,
upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02, the
Trustee shall authenticate (i) one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an
aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial
interests in the Restricted Global Notes tendered for acceptance by Persons that
certify in the applicable Letters of Transmittal that (x) they are not broker-
dealers, (y) they are not participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes
and (z) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company, and
accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer and (ii) Definitive Notes in an
aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Restricted
Definitive Notes accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer. Concurrently with
the issuance of such Notes, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal
amount of the applicable Restricted Global Notes to be reduced accordingly, and
the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the
Persons designated by the Holders of Definitive Notes so accepted Definitive
Notes in the appropriate principal amount.
(g) Legends. The following legends shall appear on the face of all
Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued under this Indenture unless
specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this Indenture.
(i) Private Placement Legend.
(A) Except as permitted by subparagraph (B) below, each Global
Note and each Definitive Note (and all Notes issued in exchange
therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the legend in
substantially the following form:
"THIS SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) EVIDENCED HEREBY HAS NOT BEEN
REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE
"SECURITIES ACT"), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED
OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE
ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW. BY ITS
ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE HOLDER (1)
REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS
DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) (A "QIB") OR (B) IT IS
AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(A)(1),
(2), (3) OR (7) OF REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) (AN "IAI"),
(2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY
EXCEPT (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, (B) TO A PERSON
WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QIB PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN
ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QIB IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE
REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) IN AN OFFSHORE
TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (D)
IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144 UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN IAI THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES
THE
27
TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND
AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY (THE FORM OF
WHICH LETTER CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER
IS IN RESPECT OF AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES LESS THAN
$250,000, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH
TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT, (F) IN ACCORDANCE
WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE
SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE
COMPANY) OR (G) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, AND,
IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY
STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND
(3) AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY
OR AN INTEREST HEREIN IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE
EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS "OFFSHORE
TRANSACTION" AND "UNITED STATES" HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY
RULE 902 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THE INDENTURE
CONTAINS A PROVISION REQUIRING THE TRUSTEE TO REFUSE TO REGISTER ANY
TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE IN VIOLATION OF THE FOREGOING."
(B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or
Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraphs (b)(iv),
(c)(ii), (c)(iii), (d)(ii), (d)(iii), (e)(ii), (e)(iii) or (f) to
this Section 2.06 (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or
substitution thereof) shall not bear the Private Placement
Legend.
(ii) Global Note Legend. Each Global Note shall bear a legend in
substantially the following form:
"THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE
INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE
BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO
ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY
MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.07
OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT
NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS
GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT
TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE
TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT
OF THE COMPANY."
(iii) Unit Legend. Each Note issued prior to the Separation Date
shall bear the following legend (the "Unit Legend") on the face thereof:
"THE NOTES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE INITIALLY ISSUED AS PART
OF AN ISSUANCE OF UNITS, EACH OF WHICH CONSIST OF $1,000 PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT AT MATURITY OF THE NOTES AND ONE WARRANT (EACH, A "WARRANT")
INITIALLY ENTITLING THE HOLDER THEREOF TO PURCHASE 3.14411 SHARES, PAR
VALUE $0.001 PER SHARE, OF THE COMPANY. THE NOTES AND
28
WARRANTS WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY SEPARATED UPON THE EARLIEST TO OCCUR OF
(i) 180 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF ISSUANCE, (ii) THE DATE OF REDEMPTION OF
THE NOTES, (iii) THE DATE ON WHICH A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WITH
RESPECT TO A REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER FOR THE NOTES IS DECLARED
EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (iv) THE DATE ON WHICH THE SHELF
REGISTRATION STATEMENT (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE) IS DECLARED
EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (v) SUCH DATE AS ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ &
COMPANY, INC., IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION, SHALL DETERMINE, (vi) IN THE
EVENT OF A CHANGE OF CONTROL (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE) AND (vii)
UPON AN IPO (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE). THE NOTES EVIDENCED BY THIS
CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OR SEPARATED FROM, BUT MAY BE
TRANSFERRED OR EXCHANGED ONLY TOGETHER WITH, THE WARRANTS UNTIL THE
SEPARATION DATE."
(h) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes. At such time as
all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for
Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or
canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note shall be returned to or
retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof. At
any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note
is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in
the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive
Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be
reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the
Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such
reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred
to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest
in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be increased accordingly
and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the
Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.
(i) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.
(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company
shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and
Definitive Notes upon the Company's order or at the Registrar's request.
(ii) No service charge shall be made to a Holder of a beneficial
interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any
registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment
of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental
charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes
or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant
to Sections 2.10, 3.06, 3.09, 4.10, 4.15 and 9.05 hereof).
(iii) The Registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of
or exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except
the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.
(iv) All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any
registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes
shall be the valid obligations of the Company,
29
evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this
Indenture, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such
registration of transfer or exchange.
(v) The Company shall not be required (A) to issue, to register the
transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the
opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for
redemption under Section 3.02 hereof and ending at the close of business on
the day of selection, (B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any
Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed
portion of any Note being redeemed in part or (c) to register the transfer
of or to exchange a Note between a record date and the next succeeding
Interest Payment Date.
(vi) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of
any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Company may deem and treat the
Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such
Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on
such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent
or the Company shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
(vii) The Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive
Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof.
(viii) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel
required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.06 to
effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by
facsimile.
SECTION 2.07. REPLACEMENT NOTES
If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or the
Company and the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the
destruction, loss or theft of any Note, the Company shall issue and the Trustee,
upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate a replacement Note
if the Trustee's requirements are met. If required by the Trustee or the
Company, an indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in
the judgment of the Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee,
any Agent and any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer
if a Note is replaced. The Company may charge for its expenses in replacing a
Note.
Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the
Company and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally
and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.
SECTION 2.08. OUTSTANDING NOTES.
The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes
authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to
it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected
by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in
this Section as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.09 hereof, a
Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the
Company holds the Note; however, Notes held by the Company or a Subsidiary of
the Company shall not be deemed to be outstanding for purposes of Section
3.07(b) hereof.
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If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it ceases to be
outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the
replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.
If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section
4.01 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.
If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or an
Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on a redemption date or maturity date, money
sufficient to pay Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such
Notes shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding and shall cease to accrue
interest.
SECTION 2.09. TREASURY NOTES.
In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of
Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the
Company, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or
under direct or indirect common control with the Company, shall be considered as
though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the
Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent,
only Notes that the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
SECTION 2.10. TEMPORARY NOTES
Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the
Company may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order,
shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in
the form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Company
considers appropriate for temporary Notes and as shall be reasonably acceptable
to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the
Trustee shall authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.
Holders of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits of
this Indenture.
SECTION 2.11. CANCELLATION.
The Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for
cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any
Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment and
not previously received by the Trustee. The Trustee and no one else shall
cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment,
replacement or cancellation and shall return such canceled Notes to the Company
(subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act). The Company
may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or that have been
delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
SECTION 2.12. DEFAULTED INTEREST.
If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it
shall pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent
lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are
Holders on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided
in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Company shall notify the Trustee
in writing of the amount of
31
defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed
payment. The Company shall fix or cause to be fixed each such special record
date and payment date, provided that no such special record date shall be less
than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest. At
least 30 days before the special record date, the Company (or, upon the written
request of the Company, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the
Company) shall mail or cause to be mailed to Holders a notice that states the
special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to
be paid.
ARTICLE 3.
REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT
SECTION 3.01. NOTICES TO TRUSTEE.
If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional
redemption provisions of Section 3.07 hereof, it shall furnish to the Trustee,
at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, an
Officers' Certificate setting forth (i) the clause of this Indenture pursuant to
which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal
amount of Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price.
SECTION 3.02. SELECTION OF NOTES TO BE REDEEMED
If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed or purchased in an
offer to purchase at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed
or purchased among the Holders of the Notes in compliance with the requirements
of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are
listed or, if the Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or in
accordance with any other method the Trustee considers fair and appropriate. In
the event of partial redemption by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed
shall be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 30 nor more
than 60 days prior to the redemption date by the Trustee from the outstanding
Notes not previously called for redemption.
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes
selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial
redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Notes and portions of
Notes selected shall be in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000;
except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire
outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of
$1,000, shall be redeemed. Except as provided in the preceding sentence,
provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also
apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.
SECTION 3.03. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION
Subject to the provisions of Section 3.09 hereof, at least 30 days but
not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail or cause
to be mailed, by first class mail, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose
Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address.
The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed (including CUSIP
numbers) and shall state:
32
(a) the redemption date;
(b) the redemption price;
(c) if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal
amount of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon
surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the
unredeemed portion shall be issued upon cancellation of the original Note;
(d) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(e) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying
Agent to collect the redemption price;
(f) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment,
interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the
redemption date;
(g) the paragraph of the Notes and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant
to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed; and
(h) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of
the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes.
At the Company's request, the Trustee shall give the notice of
redemption in the Company's name and at its expense; provided, however, that the
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the
redemption date, an Officers' Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such
notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided
in the preceding paragraph.
SECTION 3.04 EFFECT OF NOTICE OF REDEMPTION
Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.03
hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the
redemption date at the redemption price. A notice of redemption may not be
conditional.
SECTION 3.05. DEPOSIT OF REDEMPTION PRICE
On or prior to 12:00 noon (New York time) at least one Business Day
prior to the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with
the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued
interest on all Notes to be redeemed on that date. The Trustee or the Paying
Agent shall promptly return to the Company any money deposited with the Trustee
or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the
redemption price of, and accrued interest on, all Notes to be redeemed.
If the Company complies with the provisions of the preceding
paragraph, on and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on
the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption. If a Note is redeemed
on or after an interest record date but on or prior to the related interest
payment date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person
in whose name such Note
33
was registered at the close of business on such record date. If any Note called
for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption because of the
failure of the Company to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be
paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption date until such principal is
paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not paid on such unpaid
principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01
hereof.
SECTION 3.06. NOTES REDEEMED IN PART.
Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Company shall
issue and, upon the Company's written request, the Trustee shall authenticate
for the Holder at the expense of the Company a new Note equal in principal
amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered.
SECTION 3.07. OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.
(a) Except as set forth in clause (b) of this Section 3.07, the Company
shall not have the option to redeem the Notes pursuant to this Section 3.07
prior to December 1, 2002. Thereafter, the Company shall have the option to
redeem the Notes at anytime, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days'
notice, in whole or in part, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages
of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest and
Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the applicable redemption date, if
redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on December 1 of the years
indicated below:
YEAR PERCENTAGE
---- ----------
2002..............................................107.000%
2003..............................................103.500%
2004 and thereafter...............................100.000%
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of clause (a) of this Section 3.07, at
any time prior to December 1, 2002, the Notes will be redeemable at the option
of the Company, in whole but not in part, in cash at a redemption price equal to
114% of the Accreted Value (determined at the date of redemption) with the net
cash proceeds of one or more Public Equity Offerings; provided that such
redemption shall occur within 60 days of the date of any such closing of such
Public Equity Offering.
(c) Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made pursuant to
the provisions of Section 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.
SECTION 3.08 MANDATORY REDEMPTION.
The Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption
payments with respect to the Notes.
SECTION 3.09 OFFER TO PURCHASE BY APPLICATION OF EXCESS PROCEEDS.
In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof, the Company shall
be required to commence an offer to all Holders to purchase Notes (an "Asset
Sale Offer"), it shall follow the procedures specified below.
34
The Asset Sale Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 Business
Days following its commencement and no longer, except to the extent that a
longer period is required by applicable law (the "Offer Period"). No later than
five Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the "Purchase
Date"), the Company shall purchase the principal amount of Notes required to be
purchased pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof (the "Offer Amount") or, if less than
the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered in response to the Asset
Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased shall be made in the same manner
as interest payments are made.
If the Purchase Date is on or after an interest record date and on or
before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest shall
be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of
business on such record date, and no additional interest shall be payable to
Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer.
Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company shall send,
by first class mail, a notice to the Trustee and each of the Holders, with a
copy to the Trustee. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials
necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale
Offer. The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders. The notice, which
shall govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, shall state:
(a) that the Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.09
and Section 4.10 hereof and the length of time the Asset Sale Offer shall remain
open;
(b) the Offer Amount, the purchase price and the Purchase Date;
(c) that any Note not tendered or accepted for payment shall continue to
accrete or accrue interest;
(d) that, unless the Company defaults in making such payment, any Note
accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer shall cease to accrue
interest after the Purchase Date;
(e) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an Asset
Sale Offer may only elect to have all of such Note purchased and may not elect
to have only a portion of such Note purchased;
(f) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to any Asset
Sale Offer shall be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled
"Option of Holder to Elect Purchase" on the reverse of the Note completed, or
transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Company, a depositary, if appointed by
the Company, or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice at least
three days before the Purchase Date;
(g) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the
Company, the depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not
later than the expiration of the Offer Period, a telegram, telex, facsimile
transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal
amount of the Note the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such
▇▇▇▇▇▇ is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased;
35
(h) that, if 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 (with such adjustments as may be deemed
appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in denominations of $1,000, or
integral multiples thereof, shall be purchased); and
(i) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part shall be issued
new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes
surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer).
On or before the Purchase Date, the Company shall, to the extent
lawful, accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary, the
Offer Amount of Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale
Offer, or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered,
and shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that such
Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Company in accordance
with the terms of this Section 3.09. The Company, the Depositary or the Paying
Agent, as the case may be, shall promptly (but in any case not later than five
days after the Purchase Date) mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount
equal to the purchase price of the Notes tendered by such Holder and accepted by
the Company for purchase, and the Company shall promptly issue a new Note, and
the Trustee, upon written request from the Company shall authenticate and make
available for delivery such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal
to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. Any Note not so accepted
shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof. The
Company shall publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on the
Purchase Date.
Other than as specifically provided in this Section 3.09, any purchase
pursuant to this Section 3.09 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of
Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.
ARTICLE 4.
COVENANTS
SECTION 4.01. PAYMENT OF NOTES.
The Company shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium,
if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the
Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the
date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof,
holds as of 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the due date money deposited by the
Company in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay
all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due. The Company shall pay
all Liquidated Damages, if any, in the same manner on the dates and in the
amounts set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.
The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in
any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal
to 1% per annum in excess of the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to
the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in
any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and
Liquidated Damages (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same
rate to the extent lawful.
36
SECTION 4.02. MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY.
The Company shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of
New York, an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an
affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Notes may be
surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and
demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be
served. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the
location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any
time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or
shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations,
surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust
Office of the Trustee.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other
offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or
all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided,
however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the
Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of
Manhattan, the City of New York for such purposes. The Company shall give
prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and
of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.
The Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the
Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section
2.03.
SECTION 4.03. REPORTS.
(a) Whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, so
long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company shall furnish to the Holders of
Notes (i) all quarterly and annual financial information that would be required
to be contained in a filing with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company
were required to file such forms, including a "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and, with respect to
the annual information only, a report thereon by the Company's independent
public accountants and (ii) all current reports that would be required to be
filed with the SEC on Form 8-K if the Company were required to file such
reports. The Company shall at all times comply with TIA (S) 314(a).
(b) For so long as any Notes remain outstanding, the Company shall furnish
to the Holders and to securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their
request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4)
under the Securities Act.
SECTION 4.04. COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE.
(a) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end
of each fiscal year, an Officers' Certificate stating that a review of the
activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year
has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to
determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its
obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer
signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Company
has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in
this Indenture and is not in default
37
in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions
of this Indenture (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred,
describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have
knowledge and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect
thereto) and that to the best of his or her knowledge no event has occurred and
remains in existence by reason of which payments on account of the principal of
or interest, if any, on the Notes is prohibited or if such event has occurred, a
description of the event and what action the Company is taking or proposes to
take with respect thereto.
(b) So long as not contrary to the then current recommendations of the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the year-end financial
statements delivered pursuant to Section 4.03(a) above shall be accompanied by a
written statement of the Company's independent public accountants (who shall be
a firm of established national reputation) that in making the examination
necessary for certification of such financial statements, nothing has come to
their attention that would lead them to believe that the Company has violated
any provisions of Article 4 or Article 5 hereof or, if any such violation has
occurred, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof, it being
understood that such accountants shall not be liable directly or indirectly to
any Person for any failure to obtain knowledge of any such violation.
(c) The Company shall, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding,
deliver to the Trustee, forthwith upon any Officer becoming aware of any Default
or Event of Default, an Officers' Certificate specifying such Default or Event
of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with
respect thereto.
SECTION 4.05. TAXES.
The Company shall pay, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to
pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental
levies except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings
or where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material
respect to the Holders of the Notes.
SECTION 4.06. STAY, EXTENSION AND USURY LAWS.
The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that
it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim
or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever
enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or
the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may
lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such
law, and covenants that it shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay
or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall
suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has
been enacted.
SECTION 4.07. RESTRICTED PAYMENTS.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries
to, directly or indirectly: (i) declare or pay any dividend or make any other
payment or distribution on account of the Company's or any of its Subsidiaries'
Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any payment in connection with
any merger or consolidation involving the Company) or to the direct or indirect
holders
38
of the Company's or any of its Subsidiaries' Equity Interests in their capacity
as such (other than dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests
(other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company); (ii) purchase, redeem or
otherwise acquire or retire for value (including without limitation, in
connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company) any Equity
Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company or
other Affiliate of the Company (other than any such Equity Interests owned by
the Company or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company); (iii) make any
payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire
or retire for value any Indebtedness that is subordinated to the Notes, except a
payment of interest or principal at Stated Maturity; or (iv) make any Restricted
Investment (all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (i) through
(iv) above being collectively referred to as "Restricted Payments"), unless, at
the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment:
(a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or
would occur as a consequence thereof;
(b) the Company would, at the time of such Restricted Payment and after
giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Restricted Payment had been made at
the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, have been permitted to
incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(i) hereof; and
(c) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all
other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Subsidiaries after the
Issue Date (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clause (ii), (iii) or
(iv) of the next succeeding paragraph), is less than the sum of (i) 50% of the
Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period (taken as one accounting
period) from the beginning of the first fiscal quarter commencing after the
Issue Date to the end of the Company's most recently ended fiscal quarter for
which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted
Payment (or, if such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, less
100% of such deficit), plus (ii) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds (other
than any proceeds referred to in the proviso to the first sentence of the
definition of "Investments") received by the Company from the issue or sale
since the Issue Date of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified
Stock) or of Disqualified Stock or debt securities of the Company that have been
converted into such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or
Disqualified Stock or convertible debt securities) sold to a Subsidiary of the
Company and other than Disqualified Stock or convertible debt securities that
have been converted into Disqualified Stock), plus (ii) to the extent that any
Restricted Investment that was made after the Issue Date is sold for cash or
otherwise liquidated or repaid for cash, the lesser of (A) the cash return of
capital with respect to such Restricted Investment (less the cost of
disposition, if any) and (B) the initial amount of such Restricted Investment.
The foregoing provisions will not prohibit: (i) the payment of any
dividend within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at said date
of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of the
Indenture; (ii) the redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other
acquisition of any subordinated Indebtedness or Equity Interests of the Company
in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds of, the substantially
concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of, other Equity
Interests of the Company (other than any Disqualified Stock); provided that the
amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such redemption,
repurchase,
39
retirement, defeasance or other acquisition shall be excluded from clause
(c)(ii) of the preceding paragraph; (iii) the defeasance, redemption, repurchase
or other acquisition of subordinated Indebtedness with the net cash proceeds
from an incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness; (iv) the payment of
any dividend by a Subsidiary of the Company to the holders of any Equity
Interests on a pro rata basis; (v) the repurchase, redemption or other
acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Company or
any Subsidiary of the Company held by any member of the Company's (or any of its
Subsidiaries') management pursuant to any management equity subscription
agreement or stock option agreement; provided that the aggregate price paid for
all such repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests shall not
exceed, during any twelve-month period, an aggregate amount equal to the sum of
$250,000, plus the amount of cash proceeds received by the Company or its
Subsidiaries from any reissuance of Equity Interests by the Company or its
Subsidiaries to members of management of the Company or its Subsidiaries during
such period, which aggregate amount shall in no event exceed $500,000 in any
such period, and no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing immediately after such transaction; (vi) payments to MFH pursuant to
the Tax Sharing Agreement; (vii) payments pursuant to the Pretzel Time
Employment Agreement and the Pretzel Time Management Agreement; and (viii) the
redemption or repurchase of preferred stock of Pretzel Time outstanding on the
Issue Date.
The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the
fair market value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or
securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Company or such
Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The fair
market value of any non-cash Restricted Payment shall be determined by the Board
of Directors whose resolution with respect thereto shall be delivered to the
Trustee, such determination to be based upon an opinion or appraisal issued by
an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing if such
fair market value exceeds $2.0 million. Not later than the date of making any
Restricted Payment, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate stating that such Restricted Payment is permitted and setting forth
the basis upon which the calculations required by this Section 4.07 were
computed, together with a copy of any fairness opinion or appraisal required by
this Indenture.
SECTION 4.08. DIVIDEND AND OTHER PAYMENT RESTRICTIONS AFFECTING SUBSIDIARIES.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries
to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or
become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Subsidiary
to (a)(i) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries (A) on its Capital Stock or (B) with respect to any other
interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits or (ii) pay any
indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) make loans or
advances to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (c) transfer any of its
properties or assets to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for such
encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reasons of (i) Existing
Indebtedness as in effect on the Issue Date, (ii) this Indenture, the Notes, the
MFOC Indenture and the MFOC Notes, (iii) the Credit Facility, (iv) applicable
law, (v) any instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person
acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of
such acquisition (except to the extent such Indebtedness was incurred in
connection with or in contemplation of such acquisition), which encumbrance or
restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any
Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so
acquired, provided that, in the case of Indebtedness, such Indebtedness was
permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred, (vi) by reason of
customary non-assignment provisions in leases entered into in the ordinary
course of business
40
and consistent with past practices, (vii) purchase money obligations or Capital
Lease Obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business that
impose restrictions of the nature described in clause (v) above on the property
so acquired, (viii) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, provided that the
restrictions contained in the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness are no more restrictive than those contained in the agreements
governing the Indebtedness being refinanced; (ix) customary restrictions imposed
on the transfer of copyrighted or patented materials and customary provisions in
agreements that restrict the assignees of such agreements or any rights
thereunder or (x) restrictions with respect to a Subsidiary of the Company
imposed pursuant to a binding agreement relating to the sale or disposition of
all or substantially all of the Capital Stock or assets or such Subsidiary.
SECTION 4.09. INCURRENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS AND ISSUANCE OF PREFERRED STOCK.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries
to, directly or indirectly, create, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become
directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to
(collectively, "incur") any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) and
the Company shall not issue any Disqualified Stock and shall not permit any of
its Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred stock; provided, however, that
the Company may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue
shares of Disqualified Stock if:
(i) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company's most recently
ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are
available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness
is incurred or such Disqualified Stock is issued would have been at least 1.5
to 1, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of
the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been
incurred, or the Disqualified Stock had been issued, as the case may be, at
the beginning of such four-quarter period; and
(ii) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Indebtedness is equal
to or greater than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the
Notes, provided that this clause (ii) shall not apply in the case of Acquired
Indebtedness.
The provisions of the first paragraph of this Section 4.09 shall not
apply to the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness
(collectively, "Permitted Indebtedness"):
(i) the incurrence by the Company and its Subsidiaries of the Existing
Indebtedness other than the Notes and the Series C Senior Notes and the
guarantees thereof;
(ii) the incurrence by the Company on the date hereof of Indebtedness
represented by the Notes;
(iii) the issuance by the Company of the Exchange Notes.
