EXHIBIT 4.3
[FORM OF SUBORDINATED INDENTURE]
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TEPPCO PARTNERS, L.P.
AS ISSUER,
TE PRODUCTS PIPELINE COMPANY, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP,
TCTM, L.P.,
TEPPCO MIDSTREAM COMPANIES, L.P.
AND
JONAH GAS GATHERING COMPANY
AS SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS,
AND
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK,
A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION,
AS TRUSTEE
INDENTURE
DATED AS OF ____________
DEBT SECURITIES
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CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE
TIA SECTION INDENTURE SECTION
310 (a)......................................................................... 7.10
(b)......................................................................... 7.10
(c)......................................................................... N.A.
311 (a)......................................................................... 7.11
(b)......................................................................... 7.11
(c)......................................................................... N.A.
312 (a)......................................................................... 5.01
(b)......................................................................... 5.02
(c)......................................................................... 5.02
313 (a)......................................................................... 5.03
(b)......................................................................... 5.03
(c)......................................................................... 13.03
(d)......................................................................... 5.03
314 (a)......................................................................... 4.05
(b)......................................................................... N.A.
(c)(1)...................................................................... 13.05
(c)(2)...................................................................... 13.05
(c)(3)...................................................................... N.A.
(d)......................................................................... N.A.
(e)......................................................................... 13.05
(f)......................................................................... N.A.
315 (a)......................................................................... 7.01
(b)......................................................................... 6.07 & 13.03
(c)......................................................................... 7.01
(d)......................................................................... 7.01
(e)......................................................................... 6.08
316 (a) (last sentence)......................................................... 1.01
(a)(1)(A)................................................................... 6.06
(a)(1)(B)................................................................... 6.06
(a)(2)...................................................................... 9.01(d)
(b)......................................................................... 6.04
(c)......................................................................... 5.04
317 (a)(1)...................................................................... 6.02
(a)(2)...................................................................... 6.02
(b)......................................................................... 4.04
318 (a)......................................................................... 13.07
N.A. means Not Applicable
NOTE: This Cross-Reference table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed part of
this Indenture.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section 1.01. Definitions.................................................................................1
Section 1.02. Other Definitions...........................................................................7
Section 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act...........................................7
Section 1.04. Rules of Construction.......................................................................7
ARTICLE II
DEBT SECURITIES
Section 2.01. Forms Generally.............................................................................8
Section 2.02. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication.............................................8
Section 2.03. Principal Amount; Issuable in Series........................................................9
Section 2.04. Execution of Debt Securities...............................................................11
Section 2.05. Authentication and Delivery of Debt Securities.............................................11
Section 2.06. Denomination of Debt Securities............................................................13
Section 2.07. Registration of Transfer and Exchange......................................................13
Section 2.08. Temporary Debt Securities..................................................................14
Section 2.09. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debt Securities.......................................15
Section 2.10. Cancellation of Surrendered Debt Securities................................................16
Section 2.11. Provisions of the Indenture and Debt Securities for the Sole Benefit of the Parties and
the Holders................................................................................16
Section 2.12. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.............................................16
Section 2.13. Securities Denominated in Dollars..........................................................17
Section 2.14. Wire Transfers.............................................................................17
Section 2.15. Securities Issuable in the Form of a Global Security.......................................17
Section 2.16. Medium Term Securities.....................................................................19
Section 2.17. Defaulted Interest.........................................................................20
Section 2.18. CUSIP Numbers..............................................................................21
ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
Section 3.01. Applicability of Article...................................................................21
Section 3.02. Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debt Securities.........................................21
Section 3.03. Payment of Debt Securities Called for Redemption...........................................23
Section 3.04. Mandatory and Optional Sinking Funds.......................................................23
Section 3.05. Redemption of Debt Securities for Sinking Fund.............................................24
ARTICLE IV
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE PARTNERSHIP
Section 4.01. Payment of Principal of, and Premium, If Any, and Interest on, Debt Securities.............25
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Section 4.02. Maintenance of Offices or Agencies for Registration of Transfer, Exchange and Payment
of Debt Securities.........................................................................26
Section 4.03. Appointment to Fill a Vacancy in the Office of Trustee.....................................26
Section 4.04. Duties of Paying Agents, etc...............................................................26
Section 4.05. SEC Reports; Financial Statements..........................................................27
Section 4.06. Compliance Certificate.....................................................................28
Section 4.07. Further Instruments and Acts...............................................................28
Section 4.08. Existence..................................................................................28
Section 4.09. Maintenance of Properties..................................................................29
Section 4.10. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims..........................................................29
ARTICLE V
HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE
Section 5.01. Partnership to Furnish Trustee Information as to Names and Addresses of Holders;
Preservation of Information................................................................29
Section 5.02. Communications to Holders..................................................................30
Section 5.03. Reports by Trustee.........................................................................30
Section 5.04. Record Dates for Action by Holders.........................................................30
ARTICLE VI
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND HOLDERS IN EVENT OF DEFAULT
Section 6.01. Events of Default..........................................................................31
Section 6.02. Collection of Debt by Trustee, etc.........................................................33
Section 6.03. Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee.................................................34
Section 6.04. Limitation on Suits by Holders.............................................................35
Section 6.05. Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission in Exercise of Rights Not a Waiver of Default.......35
Section 6.06. Rights of Holders of Majority in Principal Amount of Debt Securities to Direct Trustee
and to Waive Default.......................................................................36
Section 6.07. Trustee to Give Notice of Defaults Known to It, but May Withhold Such Notice in Certain
Circumstances..............................................................................36
Section 6.08. Requirement of an Undertaking To Pay Costs in Certain Suits under the Indenture or
Against the Trustee........................................................................36
ARTICLE VII
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
Section 7.01. Certain Duties and Responsibilities........................................................37
Section 7.02. Certain Rights of Trustee..................................................................38
Section 7.03. Trustee Not Liable for Recitals in Indenture or in Debt Securities.........................39
Section 7.04. Trustee, Paying Agent or Registrar May Own Debt Securities.................................39
Section 7.05. Moneys Received by Trustee to Be Held in Trust.............................................40
Section 7.06. Compensation and Reimbursement.............................................................40
Section 7.07. Right of Trustee to Rely on an Officers' Certificate Where No Other Evidence Specifically
Prescribed.................................................................................40
Section 7.08. Separate Trustee; Replacement of Trustee...................................................41
Section 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger................................................................42
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Section 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification..............................................................42
Section 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Partnership......................................42
Section 7.12. Compliance with Tax Laws...................................................................42
ARTICLE VIII
CONCERNING THE HOLDERS
Section 8.01. Evidence of Action by Holders..............................................................43
Section 8.02. Proof of Execution of Instruments and of Holding of Debt Securities........................43
Section 8.03. Who May Be Deemed Owner of Debt Securities.................................................43
Section 8.04. Instruments Executed by Holders Bind Future Holders........................................43
ARTICLE IX
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 9.01. Purposes for Which Supplemental Indenture May Be Entered into Without Consent of Holders...44
Section 9.02. Modification of Indenture with Consent of Holders of Debt Securities.......................46
Section 9.03. Effect of Supplemental Indentures..........................................................47
Section 9.04. Debt Securities May Bear Notation of Changes by Supplemental Indentures....................47
ARTICLE X
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE
Section 10.01. Consolidations and Mergers of the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors................48
Section 10.02. Rights and Duties of Successor Partnership or Successor Subsidiary Guarantor...............48
ARTICLE XI
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF
INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS
Section 11.01. Applicability of Article...................................................................49
Section 11.02. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance........................................49
Section 11.03. Conditions of Defeasance...................................................................50
Section 11.04. Application of Trust Money.................................................................51
Section 11.05. Repayment to Partnership...................................................................51
Section 11.06. Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations..................................................52
Section 11.07. Reinstatement..............................................................................52
ARTICLE XII
SUBORDINATION OF DEBT SECURITIES AND GUARANTEE
Section 12.01. Applicability of Article; Agreement To Subordinate.........................................52
Section 12.02. Liquidation, Dissolution, Bankruptcy.......................................................52
Section 12.03. Default on Senior Indebtedness.............................................................53
Section 12.04. Acceleration of Payment of Debt Securities.................................................54
Section 12.05. When Distribution Must Be Paid Over........................................................54
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Section 12.06. Subrogation................................................................................54
Section 12.07. Relative Rights............................................................................54
Section 12.08. Subordination May Not Be Impaired by Partnership...........................................54
Section 12.09. Rights of Trustee and Paying Agent.........................................................54
Section 12.10. Distribution or Notice to Representative...................................................55
Section 12.11. Article XII Not to Prevent Defaults or Limit Right to Accelerate...........................55
Section 12.12. Trust Moneys Not Subordinated..............................................................55
Section 12.13. Trustee Entitled to Rely...................................................................55
Section 12.14. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination........................................................56
Section 12.15. Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness...................................56
Section 12.16. Reliance by Holders of Senior Indebtedness on Subordination Provisions.....................56
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 13.01. Successors and Assigns of Partnership Bound by Indenture...................................56
Section 13.02. Acts of Board, Committee or Officer of Successor Partnership Valid.........................56
Section 13.03. Required Notices or Demands................................................................57
Section 13.04. Indenture and Debt Securities to Be Construed in Accordance with the Laws of the State
of New York................................................................................58
Section 13.05. Officers' Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to Be Furnished upon Application or Demand
by the Partnership.........................................................................58
Section 13.06. Payments Due on Legal Holidays.............................................................58
Section 13.07. Provisions Required by TIA to Control......................................................58
Section 13.08. Computation of Interest on Debt Securities.................................................59
Section 13.09. Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar...............................................59
Section 13.10. No Recourse Against Others.................................................................59
Section 13.11. Severability...............................................................................59
Section 13.12. Effect of Headings.........................................................................59
Section 13.13. Indenture May Be Executed in Counterparts..................................................59
ARTICLE XIV
GUARANTEE
Section 14.01. Unconditional Guarantee....................................................................59
Section 14.02. Execution and Delivery of Guarantee........................................................61
Section 14.03. Limitation on Subsidiary Guarantors' Liability.............................................62
Section 14.04. Release of Subsidiary Guarantors from Guarantee............................................62
Section 14.05. Subsidiary Guarantor Contribution..........................................................63
Notation of Guarantee Annex A
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INDENTURE dated as of ___________, among TEPPCO Partners, L.P., a
Delaware limited partnership (the "Partnership"), TE Products Pipeline Company,
Limited Partnership ("TE Products"), a Delaware limited partnership, TCTM, L.P.,
a Delaware limited partnership ("TCTM"), TEPPCO Midstream Companies, L.P., a
Delaware limited partnership ("TEPPCO Midstream"),
Jonah Gas Gathering Company,
a Wyoming general partnership ("Jonah" and together with TE Products, TCTM and
TEPPCO Midstream, the "Subsidiary Guarantors"), and First Union National Bank, a
national banking association, as trustee (the "Trustee").
RECITALS OF THE PARTNERSHIP AND THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS
The Partnership and Subsidiary Guarantors have duly authorized the
execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time
to time of the Partnership's debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of
indebtedness to be issued in one or more series unlimited as to principal amount
(herein called the "Debt Securities"), and the Guarantee by each of the
Subsidiary Guarantors of the Debt Securities, as in this Indenture provided.
The Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors are members of the same
consolidated group of companies. The Subsidiary Guarantors will derive direct
and indirect economic benefit from the issuance of the Debt Securities.
Accordingly, each Subsidiary Guarantor has duly authorized the execution and
delivery of this Indenture to provide for its full, unconditional and joint and
several guarantee of the Debt Securities to the extent provided in or pursuant
to this Indenture.
All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the
Partnership, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH
That in order to declare the terms and conditions upon which the Debt
Securities are authenticated, issued and delivered, and in consideration of the
premises, and of the purchase and acceptance of the Debt Securities by the
holders thereof, the Partnership and the Trustee covenant and agree with each
other, for the benefit of the respective Holders from time to time of the Debt
Securities or any series thereof, as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section 1.01. Definitions.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition,
"control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to
direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the
foregoing. The Trustee may request and may conclusively rely upon an Officers'
Certificate to determine whether any Person is an Affiliate of any specified
Person.
"Agent" means any Registrar or paying agent.
"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 General
Partner or any authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the General
Partner or any directors and/or officers of the General Partner to whom such
Board of Directors or such committee shall have duly delegated its authority to
act hereunder. If the Partnership shall change its form of entity to other than
a limited partnership, the references to the Board of Directors of the General
Partner shall mean the Board of Directors (or other comparable governing body)
of the Partnership.
"Business Day" means any day other than a Legal Holiday.
"capital stock" of any Person means and includes any and all shares,
rights to purchase, warrants or options (whether or not currently exercisable),
participation or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) the
equity (which includes, but is not limited to, common stock, preferred stock and
partnership and joint venture interests) of such Person (excluding any debt
securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable for, such equity).
"Custodian" means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidation or
similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
"Debt" of any Person at any date means any obligation created or
assumed by such Person for the repayment of borrowed money and any guarantee
therefor.
"Debt Security" or "Debt Securities" has the meaning stated in the
first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any debt security or
debt securities, as the case may be of any series authenticated and delivered
under this Indenture.
"Default" means any event, act or condition that is, or after notice or
the passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
"Depositary" means, unless otherwise specified by the Partnership
pursuant to either Section 2.03 or 2.15, with respect to Debt Securities of any
series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global
Securities, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, or any successor
thereto registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act or other
applicable statute or regulations.