(iv) the incurrence by MFOC of Indebtedness represented by the Series C
Senior Notes and the Exchange MFOC Senior Notes, and the guarantee thereof by
MFOC's Subsidiaries, and any other Indebtedness of MFOC or its Subsidiaries
permitted under the MFOC Indenture and the guarantee thereof by MFOC's
Subsidiaries permitted under the MFOC Indenture;
41
(v) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of
Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or
purchase money obligations, in each case, incurred for the purpose of
financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of construction or
improvement of property, plant or equipment used in the business of the
Company or such Subsidiary, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed
$5.0 million at any time outstanding;
(vi) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of
which are used to refund, refinance or replace Indebtedness that was permitted
by the Indenture to be incurred;
(vii) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of
intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Wholly
Owned Subsidiaries, provided that (A) if the Company is the obligor on such
Indebtedness, such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated to the prior payment
in full in cash of all Obligations with respect to the Notes and (B)(1) any
subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such
Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Company or a Wholly Owned
Subsidiary and (2) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a
Person that is not either the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary shall be
deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by the
Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be;
(viii) the incurrence of Indebtedness in connection with one or more
standby letters of credit, guarantees, performance or surety bonds or other
reimbursement obligations, in each case, issued in the ordinary course of
business and not in connection with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of
advances or credit (other than (A) advances or credit on open account,
includible in current liabilities, for goods and services in the ordinary
course of business and on terms and conditions customary in a Permitted
Business and (B) the extension of credit represented by such letter of credit,
guarantee, bond or other obligations itself), provided that any draw under or
call upon any of the foregoing is repaid in full within 45 days, and provided
further that the aggregate amount of all Indebtedness incurred pursuant to
this clause (viii) shall not exceed $5.0 million at any time outstanding;
(ix) the incurrence of Indebtedness arising from agreements of the
Company or a Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase
price or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection
with the disposition of any business, assets or Subsidiary (other than
guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or a portion
of such business, assets or Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such
acquisition), provided that the maximum aggregate liability of all such
Indebtedness shall at no time exceed 50% of the gross proceeds actually
received by the Company or such Subsidiary in connection with such
disposition;
(x) the guarantee by the Company or any Subsidiary of Indebtedness of
the Company or any Subsidiary that was permitted to be incurred by another
provision of this covenant;
For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09, in
the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of
the categories of Permitted Indebtedness described in clauses (i) through (x)
above or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this
Section 4.09, the Company shall, in its sole discretion, classify such item of
Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this Section 4.09 and such item of
Indebtedness will be treated as having been incurred
42
pursuant to only one of such clauses or pursuant to the first paragraph hereof.
Accrual of interest and the accretion of accreted value shall not be deemed to
be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 4.09.
SECTION 4.10. ASSET SALES
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries
to, consummate an Asset Sale unless (i) the Company (or the Subsidiary, as the
case may be) receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least
equal to the fair market value (in the case of an Asset Sale or Asset Sales
aggregating $10,000 or more, evidenced by an Officers' Certificate delivered to
the Trustee and, in the case of any Asset Sale having a fair market value or
resulting in net proceeds in excess of $5.0 million, evidenced by a resolution
of the Board of Directors set forth in an Officers' Certificate delivered to the
Trustee) of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed
of and (ii) at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Company
or such Subsidiary is in the form of cash, provided that the amount of (x) any
liabilities (as shown on the Company's or such Subsidiary's most recent balance
sheet) of the Company or any Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and
liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or any guarantee
thereof) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a
customary novation agreement that releases the Company or such Subsidiary from
further liability and (y) any securities, notes or other obligations received by
the Company or any such Subsidiary from such transferee that are immediately
converted by the Company or such Subsidiary into cash (to the extent of the cash
received), shall be deemed to be cash for purposes of this provision.
Within 270 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset
Sale, the Company may apply such Net Proceeds to the making of a Permitted
Investment, the making of a capital expenditure in a Permitted Business or the
acquisition of long-term assets in a Permitted Business. Pending the final
application of any such Net Proceeds, the Company may temporarily or permanently
reduce Indebtedness under a Credit Facility or in accordance with the MFOC
Indenture or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in any manner that is not
prohibited by this Indenture. Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not
applied or invested as provided in the first sentence of this paragraph shall be
deemed to constitute "Excess Proceeds." When the aggregate amount of Excess
Proceeds exceeds $5.0 million, the Company will be required to make an Asset
Sale Offer to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes that may be
purchased out of the Excess Proceeds, at an offer price in cash in an amount
equal to 100% of the Accreted Value thereof on the date of purchase (if such
date of purchase is prior to December 1, 2002) or 100% of the principal amount
thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon
to the date of purchase (if such date of purchase is on or after December 1,
2002), in each case in accordance with the procedures set forth in this
Indenture. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes tendered pursuant to
an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company may use any
remaining Excess Proceeds for general corporate purposes. If the aggregate
principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders thereof exceeds the amount of
Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased on a pro
rata basis. Upon completion of such offer to purchase, the amount of Excess
Proceeds shall be reset at zero.
SECTION 4.11. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to
make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its
properties or assets to, or purchase any
43
property or assets from, or enter into or make any transaction, contract,
agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit
of, any Affiliate (each of the foregoing, an "Affiliate Transaction"), unless
(a) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the
Company or the relevant Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a
comparable transaction by the Company or such Subsidiary with an unrelated
Person and (b) the Company delivers to the Trustee (i) with respect to any
Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving
aggregate consideration in excess of $1.0 million, a resolution of the Board of
Directors set forth in an Officers' Certificate certifying that such Affiliate
Transaction complies with clause (a) above and that such Affiliate Transaction
has been approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of
Directors and (ii) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of
related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of
$5.0 million, an opinion as to the fairness to the holders of such Affiliate
Transaction from a financial point of view issued by an accounting, appraisal or
investment banking firm of national standing; provided, however, that (u)
payments to the Company pursuant to the Tax Sharing Agreement, (v) any
employment agreement entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in
the ordinary course of business and consistent with the past practice of the
Company or such Subsidiary, (w) transactions between or among the Company and/or
its Subsidiaries, (x) Restricted Payments that are permitted under Section 4.07
hereof, (y) the payment of reasonable fees, expense reimbursements and customary
indemnification, advances and other similar arrangements to directors and
officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries and (z) reasonable loans or
advances to employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course
of business of the Company or such Subsidiary, in each case, shall not be deemed
Affiliate Transactions.
SECTION 4.12. LIENS.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries
to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on
any asset now owned or hereafter acquired, or any income or profits therefrom or
assign or convey any right to receive income therefrom, except Permitted Liens.
SECTION 4.13. LINE OF BUSINESS.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries
to, engage in any business other than a Permitted Business, except to such
extent as would not be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole. In addition, (a) neither the Company nor MFOC shall engage in any Asset
Sale involving MFB, (b) none of the Company, MFOC or MFB will engage in any
Asset Sale involving the "▇▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇" or "Pretzel Time" brand name and (c) for
so long as MFB is a Subsidiary of MFOC or the Company, MFB shall not incur any
Indebtedness (other than its guarantee of the MFOC Notes and any guarantee of
Indebtedness under a Credit Facility).
SECTION 4.14. CORPORATE EXISTENCE.
Subject to Article 5 hereof, the Company shall do or cause to be done
all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect (i) its
corporate existence, and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each
of its Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational documents
(as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Company or any such
Subsidiary and (ii) the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises
of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company shall
not be required to preserve any such right, license or
44
franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any of its
Subsidiaries, if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation
thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and
its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not adverse in
any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.
SECTION 4.15. OFFER TO REPURCHASE UPON CHANGE OF CONTROL.
(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company shall make an
offer (a "Change of Control Offer") to each Holder to repurchase all or any part
(equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of each Holder's Notes at a
purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the Accreted Value thereof on the date
of purchase (if such date of purchase is prior to December 1, 2002) or 101% of
the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and
Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the date of repurchase (if such date of
purchase is on or after December 1, 2002) (the "Change of Control Payment").
Within 60 days following any Change of Control, the Company shall mail a notice
to each Holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the
Change of Control stating: (i) that the Change of Control Offer is being made
pursuant to this Section 4.15 and that all Notes tendered will be accepted for
payment; (ii) the purchase price and the purchase date, which shall be no
earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is
mailed (the "Change of Control Payment Date"); (iii) that any Note not tendered
will continue to accrue interest; (iv) that, unless the Company defaults in the
payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment
pursuant to the Change of Control Offer shall cease to accrue interest after the
Change of Control Payment Date; (v) that Holders electing to have any Notes
purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender
the Notes, with the form entitled "Option of Holder to Elect Purchase" on the
reverse of the Notes completed, to the Paying Agent at the address specified in
the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding
the Change of Control Payment Date; (vi) that Holders will be entitled to
withdraw their election if the Paying Agent receives, not later than the close
of business on the second Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment
Date, a facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder,
the principal amount of Notes delivered for purchase, and a statement that such
▇▇▇▇▇▇ is withdrawing his election to have the Notes purchased; and (vii) that
Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes
equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered,
which unpurchased portion must be equal to $1,000 in principal amount or an
integral multiple thereof. The Company shall comply with the requirements of
Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations
thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection
with the repurchase of Notes in connection with a Change of Control.
(b) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, to the
extent lawful, (i) accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly
tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, (ii) deposit with the Paying
Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes
or portions thereof so tendered and (iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to
the Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an Officers' Certificate stating
the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions thereof being purchased by
the Company. The Paying Agent shall promptly mail to each Holder of Notes so
tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee shall
promptly authenticate and make available for delivery (or cause to be
transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount
to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered by such Holder, if any;
provided that each such new Note shall be in a principal amount of $1,000 or an
integral multiple
45
thereof. The Company shall publicly announce the results of the Change of
Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment
Date.
The Change of Control provisions described above will be applicable whether
or not any other provisions of this Indenture are applicable. The Company shall
not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if a
third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and
otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in Section 4.15 above
and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of
Control Offer.
SECTION 4.16. LIMITATION ON ISSUANCES AND SALES OF CAPITAL STOCK OF WHOLLY
OWNED SUBSIDIARIES.
The Company (a) shall not, and shall not permit any Wholly Owned
Subsidiary of the Company to, transfer, convey, sell, lease or otherwise dispose
of any Capital Stock of any Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company to any Person
(other than the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company), unless (i)
such transfer, conveyance, sale, lease or other disposition is of all the
Capital Stock of such Wholly Owned Subsidiary and (ii) the cash Net Proceeds
from such transfer, conveyance, sale, lease or other disposition are applied in
accordance with Section 4.10 hereof; and (b) shall not permit any Wholly Owned
Subsidiary of the Company to issue any of its Equity Interests (other than, if
necessary, shares of its Capital Stock constituting directors' qualifying
shares) to any Person other than to the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of
the Company.
SECTION 4.17. ADVANCES TO SUBSIDIARIES.
All advances to Subsidiaries made by the Company from time to time
after the Issue Date, other than the MFH Capital Contributions, shall be
evidenced by unsecured Subsidiary Intercompany Notes in favor of the Company
that will be pledged to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Pledge Agreement as
Pledged Collateral to secure the Notes. All advances by the Company to any
Subsidiary outstanding on the date hereof shall be evidenced by an unsecured
Subsidiary Intercompany Note that will be pledged to the Collateral Agent
pursuant to the Pledge Agreement as Pledged Collateral for the Notes. Each
Subsidiary Intercompany Note shall be payable upon demand, shall bear interest
at the same rate as the Notes, and will be subordinated in right of payment to
all existing Senior Debt of the Subsidiary to which such loan is made. ''Senior
Debt'' of Subsidiaries for the purposes of the Subsidiary Intercompany Notes
will be defined as all Indebtedness of such Subsidiaries that is not
specifically by its terms made pari passu with or junior to such Subsidiary
Intercompany Notes. A form of Subsidiary Intercompany Note is attached as
Exhibit F hereto. Repayments of principal with respect to any Subsidiary
Intercompany Note shall be required to be pledged to the Collateral Agent
pursuant to the Pledge Agreement as Pledged Collateral to secure the Notes until
such amounts are advanced to a Subsidiary in accordance with this Indenture.
The Company shall not permit any Subsidiary in respect of which the
Company is a creditor by virtue of a Subsidiary Intercompany Note to incur any
Indebtedness that is subordinate or junior in right of payment to any Senior
Debt of such Subsidiary and senior in any respect in right of payment to any
Subsidiary Intercompany Note.
46
SECTION 4.18. PAYMENTS FOR CONSENT.
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall, directly or
indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration, whether by way of
interest, fee or otherwise, to any Holder of any Notes for or as an inducement
to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of the
Indenture or the Notes unless such consideration is offered to be paid or is
paid to all Holders of the Notes that consent, waive or agree to amend in the
time frame set forth in the solicitation documents relating to such consent,
waiver or agreement.
SECTION 4.19. CALCULATION OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT.
The Company shall provide to the Trustee on a timely basis such
information as the Trustee requires to enable the Trustee to prepare and file
any form required to be submitted by the Company with the Internal Revenue
Service and the Holders of Notes relating to original issue discount, including,
without limitation, Form 1099-OID or any successor form.
ARTICLE 5.
SUCCESSORS
SECTION 5.01 MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, OR SALE OF ASSETS.
The Company shall not consolidate or merge with or into (whether or
not the Company is the surviving corporation) or sell, assign, transfer, lease,
convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or
assets in one or more related transactions to, another corporation, Person or
entity unless (i) the Company is the surviving corporation or the entity or the
Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than
the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or
other disposition shall have been made is a corporation organized or existing
under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of
Columbia, (ii) the entity or Person formed by or surviving any such
consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or the entity or Person to
which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition
shall have been made assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Notes
and this Indenture pursuant to a supplemental indenture in a form reasonably
satisfactory to the Trustee, (iii) immediately after such transaction, no
Default or Event of Default exists, and (iv) except in the case of a merger of
the Company with or into a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company, the Company
or the entity or Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger
(if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease,
conveyance or other disposition shall have been made (A) shall have Consolidated
Net Worth (immediately after the transaction) equal to or greater than the
Consolidated Net Worth of the Company immediately preceding the transaction and
(B) shall, at the time of such transaction and after giving pro forma effect
thereto as if such transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable
four-quarter period, be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional
Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the
first paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof.
SECTION 5.02. SUCCESSOR CORPORATION SUBSTITUTED.
Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer,
lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets
of the Company in accordance with Section
47
5.01 hereof, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into or
with which the Company is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer,
lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be
substituted for (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger,
sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture
referring to the "Company" shall refer instead to the successor corporation and
not to the Company), and may exercise every right and power of the Company under
this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named
as the Company herein; provided, however, that the predecessor Company shall not
be relieved from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the
Notes except in the case of a sale of all of the Company's assets that meets the
requirements of Section 5.01 hereof.
ARTICLE 6.
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
SECTION 6.01. EVENTS OF DEFAULT.
An "Event of Default" occurs if:
(a) the Company defaults in the payment when due of interest on, or
Liquidated Damages, if any, with respect to, the Notes and such default
continues for a period of 30 days;
(b) the Company defaults in the payment when due of principal of or
premium, if any, on the Notes when the same becomes due and payable at maturity,
upon redemption (including in connection with an offer to purchase) or
otherwise;
(c) the Company fails to observe or perform any covenant, representation,
warranty or other agreement in this Indenture or the Notes for 30 days after
notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate
principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class;
(d) a default occurs under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under
which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any
Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or
the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries),
whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is created after the Issue
Date, which default (i) is caused by a failure to pay principal of or premium,
if any, or interest on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace
period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default (a "Payment
Default") or (ii) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its
express maturity and, in each case, the principal amount of any such
Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness
under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been
so accelerated, aggregates $2.5 million or more;
(e) a final judgment or final judgments for the payment of money are
entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction against the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries and such judgment or judgments remain undischarged for a
period (during which execution shall not be effectively stayed) of 60 days,
provided that the aggregate of all such undischarged judgments exceeds $2.5
million;
48
(f) a breach by the Company or any Subsidiary that has pledged a
Subsidiary Intercompany Note of any representation or warranty set forth in the
Pledge Agreement, or repudiation by the Company or any such Subsidiary of its
obligations under the Pledge Agreement or the unenforceability of the Pledge
Agreement against the Company or any such Subsidiary for any reason; or
(g) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to or within the
meaning of Bankruptcy Law:
(i) commences a voluntary case,
(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an
involuntary case,
(iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or
substantially all of its property,
(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or
(v) generally is not paying its debts as they become due; or
(h) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any
Bankruptcy Law that:
(i) is for relief against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in an
involuntary case;
(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or for
all or substantially all of the property of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries; or
(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; and
the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days.
SECTION 6.02. ACCELERATION.
If any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in
clause (g) of Section 6.01 hereof with respect to the Company, any Significant
Subsidiary or any group of Significant Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole,
would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee
or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount at maturity of the then
outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately.
Upon any such declaration, the Notes shall become due and payable immediately.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in clause (g) or
(h) of Section 6.01 hereof occurs with respect to the Company, any of its
Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole,
would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, all outstanding Notes shall be due
and payable immediately without further action or notice. The Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by written
notice to the Trustee may on behalf of all of the Holders rescind an
acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any
judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (except
49
nonpayment of principal, interest or premium that has become due solely because
of the acceleration) have been cured or waived.
If an Event of Default occurs by reason of any willful action (or
inaction) taken (or not taken) by or on behalf of the Company with the intention
of avoiding payment of the premium that the Company would have had to pay if the
Company then had elected to redeem the Notes pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof,
then, upon acceleration of the Notes, an equivalent premium shall also become
and be immediately due and payable, to the extent permitted by law, anything in
this Indenture or in the Notes to the contrary notwithstanding. If an Event of
Default occurs prior to December 1, 2002 by reason of any willful action (or
inaction) taken (or not taken) by or on behalf of the Company with the intention
of avoiding the prohibition on redemption of the Notes prior to such date, then,
upon acceleration of the Notes, an additional premium shall also become and be
immediately due and payable, to the extent permitted by law, in an amount, for
each of the years beginning on December 1 of the years set forth below, as set
forth below (expressed as percentages of Accreted Value and Liquidated Damages,
if any, to the date of payment that would otherwise be due but for the
provisions of this sentence):
YEAR PERCENTAGE
---- ----------
1998........................................ 114.000%
1999........................................ 112.250%
2000........................................ 110.500%
2001........................................ 108.750%
SECTION 6.03. OTHER REMEDIES.
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may
pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if
any, and interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of
the Notes or this Indenture.
The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any
of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or
omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or
remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or
constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are
cumulative to the extent permitted by law.
SECTION 6.04 WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS.
Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the then outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the
Holders of all of the Notes waive an existing Default or Event of Default and
its consequences hereunder, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in
the payment of the principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, or
interest on, the Notes (including in connection with an offer to purchase)
(provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the then outstanding Notes may rescind an acceleration and its consequences,
including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration).
Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of
Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose
of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other
Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
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SECTION 6.05. CONTROL BY MAJORITY.
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding
Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for
exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power
conferred on it. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that
conflicts with law or this Indenture that the Trustee determines may be unduly
prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Notes or that may involve the
Trustee in personal liability.
SECTION 6.06. LIMITATION ON SUITS.
A Holder of a Note may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture
or the Notes only if:
(a) the Holder of a Note gives to the Trustee written notice of a
continuing Event of Default;
(b) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount at maturity of the
then outstanding Notes make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the
remedy;
(c) such Holder of a Note or Holders of Notes offer and, if requested,
provide to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss,
liability or expense;
(d) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after
receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of
indemnity; and
(e) during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the then outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a direction
inconsistent with the request.
A Holder of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights
of another Holder of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over another
Holder of a Note.
SECTION 6.07. RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF NOTES TO RECEIVE PAYMENT.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of
any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal, premium and Liquidated
Damages, if any, and interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates
expressed in the Note (including in connection with an offer to purchase), or to
bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective
dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.
SECTION 6.08. COLLECTION SUIT BY TRUSTEE.
If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a) or (b) occurs and
is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and
as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of
principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest remaining
unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful,
interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and
expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
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SECTION 6.09. TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM.
The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other
papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims
of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the
Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company
(or any other obligor upon the Notes), its creditors or its property and shall
be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other
property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such
judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to
the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of
such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to
it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the
Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under
Section 7.07 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation,
expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and
any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in
any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall
be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions,
dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be
entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan
of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall
be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt
on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or
composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the
Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
SECTION 6.10. PRIORITIES.
If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article, it shall
pay out the money in the following order:
First: to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under
Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expense and
liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and
expenses of collection;
Second: to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes
for principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest, ratably,
without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and
payable on the Notes for principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any and
interest, respectively; and
Third: to the Company or to such party as a court of competent
jurisdiction shall direct.
The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to
Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 6.10.
SECTION 6.11. UNDERTAKING FOR COSTS.
In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this
Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by
it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party
litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the
court in its
52
discretion may assess reasonable costs,including reasonable attorneys' fees,
against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good
faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does
not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to
Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount
of the then outstanding Notes.
ARTICLE 7.
TRUSTEE
SECTION 7.01. DUTIES OF TRUSTEE.
(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee
shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and
use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent man would
exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(i) the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express
provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties
that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no
implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the
Trustee; and
(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively
rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions
expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and
conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee shall
examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform
to the requirements of this Indenture.
(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent
action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except
that:
(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this
Section;
(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good
faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was
negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes
or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it
pursuant to Section 6.05 hereof.
(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this
Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a),
(b), and (c) of this Section.
(e) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or
risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee shall be under no
obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at the
request of any Holders, unless such Holder shall have
53
offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any
loss, liability or expense.
(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by
it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in
trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the
extent required by law.
SECTION 7.02. RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE.
(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting or
refraining from acting upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to
have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not
investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an
Officers' Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not
be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on
such Officers' Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with
counsel and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full
and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any
action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance
thereon.
(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be
responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due
care.
(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to
take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or
powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.
(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand,
request, direction or notice from the Company shall be sufficient if signed by
an Officer of the Company.
(f) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights
or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of
the Holders unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable
security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be
incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.
(g) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event
of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge
thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is
received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such
notice references the Securities and this Indenture.
SECTION 7.03. INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE.
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the
owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or any
Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not
Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting
interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for
permission to continue as
54
trustee or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The
Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11 hereof.
SECTION 7.04. TRUSTEE'S DISCLAIMER.
The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation
as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be
accountable for the Company's use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money
paid to the Company or upon the Company's direction under any provision of this
Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money
received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be
responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or
any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this
Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.
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 Holders of Notes a notice of the
Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case
of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium, if any, or
interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a
committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding
the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.
SECTION 7.06. REPORTS BY TRUSTEE TO HOLDERS OF THE NOTES.
Within 60 days after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following
the Issue Date, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee shall
mail to the Holders of the Notes a brief report dated as of such reporting date
that complies with TIA (S) 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA (S) 313(a)
has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report
need be transmitted). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA (S) 313(b)(2).
The Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports as required by ▇▇▇ (S)
313(c).
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders of
Notes shall be mailed to the Company and filed with the SEC and each stock
exchange on which the Notes are listed in accordance with TIA (S) 313(d). The
Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when the Notes are listed on any stock
exchange or delisted therefrom.
SECTION 7.07. COMPENSATION AND INDEMNITY.