"Designated Senior Indebtedness" means (i) any Senior Indebtedness of
the Partnership which, at the date of determination, has an aggregate principal
amount outstanding of, or under which, at the date of determination, the holders
thereof are committed to lend up to, at least $100 million and (ii) any other
Senior Indebtedness designated, as provided in Section 2.03, in respect of any
series of Debt Securities.
"Dollar" or "$" means such currency of the United States as at the time
of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and any successor statute.
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"Floating Rate Security" means a Debt Security that provides for the
payment of interest at a variable rate determined periodically by reference to
an interest rate index specified pursuant to Section 2.03.
"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 may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting
profession of the United States, as in effect on the date on which the Debt
Securities of the applicable series are issued.
"General Partner" means Texas Eastern Products Pipeline Company, LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company, and its successors as general partner of the
Partnership.
"Global Security" means with respect to any series of Debt Securities
issued hereunder, a Debt Security which is executed by the Partnership and
authenticated and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the
Depositary's instruction, all in accordance with this Indenture and any
Indentures supplemental hereto, or resolution of the Board of Directors and set
forth in an Officers' Certificate, which shall be registered in the name of the
Depositary or its nominee and which shall represent, and shall be denominated in
an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, all the Outstanding Debt
Securities of such series or any portion thereof, in either case having the same
terms, including, without limitation, the same original issue date, date or
dates on which principal is due and interest rate or method of determining
interest.
"guarantee" means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any
Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Debt or other obligation of any
other Person and any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of
such Person (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase
or payment of) such Debt or other obligation of such other Person (whether
arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreement to keep-well, to
purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain
financial statement conditions or otherwise) or (b) entered into for purposes of
assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Debt or other obligation of the
payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in
whole or in part); provided, however, that the term "guarantee" shall not
include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of
business. The term "guarantee" used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.
"Holder," "Holder of Debt Securities" or other similar terms means, a
Person in whose name a Debt Security is registered in the Debt Security Register
(as defined in Section 2.07(a)).
"Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed, or, if
amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented and
shall include the form and terms of particular series of Debt Securities as
contemplated hereunder, whether or not a supplemental Indenture is entered into
with respect thereto.
"Legal Holiday" means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking
institutions in the City of Houston, Texas, City of New York, New York or at a
place of payment are
3
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 for the intervening period.
"Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, security
interest, pledge, charge or other encumbrance of any kind in respect of such
asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable
law.
"Officer" means, with respect to a Person, the Chairman of the Board,
the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer,
Controller, Secretary, Assistant Secretary or any Assistant Vice President of
such Person.
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by two Officers of
the General Partner, one of whom must be the General Partner's chief executive
officer, chief financial officer or chief accounting officer (or if the
Partnership shall change its form of entity to other than a limited partnership,
by Persons, officers, members, agents and others holding positions comparable to
those of the foregoing nature, as applicable).
"Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion from legal counsel who is
acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the
Partnership or the Trustee.
"Original Issue Discount Debt Security" means any Debt Security which
provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and
payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to
Section 6.01.
"Outstanding," when used with respect to any series of Debt Securities,
means, as of the date of determination, all Debt Securities of that series
theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:
(a) Debt Securities of that series theretofore canceled by the
Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;
(b) Debt Securities of that series for whose payment or redemption
money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited
with the Trustee or any paying agent (other than the
Partnership) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by
the Partnership (if the Partnership shall act as its own
paying agent) for the Holders of such Debt Securities;
provided, that, if such Debt Securities are to be redeemed,
notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this
Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee
has been made; and
(c) Debt Securities of that series which have been paid pursuant
to Section 2.09 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other
Debt Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant
to this Indenture, other than any such Debt Securities in
respect of which there shall have been presented to the
Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Debt Securities are
held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Debt
Securities are valid obligations of the Partnership;
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provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite
principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series have given any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder,
Debt Securities owned by the Partnership or any other obligor upon the Debt
Securities or any Affiliate of the Partnership or of such other obligor shall be
disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining
whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Debt Securities which
an officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded.
Debt Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded
as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the
pledgee's right so to act with respect to such Debt Securities and that the
pledgee is not the Partnership or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities or
an Affiliate of the Partnership or of such other obligor. In determining whether
the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Debt Securities
have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or
waiver hereunder, the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Debt
Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be the
amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of
such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof
pursuant to Section 6.01.
"Partnership" means the Person named as the "Partnership" in the first
paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such
pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter
"Partnership" shall mean such successor Person.
"Partnership Request" and "Partnership Order" means, respectively, a
written request or order signed in the name of the Partnership by the Chairman
of the Board, the President or a Vice President of the General Partner, and by
the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, an Assistant Controller,
the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the General Partner, and delivered to
the Trustee, or if the Partnership shall change its form of entity to other than
a limited partnership, by Persons or officers, members, agents and others
holding positions comparable to those of the foregoing nature, as applicable.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
limited liability company, incorporated or unincorporated association,
joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or other
agency or political subdivision thereof or other entity of any kind.
"Redemption Date," when used with respect to any Debt Security to be
redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this
Indenture.
"Representative" means the trustee, agent or representative (if any)
for an issue of Senior Debt.
"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any
successor statute.
"Senior Indebtedness," unless otherwise provided with respect to the
Debt Securities of a series as contemplated by Section 2.03, means (1) all Debt
of the Subsidiary Guarantors or the
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Partnership, whether currently outstanding or hereafter issued, unless, by the
terms of the instrument creating or evidencing such Debt, it is provided that
such Debt is not superior in right of payment to the Debt Securities, in the
case of the Partnership, or the Guarantee, in the case of the Subsidiary
Guarantors, or to other Debt which is pari passu with or subordinated to the
Debt Securities, in the case of the Partnership, or the Guarantee, in the case
of the Subsidiary Guarantors, and (2) any modifications, refunding, deferrals,
renewals, or extensions of any such Debt or securities, notes or other evidence
of Debt issued in exchange for such Debt; provided that in no event shall
"Senior Indebtedness" include (a) Debt evidenced by the Debt Securities or any
Guarantee, (b) Debt of any of the Subsidiary Guarantors or the Partnership owed
or owing to any Subsidiary of the Partnership, (c) Debt of any of the Subsidiary
Guarantors owed or owing to the Partnership, (d) Debt to trade creditors, (e)
any liability for taxes owed or owing by the Subsidiary Guarantors or the
Partnership or (f) Debt of any Subsidiary Guarantor in the event there is no
series of Debt Securities Outstanding that is entitled to the benefits of a
Guarantee.
"Stated Maturity" means, with respect to any security, the date
specified in such security as the fixed date on which the payment of principal
of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory
redemption provision (but excluding any provision providing for the repurchase
of such security at the option of the holder thereof upon the happening of any
contingency beyond the control of the issuer unless such contingency has
occurred).
"Subsidiary" means:
(1) any corporation, association or other business entity of which
more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of equity
interests 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 such Person or combination thereof; or
(2) in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the partners'
equity interests, considering all partners' equity interests
as a single class is at the time owned or controlled, directly
or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other
Subsidiaries of such Person or combination thereof.
"Subsidiary Guarantors" means the Person or Persons named as the
"Subsidiary Guarantors" in the first paragraph of this instrument until a
successor Person or Persons shall have become such pursuant to the applicable
provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Subsidiary Guarantors" shall mean
such successor Person or Persons, and any other Subsidiary of the Partnership
who may execute this Indenture, or a supplement thereto, for the purpose of
providing a Guarantee of Debt Securities pursuant to this Indenture.
"TIA" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C. "
77aaa-77bbbb), as in effect on the date of this Indenture as originally executed
and, to the extent required by law, as amended.
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"Trustee" initially means First Union National Bank and any other
Person or Persons appointed as such from time to time pursuant to Section 7.08,
and, subject to the provisions of Article VII, includes its or their successors
and assigns. If at any time there is more than one such Person, "Trustee" as
used with respect to the Debt Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee
with respect to the Debt Securities of that series.
"Trust Officer" means any officer or assistant officer of the Trustee
assigned by the Trustee to administer its corporate trust matters.
"United States" means the United States of America (including the
States and the District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions and other
areas subject to its jurisdiction.
"U.S. Government Obligations" means direct obligations of the United
States of America, obligations on which the payment of principal and interest is
fully guaranteed by the United States of America or obligations or guarantees
for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of
America is pledged.
"Yield to Maturity" means the yield to maturity, calculated at the time
of issuance of a series of Debt Securities, or, if applicable, at the most
recent redetermination of interest on such series and calculated in accordance
with accepted financial practice.
Section 1.02. Other Definitions.
TERM DEFINED IN SECTION
---- ------------------
"Debt Security Register"......................................... 2.07
"Defaulted Interest"............................................. 2.17
"Designated Currency"............................................ 2.18
"Determination Notice"........................................... 3.02
"Event of Default"............................................... 6.01
"Guarantee"...................................................... 14.01
"Registrar"...................................................... 2.07
"Subordinated Debt Securities"................................... 12.01
"Successor Partnership".......................................... 10.01
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.
All 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:
(a) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned
to it in accordance with GAAP;
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(c) "or" is not exclusive;
(d) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include
the singular;
(e) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;
(f) if the applicable series of Debt Securities are subordinated
pursuant to Article XII, unsecured Debt shall not be deemed to be subordinate or
junior to secured Debt merely by virtue of its nature as unsecured Debt; and
(g) the principal amount of any noninterest bearing or other discount
security at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown
on a balance sheet of the issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with
GAAP.
ARTICLE II
DEBT SECURITIES
Section 2.01. Forms Generally. The Debt Securities of each series shall
be in substantially the form established without the approval of any Holder by
or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or in one or more
Indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions,
omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by
this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of
identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as the
Partnership may deem appropriate (and, if not contained in a supplemental
Indenture entered into in accordance with Article IX, as are not prohibited by
the provisions of this Indenture) or as may be required or appropriate to comply
with any law or with any rules made pursuant thereto or with any rules of any
securities exchange on which such series of Debt Securities may be listed, or to
conform to general usage, or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the
officers executing such Debt Securities as evidenced by their execution of the
Debt Securities.
The definitive Debt Securities of each series shall be printed,
lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any
other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Debt Securities,
as evidenced by their execution of such Debt.
Section 2.02. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication. The
Trustee's certificate of authentication on all Debt Securities authenticated by
the Trustee shall be in substantially the following form:
TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Debt Securities of the series designated therein
referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
,
---------------------------------------
As Trustee
By:
--------------------------------------
Authorized Signature
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Section 2.03. Principal Amount; Issuable in Series. The aggregate
principal amount of Debt Securities which may be issued, executed,
authenticated, delivered and outstanding under this Indenture is unlimited.
The Debt Securities may be issued in one or more series in fully
registered form. There shall be established, without the approval of any
Holders, in or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors and set forth
in an Officers' Certificate, or established in one or more Indentures
supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Debt Securities of any series any
or all of the following:
(a) the title of the Debt Securities of the series (which shall
distinguish the Debt Securities of the series from all other Debt Securities);
(b) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Debt
Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this
Indenture (except for Debt Securities authenticated and delivered upon
registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Debt
Securities of the series pursuant to this Article II);
(c) the date or dates on which the principal and premium, if any, of
the Debt Securities of the series are payable;
(d) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which the
Debt Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method of
determining such rate or rates, the date or dates from which such interest shall
accrue, the interest payment dates on which such interest shall be payable, or
the method by which such date will be determined, in the case of Registered
Securities, the record dates for the determination of Holders thereof to whom
such interest is payable; and the basis upon which interest will be calculated
if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve thirty-day months;
(e) the place or places, if any, in addition to or instead of the
corporate trust office of the Trustee, where the principal of, and premium, if
any, and interest on, Debt Securities of the series shall be payable ("Place of
Payment");
(f) the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which
and the terms and conditions upon which Debt Securities of the series may be
redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Partnership or otherwise;
(g) whether Debt Securities of the series are entitled to the benefits
of any Guarantee of any Subsidiary Guarantors pursuant to this Indenture;
(h) the obligation, if any, of the Partnership to redeem, purchase or
repay Debt Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous
provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof, and the price or prices at
which and the period or periods within which and the terms and conditions upon
which Debt Securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in
whole or in part, pursuant to such obligations;
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(i) the terms, if any, upon which the Debt Securities of the series may
be convertible into or exchanged for capital stock (which may be represented by
depositary shares), other Debt Securities or warrants for capital stock or Debt
or other securities of any kind of the Partnership or any other obligor and the
terms and conditions upon which such conversion or exchange shall be effected,
including the initial conversion or exchange price or rate, the conversion or
exchange period and any other provision in addition to or in lieu of those
described herein;
(j) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple
thereof, the denominations in which Debt Securities of the series shall be
issuable;
(k) if the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on Debt
Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index or
pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts will be determined;
(l) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of Debt
Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates
prior to such Stated Maturity, the amount which will be deemed to be such
principal amount as of any such date for any purpose, including the principal
amount thereof which will be due and payable upon any maturity other than the
Stated Maturity or which will be deemed to be Outstanding as of any such date
(or, in any such case, the manner in which such deemed principal amount is to be
determined);
(m) any changes or additions to Article XI, including the addition of
additional covenants that may be subject to the covenant defeasance option
pursuant to Section 11.02(b);
(n) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the
principal amount of Debt Securities of the series which shall be payable upon
declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01 or
provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 6.02;
(o) the terms, if any, of the transfer, mortgage, pledge or assignment
as security for the Debt Securities of the series of any properties, assets,
moneys, proceeds, securities or other collateral, including whether certain
provisions of the TIA are applicable and any corresponding changes to provisions
of this Indenture as currently in effect;
(p) any addition to or change in the Events of Default with respect to
the Debt Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or
the Holders to declare the principal of, and premium and interest on, such Debt
Securities due and payable;
(q) if the Debt Securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in
part in the form of a Global Security or Securities, the terms and conditions,
if any, upon which such Global Security or Securities may be exchanged in whole
or in part for other individual Debt Securities in definitive registered form;
and the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities and the form of any
legend or legends to be borne by any such Global Security or Securities in
addition to or in lieu of the legend referred to in Section 2.15(a);
(r) any trustees, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or
registrars;
(s) the applicability of, and any addition to or change in the
covenants and definitions currently set forth in this Indenture or in the terms
currently set forth in Article X, including
10
conditioning any merger, conveyance, transfer or lease permitted by Article X
upon the satisfaction of an Debt coverage standard by the Partnership and
Successor Partnership (as defined in Article X);
(t) the subordination, if any, of the Debt Securities of the series
pursuant to Article XII and any changes or additions to Article XII or
designation of any Designated Senior Indebtedness;
(u) with regard to Debt Securities of the series that do not bear
interest, the dates for certain required reports to the Trustee; and
(v) any other terms of the Debt Securities of the series (which terms
shall not be prohibited by the provisions of this Indenture).