The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable
compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder. The
Trustee's compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a
trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee promptly
upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or
made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses
shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the
Trustee's agents and counsel.
The Company shall indemnify the Trustee against any and all losses,
liabilities or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the
acceptance or administration of its duties
55
under this Indenture, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this
Indenture against the Company (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself
against any claim (whether asserted by the Company or any Holder or any other
person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of
its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability or
expense may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith. The Trustee 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. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee
shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the
Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company
need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld.
The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.07 shall survive
the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.
To secure the Company's 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, except that held in trust to pay principal and
interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and
discharge of this Indenture.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of
Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or (h) hereof occurs, the expenses and the
compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and
counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any
Bankruptcy Law.
The Trustee shall comply with the provisions of TIA (S) 313(b)(2) to
the extent applicable.
SECTION 7.08 REPLACEMENT OF TRUSTEE.
A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a
successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee's
acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section.
The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from
the trust hereby created by so notifying the Company. The Holders of Notes of a
majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the
Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company may
remove the Trustee if:
(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;
(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for
relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;
(c) a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its
property; or
(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
56
If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the
office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor
Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders
of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a
successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.
If a successor ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ does not take office within 30 days after the
retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company, or
the Holders of Notes of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding
Notes may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder of a Note who has
been a Holder of a Note for at least six months, fails to comply with Section
7.10, such Holder of a Note may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for
the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.
A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its
appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon, the
resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the
successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee
under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its
succession to Holders of the Notes. The retiring Trustee shall promptly
transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, provided
all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien
provided for in Section 7.07 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee
pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Company's obligations under Section 7.07
hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.
SECTION 7.09. SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE BY MERGER, ETC.
If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all
or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation,
the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor
Trustee.
SECTION 7.10. ELIGIBILITY; DISQUALIFICATION.
There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation
organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or
of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate
trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state
authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $100 million
as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.
This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the
requirements of TIA (S) 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA
(S) 310(b).
SECTION 7.11. PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST COMPANY.
The Trustee is subject to TIA (S) 311(a), excluding any creditor
relationship listed in TIA (S) 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been
removed shall be subject to TIA (S) 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.
57
SECTION 7.12. TRUSTEE'S APPLICATION FOR INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE COMPANY.
Any application by the Trustee for written instructions from the
Company may, at the option of the Trustee, set forth in writing any action
proposed to be taken or omitted by the Trustee under this Indenture and the date
on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be
effective. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission
of, the Trustee in accordance with a proposal included in such application on or
after the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less than
three Business Days after the date any officer of the Company actually receives
such application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to any
earlier date) unless prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in
the case of an omission), the Trustee shall have received written instructions
in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.
ARTICLE 8.
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
SECTION 8.01. OPTION TO EFFECT LEGAL DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE.
The Company may, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by
a resolution set forth in an Officers' Certificate, at any time, elect to have
either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof be applied to all outstanding Notes upon
compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article Eight.
SECTION 8.02. LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND DISCHARGE.
Upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option
applicable to this Section 8.02, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction
of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been
discharged from its obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes on the
date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, "Legal
Defeasance"). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company shall
be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the
outstanding Notes, which shall thereafter be deemed to be "outstanding" only for
the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture
referred to in (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all its other
obligations under such Notes and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of
and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments
acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive
until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders
of outstanding Notes to receive solely from the trust fund described in Section
8.04 hereof, and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of
the principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any,
on such Notes when such payments are due, (b) the Company's obligations with
respect to such Notes under Article 2 and Section 4.02 hereof, (c) the rights,
powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company's
obligations in connection therewith and (d) this Article Eight. Subject to
compliance with this Article Eight, the Company may exercise its option under
this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section
8.03 hereof.
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SECTION 8.03. COVENANT DEFEASANCE.
Upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option
applicable to this Section 8.03, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction
of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from its
obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10,
4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, 4.18 and 4.19 hereof with respect to
the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section
8.04 are satisfied (hereinafter, "Covenant Defeasance"), and the Notes shall
thereafter be deemed not "outstanding" for the purposes of any direction,
waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any
thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed
"outstanding" for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such
Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this
purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes,
the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of
any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether
directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such
covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other
provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not
constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01 hereof, but,
except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes shall
be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company's exercise under Section
8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03 hereof, subject to the
satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Sections
6.01(d) through 6.01(f) hereof shall not constitute Events of Default.
SECTION 8.04 CONDITIONS TO LEGAL OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE.
The following shall be the conditions to the application of either
Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof to the outstanding Notes:
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:
(a) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for
the benefit of the Holders, cash in United States dollars, non-callable
Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be
sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public
accountants, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and Liquidated Damages,
if any, and interest on the outstanding Notes on the stated date for payment
thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the
Company must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a
particular redemption date;
(b) in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the Company shall
have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States
reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that (A) the Company has
received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a
ruling or (B) since the Issue Date, there has been a change in the applicable
federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon
such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding Notes
will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a
result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the
same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the
case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;
59
(c) in the case of an election under Section 8.03 hereof, the Company shall
have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States
reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the Holders of the
outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax
purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal
income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as
would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;
(d) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on
the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting
from the incurrence of Indebtedness all or a portion of the proceeds of which
will be used to defease the Notes pursuant to this Article Eight concurrently
with such incurrence) or insofar as Sections 6.01(g) or 6.01(h) hereof are
concerned, at any time in the period ending on the 91/st/ day after the date of
deposit;
(e) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a
breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or
instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is
bound;
(f) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel
(which may be subject to customary exceptions) to the effect that on the 91/st/
day following the deposit, the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of
any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting
creditors' rights generally;
(g) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent
of preferring the Holders over any other creditors of the Company or with the
intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of
the Company or others; and
(h) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions
precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant
Defeasance have been complied with.
SECTION 8.05. DEPOSITED MONEY AND GOVERNMENT SECURITIES TO BE HELD IN TRUST;
OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.
Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and non-callable Government
Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other
qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05, the
"Trustee") pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes
shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the
provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or
through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the
Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to
become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest, but
such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required
by law.
The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee
or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable
Government Securities deposited pursuant to
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Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof
other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of
the Holders of the outstanding Notes.
Anything in this Article Eight to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request
of the Company any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as
provided in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized
firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification
thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under
Section 8.04(a) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be
required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant
Defeasance.
SECTION 8.06. REPAYMENT TO COMPANY.
Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held
by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any,
or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such
principal, and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be
paid to the Company on its request or (if then held by the Company) shall be
discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter, as a
secured creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all
liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money,
and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease;
provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required
to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be
published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national
edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date
specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such
notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining
will be repaid to the Company.
SECTION 8.07. REINSTATEMENT.
If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States
dollars or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or
8.03 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court
or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such
application, then the Company's obligations under this Indenture and the Notes
shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to
Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is
permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03
hereof, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any
payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note following the
reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights
of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the
Trustee or Paying Agent.
ARTICLE 9.
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
SECTION 9.01. WITHOUT CONSENT OF HOLDERS OF NOTES.
Notwithstanding Section 9.02 of this Indenture, the Company and the
Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Notes without the consent
of any Holder of a Note:
61
(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
(b) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of
certificated Notes or to alter the provisions of Article 2 hereof (including the
related definitions) in a manner that does not materially adversely affect any
Holder;
(c) to provide for the assumption of the Company's obligations to the
Holders of the Notes by a successor to the Company pursuant to Article 5 hereof;
(d) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or
benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal
rights hereunder of any Holder of the Note; or
(e) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain
the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA.
Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its
Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental
Indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section
7.02 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of any
amended or supplemental Indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this
Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that
may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into
such amended or supplemental Indenture that affects its own rights, duties or
immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
SECTION 9.02. WITH CONSENT OF HOLDERS OF NOTES.
Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Company and the
Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture and the Notes may be amended or
supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal
amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class (including,
without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or
exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes), and, subject to Sections 6.04
and 6.07 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default
or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or
interest on the Notes, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration
that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture or
the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the then outstanding Notes voting as a single class
(including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer
for, or purchase of, the Notes). Section 2.08 hereof shall determine which Notes
are considered to be "outstanding" for purposes of this Section 9.02.
Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its
Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental
Indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the
Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by
the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee shall
join with the Company in the execution of such amended or supplemental Indenture
unless such amended or supplemental Indenture directly affects the Trustee's own
rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case
the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into
such amended or supplemental Indenture.
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It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes
under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment
or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance
thereof.
After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section becomes
effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a
notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of
the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in
any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental
Indenture or waiver. Subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a
single class may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Company with
any provision of this Indenture or the Notes. However, without the consent of
each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not
(with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):
(a) reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an
amendment, supplement or waiver;
(b) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or
alter or waive any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Notes
except as provided above with respect to Sections 3.09, 4.10 and 4.15 hereof;
(c) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest,
including default interest, on any Note;
(d) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or
premium, if any, or interest on the Notes (except a rescission of acceleration
of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the then outstanding Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted
from such acceleration);
(e) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the Notes;
(f) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to
waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments
of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes;
(g) make any change in Section 6.04 or 6.07 hereof or in the foregoing
amendment and waiver provisions; or
(h) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Note (other than a
payment required by Section 4.10 or 4.15 hereof).
SECTION 9.03. COMPLIANCE WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.
Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes shall be
set forth in a amended or supplemental Indenture that complies with the TIA as
then in effect.
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SECTION 9.04. REVOCATION AND EFFECT OF CONSENTS.
Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent
to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and
every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same
debt as the consenting ▇▇▇▇▇▇'s Note, even if notation of the consent is not
made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a
Note may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written
notice of revocation before the date the waiver, supplement or amendment becomes
effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance
with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.
SECTION 9.05. NOTATION ON OR EXCHANGE OF NOTES.
The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment,
supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Company in
exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an
Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment,
supplement or waiver.
Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not
affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.
SECTION 9.06. TRUSTEE TO SIGN AMENDMENTS, ETC.
The Trustee shall sign any amended or supplemental Indenture
authorized pursuant to this Article Nine if the amendment or supplement does not
adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee.
The Company may not sign an amendment or supplemental Indenture until the Board
of Directors approves it. In executing any amended or supplemental indenture,
the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof)
shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required
by Section 11.04 hereof, an Officer's Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel
stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is
authorized or permitted by this Indenture.
ARTICLE 10.
COLLATERAL AND SECURITY
SECTION 10.01. PLEDGE AGREEMENT.
The due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest and
Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes when and as the same shall be due and
payable, whether on an interest payment date, at maturity, by acceleration,
repurchase, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of
and interest and Liquidated Damages (to the extent permitted by law), if any, on
the Notes and performance of all other obligations of the Company to the Holders
of Notes or the Trustee under this Indenture and the Notes, according to the
terms hereunder or thereunder, shall be secured as provided in the Pledge
Agreement which the Company has entered into simultaneously with the execution
of this Indenture and which is attached as Exhibit E hereto. Each Holder of
Notes, by its acceptance thereof, consents and agrees to the terms of the Pledge
Agreement (including, without limitation, the provisions providing for
foreclosure and release of Pledged Collateral) as the same may be in effect or
may be amended from time to time in accordance with its terms and authorizes and
directs the Collateral Agent
64
to enter into the Pledge Agreement and to perform its obligations and exercise
its rights thereunder in accordance therewith. The Company shall deliver to the
Trustee copies of all documents delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to
the Pledge Agreement, and shall do or cause to be done all such acts and things
as may be necessary or proper, or as may be required by the provisions of the
Pledge Agreement, to assure and confirm to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent
the security interest in the Pledged Collateral contemplated hereby, by the
Pledge Agreement or any part thereof, as from time to time constituted, so as to
render the same available for the security and benefit of this Indenture and of
the Notes secured hereby, according to the intent and purposes herein expressed.