All Debt Securities of any one series appertaining thereto shall be
substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be
provided in or pursuant to such resolution of the Board of Directors and as set
forth in such Officers' Certificate or in any such Indenture supplemental
hereto.
Section 2.04. Execution of Debt Securities. The Debt Securities shall
be signed on behalf of the Partnership by the Chairman of the Board, the
President or a Vice President of the General Partner and, if the seal of the
General Partner is reproduced thereon, it shall be attested by its Secretary, an
Assistant Secretary, a Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer. Such signatures upon
the Debt Securities may be the manual or facsimile signatures of the present or
any future such authorized officers and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced
on the Debt Securities. The seal of the General Partner, if any, may be in the
form of a facsimile thereof and may be impressed, affixed, imprinted or
otherwise reproduced on the Debt Securities.
Only such Debt Securities as shall bear thereon a certificate of
authentication substantially in the form hereinbefore recited, signed manually
by the Trustee, shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be valid
or obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate by the Trustee upon any Debt
Security executed by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall be
conclusive evidence that the Debt Security so authenticated has been duly
authenticated and delivered hereunder.
In case any officer of the General Partner who shall have signed any of
the Debt Securities shall cease to be such officer before the Debt Securities so
signed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, or disposed
of by the Partnership, such Debt Securities nevertheless may be authenticated
and delivered or disposed of as though the Person who signed such Debt
Securities had not ceased to be such officer of the General Partner; and any
Debt Security may be signed on behalf of the General Partner by such Persons as,
at the actual date of the execution of such Debt Security, shall be the proper
officers of the General Partner, although at the date of such Debt Security or
of the execution of this Indenture any such Person was not such officer.
Section 2.05. Authentication and Delivery of Debt Securities. At any
time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture,
the Partnership may deliver Debt Securities of any series executed by the
Partnership to the Trustee for authentication, and the
11
Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver said Debt Securities to or upon
a Partnership Order. In authenticating such Debt Securities, and accepting the
additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Debt
Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section
7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon:
(a) a copy of any resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors,
certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Partnership,
authorizing the terms of issuance of any series of Debt Securities;
(b) an executed supplemental Indenture, if any;
(c) an Officers' Certificate; and
(d) an Opinion of Counsel prepared in accordance with Section 13.05
which shall also state:
(i) that the form of such Debt Securities has been established
by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or by a
supplemental Indenture as permitted by Section 2.01 in conformity with
the provisions of this Indenture;
(ii) that the terms of such Debt Securities have been
established by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or
by a supplemental Indenture as permitted by Section 2.03 in conformity
with the provisions of this Indenture;
(iii) that such Debt Securities, when authenticated and
delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Partnership in the manner
and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel,
will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the
Partnership, enforceable in accordance with their terms except as the
enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or
similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally
and rights of acceleration and the availability of equitable remedies
may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability;
(iv) that the Partnership has the partnership power to issue
such Debt Securities and has duly taken all necessary partnership
action with respect to such issuance;
(v) that the issuance of such Debt Securities will not
contravene the organizational documents of the Partnership or result in
any material violation of any of the terms or provisions of any law or
regulation or of any material indenture, mortgage or other agreement
known to such counsel by which the Partnership is bound;
(vi) that authentication and delivery of such Debt Securities
and the execution and delivery of any supplemental Indenture will not
violate the terms of this Indenture; and
(vii) such other matters as the Trustee may reasonably
request.
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Such Opinion of Counsel need express no opinion as to whether a court
in the United States would render a money judgment in a currency other than that
of the United States.
The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver
any Debt Securities under this Section 2.05 if the Trustee, being advised by
counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or if the Trustee
in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee or a
trust committee of directors, trustees or vice presidents (or any combination
thereof) shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal
liability to existing Holders.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable
to the Partnership to authenticate Debt Securities of any series. Unless limited
by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Debt
Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to
authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An
authenticating agent has the same rights as any Registrar, paying agent or agent
for service of notices and demands.
Unless otherwise provided in the form of Debt Security for any series,
each Debt Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
Section 2.06. Denomination of Debt Securities. Unless otherwise
provided in the form of Debt Security for any series, the Debt Securities of
each series shall be issuable only as fully registered Debt Securities in such
Dollar denominations as shall be specified or contemplated by Section 2.03. In
the absence of any such specification with respect to the Debt Securities of any
series, the Debt Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of
$1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.
Section 2.07. Registration of Transfer and Exchange.
(a) The Partnership shall keep or cause to be kept a register for each
series of Debt Securities issued hereunder (hereinafter collectively referred to
as the "Debt Security Register"), in which, subject to such reasonable
regulations as it may prescribe, the Partnership shall provide for the
registration of all Debt Securities and the transfer of Debt Securities as in
this Article II provided. At all reasonable times the Debt Security Register
shall be open for inspection by the Trustee. Subject to Section 2.15, upon due
presentment for registration of transfer of any Debt Security at any office or
agency to be maintained by the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of
Section 4.02, the Partnership shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate
and deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Debt Security or
Debt Securities of authorized denominations for a like aggregate principal
amount. In no event may Debt Securities be issued as, exchanged for, bearer
securities.
Unless and until otherwise determined by the Partnership by resolution
of the Board of Directors, the register of the Partnership for the purpose of
registration, exchange or registration of transfer of the Debt Securities shall
be kept at the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee and, for this
purpose, the Trustee shall be designated "Registrar."
Debt Securities of any series (other than a Global Security, except as
set forth below) may be exchanged for a like aggregate principal amount of Debt
Securities of the same series of
13
other authorized denominations. Subject to Section 2.15, Debt Securities to be
exchanged shall be surrendered at the office or agency to be maintained by the
Partnership as provided in Section 4.02, and the Partnership shall execute and
the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor the Debt
Security or Debt Securities which the Holder making the exchange shall be
entitled to receive.
(b) All Debt Securities presented or surrendered for registration of
transfer, exchange or payment shall (if so required by the Partnership, the
Trustee or the Registrar) be duly endorsed or be accompanied by a written
instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Partnership,
the Trustee and the Registrar, duly executed by the Holder or his attorney duly
authorized in writing.
All Debt Securities issued in exchange for or upon transfer of Debt
Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Partnership, evidencing the
same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Debt
Securities surrendered for such exchange or transfer.
No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of
transfer of Debt Securities (except as provided by Section 2.09), but the
Partnership may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee,
assessment or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto,
other than those expressly provided in this Indenture to be made at the
Partnership's own expense or without expense or without charge to the Holders.
The Partnership shall not be required (i) to issue, register the
transfer of or exchange any Debt Securities for a period of 15 days next
preceding any mailing of notice of redemption of Debt Securities of such series
or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Debt Securities selected,
called or being called for redemption.
Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Debt
Security, the Partnership, the Trustee, any paying agent or any Registrar may
deem and treat the Person in whose name a Debt Security is registered as the
absolute owner of such Debt Security for the purpose of receiving payment of
principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, such Debt Security and for
all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Debt Security is overdue, and
none of the Partnership, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee, any paying
agent or Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
None of the Partnership, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee, any
agent of the Trustee, any paying agent or any Registrar will have any
responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or
payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security
or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such
beneficial ownership interests.
Section 2.08. Temporary Debt Securities. Pending the preparation of
definitive Debt Securities of any series, the Partnership may execute and the
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver temporary Debt Securities (printed,
lithographed, photocopied, typewritten or otherwise produced) of any authorized
denomination, and substantially in the form of the definitive Debt Securities in
lieu of which they are issued, in registered form with such omissions,
insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Debt Securities,
all as may be determined by the
14
Partnership with the concurrence of the Trustee. Temporary Debt Securities may
contain such reference to any provisions of this Indenture as may be
appropriate. Every temporary Debt Security shall be executed by the Partnership
and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in
substantially the same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive Debt
Securities.
If temporary Debt Securities of any series are issued, the Partnership
will cause definitive Debt Securities of such series to be prepared without
unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Debt Securities of such
series, the temporary Debt Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for
definitive Debt Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Debt
Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Partnership at a Place
of Payment for such series, without charge to the Holder thereof, except as
provided in Section 2.07 in connection with a transfer. Upon surrender for
cancellation of any one or more temporary Debt Securities of any series, the
Partnership shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in
exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Debt Securities of the
same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor. Until so exchanged,
temporary Debt Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the
same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Debt Securities of such series.
Upon any exchange of a portion of a temporary Global Security for a
definitive Global Security or for the individual Debt Securities represented
thereby pursuant to Section 2.07 or this Section 2.08, the temporary Global
Security shall be endorsed by the Trustee to reflect the reduction of the
principal amount evidenced thereby, whereupon the principal amount of such
temporary Global Security shall be reduced for all purposes by the amount to be
exchanged and endorsed.
Section 2.09. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debt Securities. If
(a) any mutilated Debt Security is surrendered to the Trustee at its corporate
trust office or (b) the Partnership and the Trustee receive evidence to their
satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Debt Security, and there
is delivered to the Partnership and the Trustee such security or indemnity as
may be required by them to save each of them and any paying agent harmless, and
neither the Partnership nor the Trustee receives notice that such Debt Security
has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, then the Partnership shall execute
and, upon a Partnership Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in
exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt
Security, a new Debt Security of the same series of like tenor, form, terms and
principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously Outstanding. Upon the
issuance of any substituted Debt Security, the Partnership may require the
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee, assessment or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other
expenses connected therewith. In case any Debt which has matured or is about to
mature or which has been called for redemption shall become mutilated or be
destroyed, lost or stolen, the Partnership may, instead of issuing a substituted
Debt Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender
thereof except in the case of a mutilated Debt Security) if the applicant for
such payment shall furnish the Partnership and the Trustee with such security or
indemnity as either may require to save it harmless from all risk, however
remote, and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to the satisfaction
of the Partnership and the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such
Debt Security and of the ownership thereof.
15
Every substituted Debt Security of any series issued pursuant to the
provisions of this Section 2.09 by virtue of the fact that any Debt Security is
destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an original additional contractual
obligation of the Partnership, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Debt
Security shall be found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits
of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Debt
Securities of that series duly issued hereunder. All Debt Securities shall be
held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are
exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed,
lost or stolen Debt Securities, and shall preclude any and all other rights or
remedies, notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to
the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable
instruments or other securities without their surrender.
Section 2.10. Cancellation of Surrendered Debt Securities. All Debt
Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or
exchange shall, if surrendered to the Partnership or any paying agent or a
Registrar, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation by it, or if surrendered
to the Trustee, shall be canceled by it, and no Debt Securities shall be issued
in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this
Indenture. All canceled Debt Securities held by the Trustee shall be destroyed
(subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act) and
certification of their destruction delivered to the Partnership, unless
otherwise directed. On request of the Partnership, the Trustee shall deliver to
the Partnership canceled Debt Securities held by the Trustee. If the Partnership
shall acquire any of the Debt Securities, however, such acquisition shall not
operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the Debt represented thereby unless
and until the same are delivered or surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation.
The Partnership may not issue new Debt Securities to replace Debt Securities it
has redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.11. Provisions of the Indenture and Debt Securities for the
Sole Benefit of the Parties and the Holders. Nothing in this Indenture or in the
Debt, expressed or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any Person,
other than the parties hereto, the Holders or any Registrar or paying agent, any
legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Indenture,
or under any covenant, condition or provision herein contained; all its
covenants, conditions and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties
hereto, the Holders and any Registrar and paying agents.
Section 2.12. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.
(a) Interest on any Debt Security that is payable and is punctually
paid or duly provided for on any interest payment date shall be paid to the
Person in whose name such Debt Security is registered at the close of business
on the regular record date for such interest notwithstanding the cancellation of
such Debt Security upon any transfer or exchange subsequent to the regular
record date. Payment of interest on Debt Securities shall be made at the
corporate trust office of the Trustee (except as otherwise specified pursuant to
Section 2.03), or at the option of the Partnership, by check mailed to the
address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Debt
Security Register or, if provided pursuant to Section 2.03 and in accordance
with arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee, at the option of the Registered
Holder by wire transfer to an account designated by the Registered Holder.
16
(b) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.12 and
Section 2.17, each Debt Security of a particular series delivered under this
Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any
other Debt Security of the same series shall carry the rights to interest
accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Debt
Security.
Section 2.13. Securities Denominated in Dollars. Except as otherwise
specified pursuant to Section 2.03 for Debt Securities of any series, payment of
the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, Debt Securities of such
series will be made in Dollars.
Section 2.14. Wire Transfers. Notwithstanding any other provision to
the contrary in this Indenture, the Partnership may make any payment of monies
required to be deposited with the Trustee on account of principal of, or
premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities (whether pursuant to
optional or mandatory redemption payments, interest payments or otherwise) by
wire transfer in immediately available funds to an account designated by the
Trustee before 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date such moneys are to be
paid to the Holders of the Debt Securities in accordance with the terms hereof.
Section 2.15. Securities Issuable in the Form of a Global Security.
(a) If the Partnership shall establish pursuant to Sections 2.01 and
2.03 that the Debt Securities of a particular series are to be issued in whole
or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, then the Partnership
shall execute and the Trustee or its agent shall, in accordance with Section
2.05, authenticate and deliver, such Global Security or Securities, which shall
represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate
principal amount of, the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series to be
represented by such Global Security or Securities, or such portion thereof as
the Partnership shall specify in an Officers' Certificate, shall be registered
in the name of the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or its
nominee, shall be delivered by the Trustee or its agent to the Depositary or
pursuant to the Depositary's instruction and shall bear a legend substantially
to the following effect:
"UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
DEPOSITARY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION ("DTC"), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO
THE PARTNERSHIP OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT,
AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER
NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS
MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR
OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER
HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN
WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH
SUCCESSOR'S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE
LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE
INDENTURE REFERRED TO HEREIN",
17
or such other legend as may then be required by the Depositary for such Global
Security or Securities.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.15 or of
Section 2.07 to the contrary, and subject to the provisions of paragraph (c)
below, unless the terms of a Global Security expressly permit such Global
Security to be exchanged in whole or in part for definitive Debt Securities in
registered form, a Global Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part
and in the manner provided in Section 2.07, only by the Depositary to a nominee
of the Depositary for such Global Security, or by a nominee of the Depositary to
the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or a
nominee of the Depositary to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such
successor for such Global Security selected or approved by the Partnership, or
to a nominee of such successor Depositary.
(c) (i) If at any time the Depositary for a Global Security or
Securities notifies the Partnership that it is unwilling or unable to
continue as Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or if at
any time the Depositary for the Debt Securities for such series shall
no longer be eligible or in good standing under the Exchange Act or
other applicable statute, rule or regulation, the Partnership shall
appoint a successor Depositary with respect to such Global Security or
Securities. If a successor Depositary for such Global Security or
Securities is not appointed by the Partnership within 90 days after the
Partnership receives such notice or becomes aware of such
ineligibility, the Partnership shall execute, and the Trustee or its
agent, upon receipt of a Partnership Order for the authentication and
delivery of such individual Debt Securities of such series in exchange
for such Global Security, will authenticate and deliver, individual
Debt Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive
form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of
the Global Security in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.
(ii) The Partnership may at any time and in its sole discretion
determine that the Debt Securities of any series or portion thereof
issued or issuable in the form of one or more Global Securities shall
no longer be represented by such Global Security or Securities. In such
event the Partnership will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a
Partnership Order for the authentication and delivery of individual
Debt Securities of such series in exchange in whole or in part for such
Global Security, will authenticate and deliver individual Debt
Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form in
an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such
series or portion thereof in exchange for such Global Security or
Securities.
(iii) If specified by the Partnership pursuant to Sections 2.01 and
2.03 with respect to Debt Securities issued or issuable in the form of
a Global Security, the Depositary for such Global Security may
surrender such Global Security in exchange in whole or in part for
individual Debt Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in
definitive form on such terms as are acceptable to the Partnership, the
Trustee and such Depositary. Thereupon the Partnership shall execute,
and the Trustee or its agent upon receipt of a
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Partnership Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive
Debt Securities of such series shall authenticate and deliver, without
service charge, to each Person specified by such Depositary a new Debt
Security or Securities of the same series of like tenor and terms and
of any authorized denomination as requested by such Person in aggregate
principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person's beneficial
interest in the Global Security; and to such Depositary a new Global
Security of like tenor and terms and in an authorized denomination
equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the
surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Debt
Securities delivered to Holders thereof.
(iv) In any exchange provided for in any of the preceding three
paragraphs, the Partnership will execute and the Trustee or its agent
will authenticate and deliver individual Debt Securities. Upon the
exchange of the entire principal amount of a Global Security for
individual Debt Securities, such Global Security shall be canceled by
the Trustee or its agent. Except as provided in the preceding
paragraph, Debt Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security
pursuant to this Section 2.15 shall be registered in such names and in
such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Global
Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect
participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee or the Registrar.
The Trustee or the Registrar shall deliver such Debt Securities to the
Persons in whose names such Debt Securities are so registered.
(v) Payments in respect of the principal of and interest on any Debt
Securities registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee will
be payable to the Depositary or such nominee in its capacity as the
registered owner of such Global Security. The Partnership and the
Trustee may treat the Person in whose name the Debt Securities,
including the Global Security, are registered as the owner thereof for
the purpose of receiving such payments and for any and all other
purposes whatsoever. None of the Partnership, the Trustee, any
Registrar, the paying agent or any agent of the Partnership or the
Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the
records relating to or payments made on account of the beneficial
ownership interests of the Global Security by the Depositary or its
nominee or any of the Depositary's direct or indirect participants, or
for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of the
Depositary, its nominee or any of its direct or indirect participants
relating to the beneficial ownership interests of the Global Security,
the payments to the beneficial owners of the Global Security of amounts
paid to the Depositary or its nominee, or any other matter relating to
the actions and practices of the Depositary, its nominee or any of its
direct or indirect participants. None of the Partnership, the Trustee
or any such agent will be liable for any delay by the Depositary, its
nominee, or any of its direct or indirect participants in identifying
the beneficial owners of the Debt Securities, and the Partnership and
the Trustee may conclusively rely on, and will be protected in relying
on, instructions from the Depositary or its nominee for all purposes
(including with respect to the registration and delivery, and the
respective principal amounts, of the Debt Securities to be issued).
Section 2.16. Medium Term Securities. Notwithstanding any contrary
provision herein, if all Debt Securities of a series are not to be originally
issued at one time, it shall not be necessary for the Partnership to deliver to
the Trustee an Officers' Certificate, resolutions of the
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Board of Directors, supplemental Indenture, Opinion of Counsel or written order
or any other document otherwise required pursuant to Section 2.01, 2.03, 2.05 or
13.05 at or prior to the time of authentication of each Debt Security of such
series if such documents are delivered to the Trustee or its agent at or prior
to the authentication upon original issuance of the first such Debt Security of
such series to be issued; provided, that any subsequent request by the
Partnership to the Trustee to authenticate Debt Securities of such series upon
original issuance shall constitute a representation and warranty by the
Partnership that, as of the date of such request, the statements made in the
Officers' Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.05 or 13.05 shall be true
and correct as if made on such date and that the Opinion of Counsel delivered at
or prior to such time of authentication of an original issuance of Debt
Securities shall specifically state that it shall relate to all subsequent
issuances of Debt Securities of such series that are identical to the Debt
Securities issued in the first issuance of Debt Securities of such series.
A Partnership Order delivered by the Partnership to the Trustee in the
circumstances set forth in the preceding paragraph, may provide that Debt
Securities which are the subject thereof will be authenticated and delivered by
the Trustee or its agent on original issue from time to time upon the telephonic
or written order of Persons designated in such written order (any such
telephonic instructions to be promptly confirmed in writing by such Person) and
that such Persons are authorized to determine, consistent with the Officers'
Certificate, supplemental Indenture or resolution of the Board of Directors
relating to such written order, such terms and conditions of such Debt
Securities as are specified in such Officers' Certificate, supplemental
Indenture or such resolution.
Section 2.17. Defaulted Interest. Any interest on any Debt Security of
a particular series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly
provided for, on the dates and in the manner provided in the Debt Securities of
such series and in this Indenture (herein called "Defaulted Interest") shall
forthwith cease to be payable to the Registered Holder thereof on the relevant
record date by virtue of having been such Registered Holder, and such Defaulted
Interest may be paid by the Partnership, at its election in each case, as
provided in clause (i) or (ii) below:
(i) The Partnership may elect to make payment of any Defaulted
Interest to the Persons in whose names the Registered Securities of
such series are registered at the close of business on a special record
date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed
in the following manner. The Partnership shall notify the Trustee in
writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each
such Registered Security of such series and the date of the proposed
payment, and at the same time the Partnership shall deposit with the
Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be
paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements
satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the
proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the
benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this
clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date
for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than
15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed
payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of
the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify
the Partnership of such special record date and, in the name and at the
expense of the Partnership, shall cause notice of the proposed
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payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor
to be mailed, first class postage pre-paid, to each Holder thereof at
its address as it appears in the Security Register, not less than 10
days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment
of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having
been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in
whose names the Registered Securities of such series are registered at
the close of business on such special record date.
(ii) The Partnership may make payment of any Defaulted
Interest on the Debt Securities of such series in any other lawful
manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities
exchange on which the Debt Securities of such series may be listed, and
upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice
given by the Partnership to the Trustee of the proposed payment
pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed
practicable by the Trustee.
Section 2.18. CUSIP Numbers. The Partnership in issuing the Securities
may use "CUSIP" numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee
shall use "CUSIP" numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders;
provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the
accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in
any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other
identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall
not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Partnership
will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the "CUSIP"
numbers.
ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
Section 3.01. Applicability of Article. The provisions of this Article
shall be applicable to the Debt Securities of any series which are redeemable
before their Stated Maturity except as otherwise specified as contemplated by
Section 2.03 for Debt Securities of such series.
Section 3.02. Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debt Securities. In
case the Partnership shall desire to exercise the right to redeem all or, as the
case may be, any part of the Debt Securities of any series in accordance with
their terms, by resolution of the Board of Directors or a supplemental
Indenture, the Partnership shall fix a date for redemption and shall give notice
of such redemption at least 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed
for redemption to the Holders of Debt Securities of such series so to be
redeemed as a whole or in part, in the manner provided in Section 13.03. The
notice if given in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to
have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any
case, failure to give such notice or any defect in the notice to the Holder of
any Debt Security of a series designated for redemption as a whole or in part
shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other
Debt Security of such series.
Each such notice of redemption shall specify the date fixed for
redemption, the redemption price at which Debt Securities of such series are to
be redeemed, the Place or Places of Payment that payment will be made upon
presentation and surrender of such Debt Securities, that any interest accrued to
the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice,
21
that the redemption is for a sinking fund payment (if applicable), that, unless
otherwise specified in such notice, that, if the Partnership defaults in making
such redemption payment or if the Debt Securities of that series are
subordinated pursuant to the terms of Article XII, the paying agent is
prohibited from making such payment pursuant to the terms of this Indenture,
that on and after said date any interest thereon or on the portions thereof to
be redeemed will cease to accrue, that in the case of Original Issue Discount
Securities original issue discount accrued after the date fixed for redemption
will cease to accrue, the terms of the Debt Securities of that series pursuant
to which the Debt Securities of that series are being redeemed and 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 Debt Securities of that series. If
less than all the Debt Securities of a series are to be redeemed the notice of
redemption shall specify the CUSIP numbers of the Debt Securities of that series
to be redeemed. In case any Debt Security of a series is to be redeemed in part
only, the notice of redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount
thereof to be redeemed and shall state that on and after the date fixed for
redemption, upon surrender of such Debt Security, a new Debt Security or Debt
Securities of that series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion
thereof, will be issued.
At least 45 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date
unless the Trustee consents to a shorter period, the Partnership shall give
written notice to the Trustee of the redemption date, the principal amount of
Debt Securities to be redeemed and the series and terms of the Debt Securities
pursuant to which such redemption will occur. Such notice shall be accompanied
by an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel from the Partnership to
the effect that such redemption will comply with the conditions herein. If fewer
than all the Debt Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the record date
relating to such redemption shall be selected by the Partnership and given in
writing to the Trustee, which record date shall be not less than 15 days after
the date of notice to the Trustee.
By 11 a.m., New York City time, on the redemption date for any Debt
Securities, the Partnership shall deposit with the Trustee or with a paying
agent (or, if the Partnership is acting as its own paying agent, segregate and
hold in trust) an amount of money in Dollars (except as provided pursuant to
Section 2.03) sufficient to pay the redemption price of such Debt Securities or
any portions thereof that are to be redeemed on that date.
If less than all the Debt Securities of like tenor and terms of a
series are to be redeemed (other than pursuant to mandatory sinking fund
redemptions) the Trustee shall select, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such
other method as in its sole discretion it shall deem appropriate and fair, the
Debt Securities of that series or portions thereof (in multiples of $1,000) to
be redeemed. In any case where more than one Debt Security of such series is
registered in the same name, the Trustee in its discretion may treat the
aggregate principal amount so registered as if it were represented by one Debt
Security of such series. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Partnership in
writing of the Debt Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any
Debt Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to
be redeemed. If any Debt Security called for redemption shall not be so paid
upon surrender thereof on such redemption date, the principal, premium, if any,
and interest shall bear interest until paid from the redemption date at the rate
borne by the Debt Securities of that series. If less than all the Debt
Securities of unlike tenor and terms of a series are to be redeemed, the
particular Debt Securities to be redeemed shall be selected by the Partnership.
Provisions of this Indenture that
22
apply to Debt Securities called for redemption also apply to portions of Debt
Securities called for redemption.