The Company shall take, or shall cause its Subsidiaries to take, upon request of
the Trustee, any and all actions reasonably required to cause the Pledge
Agreement to create and maintain, as security for the Obligations of the Company
hereunder, a valid and enforceable perfected first priority Lien in and on all
the Pledged Collateral, in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the
Holders of Notes, superior to and prior to the rights of all third Persons and
subject to no other Liens than Permitted Liens.
SECTION 10.02. RECORDING AND OPINIONS.
(a) The Company shall furnish to the Trustee, or shall permit the
Trustee to rely on, simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this
Indenture, an Opinion of Counsel either (i) stating that in the opinion of such
counsel all action has been taken to make effective the Lien intended to be
created by the Pledge Agreement, and reciting with respect to the security
interests in the Pledged Collateral, the details of such action, or (ii) stating
that, in the opinion of such counsel, no such action is necessary to make such
Lien effective.
(b) The Company shall furnish to the Collateral Agent and the Trustee
on April 30 in each year beginning with April 30, 1999, an Opinion of Counsel,
dated as of such date, either (i) (A) stating that, in the opinion of such
counsel, action has been taken with respect to the recording, registering,
filing, re-recording, re-registering and refiling of all supplemental
indentures, financing statements, continuation statements or other instruments
of further assurance as is necessary to maintain the Lien of the Pledge
Agreement and reciting with respect to the security interests in the Pledged
Collateral the details of such action or referring to prior Opinions of Counsel
in which such details are given, (B) stating that, based on relevant laws as in
effect on the date of such Opinion of Counsel, all financing statements and
continuation statements have been executed and filed that are necessary as of
such date and during the succeeding 12 months fully to preserve and protect, to
the extent such protection and preservation are possible by filing, the rights
of the Holders of Notes and the Collateral Agent and the Trustee hereunder and
under the Pledge Agreement with respect to the security interests in the Pledged
Collateral, or (ii) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, no such action
is necessary to maintain such Lien and assignment.
(c) The Company shall otherwise comply with the provisions of TIA
(S)314(b).
SECTION 10.03. RELEASE OF COLLATERAL.
(a) Subject to subsections (b), (c) and (d) of this Section 10.03,
Pledged Collateral may be released from the Lien and security interest created
by the Pledge Agreement at any time or from time to time in accordance with the
provisions of the Pledge Agreement or as provided hereby. In addition, upon the
request of the Company pursuant to an Officers' Certificate certifying that all
conditions precedent hereunder have been met and stating whether or not such
release is in connection
65
with an Asset Sale and (at the sole cost and expense of the Company) the
Collateral Agent shall release (i) Pledged Collateral that is sold, conveyed or
disposed of in compliance with the provisions of this Indenture; provided, that
if such sale, conveyance or disposition constitutes an Asset Sale, the Company
shall apply the Net Proceeds in accordance with Section 4.10 hereof. Upon
receipt of such Officers' Certificate the Collateral Agent shall execute,
deliver or acknowledge any necessary or proper instruments of termination,
satisfaction or release to evidence the release of any Pledged Collateral
permitted to be released pursuant to this Indenture or the Pledge Agreement.
(b) No Pledged Collateral shall be released from the Lien and
security interest created by the Pledge Agreement pursuant to the provisions of
the Pledge Agreement unless there shall have been delivered to the Collateral
Agent the certificate required by this Section 10.03.
(c) At any time when a Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing and the maturity of the Notes shall have been
accelerated (whether by declaration or otherwise) and the Trustee shall have
delivered a notice of acceleration to the Collateral Agent, no release of
Pledged Collateral pursuant to the provisions of the Pledge Agreement shall be
effective as against the Holders of Notes.
(d) The release of any Pledged Collateral from the terms of this
Indenture and the Pledge Agreement shall not be deemed to impair the security
under this Indenture in contravention of the provisions hereof if and to the
extent the Pledged Collateral is released pursuant to the terms hereof. To the
extent applicable, the Company shall cause TIA (S) 313(b), relating to reports,
and TIA (S) 314(d), relating to the release of property or securities from the
Lien and security interest of the Pledge Agreement and relating to the
substitution therefor of any property or securities to be subjected to the Lien
and security interest of the Pledge Agreement, to be complied with. Any
certificate or opinion required by ▇▇▇ (S) 314(d) may be made by an Officer of
the Company except in cases where TIA (S) 314(d) requires that such certificate
or opinion be made by an independent Person, which Person shall be an
independent engineer, appraiser or other expert selected or approved by the
Trustee and the Collateral Agent in the exercise of reasonable care.
SECTION 10.04. CERTIFICATES OF THE COMPANY.
The Company shall furnish to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent,
prior to each proposed release of Pledged Collateral pursuant to the Pledge
Agreement, (i) all documents required by TIA (S)314(d) and (ii) an Opinion of
Counsel, which may be rendered by internal counsel to the Company, to the effect
that such accompanying documents constitute all documents required by TIA
(S)314(d). The Trustee may, to the extent permitted by Sections 7.01 and 7.02
hereof, accept as conclusive evidence of compliance with the foregoing
provisions the appropriate statements contained in such documents and such
Opinion of Counsel.
SECTION 10.05. CERTIFICATES OF THE TRUSTEE.
In the event that the Company wishes to release Pledged Collateral in
accordance with the Pledge Agreement and has delivered the certificates and
documents required by the Pledge Agreement and Sections 10.03 and 10.04 hereof,
the Trustee shall determine whether it has received all documentation required
by TIA (S)314(d) in connection with such release and, based on such
66
determination and the Opinion of Counsel delivered pursuant to Section 10.04(b),
shall deliver a certificate to the Collateral Agent setting forth such
determination.
SECTION 10.06. AUTHORIZATION OF ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY THE TRUSTEE UNDER THE
PLEDGE AGREEMENT.
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 and 7.02 hereof, the Trustee
may, in its sole discretion and without the consent of the Holders of Notes,
direct, on behalf of the Holders of Notes, the Collateral Agent to, take all
actions it deems necessary or appropriate in order to (a) enforce any of the
terms of the Pledge Agreement and (b) collect and receive any and all amounts
payable in respect of the Obligations of the Company hereunder. The Trustee
shall have power to institute and maintain such suits and proceedings as it may
deem expedient to prevent any impairment of the Pledged Collateral by any acts
that may be unlawful or in violation of the Pledge Agreement or this Indenture,
and such suits and proceedings as the Trustee may deem expedient to preserve or
protect its interests and the interests of the Holders of Notes in the Pledged
Collateral (including power to institute and maintain suits or proceedings to
restrain the enforcement of or compliance with any legislative or other
governmental enactment, rule or order that may be unconstitutional or otherwise
invalid if the enforcement of, or compliance with, such enactment, rule or order
would impair the security interest hereunder or be prejudicial to the interests
of the Holders of Notes or of the Trustee).
SECTION 10.07. AUTHORIZATION OF RECEIPT OF FUNDS BY THE TRUSTEE UNDER THE PLEDGE
AGREEMENT.
The Trustee is authorized to receive any funds for the benefit of the
Holders of Notes distributed under the Pledge Agreement, and to make further
distributions of such funds to the Holders of Notes according to the provisions
of this Indenture.
SECTION 10.08. TERMINATION OF SECURITY INTEREST.
Upon the payment in full of all Obligations of the Company under this
Indenture and the Notes, or upon Legal Defeasance, the Trustee shall, at the
request of the Company, deliver a certificate to the Collateral Agent stating
that such Obligations have been paid in full, and instruct the Collateral Agent
to release the Liens pursuant to this Indenture and the Pledge Agreement.
ARTICLE 11.
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 11.01. TRUST INDENTURE ACT CONTROLS.
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with
the duties imposed by ▇▇▇ (S) 318(c), the imposed duties shall control.
SECTION 11.02. NOTICES.
Any notice or communication by the Company or the Trustee to the
others is duly given if in writing and delivered in Person or mailed by first
class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telecopier or
overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others' address
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If to the Company:
▇▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇' Holding Company, Inc.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telecopier No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
If to the Trustee:
The Bank of New York
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telecopier No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
The Company or the Trustee, by notice to the others may designate
additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders)
shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if
personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail,
postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and the
next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air
courier guaranteeing next day delivery.
Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first class
mail certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air
courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept
by the Registrar. Any notice or communication shall also be so mailed to any
Person described in TIA (S) 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA. Failure
to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not
affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.
If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above
within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee
receives it.
If the Company mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall
mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
SECTION 11.03. COMMUNICATION BY HOLDERS OF NOTES WITH OTHER HOLDERS OF NOTES.
Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA (S) 312(b) with other Holders
with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Company,
the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA (S)
312(c).
68
SECTION 11.04. CERTIFICATE AND OPINION AS TO CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.
Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take
any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:
(a) an Officers' Certificate in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in
Section 11.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all
conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture
relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and
(b) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in
Section 11.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such
conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.
SECTION 11.05. STATEMENTS REQUIRED IN CERTIFICATE OR OPINION.
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a
condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate
provided pursuant to TIA (S) 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA
(S) 314(e) and shall include:
(a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion
has read such covenant or condition;
(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination
or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such
certificate or opinion are based;
(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has
made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express
an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been
satisfied; and
(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person,
such condition or covenant has been satisfied.
SECTION 11.06. RULES BY TRUSTEE AND AGENTS.
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of
Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set
reasonable requirements for its functions.
SECTION 11.07. NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND
STOCKHOLDERS.
No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator
or stockholder of the Company, as such, shall have any liability for any
obligations of the Company under the Notes, this Indenture or for any claim
based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation.
Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The
waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.
69
SECTION 11.08. GOVERNING LAW.
THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO
CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE AND THE NOTES WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF
ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.
SECTION 11.09. NO ADVERSE INTERPRETATION OF OTHER AGREEMENTS.
This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan
or debt agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person.
Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this
Indenture.
SECTION 11.10. 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 11.11. SEVERABILITY.
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes shall be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
SECTION 11.12. COUNTERPART ORIGINALS.
The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each
signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same
agreement.
SECTION 11.13. TABLE OF CONTENTS, HEADINGS, ETC.
The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and Headings of the
Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of
reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in
no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
[Signatures on following page]
70
SIGNATURES
Dated as of August 24, 1998
▇▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇' HOLDING COMPANY, INC.
By:_____________________________________
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Attest:
_________________________
Name:
Title:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE
By:_____________________________________
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT A
(Face of Note)
================================================================================
FOR THE PURPOSES OF SECTIONS 1272, 1273 AND 1275 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF
1986, AS AMENDED, THIS SECURITY IS BEING ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT.
YOU MAY CONTACT ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF ▇▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇' HOLDING
COMPANY, INC., AT ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, TELEPHONE NUMBER: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, WHO WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH ANY REQUIRED
INFORMATION REGARDING THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT.
CUSIP/CINS_____________
14% [SERIES A] [SERIES B] SENIOR SECURED DISCOUNT NOTES DUE 2005
NO.______ $
▇▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇' HOLDING COMPANY, INC.
promises to pay to__________________________________________________________
or registered assigns, the principal sum of_________________________________
Dollars on December 1, 2005.
Interest Payment Dates: June 1, and December 1
Record Dates: May 15 and November 15
▇▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇' HOLDING COMPANY, INC.
By:________________________________
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Executive Officer
(SEAL)
This is one of the Global
Notes referred to in the
within-mentioned Indenture:
Dated:
The Bank of New York,
as Trustee
By:_______________________________
A-1
Authorized Signatory
================================================================================
(Back of Note)
14% [Series A] [Series B] Senior Secured Discount Notes due 2005
[THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE
GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL
OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES
EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED
PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.07 OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE
EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(A) OF THE INDENTURE,
(III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT
TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO
A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.]/1/
[THIS SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) EVIDENCED HEREBY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED
UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND,
ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHIN
THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS, EXCEPT
AS SET FORTH BELOW. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST
HEREIN, THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL
BUYER" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) (A "QIB") OR (B) IT IS
AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(A)(1), (2), (3)
OR (7) OF REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) (AN "IAI"), (2) AGREES THAT IT
WILL NOT RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY EXCEPT (A) TO THE COMPANY OR
ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, (B) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS
A QIB PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QIB IN A
TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C)
IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,
(D) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT, (E) TO AN IAI THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED
LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE
TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY (THE FORM OF WHICH LETTER CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE
TRUSTEE) AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN RESPECT OF AN AGGREGATE
____________________________________
/1/ This paragraph should be included only if the Senior Secured Discount Note
is issued in global form.