Section 3.03. Payment of Debt Securities Called for Redemption. If
notice of redemption has been given as provided in Section 3.03, the Debt
Securities or portions of Debt Securities of the series with respect to which
such notice has been given shall become due and payable on the date and at the
Place or Places of Payment stated in such notice at the applicable redemption
price, together with any interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption, and
on and after said date (unless the Partnership shall default in the payment of
such Debt Securities at the applicable redemption price, together with any
interest accrued to said date) any interest on the Debt Securities or portions
of Debt Securities of any series so called for redemption shall cease to accrue,
any original issue discount in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities
shall cease to accrue. On presentation and surrender of such Debt Securities at
the Place or Places of Payment in said notice specified, the said Debt
Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the
Partnership at the applicable redemption price, together with any interest
accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption.
Any Debt Security that is to be redeemed only in part shall be
surrendered at the corporate trust office or such other office or agency of the
Partnership as is specified pursuant to Section 2.03 with, if the Partnership,
the Registrar or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written
instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Partnership, the Registrar
and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly
authorized in writing, and the Partnership shall execute, and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Debt Security without service
charge, a new Debt Security or Debt Securities of the same series, of like tenor
and form, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in
aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion
of the principal of the Debt Security so surrendered; except that if a Global
Security is so surrendered, the Partnership shall execute, and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver to the Depositary for such Global Security, without
service charge, a new Global Security in a denomination equal to and in exchange
for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Global Security so
surrendered. In the case of a Debt Security providing appropriate space for such
notation, at the option of the Holder thereof, the Trustee, in lieu of
delivering a new Debt Security or Debt Securities as aforesaid, may make a
notation on such Debt Security of the payment of the redeemed portion thereof.
Section 3.04. Mandatory and Optional Sinking Funds. The minimum amount
of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Debt Securities of any
series, resolution of the Board of Directors or a supplemental Indenture is
herein referred to as a "mandatory sinking fund payment", and any payment in
excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Debt Securities of
any series, resolution of the Board of Directors or a supplemental Indenture is
herein referred to as an "optional sinking fund payment."
In lieu of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment
with respect to any Debt Securities of a series in cash, the Partnership may at
its option (a) deliver to the Trustee Debt Securities of that series theretofore
purchased or otherwise acquired by the Partnership or (b) receive credit for the
principal amount of Debt Securities of that series which have been redeemed
either at the election of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of such Debt
Securities or
23
through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to
the terms of such Debt Securities, resolution or supplemental Indenture;
provided, that such Debt Securities have not been previously so credited. Such
Debt Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee
at the redemption price specified in such Debt Securities, resolution or
supplemental Indenture for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and
the amount of such mandatory sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.
Section 3.05. Redemption of Debt Securities for Sinking Fund. Not less
than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Debt
Securities, the Partnership will deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate
specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series
pursuant to the terms of that series, any resolution or supplemental Indenture,
the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the
portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting
Debt Securities of that series pursuant to this Section 3.05 (which Debt
Securities, if not previously redeemed, will accompany such certificate) and
whether the Partnership intends to exercise its right to make any permitted
optional sinking fund payment with respect to such series. Such certificate
shall also state that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with
respect to such series. Such certificate shall be irrevocable and upon its
delivery the Partnership shall be obligated to make the cash payment or payments
therein referred to, if any, by 11 a.m., New York City time, on the next
succeeding sinking fund payment date. Failure of the Partnership to deliver such
certificate (or to deliver the Debt Securities specified in this paragraph)
shall not constitute a Default, but such failure shall require that the sinking
fund payment due on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date for that
series shall be paid entirely in cash and shall be sufficient to redeem the
principal amount of such Debt Securities subject to a mandatory sinking fund
payment without the option to deliver or credit Debt Securities as provided in
this Section 3.05 and without the right to make any optional sinking fund
payment, if any, with respect to such series.
Any sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional) made in
cash plus any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made in cash
which shall equal or exceed $100,000 (or a lesser sum if the Partnership shall
so request) with respect to the Debt Securities of any particular series shall
be applied by the Trustee on the sinking fund payment date on which such payment
is made (or, if such payment is made before a sinking fund payment date, on the
sinking fund payment date following the date of such payment) to the redemption
of such Debt Securities at the Redemption Price specified in such Debt
Securities, resolution or supplemental Indenture for operation of the sinking
fund together with any accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption. Any
sinking fund moneys not so applied or allocated by the Trustee to the redemption
of Debt Securities shall be added to the next cash sinking fund payment received
by the Trustee for such series and, together with such payment, shall be applied
in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.05. Any and all sinking fund
moneys with respect to the Debt Securities of any particular series held by the
Trustee on the last sinking fund payment date with respect to Debt Securities of
such series and not held for the payment or redemption of particular Debt
Securities shall be applied by the Trustee, together with other moneys, if
necessary, to be deposited sufficient for the purpose, to the payment of the
principal of the Debt Securities of that series at its Stated Maturity.
24
The Trustee shall select the Debt Securities to be redeemed upon such
sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in the last paragraph of
Section 3.02 and the Partnership shall cause notice of the redemption thereof to
be given in the manner provided in Section 3.02 except that the notice of
redemption shall also state that the Debt Securities are being redeemed by
operation of the sinking fund. Such notice having been duly given, the
redemption of such Debt Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the
manner stated in Section 3.03.
At least one business day before each sinking fund payment date, the
Partnership shall pay to the Trustee (or, if the Partnership is acting as its
own paying agent, the Partnership shall segregate and hold in trust) in cash a
sum equal to any interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption of Debt
Securities or portions thereof to be redeemed on such sinking fund payment date
pursuant to this Section 3.05.
The Trustee shall not redeem any Debt Securities of a series with
sinking fund moneys or mail any notice of redemption of such Debt Securities by
operation of the sinking fund for such series during the continuance of a
Default in payment of interest on such Debt Securities or of any Event of
Default (other than an Event of Default occurring as a consequence of this
paragraph) with respect to such Debt Securities, except that if the notice of
redemption of any such Debt Securities shall theretofore have been mailed in
accordance with the provisions hereof, the Trustee shall redeem such Debt
Securities if cash sufficient for that purpose shall be deposited with the
Trustee for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Article III.
Except as aforesaid, any moneys in the sinking fund for such series at the time
when any such Default or Event of Default shall occur and any moneys thereafter
paid into such sinking fund shall, during the continuance of such Default or
Event of Default, be held as security for the payment of such Debt Securities;
provided, however, that in case such Event of Default or Default shall have been
cured or waived as provided herein, such moneys shall thereafter be applied on
the next sinking fund payment date for such Debt Securities on which such moneys
may be applied pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3.05.
ARTICLE IV
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE PARTNERSHIP
Section 4.01. Payment of Principal of, and Premium, If Any, and
Interest on, Debt Securities. The Partnership, for the benefit of each series of
Debt Securities, will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal
of, and premium, if any, and interest on, each of the Debt Securities at the
place, at the respective times and in the manner provided herein, in the Debt
Securities. Each installment of interest on the Debt Securities may at the
Partnership's option be paid by mailing checks for such interest payable to the
Person entitled thereto pursuant to Section 2.07(a) to the address of such
Person as it appears on the Debt Security Register.
Principal, premium and interest of Debt Securities of any series shall
be considered paid on the date due if, by 11 a.m., New York City time, on such
date the Trustee or any paying agent holds in accordance with this Indenture
money sufficient to pay in Dollars all principal, premium and interest then due
and, in the case of Debt Securities subordinated pursuant to the terms of
Article XII, the Trustee or such paying agent, as the case may be, is not
prohibited from paying such money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the
terms of this Indenture.
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The Partnership shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate
specified therefor in the Debt Securities and it shall pay interest on overdue
installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.
Section 4.02. Maintenance of Offices or Agencies for Registration of
Transfer, Exchange and Payment of Debt Securities. The Partnership will maintain
in each Place of Payment for any series of Debt Securities an office or agency
where Debt Securities of such series may be presented or surrendered for
payment, where Debt Securities of such series may be surrendered for transfer or
exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Partnership in respect of
the Debt Securities of such series and this Indenture may be served. The
Partnership will 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
Partnership 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, and the Partnership hereby appoints the Trustee as its
agent to receive all presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
The Partnership may also from time to time designate different or
additional offices or agencies to be maintained for such purposes (in or outside
of such Place of Payment), and may from time to time rescind any such
designation; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in
any manner relieve the Partnership of its obligations described in the preceding
paragraph. The Partnership will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any
such additional designation or rescission of designation and any change in the
location of any such different or additional office or agency.
Section 4.03. Appointment to Fill a Vacancy in the Office of Trustee.
The Partnership, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of
Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.08, a Trustee, so
that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder with respect to each series
of Debt Securities.
Section 4.04. Duties of Paying Agents, etc. The Partnership shall cause
each paying agent, if any, other than the Trustee, to execute and deliver to the
Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject
to the provisions of this Section 4.04,
(i) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for
the payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on,
the Debt Securities of any series (whether such sums have been paid to
it by the Partnership or by any other obligor on the Debt Securities of
such series) in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Debt
Securities of such series;
(ii) that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by
the Partnership (or by any other obligor on the Debt Securities of such
series) to make any payment of the principal of, and premium, if any,
or interest on, the Debt Securities of such series when the same shall
be due and payable; and
26
(iii) that it will at any time during the continuance of an
Event of Default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith
pay to the Trustee all sums so held by it as such agent.
(b) If the Partnership shall act as its own paying agent, it will, on
or before each due date of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest
on, the Debt Securities of any series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust
for the benefit of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series a sum
sufficient to pay such principal, premium, if any, or interest so becoming due.
The Partnership will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure by the
Partnership to take such action or the failure by any other obligor on such Debt
Securities to make any payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or
interest on, such Debt Securities when the same shall be due and payable.
(c) Anything in this Section 4.04 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Partnership may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and
discharge of this Indenture, or for any other reason, pay or cause to be paid to
the Trustee all sums held in trust by it or any paying agent, as required by
this Section 4.04, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as
those upon which such sums were held by the Partnership or such paying agent.
(d) Whenever the Partnership shall have one or more paying agents with
respect to any series of Debt Securities, it will, prior to each due date of the
principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, any Debt Securities of such
series, deposit with any such paying agent a sum sufficient to pay the
principal, premium or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for
the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto, and (unless any such paying agent
is the Trustee) the Partnership will promptly notify the Trustee of its action
or failure so to act.
(e) Anything in this Section 4.04 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section 4.04 is subject to
the provisions of Section 11.05.
Section 4.05. SEC Reports; Financial Statements.
(a) The Partnership shall, so long as any of the Debt Securities are
outstanding, file with the Trustee, within 15 days after it files the same with
the SEC, copies of the annual reports and the information, documents and other
reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may by
rules and regulations prescribe) that the Partnership is required to file with
the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. If the Partnership
is not subject to the requirements of such Section 13 or 15(d), the Partnership
shall file with the Trustee, within 15 days after it would have been required to
file the same with the SEC, financial statements, including any notes thereto
(and with respect to annual reports, an auditors' report by a firm of
established national reputation), and a "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations," both comparable to that which
the Partnership would have been required to include in such annual reports,
information, documents or other reports if the Partnership had been subject to
the requirements of such Section 13 or 15(d). The Partnership shall also comply
with the provisions of TIA Section 314(a).
(b) If the Partnership is required to furnish annual or quarterly
reports to its stockholders pursuant to the Exchange Act, the Partnership shall,
so long as any of the Debt
27
Securities are outstanding, cause any annual report furnished to its
stockholders generally and any quarterly or other financial reports furnished by
it to its stockholders generally to be filed with the Trustee and mailed to the
Holders in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 5.03.
(c) The Partnership shall provide the Trustee with a sufficient number
of copies of all reports and other documents and information that the Trustee
may be required to deliver to Holders under this Section.
Section 4.06. Compliance Certificate.
(a) The Partnership shall, so long as any of the Debt Securities are
outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each
fiscal year of the Partnership, an Officers' Certificate stating that a review
of the activities of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries during the preceding
fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers of the
Partnership with a view to determining whether the Partnership 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 knowledge the Partnership has kept, observed, performed and
fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in
default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and
conditions hereof, without regard to any grace period or requirement of notice
required by this Indenture (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which such
Officer may have knowledge and what action the Partnership, is taking or
proposes to take with respect thereto) and that to the best of his knowledge no
event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which payments on
account of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the
Debt Securities are prohibited or, if such event has occurred, a description of
the event and what action the Partnership is taking or proposes to take with
respect thereto.
(b) The Partnership shall, so long as any of the Debt Securities are
outstanding, deliver to the Trustee within 30 days after the occurrence of any
Default or Event of Default under this Indenture, an Officers' Certificate
specifying such Default or Event of Default, the status thereof and what action
the Partnership is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
Section 4.07. Further Instruments and Acts. The Partnership will, upon
request of the Trustee, execute and deliver such further instruments and do such
further acts as may reasonably be necessary or proper to carry out more
effectually the purposes of this Indenture.
Section 4.08. Existence. The Partnership shall do or cause to be done
all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its
partnership existence and the partnership and other existence of each of its
Subsidiaries and all rights (charter and statutory) and franchises of the
Partnership and its Subsidiaries, provided that the Partnership shall not be
required to preserve its existence as a limited partnership, or the partnership
existence of any Subsidiary of the Partnership or any such right or franchise,
if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no
longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Partnership and the
Subsidiaries and that the loss thereof would not have a material adverse effect
on the business, prospects, assets or financial condition of the Partnership and
its
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Subsidiaries taken as a whole and would not have any material adverse effect on
the payment and performance of the obligations of the Partnership under the Debt
Securities and this Indenture.
Section 4.09. Maintenance of Properties. The Partnership shall cause
all properties owned by the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries or used or
held for use in the conduct of its business or the business of any such
Subsidiary to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order
(reasonable wear and tear excepted) and supplied with all necessary equipment
and will cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements,
betterments and improvements thereof, all as in the judgment of the Partnership
may be necessary so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be
properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided that nothing in
this Section shall prevent the Partnership from discontinuing the operation or
maintenance of any of such properties if such discontinuance is, in the judgment
of the Partnership, desirable in the conduct of its business or the business of
any such Subsidiary and not disadvantageous in any material respect to the
Holders.
Section 4.10. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims. The Partnership shall
pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become
delinquent, (i) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or
imposed upon the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries or upon the income,
profits or property of the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries, and (ii) all
lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law
become a Lien upon the property of the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries;
provided that the Partnership shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause
to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount,
applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings.
ARTICLE V
HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE
Section 5.01. Partnership to Furnish Trustee Information as to Names
and Addresses of Holders; Preservation of Information. The Partnership covenants
and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee with
respect to the Debt Securities of each series:
(a) not more than 10 days after each record date with respect to the
payment of interest, if any, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably
require, of the names and addresses of the Holders as of such record date, and
(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within
30 days after the receipt by the Partnership of any such request, a list of
similar form and contents as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time
such list is furnished;
provided, however, that so long as the Trustee shall be the Registrar, such
lists shall not be required to be furnished.
The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably
practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the Holders (i)
contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in this Section
5.01 or (ii) received by it in the capacity of paying agent or Registrar (if so
acting) hereunder.
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The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in this
Section 5.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
Section 5.02. Communications to Holders. Holders may communicate
pursuant to Section 312(b) of the TIA with other Holders with respect to their
rights under this Indenture or the Debt Securities. The Partnership, the
Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Section
312(c) of the TIA.
Section 5.03. Reports by Trustee. Within 60 days after each January 31,
beginning with the first January 31 following the date of this Indenture, and in
any event on or before April 1 in each year, the Trustee shall mail to Holders a
brief report dated as of such January 31 that complies with TIA Section 313 (a);
provided, however, that if no event described in TIA Section 313 (a) has
occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need
be transmitted. The Trustee also shall comply with TIA Section 313 (b).
Reports pursuant to this Section 5.03 shall be transmitted by mail:
(a) to all Holders, as the names and addresses of such Holders appear
in the Debt Security Register; and
(b) except in the cases of reports under Section 313(b)(2) of the TIA,
to each Holder of a Debt Security of any series whose name and address appear in
the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section
5.01.
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Holders shall be
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and each stock exchange (if
any) on which the Debt Securities of any series are listed. The Partnership
agrees to notify promptly the Trustee whenever the Debt Securities of any series
become listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.
Section 5.04. Record Dates for Action by Holders. If the Partnership
shall solicit from the holders of Debt Securities of any series any action
(including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any direction,
notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the Partnership
may, at its option, by resolution of the Board of Directors, fix in advance a
record date for the determination of Holders of Debt Securities entitled to take
such action, but the Partnership shall have no obligation to do so. Any such
record date shall be fixed at the Partnership's discretion. If such a record
date is fixed, such action may be sought or given before or after the record
date, but only the Holders of Debt Securities of record at the close of business
on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders of Debt Securities for the
purpose of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Debt
Securities of such series Outstanding have authorized or agreed or consented to
such action, and for that purpose the Debt Securities of such series Outstanding
shall be computed as of such record date.
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ARTICLE VI
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND HOLDERS IN EVENT OF DEFAULT
Section 6.01. Events of Default. If any one or more of the following
shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to Debt Securities of any
series (each of the following, an "Event of Default"):
(a) default in the payment of any installment of interest upon any Debt
Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable,
whether or not such payment shall be prohibited by Article XII, if applicable,
and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or
(b) default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on
any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and
payable, whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration, upon required
repurchase or otherwise, whether or not such payment shall be prohibited by
Article XII, if applicable; or
(c) default in the payment of any sinking fund payment with respect to
any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and
payable; or
(d) failure on the part of the Partnership, or if any series of Debt
Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of a
Guarantee, any of the Subsidiary Guarantors, duly to observe or perform any
other of the covenants or agreements on the part of the Partnership, or if
applicable, any of the Subsidiary Guarantors, in the Debt Securities of that
series, in any resolution of the Board of Directors authorizing the issuance of
that series of Debt Securities, in this Indenture with respect to such series or
in any supplemental Indenture with respect to such series (other than a covenant
a default in the performance of which is elsewhere in this Section specifically
dealt with), continuing for a period of 60 days after the date on which written
notice specifying such failure and requiring the Partnership, or if applicable,
the Subsidiary Guarantor, to remedy the same shall have been given, by
registered or certified mail, to the Partnership, or if applicable, the
Subsidiary Guarantor, by the Trustee or to the Partnership, or if applicable,
the Subsidiary Guarantor, and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in
aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series at the time
Outstanding; or
(e) the Partnership, or if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding
under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of a Guarantee, any of the
Subsidiary Guarantors, pursuant to or within the meaning of any 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; or
(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its
creditors;
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(f) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under
any Bankruptcy Law that:
(i) is for relief against the Partnership, or if any series of
Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the
benefits of a Guarantee, any of the Subsidiary Guarantors, as debtor in
an involuntary case,
(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Partnership, or if any series
of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the
benefits of a Guarantee, any of the Subsidiary Guarantors, or a
Custodian for all or substantially all of the property of the
Partnership, or if applicable, any of the Subsidiary Guarantors, or
(iii) orders the liquidation of the Partnership, or if any
series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled
to the benefits of a Guarantee, any of the Subsidiary Guarantors,
and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days;
(g) if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture
is entitled to the benefits of a Guarantee, the Guarantee of any of the
Subsidiary Guarantors ceases to be in full force and effect with respect to Debt
Securities of that series or is declared null and void in a judicial proceeding
or the Subsidiary Guarantors deny or disaffirm their obligations under the
Indenture or such Guarantee; or
(h) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Debt Securities
of that series;
then and in each and every case that an Event of Default described in clause
(a), (b), (c), (d), (g), or (h) with respect to Debt Securities of that series
at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, unless the principal of and
interest on all the Debt Securities of that series shall have already become due
and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate
principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series then Outstanding
hereunder, by notice in writing to the Partnership (and to the Trustee if given
by Holders), may declare the principal of (or, if the Debt Securities of that
series are Original Issue Discount Debt Securities, such portion of the
principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) and interest
on all the Debt Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, and
upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and
payable, anything in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities of that series
contained to the contrary notwithstanding. If an Event of Default described in
clause (e) or (f) occurs, then and in each and every such case, unless the
principal of and interest on all the Debt Securities shall have become due and
payable, the principal of (or, if any Debt Securities are Original Issue
Discount Debt Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be
specified in the terms thereto) and interest on all the Debt Securities then
Outstanding hereunder shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable
without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders,
anything in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities contained to the contrary
notwithstanding.
The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt
Securities of a particular series by written notice to the Trustee may waive all
past Defaults (except with respect to the nonpayment of principal, premium or
interest) and rescind an acceleration and its
32
consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree
already rendered and if all existing Events of Default have been cured or waived
except nonpayment of principal or interest that has become due solely because of
acceleration. Upon any such rescission, the parties hereto shall be restored
respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights,
remedies and powers of the parties hereto shall continue as though no such
proceeding had been taken.
Section 6.02. Collection of Debt by Trustee, etc. If an Event of
Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of
an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or
proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid
or enforce the performance of any provision of the Debt Securities of the
affected series or this Indenture, and may prosecute any such action or
proceedings to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or
final decree against the Subsidiary Guarantors or the Partnership or any other
obligor upon the Debt Securities of such series (and collect in the manner
provided by law out of the property of the Subsidiary Guarantors or the
Partnership or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of such series
wherever situated the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable).
In case there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for
the reorganization of the Subsidiary Guarantors or the Partnership or any other
obligor upon the Debt Securities of any series under Title 11 of the United
States Code or any other Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law,
or in case a receiver, trustee or other similar official shall have been
appointed for its property, or in case of any other similar judicial proceedings
relative to the Subsidiary Guarantors or the Partnership or any other obligor
upon the Debt Securities of any series, its creditors or its property, the
Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of Debt Securities of any series
shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or
otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand
pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6.02, shall be entitled and
empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise, to file and prove a
claim or claims for the whole amount of principal, premium, if any, and interest
(or, if the Debt Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Debt
Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the
terms of such series) owing and unpaid in respect of the Debt Securities of such
series, and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or
advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for
reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and
for reimbursement of all expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances
made, by the Trustee except as a result of its negligence or bad faith) and of
the Holders thereof allowed in any such judicial proceedings relative to the
Subsidiary Guarantors or the Partnership, or any other obligor upon the Debt
Securities of such series, its creditors or its property, and to collect and
receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims,
and to distribute all amounts received with respect to the claims of such
Holders and of the Trustee on their behalf, and any receiver, assignee or
trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of such
Holders to make payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee
shall consent to the making of payments directly to such Holders, to pay to the
Trustee such amount as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to
the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other reasonable
expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee except
as a result of its negligence or bad faith.
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All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or
under any of the Debt Securities of any series, may be enforced by the Trustee
without the possession of any such Debt Securities, or the production thereof in
any trial or other proceedings relative thereto, and any such action or
proceedings instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as
trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment (except for any
amounts payable to the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.06) shall be for the
ratable benefit of the Holders of all the Debt Securities in respect of which
such action was taken.
In case of an Event of Default hereunder the Trustee may in its
discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this
Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem
most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either at law or in
equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of
any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise
of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or
equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.
Section 6.03. Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee. Any moneys or
other property collected by the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.02 with respect to
Debt Securities of any series shall be applied, after giving effect to the
provisions of Article XII, if applicable, in the order following, at the date or
dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys or other
property, upon presentation of the several Debt Securities of such series in
respect of which moneys or other property have been collected, and the notation
thereon of the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if
fully paid:
FIRST: To the payment of all money due the Trustee pursuant to Section
7.06;
SECOND: In case the principal of the Outstanding Debt Securities in
respect of which such moneys have been collected shall not have become due, to
the payment of interest on the Debt Securities of such series in the order of
the maturity of the installments of such interest, with interest (to the extent
that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon the overdue
installments of interest at the rate or Yield to Maturity (in the case of
Original Issue Discount Debt Securities) borne by the Debt Securities of such
series, such payments to be made ratably to the Persons entitled thereto,
without discrimination or preference;
THIRD: In case the principal of the Outstanding Debt Securities in
respect of which such moneys have been collected shall have become due, by
declaration or otherwise, to the payment of the whole amount then owing and
unpaid upon the Debt Securities of such series for principal and premium, if
any, and interest, with interest on the overdue principal and premium, if any,
and (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon
overdue installments of interest at the rate or Yield to Maturity (in the case
of Original Issue Discount Debt Securities) borne by the Debt Securities of such
series; and, in case such moneys shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole
amount so due and unpaid upon the Debt Securities of such series, then to the
payment of such principal and premium, if any, and interest, without preference
or priority of principal and premium, if any, over interest, or of interest over
principal and premium, if any, or of any installment of interest over any other
installment of interest, or of any Debt Security of such series over any Debt
Security of such series, ratably to the aggregate of such principal and premium,
if any, and interest; and
34
FOURTH: The remainder, if any, shall be paid to the Subsidiary
Guarantors or the Partnership, as applicable, its successors or assigns, or to
whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same, or as a court of
competent jurisdiction may direct.
The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to
Holders pursuant to this Section 6.03. At least 15 days before such record date,
the Partnership shall mail to each Holder and the Trustee a notice that states
the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.
Section 6.04. Limitation on Suits by Holders. No Holder of any Debt
Security of any series shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any
provision of this Indenture to institute any action or proceeding at law or in
equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, upon or under or with respect to this
Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other
remedy hereunder, unless such Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee
written notice of an Event of Default with respect to Debt Securities of that
same series and of the continuance thereof and unless the Holders of not less
than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of
that series shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such
action or proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as
Trustee hereunder and shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable
indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be
incurred therein or thereby, and the Trustee, for 60 days after its receipt of
such notice, request and offer of indemnity shall have failed to institute any
such action or proceedings and no direction inconsistent with such written
request shall have been given to the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.06; it being
understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by the Holder of every
Debt Security with every other Holder and the Trustee, that no one or more
Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue or by availing of
any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of
any Holders, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any
other such Holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the
manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all such
Holders. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section
6.04, each and every Holder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as
can be given either at law or in equity.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, however, the
right of any Holder of any Debt Security to receive payment of the principal of,
and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.12) interest on, such Debt
Security, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Debt Security,
and to institute 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 6.05. Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission in Exercise of
Rights Not a Waiver of Default. All powers and remedies given by this Article VI
to the Trustee or to the Holders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be
deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any thereof or of any other powers and
remedies available to the Trustee or the Holders, by judicial proceedings or
otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and
agreements contained in this Indenture, and no delay or omission of the Trustee
or of any Holder to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Default
occurring and continuing as aforesaid, shall impair any such right or power, or
shall be construed to be a waiver of any such Default or an acquiescence
therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.04, every power and remedy
35
given by this Article VI or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be
exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the
Trustee or by the Holders.