A-2
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES LESS THAN $250,000, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE
TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT, (F)
IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE
SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY)
OR (G) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, AND, IN EACH CASE, IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES
OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH
PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY OR AN INTEREST HEREIN IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE
SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS "OFFSHORE
TRANSACTION" AND "UNITED STATES" HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY RULE 902 OF
REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THE INDENTURE CONTAINS A PROVISION
REQUIRING THE TRUSTEE TO REFUSE TO REGISTER ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE IN
VIOLATION OF THE FOREGOING.]/1/
[THE NOTES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE INITIALLY ISSUED AS PART OF AN
ISSUANCE OF UNITS, EACH OF WHICH CONSIST OF $1,000 PRINCIPAL AMOUNT AT MATURITY
OF THE NOTES AND ONE WARRANT (EACH, A "WARRANT") INITIALLY ENTITLING THE HOLDER
THEREOF TO PURCHASE 3.14411 SHARES, PAR VALUE $0.001 PER SHARE, OF THE COMPANY.
THE NOTES AND WARRANTS WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY SEPARATED UPON THE EARLIEST TO
OCCUR OF (I) 180 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF ISSUANCE, (II) THE DATE OF REDEMPTION OF
THE NOTES, (III) THE DATE ON WHICH A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WITH RESPECT TO A
REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER FOR THE NOTES IS DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT, (IV) THE DATE ON WHICH THE SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT (AS
DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE) IS DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (V)
SUCH DATE AS ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & COMPANY, INC., IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION, SHALL DETERMINE,
(VI) IN THE EVENT OF A CHANGE OF CONTROL (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE) AND (VII)
UPON AN IPO, THE NOTES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OR
SEPARATED FROM, BUT MAY BE TRANSFERRED OR EXCHANGED ONLY TOGETHER WITH, THE
WARRANTS UNTIL THE SEPARATION DATE.]/2/
Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them
in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.
1. INTEREST. ▇▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇' Holding Company, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of
this Note at 14% per annum from December 1, 2002 until maturity and shall pay
the Liquidated Damages, if any, payable pursuant to the
___________________________________
/1/ This paragraph should be removed upon the exchange of Series A Senior
Secured Discount Notes for Series B Senior Secured Discount Notes in the
Exchange Offer or upon the registration of the Series A Senior Secured Discount
Notes pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement.
/2/ This paragraph should be removed on the Separation Date.
A-3
Registration Rights Agreement referred to below. The Company will pay interest
and Liquidated Damages, if any, semi-annually on June 1 and December 1 of each
year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business
Day (each an "Interest Payment Date"). The Notes will accrete at a rate of 14%
per annum, compounded semi-annually to an aggregate principal amount of $55.0
million at December 1, 2002. Thereafter, 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 December 1, 2002. No cash interest will be payable on the Notes prior
to December 1, 2002. The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition
interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and
premium, if any, from time to time on demand at a rate that is 1% per annum in
excess of the rate then in effect; it shall pay interest (including post-
petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue
installments of interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, (without regard to any
applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the
extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of
twelve 30-day months.
2. METHOD OF PAYMENT. The Company will pay interest on the Notes
(except defaulted interest) and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the Persons who
are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the May 15 or
November 15 next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are
canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date,
except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted
interest. The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium and Liquidated
Damages, if any, and interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained
for such purpose within or without the City and State of New York, or, at the
option of the Company, payment of interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, may
be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the
register of Holders, and provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately
available funds will be required with respect to principal of and interest,
premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, on, all Global Notes and all other Notes
the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the
Company or the Paying Agent. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of
the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for
payment of public and private debts.
3. PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR. Initially, The Bank of New York, the
Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company
may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The
Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.
4. INDENTURE AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT. The Company issued the Notes under
an Indenture dated as of August 24, 1998 (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, as amended (15 U.S. Code (S)(S) 77aaa-77bbbb). The Notes are subject to
all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a
statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with
the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall
govern and be controlling. The Notes are secured obligations of the Company
limited to $55.0 million in aggregate principal amount. The Notes are secured by
a pledge of all of the outstanding capital stock of ▇▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇' Original
Cookies, Inc. pursuant to the Pledge Agreement referred to in the Indenture.
5. OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.
A-4
(a) Except as set forth in subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph 5, the
Company shall not have the option to redeem the Notes pursuant to this Paragraph
5 prior to December 1, 2002. Thereafter, the Company shall have the option to
redeem the Notes, in whole or in part at any time, upon not less than 30 nor
more than 60 days' notice, in whole or in part, at the redemption prices
(expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and
unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the applicable
redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on
December 1 of the years indicated below:
YEAR PERCENTAGE
---- ----------
2002................................................ 107.000%
2003................................................ 103.500%
2004 and thereafter................................. 100.000%
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this
Paragraph 5, at any time prior to December 1, 2002, the Notes will be redeemable
at the option of the Company, in whole but not in part, in cash at a redemption
price equal to 114% of the Accreted Value (determined at the date of redemption)
with the net cash proceeds of one or more Public Equity Offerings; provided that
such redemption shall occur within 60 days of the date of any such closing of
such Public Equity Offering.
6. MANDATORY REDEMPTION.
Except as set forth in paragraph 7 below, the Company shall not be
required to make mandatory redemption payments with respect to the Notes.
7. REPURCHASE AT OPTION OF HOLDER.
(a) If there is a Change of Control, the Company shall be required to
make an offer (a "Change of Control Offer") to repurchase all or any part (equal
to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of each Holder's Notes at a purchase
price in cash equal to 101% of the Accreted Value thereof on the date of
purchase (if such date of purchase is prior to December 1, 2002) or 101% of the
aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and
Liquidated Damages thereon, if any, to the date of repurchase (if such date of
purchase is on or after December 1, 2002) (the "Change of Control Payment").
Within 60 days following any Change of Control, the Company shall mail a notice
to each Holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the
Change of Control and setting forth the procedures governing the Change of
Control Offer as required by the Indenture.
(b) If the Company or a Subsidiary consummates any Asset Sales, within
five days of each date on which the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds
$5.0 million, the Company shall commence an offer to all Holders of Notes (as
"Asset Sale Offer") pursuant to the Indenture to purchase the maximum principal
amount of Notes that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer
price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the Accreted Value thereof on the
date of purchase (if such date of purchase is prior to December 1, 2002) or 100%
of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated
Damages thereon, if any, to the date of purchase (if such date of purchase is on
or after December 1, 2002), in each case, in accordance with the procedures set
forth in the Indenture. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes
tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the
Company may use such remaining Excess Proceeds for general
A-5
corporate purposes. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by
Holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select
the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Upon completion of such offer to
purchase, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero. Holders of Notes
that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive an Asset Sale Offer
from the Company prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have such
Notes purchased by completing the form entitled "Option of Holder to Elect
Purchase" on the reverse of the Notes.
8. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION. Notice of redemption will be mailed at
least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each
Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address. Notes in
denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole
multiples of $1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be
redeemed. On and after the redemption date interest ceases to accrue on Notes
or portions thereof called for redemption.
9. DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE. The Notes are in registered
form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of
$1,000. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as
provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder,
among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents
and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law
or permitted by the Indenture. The Company need not exchange or register the
transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for
the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, the Company
need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days
before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record
date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date.
10. PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS. The registered Holder of a Note may be
treated as its owner for all purposes.
11. AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER. Subject to certain exceptions,
the Indenture or the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of
the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding
Notes voting as a single class (including, without limitation, consents obtained
in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes),
and any existing default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or
the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the then outstanding Notes voting as a single class
(including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase
of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes). Without the consent of any
Holder of a Note, the Indenture or the Notes may be amended or supplemented to
cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Notes
in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to provide for the assumption
of the Company's obligations to Holders of the Notes in case of a merger or
consolidation, to make any change that would provide any additional rights or
benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal
rights under the Indenture of any such Holder, or to comply with the
requirements of the Commission in order to effect or maintain the qualification
of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.
12. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES. Events of Default include: (i) default
for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on, or Liquidated Damages, if
any, with respect to the Notes; (ii) default in payment when due of principal of
or premium, if any, on the Notes, (iii) failure by the
A-6
Company for 30 days to comply with any of its other agreements in the Indenture
or the Notes; (iv) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under
which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any
Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or
the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries)
whether such Indebtedness or guarantee exists as of the date of the Indenture or
is created after the date of the Indenture, which default (A) is caused by a
failure to pay principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such Indebtedness
prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the
date of such default (a "Payment Default") or (B) results in the acceleration of
such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity and, in each case, the principal
amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other
such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity
of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $2.5 million or more; (v) failure
by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to pay final judgments aggregating in
excess of $2.5 million, which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a
period of 60 days; (vi) breach by the Company or any Subsidiary that has pledged
a Subsidiary Intercompany Note of any representation or warranty set forth in
the Pledge Agreement, or repudiation by the Company or any such Subsidiary of
its obligations under the Pledge Agreement or the unenforceability of the Pledge
Agreement against the Company or any such Subsidiary for any reason; and (vii)
certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries.
If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the
Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may
declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of
bankruptcy or insolvency, with respect to the Company, any Significant
Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a
Significant Subsidiary, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable
without further action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the
Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations,
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may
direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may
withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of
Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of
principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their
interest. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes
then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of
the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences
under the Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the
payment of interest on, or the principal of, the Notes. The Company is required
to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the
Indenture, and the Company is required upon becoming aware of any Default or
Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default
or Event of Default.
13. TRUSTEE DEALINGS WITH COMPANY. The Trustee, in its individual or
any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform
services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the
Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.
14. NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. A director, officer, employee,
incorporator or stockholder, of the Company, as such, 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. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such
liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the
issuance of the Notes.
A-7
15. AUTHENTICATION. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated
by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.
16. ABBREVIATIONS. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name
of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (=
tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship
and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts
to Minors Act).
17. ADDITIONAL RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES AND
RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES. In addition to the rights provided to Holders of
Notes under the Indenture, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted
Definitive Notes shall have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights
Agreement dated as of August 24, 1998, between the Company and the parties named
on the signature pages thereof (the "Registration Rights Agreement").
18. CUSIP NUMBERS. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the
Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused
CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers
in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made
as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as
contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the
other identification numbers placed thereon.
A-8
The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and
without charge a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights Agreement.
Requests may be made to:
▇▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇' Holding Company, Inc.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: Treasurer
A-9
ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign this Note, fill in the form below: (I) or (we) assign and transfer
this Note to
________________________________________________________________________________
(Insert assignee's soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code)
and irrevocably appoint_________________________________________________________
to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute
another to act for him.
________________________________________________________________________________
Date:__________ Your Signature:___________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on
the Note)
Signature Guarantee./1/
__________________________________
/1/ Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution"
meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include
membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion
Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be
determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP,
all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
A-10
OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE
If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company
pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.15 of the Indenture, check the box below:
[_] Section 4.10 [_] Section 4.15
If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the
Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture, state the
amount you elect to have purchased: $________
Date:__________ Your Signature:_____________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on
the Note)
Tax Identification No:________________________________
Signature Guarantee./1/
__________________________________
/1/ Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution"
meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include
membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion
Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be
determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP,
all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
A-11
SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE
The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest
in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of
another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have
been made:
Principal ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ of Amount of increase of
decrease in in Principal this Global Note Signature of
Principal ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ following authorized officer
of of such decrease of Trustee or Note
Date of Exchange this Global Note this Global Note (or increase) Custodian
------------------- -------------------- -------------------- ------------------ ---------------------
A-12
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
▇▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇' Holding Company, Inc.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇
The Bank of New York
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Re: 14% Senior Secured Discount Notes due 2005 of ▇▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇'
Holding Company, Inc.
Reference is ▇▇▇▇▇▇ made to the Indenture, dated as of August 24, 1998
(the "Indenture"), between ▇▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇' Holding Company, Inc., as issuer (the
---------
"Company"), and The Bank of New York, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but
-------
not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
______________, (the "Transferor") owns and proposes to transfer the
----------
Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the
principal amount of $___________ in such Note[s] or interests (the "Transfer"),
--------
to __________ (the "Transferee"), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In
----------
connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:
[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]
1. [_] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE
----------------------------------------------------------------------
GLOBAL NOTE OR A DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A. The Transfer is being
------------------------------------------------------
effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the United States
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and, accordingly, the
---------- ---
Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive
Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believed
and believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its
own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person
exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a
"qualified institutional buyer" within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction
meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and such Transfer is in compliance with
any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon
consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the
Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be
subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement
Legend printed on the Global Note and/or the Definitive Note and in the
Indenture and the Securities Act.
2. [_] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT
--------------------------------------------------------------------
TO REGULATION S. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance
---------------
with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the
Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a
person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated,
the Transferee was
B-1
outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf
reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United
States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a
designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person
acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in
the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in
contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S
under the Securities Act, (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme
to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the
proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted
Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or
benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Upon consummation of
the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the
transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the
restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on
the Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
3. [_] CHECK AND COMPLETE IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL
-------------------------------------------------------------------
INTEREST IN A DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO ANY PROVISION OF THE SECURITIES ACT
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
OTHER THAN RULE 144A OR REGULATION S. The Transfer is being effected in
------------------------------------
compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in
Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in
accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue sky securities laws
of any state of the United States, and accordingly the Transferor hereby further
certifies that (check one):
(a) [_] such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in
accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act;
or
(b) [_] such Transfer is being effected to the Company or a
subsidiary thereof;
or
(c) [_] such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective
registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act;
or
(d) [_] such Transfer is being effected to an Institutional
Accredited Investor and pursuant to an exemption from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A, Rule 144 or Rule 904,
and the Transferor hereby further certifies that it has not engaged in any
general solicitation within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act
and the Transfer complies with the transfer restrictions applicable to
Restricted Definitive Notes and the requirements of the exemption claimed, which
certification is supported by (1) a certificate executed by the Transferee in
the form of Annex A to the Offering Circular (if such Transfer is being effected
prior to the Separation Date) or in the form of Exhibit D to the Indenture (if
such Transfer is being effected after the Separation Date) and (2) if such
Transfer is in respect of a principal amount of Notes at the time of transfer of
less than $250,000, has attached to this certification), to the effect that such
Transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the
proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the
B-2
Indenture, the transferred Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions
on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Definitive
Notes and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
4. [_] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN
---------------------------------------------------------------------
UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE OR OF AN UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE.
--------------------------------------------------------------
(a) [_] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO RULE 144. (i) The
Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the
Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the
Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United
States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the
Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with
the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance
with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or
Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer
enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global
Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.
(b) [_] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S. (i) The
Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule
904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions
contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any
state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in
the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to
maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed
Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred
beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the
restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on
the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the
Indenture.
(c) [_] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO OTHER EXEMPTION. (i)
The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption
from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144,
Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained
in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the
United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture
and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain
compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer
in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial
interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer
enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global
Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.
This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for
your benefit and the benefit of the Company.
__________________________________
[Insert Name of Transferor]
By:_______________________________
B-3
Name:
Title:
Dated:_________, _____
B-4
ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
1. The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:
[CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]
(a) [_] a beneficial interest in the:
[_] Global Note (CUSIP _________), or
(b) [_] a Restricted Definitive Note.
2. After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:
[CHECK ONE OF (a), (b) or (c)]
(a) [_] a beneficial interest in the:
(i) [_] Global Note (CUSIP ________), or
(ii) [_] Unrestricted Global Note (CUSIP ________); or
(b) [_] a Restricted Definitive Note; or
(c) [_] an Unrestricted Definitive Note,
in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.
B-5
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE
▇▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇' Holding Company, Inc.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇
The Bank of New York
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Re: 14% Senior Secured Discount Notes due 2005 of ▇▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇'
Holding Company, Inc.
(CUSIP ______________)
Reference is ▇▇▇▇▇▇ made to the Indenture, dated as of August 24, 1998
(the "Indenture"), between ▇▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇' Holding Company, Inc., as issuer (the
---------
"Company"), and The Bank of New York, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but
--------
not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
____________, (the "Owner") owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s]
-----
or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of
$____________ in such Note[s] or interests (the "Exchange"). In connection with
--------
the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:
1. EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN A
RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE FOR UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS
IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE
(a) [_] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A
--------------------------------------------------
RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
In connection with the Exchange of the Owner's beneficial interest in a
Restricted Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note
in an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial
interest is being acquired for the Owner's own account without transfer, (ii)
such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions
applicable to the Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the United
States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), (iii) the
--------------
restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement
Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act
and (iv) the beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being
acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state
of the United States.
(b) [_] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A
--------------------------------------------------
RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the
------------------------------------------------------
Exchange of the Owner's beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an
Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note
is being acquired for the Owner's own account without transfer, (ii) such
Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions
applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and
C-1
pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on
transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not
required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the
Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky
securities laws of any state of the United States.
(c) [_] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO
-------------------------------------------------------
BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the
--------------------------------------------------
Owner's Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an
Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest
is being acquired for the Owner's own account without transfer, (ii) such
Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions
applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with
the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the
Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain
compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being
acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state
of the United States.
(d) [_] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO
-------------------------------------------------------
UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Owner's Exchange of a
----------------------------
Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby
certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner's
own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance
with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and
pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on
transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not
required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the
Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable
blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
2. EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN
RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES FOR RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS
IN RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES
(a) [_] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A
--------------------------------------------------
RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the
----------------------------------------------------
Exchange of the Owner's beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a
Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby
certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner's
own account without transfer. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in
accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note
issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in
the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in
the Indenture and the Securities Act.
(b) [_] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO
-------------------------------------------------------
BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the
-----------------------------------------------
Exchange of the Owner's Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in
the Global Note, with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i)
the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner's own account without
transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the
transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to
and in accordance with the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable
blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation
of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the
beneficial interest issued will be
C-2
subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement
Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note and in the Indenture and
the Securities Act.
C-3
This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your
benefit and the benefit of the Company.
___________________________________
[Insert Name of Owner]
By: _______________________________
Name:
Title:
Dated: ________________, ____
C-4
EXHIBIT D
FORM OF CERTIFICATE FROM
ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR
▇▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇' Holding Company, Inc.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇
The Bank of New York
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Re: 14% Senior Secured Discount Notes due 2005 of ▇▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇'
Holding Company, Inc.
Reference is ▇▇▇▇▇▇ made to the Indenture, dated as of August 24, 1998
(the "Indenture"), between ▇▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇' Holding Company, Inc., as issuer (the
---------
"Company"), and The Bank of New York, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but
-------
not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
In connection with our proposed purchase of $____________
aggregate principal amount of a Definitive Note, we confirm that:
1. We understand that the Senior Notes are not being and will not be
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"),
and are being sold to us in a transaction that is exempt from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act.
2. We acknowledge that (a) neither the Company, nor the Initial
Purchasers (as defined in the Offering Circular, dated August 13, 1998, relating
to the Senior Notes (the "Offering Circular")) nor any persons acting on behalf
of the Company or the Initial Purchasers have made any representation to us with
respect to the Company or the offer or sale of any Senior Notes and (b) any
information we desire concerning the Company and the Senior Notes or any other
matter relevant to our decision to purchase the Senior Notes (including a copy
of the Offering Circular) is or has been made available to us.
3. We have such knowledge and experience in financial and business
matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in
the Senior Notes, and we are (or any account for which we are purchasing under
paragraph 4 below is) an institutional "accredited investor" (within the meaning
of Rule 501 (a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act)
able to bear the economic risk of investment in the Senior Notes.
4. We are acquiring the Senior Notes for our own account (or for
accounts as to which we exercise sole investment discretion and have authority
to make, and do make, the statements contained in this letter) and not with a
view to any distribution of the Senior Notes in a transaction that
D-1
would violate the Securities Act or the securities laws of any State of the
United States or any other applicable jurisdiction, subject, nevertheless, to
the understanding that the disposition of our property will at all times be and
remain within our control.
5. We understand that the Senior Notes will be in registered form
only and that any certificates delivered to us in respect of the Senior Notes
will bear a legend to the following effect:
"THE SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) EVIDENCED HEREBY HAS NOT BEEN
REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES
ACT"), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE
TRANSFERRED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF,
U.S. PERSONS, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A
BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A
"QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT) (A "QIB"), (B) IT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN
COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (C) IT IS AN
INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501 (A)(1), (2), (3) OR
(7) OF REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (AN "IAI"), (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL
NOT RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY EXCEPT (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY
OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, (B) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A
QIB PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QIB IN A TRANSACTION
MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) IN AN
OFFSHORE TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT, (D) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144 UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN IAI THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES THE
TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS
RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY (THE FORM OF WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED
FROM THE TRUSTEE) AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN RESPECT OF AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT OF NOTES LESS THAN $250,000, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE
COMPANY THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT, (F) IN
ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE
SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY)
OR (G) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND, IN EACH CASE, IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES
OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH
PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY OR AN INTEREST HEREIN IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE
SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS "OFFSHORE
TRANSACTION" AND "UNITED STATES" HAVE THE MEANING GIVEN TO THEM BY RULE 902 OF
REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THE INDENTURE CONTAINS A PROVISION
REQUIRING THE TRUSTEE TO REFUSE TO REGISTER ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE IN
VIOLATION OF THE FOREGOING."
We agree that in the event that at some future time we wish to dispose
of any of the Senior Notes, we will not do so unless such disposition is made in
accordance with any applicable
D-2
securities laws of any state of the United States and: (a) the Senior Notes are
sold in compliance with Rule 114(k) under the Securities Act; (b) the Senior
Notes are sold in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act; (c) the
Senior Notes are sold in compliance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the
Securities Act; (d) the Senior Notes are sold pursuant to an effective
registration statement under the Securities Act; (e) the Senior Notes are sold
to the Company or an affiliate (as defined in Rule 501 (b) of Regulation D) of
the Company; or (f) the Senior Notes are disposed of in any other transaction
that does not require registration under the Securities Act, and prior to such
disposition we have furnished to the Company or its designee an opinion of
counsel experienced in securities law matters to such effect or such other
documentation as the Company or its designee may reasonably request.
7. We acknowledge that the registrar for the Senior Notes will not
be required to accept for registration of transfer any Senior Notes acquired by
us, except upon presentation of evidence satisfactory to the Company that the
restrictions on transfer set forth above have been compiled with. We understand
that ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Company, Inc. and BT ▇▇▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ Incorporated, as the Initial
Purchasers, the Company and other persons will rely upon the truth and accuracy
of the statements set forth herein, and we agree that if any such statements are
no longer true or accurate we will promptly so notify the Company and Initial
Purchasers.
THIS LETTER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH,
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
___________________________________
(Name of Purchaser)
By: _______________________________
Name:
Title:
Address:
D-3
EXHIBIT E
FORM OF PLEDGE AGREEMENT
E-1
EXHIBIT F
FORM OF SUBSIDIARY INTERCOMPANY NOTE
EXHIBIT G
Non-Core Stores