Section 6.06. Rights of Holders of Majority in Principal Amount of Debt
Securities to Direct Trustee and to Waive Default. The Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series at the time
Outstanding shall have the right to direct the time, method, and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising
any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Debt Securities
of such series; provided, however, that such direction shall not be otherwise
than in accordance with law and the provisions of this Indenture, and that
subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, the Trustee shall have the right to
decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee being advised by counsel
shall determine that the action so directed may not lawfully be taken, or if the
Trustee shall by a responsible officer or officers determine that the action so
directed would involve it in personal liability or would be unjustly prejudicial
to Holders of Debt Securities of such series not taking part in such direction;
and provided, further, however, that nothing in this Indenture contained shall
impair the right of the Trustee to take any action deemed proper by the Trustee
and which is not inconsistent with such direction by such Holders. Prior to the
acceleration of the maturity of the Debt Securities of any series, as provided
in Section 6.01, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Debt Securities of that series at the time Outstanding may on behalf of the
Holders of all the Debt Securities of that series waive any past Default or
Event of Default and its consequences for that series specified in the terms
thereof as contemplated by Section 2.03, except a Default in the payment of the
principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, any of the Debt Securities
and a Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.02 cannot be
amended without the consent of each Holder affected thereby. In case of any such
waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, any Event of Default arising
therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this
Indenture, and the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Partnership, the Trustee and the
Holders of the Debt Securities of that series shall be restored to their former
positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to
any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.07. Trustee to Give Notice of Defaults Known to It, but May
Withhold Such Notice in Certain Circumstances. The Trustee shall, within 90 days
after the occurrence of a Default known to it, or if later, within 30 days after
the Trustee obtains actual knowledge of the Default, with respect to a series of
Debt Securities give to the Holders thereof, in the manner provided in Section
13.03, notice of all Defaults with respect to such series known to the Trustee,
unless such Defaults shall have been cured or waived before the giving of such
notice; provided, that, except in the case of Default in the payment of the
principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any of the Debt Securities of
such series or in the making of any sinking fund payment with respect to the
Debt Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding
such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or
a committee of directors or responsible officers of the Trustee in good faith
determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders
thereof.
Section 6.08. Requirement of an Undertaking To Pay Costs in Certain
Suits under the Indenture or Against the Trustee. All parties to this Indenture
agree, and each Holder of any Debt Security by his acceptance thereof shall be
deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit
for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or
36
in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as
Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay
the costs of such suit in the manner and to the extent provided in the TIA, and
that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including
reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such
suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses
made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 6.08 shall not
apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any
Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 25 percent in
principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series or to any
suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the
principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any Debt Security on or after
the due date for such payment expressed in such Debt Security.
ARTICLE VII
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
Section 7.01. Certain Duties and Responsibilities. The Trustee, prior
to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all
Events of Default which may have occurred, undertakes to perform such duties and
only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture. In case an
Event of Default has occurred (which has not been cured or waived), 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 their exercise, as a prudent man would
exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.
No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the
Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure
to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(a) this paragraph shall not be construed to limit the effect of the
first paragraph of this Section 7.01;
(b) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the
Debt Securities of a series and after the curing or waiving of all Events of
Default with respect to such series which may have occurred:
(i) the duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect to
Debt Securities of any series shall be determined solely by the express
provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable
except for the performance of such duties and obligations with respect
to such series as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no
implied covenants or obligations with respect to such series shall be
read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(ii) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee,
the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements
and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any
certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the
requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such
certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically
required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a
duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to
the requirements of this Indenture; but the Trustee shall examine the
37
evidence furnished to it pursuant to Sections 4.05 and 4.06 to
determine whether or not such evidence conforms to the requirement of
this Indenture;
(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable for an error of judgment
made in good faith by a responsible officer, unless it shall be proved
that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
(iv) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any
action taken or omitted to be taken by it with respect to Debt
Securities of any series in good faith in accordance with the direction
of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series relating to
the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred
upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to Debt Securities
of such series.
None of the provisions of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to
expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any personal financial liability
in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of
its rights or powers, if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that
repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is
not reasonably assured to it.
Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this
Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording
protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.
Section 7.02. Certain Rights of Trustee. Except as otherwise provided
in Section 7.01:
(a) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining
from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion,
report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note or
other paper or document (whether in its original or facsimile form) believed by
it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or
parties;
(b) any request, direction, order or demand of the Partnership
mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Partnership Order (unless
other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any
resolution of the Board of Directors may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy
thereof certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Partnership;
(c) 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 in respect of any action taken or suffered or omitted by it hereunder
in good faith and in accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;
(d) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the
rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or
direction of any of the Holders of Debt Securities of any series pursuant to the
provisions of this Indenture, unless such Holders shall
38
have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs,
expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby;
(e) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by
it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the
discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;
(f) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing
of all Events of Default which may have occurred, the Trustee shall not be bound
to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution,
certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction,
consent, order, approval or other paper or document, unless requested in writing
to do so by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then
Outstanding Debt Securities of a series affected by such matter; provided,
however, that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the
costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such
investigation is not, in the opinion of the Trustee, reasonably assured to the
Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the
Trustee may require reasonable indemnity against such costs, expenses or
liabilities as a condition to so proceeding. The reasonable expense of every
such investigation shall be paid by the Partnership or, if paid by the Trustee,
shall be repaid by the Partnership upon demand;
(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or
perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or
attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or
negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed by it with due care
hereunder; and
(h) if any property other than cash shall at any time be subject to a
Lien in favor of the Holders, the Trustee, if and to the extent authorized by a
receivership or bankruptcy court of competent jurisdiction or by the
supplemental instrument subjecting such property to such lien, shall be entitled
to make advances for the purpose of preserving such property or of discharging
tax Liens or other prior Liens or encumbrances thereon.
Section 7.03. Trustee Not Liable for Recitals in Indenture or in Debt
Securities. The recitals contained herein, in the Debt Securities (except the
Trustee's certificate of authentication) shall be taken as the statements of the
Partnership, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of
the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency
of this Indenture or of the Debt Securities of any series, except that the
Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this
Indenture, authenticate the Debt Securities and perform its obligations
hereunder, and that the statements made by it or to be made by it in a Statement
of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1 supplied to the Partnership are
true and accurate. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or
application by the Partnership of any of the Debt Securities or of the proceeds
thereof.
Section 7.04. Trustee, Paying Agent or Registrar May Own Debt
Securities. The Trustee or any paying agent or Registrar, in its individual or
any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Debt Securities and
subject to the provisions of the TIA relating to conflicts of interest and
preferential claims may otherwise deal with the Partnership with the same rights
it would have if it were not Trustee, paying agent or Registrar.
39
Section 7.05. Moneys Received by Trustee to Be Held in Trust. Subject
to the provisions of Section 11.05, all moneys received by the Trustee shall,
until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for
which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to
the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest
on any moneys received by it hereunder. So long as no Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing, all interest allowed on any such moneys shall
be paid from time to time to the Partnership upon a Partnership Order.
Section 7.06. Compensation and Reimbursement. The Partnership covenants
and agrees to pay in Dollars to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee
shall be entitled to, reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it
hereunder (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the
compensation of a trustee of an express trust), and, except as otherwise
expressly provided herein, the Partnership will pay or reimburse in Dollars the
Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances
incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this
Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and
disbursements of its agents, attorneys and counsel and of all Persons not
regularly in its employ), including without limitation, Section 6.02, except any
such expense, disbursement or advances as may arise from its negligence or bad
faith. The Partnership also covenants to indemnify in Dollars the Trustee for,
and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without
negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, arising
out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust or
trusts hereunder, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending
itself against any claim of liability in connection with the exercise or
performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The obligations of the
Partnership under this Section 7.06 to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and
to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall
constitute additional Debt hereunder and shall survive the satisfaction and
discharge of this Indenture. The Partnership and the Holders agree that such
additional Debt shall be secured by a Lien prior to that of the Debt Securities
upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee, as such, except
funds held in trust for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, or
interest on, particular Debt Securities.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of
Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or (h) occurs, the expenses and the
compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of
administration under any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar
law.
Section 7.07. Right of Trustee to Rely on an Officers' Certificate
Where No Other Evidence Specifically Prescribed. Except as otherwise provided in
Section 7.01, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture
the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or
established prior to taking or suffering or omitting any action hereunder, such
matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically
prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the
Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers'
Certificate delivered to the Trustee and such certificate, in the absence of
negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the
Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of
this Indenture upon the faith thereof.
40
Section 7.08. Separate Trustee; Replacement of Trustee. The Partnership
may, but need not, appoint a separate Trustee for any one or more series of Debt
Securities. The Trustee may resign with respect to one or more or all series of
Debt Securities at any time by giving notice to the Partnership. The Holders of
a majority in principal amount of the Debt Securities of a particular series may
remove the Trustee for such series and only such series by so notifying the
Trustee and may appoint a successor Trustee. The Partnership shall remove the
Trustee if:
(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;
(b) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;
(c) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or
its property; or
(d) the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.
If the Trustee resigns, is removed by the Partnership or by the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the Debt Securities of a particular series and
such Holders do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee, or if a
vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such
event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Partnership shall
promptly appoint a successor Trustee. No resignation or removal of the Trustee
and no appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective until the
acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the
applicable requirements of this Section 7.08.
A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its
appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Partnership. 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 Debt Securities of each applicable series. The retiring
Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the
successor Trustee, subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.06.
If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the
retiring Trustee gives notice of resignation or is removed, the retiring Trustee
or the Holders of 25% in principal amount of the Debt Securities of any
applicable series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a successor Trustee for the Debt Securities of such series.
If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, any Holder of Debt
Securities of any applicable series may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor
Trustee for the Debt Securities of such series.
Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section
7.08, the Partnership's obligations under Section 7.06 shall continue for the
benefit of the retiring Trustee.
In the case of the appointment hereunder of a separate or successor
trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more series, the
Partnership, any retiring Trustee and each successor or separate Trustee with
respect to the Debt Securities of any applicable series shall execute and
deliver an Indenture supplemental hereto (i) which shall contain such provisions
as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights,
powers, trusts and duties of
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any retiring Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of any series as to
which any such retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in
such retiring Trustee and (ii) that shall add to or change any of the provisions
of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the
administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one trustee, it being
understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental Indenture shall
constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such
separate, retiring or successor Trustee shall be Trustee of a trust or trusts
hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by
any other such Trustee.
Section 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger. If the Trustee consolidates
with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its
corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking
association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation or banking
association without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.
In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion
or consolidation to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this
Indenture any of the Debt Securities shall have been authenticated but not
delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of
authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver such Debt Securities so
authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Debt Securities shall not
have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Debt
Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the
successor to the Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the
full force which it is anywhere in the Debt Securities or in this Indenture
provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.
Section 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification. The Trustee shall at all
times satisfy the requirements of Section 310(a) of the TIA. The Trustee shall
have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its
most recent published annual report of condition. No obligor upon the Debt
Securities of a particular series or Person directly or indirectly controlling,
controlled by or under common control with such obligor shall serve as Trustee
upon the Debt Securities of such series. The Trustee shall comply with Section
310(b) of the TIA; provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the
operation of Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA this Indenture or any indenture or
indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or
participation in other securities of the Partnership are outstanding if the
requirements for such exclusion set forth in Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA are
met.
Section 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Partnership.
The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the TIA, excluding any creditor
relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the TIA. A Trustee who has resigned or
been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the TIA to the extent
indicated therein.
Section 7.12. Compliance with Tax Laws. The Trustee hereby agrees to
comply with all U.S. Federal income tax information reporting and withholding
requirements applicable to it with respect to payments of premium (if any) and
interest on the Debt Securities, whether acting as Trustee, Security Registrar,
paying agent or otherwise with respect to the Debt Securities.
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ARTICLE VIII
CONCERNING THE HOLDERS
Section 8.01. Evidence of Action by Holders. Whenever in this Indenture
it is provided that the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal
amount of the Debt Securities of any or all series may take action (including
the making of any demand or request, the giving of any direction, notice,
consent or waiver or the taking of any other action) the fact that at the time
of taking any such action the Holders of such specified percentage have joined
therein may be evidenced by any instrument or any number of instruments of
similar tenor executed by Holders in Person or by agent or proxy appointed in
writing, by the record of the Holders voting in favor thereof at any meeting of
Holders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.02
or by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of
such a meeting of Holders.
Section 8.02. Proof of Execution of Instruments and of Holding of Debt
Securities. Subject to the provisions of Sections 7.01, 7.02 and 13.11, proof of
the execution of any instrument by a Holder or his agent or proxy shall be
sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as
may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to
the Trustee. The ownership of Debt Securities of any series shall be proved by
the Debt Security Register or by a certificate of the Registrar for such series.
The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this
Section 8.02 as it shall deem necessary.
Section 8.03. Who May Be Deemed Owner of Debt Securities. Prior to due
presentment for registration of transfer of any Debt Security, the Partnership,
the Trustee, any paying agent and any Registrar may deem and treat the Person in
whose name any Debt Security shall be registered upon the books of the
Partnership as the absolute owner of such Debt Security (whether or not such
Debt Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or
other writing thereon) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of
the principal of and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.03) interest on
such Debt Security and for all other purposes, and neither the Partnership nor
the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Registrar shall be affected by any
notice to the contrary; and all such payments so made to any such Holder for the
time being, or upon his order, shall be valid and, to the extent of the sum or
sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys
payable upon any such Debt Security.
None of the Partnership, the Trustee, any paying agent or the Registrar
will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating
to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a Global
Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to
such beneficial ownership interests.
Section 8.04. Instruments Executed by Holders Bind Future Holders. At
any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in
Section 8.01, of the taking of any action by the Holders of the percentage in
aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series specified in
this Indenture in connection with such action and subject to the following
paragraph, any Holder of a Debt Security which is shown by the evidence to be
included in the Debt Securities the Holders of which have consented to such
action may, by
43
filing written notice with the Trustee at its corporate trust office and upon
proof of holding as provided in Section 8.02, revoke such action so far as
concerns such Debt Security. Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the
Holder of any Debt Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and
upon all future Holders and owners of such Debt Security and of any Debt
Security issued upon transfer thereof or in exchange or substitution therefor,
irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such
Debt Security or such other Debt Securities. Any action taken by the Holders of
the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any
series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be
conclusively binding upon the Partnership, the Trustee and the Holders of all
the Debt Securities of such series.
The Partnership may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date
for the purpose of determining the Holders of Debt Securities entitled to give
their consent or take any other action required or permitted to be taken
pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the
immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders of Debt
Securities at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only
those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent
previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons
continue to be Holders of Debt Securities after such record date. No such
consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record
date unless the consent of the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal
amount of the Debt Securities of such series specified in this Indenture shall
have been received within such 120-day period.
ARTICLE IX
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 9.01. Purposes for Which Supplemental Indenture May Be Entered
into Without Consent of Holders. The Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors,
when authorized by resolutions of the Board of Directors, and the Trustee may
from time to time and at any time, without the consent of Holders, enter into an
Indenture or Indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the
provisions of the TIA as in force at the date of the execution thereof) for one
or more of the following purposes:
(a) to evidence the succession pursuant to Article X of another Person
to the Partnership or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors, or successive
successions, and the assumption by the Successor Partnership (as defined in
Section 10.01) of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Partnership
or the Subsidiary Guarantors in this Indenture and in the Debt Securities;
(b) to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the
Partnership or the Subsidiary Guarantors, to add to the covenants of the
Partnership or the Subsidiary Guarantors such further covenants, restrictions,
conditions or provisions for the protection of the Holders of all or any series
of Debt Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than
all series of Debt Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being
included solely for the benefit of such series) as the Board of Directors shall
consider to be for the protection of the Holders of such Debt Securities, and to
make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a Default in any of
such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions a Default
44
or an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several
remedies provided in this Indenture; provided, that in respect of any such
additional covenant, restriction, condition or provision such supplemental
Indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after Default (which
period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other Defaults)
or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such Default or may limit the
remedies available to the Trustee upon such Default or may limit the right of
the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of any or all series of
Debt Securities to waive such default;
(c) to cure any ambiguity or omission or to correct or supplement any
provision contained herein, in any supplemental Indenture or in any Debt
Securities of any series that may be defective or inconsistent with any other
provision contained herein, in any supplemental Indenture or in the Debt
Securities of such series; to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any
property to or with the Trustee, or to make such other provisions in regard to
matters or questions arising under this Indenture as shall not adversely affect
the interests of any Holders of Debt Securities of any series;
(d) to modify or amend this Indenture in such a manner as to permit the
qualification of this Indenture or any Indenture supplemental hereto under the
TIA as then in effect, except that nothing herein contained shall permit or
authorize the inclusion in any Indenture supplemental hereto of the provisions
referred to in Section 316(a)(2) of the TIA;
(e) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to
change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal of, or premium,
if any, on, Debt Securities; provided, that any such action shall not adversely
affect the interests of the Holders of Debt Securities of any series in any
material respect or permit or facilitate the issuance of Debt Securities of any
series in uncertificated form;
(f) to comply with Article X;
(g) in the case of any Debt Securities subordinated pursuant to Article
XII, to make any change in Article XII that would limit or terminate the
benefits available to any holder of Senior Indebtedness (or Representatives
therefor) under Article XII;
(h) to add guarantees with respect to any or all of the Debt Securities
or to secure any or all of the Debt Securities;
(i) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any
Holder;
(j) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this
Indenture in respect of one or more series of Debt Securities; provided,
however, that any such addition, change or elimination not otherwise permitted
under this Section 9.01 shall neither apply to any Debt Security of any series
created prior to the execution of such supplemental Indenture and entitled to
the benefit of such provision nor modify the rights of the Holder of any such
Debt Security with respect to such provision or shall become effective only when
there is no such Debt Security Outstanding;
(k) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder
by a successor or separate Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of one or
more series and to add
45
to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to
provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more
than one Trustee;
(l) to establish the form or terms of Debt Securities of any series as
permitted by Sections 2.01 and 2.03.
The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Partnership and the
Subsidiary Guarantors in the execution of any such supplemental Indenture, to
make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein
contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer, assignment, mortgage or pledge
of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into
any such supplemental Indenture which affects the Trustee's own rights, duties
or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Any supplemental Indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section
9.01 may be executed by the Partnership, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the
Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any of the Debt Securities at the
time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.02.
In the case of Debt Securities subordinated pursuant to Article XII, an
amendment under this Section 9.01 may not make any change that adversely affects
the rights under Article XII of any holder of Senior Indebtedness then
outstanding unless the holders of such Senior Indebtedness (or any group or
Representative thereof authorized to give a consent) consent to such change.
Section 9.02. Modification of Indenture with Consent of Holders of Debt
Securities. Without notice to any Holder but with the consent (evidenced as
provided in Section 8.01) of the Holders of not less than a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of each series
affected by such supplemental Indenture (including consents obtained in
connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for any such series of Debt
Securities), the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors, when authorized by
resolutions of the Board of Directors, and the Trustee may from time to time and
at any time enter into an Indenture or Indentures supplemental hereto (which
shall conform to the provisions of the TIA as in force at the date of execution
thereof) for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner
or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental
Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Debt
Securities of such series; provided, that no such supplemental Indenture,
without the consent of the Holders of each Debt Security so affected, shall:
reduce the percentage in principal amount of Debt Securities of any series whose
Holders must consent to an amendment; reduce the rate of or extend the time for
payment of interest on any Debt Security; reduce the principal of or extend the
Stated Maturity of any Debt Security; reduce the premium payable upon the
redemption of any Debt Security or change the time at which any Debt Security
may or shall be redeemed in accordance with Article III; make any Debt Security
payable in currency other than the Dollar; impair the right of any Holder to
receive payment of, premium, if any, principal of and interest on such Holder's
Debt Securities on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the
enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder's Debt Securities;
in the case of any Debt Security subordinated pursuant to Article XII, make any
change in Article XII that adversely affects the rights of any Holder under
Article XII; release any security that may have been granted in
46
respect of the Debt Securities; make any change in Section 6.06 or this Section
9.02; or release the Subsidiary Guarantors or modify the Guarantee in any manner
adverse to the Holders.
A supplemental Indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or
other provision of this Indenture which has been expressly included solely for
the benefit of one or more particular series of Debt Securities or which
modifies the rights of the Holders of Debt Securities of such series with
respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the
rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Debt Securities of any other
series.
Upon the request of the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors,
accompanied by a copy of resolutions of the Board of Directors authorizing the
execution of any such supplemental Indenture, and upon the filing with the
Trustee of evidence of the consent of Holders as aforesaid, the Trustee shall
join with the Partnership in the execution of such supplemental Indenture unless
such supplemental Indenture 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 supplemental
Indenture.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this
Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental
Indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the
substance thereof.
In the case of any Debt Securities subordinated pursuant to Article
XII, an amendment under this Section 9.02 may not make any change that adversely
affects the rights under Article XII of any holder of Senior Indebtedness then
outstanding unless the holders of such Senior Indebtedness (or any group or
Representative thereof authorized to give a consent) consent to such change.
After an amendment under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the
Partnership shall mail to Holders of Debt Securities of each series affected
thereby a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such
notice to all such Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect
the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.02.
Section 9.03. Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of
any supplemental Indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX, this
Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance
therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties
and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Partnership, the
Subsidiary Guarantors and the Holders shall thereafter be determined, exercised
and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and
amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental Indenture
shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture
for any and all purposes.
The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 7.01 and 7.02, may
receive an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive
evidence that any such supplemental Indenture complies with the provisions of
this Article IX.
Section 9.04. Debt Securities May Bear Notation of Changes by
Supplemental Indentures. Debt Securities of any series authenticated and
delivered after the execution of any supplemental Indenture pursuant to the
provisions of this Article IX may, and shall if required by
47
the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter
provided for in such supplemental Indenture. New Debt Securities of any series
so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of
Directors, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such
supplemental Indenture may be prepared and executed by the Partnership,
authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Debt Securities
of such series then Outstanding. Failure to make the appropriate notation or to
issue a new Debt Security of such series shall not affect the validity of such
amendment.
ARTICLE X
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE
Section 10.01. Consolidations and Mergers of the Partnership and the
Subsidiary Guarantors. Neither the Partnership nor any Subsidiary Guarantor
shall consolidate with or merge with or into any Person, or convey, transfer or
lease all or substantially all its assets to any Person, unless: (a) either (i)
the Partnership or such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be the continuing Person in
the case of a merger or (ii) in the case of the Partnership, the resulting,
surviving or transferee Person if other than the Partnership (the "Successor
Partnership"), or in the case of such Subsidiary Guarantor, the resulting,
surviving or transferee Person if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor, shall be
a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any State
thereof or the District of Columbia and the Successor Partnership shall
expressly assume, by an Indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to
the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the
Partnership or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, under the
Indenture and the Debt Securities according to their tenor (in the case of the
Partnership) and the Guarantee (in the case of such Subsidiary Guarantor); (b)
immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Debt which
becomes an obligation of the Successor Partnership or any Subsidiary of the
Partnership as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the
Successor Partnership or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), no
Default or Event of Default would occur or be continuing; and (c) the
Partnership or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, shall have
delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel,
each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental
Indenture (if any) complies with this Indenture; provided that nothing in this
Section 10.01 shall restrict or prohibit the consolidation or merger of any
Subsidiary Guarantor into, or the conveyance, transfer or lease of all or
substantially all of the assets of any Subsidiary Guarantor to, the Partnership
or any other Subsidiary Guarantor.
Section 10.02. Rights and Duties of Successor Partnership or Successor
Subsidiary Guarantor. In case of any consolidation or merger, or conveyance or
transfer of the assets of the Partnership or any Subsidiary Guarantor as an
entirety or substantially as an entirety in accordance with Section 10.01, the
Successor Partnership shall succeed to and be substituted for the Partnership or
the successor Subsidiary Guarantor shall succeed to and be substituted for such
Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, with the same effect as if it had been
named herein as the respective party to this Indenture, and the predecessor
entity shall be released from all liabilities and obligations under the
Indenture and the Debt Securities (in the case of the Partnership) or the
Guarantee (in the case of any Subsidiary Guarantor), except that no such release
will occur in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of its assets. The
Successor Partnership thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in
its own name or in the
48
name of the Partnership, any or all the Debt Securities issuable hereunder which
theretofore shall not have been signed by the Partnership and delivered to the
Trustee; and, upon the order of the Successor Partnership, instead of the
Partnership, and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this
Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall deliver any Debt
Securities which previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers
of the Partnership to the Trustee for authentication, and any Debt Securities
which the Successor Partnership thereafter shall cause to be signed and
delivered to the Trustee for that purpose. All the Debt Securities so issued
shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture
as the Debt Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the
terms of this Indenture as though all such Debt Securities had been issued at
the date of the execution hereof.
In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance such
changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Debt
Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.
ARTICLE XI
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF
INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS
Section 11.01. Applicability of Article. The provisions of this Article
XI relating to defeasance of Debt Securities shall be applicable to each series
of Debt Securities except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.03 for
Debt Securities of such series.
Section 11.02. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance.
(a) If at any time the Partnership shall have delivered to the Trustee
for cancellation all Debt Securities of any series theretofore authenticated and
delivered (other than any Debt Securities of such series which shall have been
destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided
in Section 2.09 and Debt Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been
deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Partnership as provided in
Section 11.05) or all Debt Securities of such series not theretofore delivered
to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by
their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for
redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for
the giving of notice of redemption, and the Partnership shall deposit with the
Trustee as trust funds the entire amount in cash sufficient to pay at maturity
or upon redemption all Debt Securities of such series not theretofore delivered
to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal and premium, if any, and
interest due or to become due on such date of maturity or redemption date, as
the case may be, and if in either case the Partnership shall also pay or cause
to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Partnership, then this
Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights
of registration of transfer or exchange of such Debt Securities herein expressly
provided for) with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, and the
Trustee, on demand of the Partnership accompanied by an Officers' Certificate
and an Opinion of Counsel and at the cost and expense of the Partnership, shall
execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this
Indenture.
49
(b) Subject to Sections 11.02(c), 11.03 and 11.07, the Partnership at
any time may terminate, with respect to Debt Securities of a particular series,
all its obligations under the Debt Securities of such series and this Indenture
with respect to the Debt Securities of such series ("legal defeasance option")
or the operation of Sections 6.01(d), (g) and (h) and, as they relate to the
Subsidiary Guarantors only, Sections 6.01(e) and (f) ("covenant defeasance
option"). If the Partnership exercises its legal defeasance option, the
Guarantee will terminate with respect to that series of Debt Securities. The
Partnership may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior
exercise of its covenant defeasance option.
If the Partnership exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of
the Debt Securities of the defeased series may not be accelerated because of an
Event of Default. If the Partnership exercises its covenant defeasance option,
payment of the Debt Securities of the defeased series may not be accelerated
because of an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.01(d), (g) and (h) and,
with respect to the Subsidiary Guarantors only, Sections 6.01(e) and (f) (except
to the extent covenants or agreements referenced in such Sections remain
applicable).
Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein and upon request
of the Partnership, the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of
those obligations that the Partnership terminates.
(c) Notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, the Partnership's
obligations in Sections 2.07, 2.09, 4.02, 4.04, 5.01, 7.06, 7.10, 11.05, 11.06
and 11.07 shall survive until the Debt Securities of the defeased series have
been paid in full. Thereafter, the Partnership's obligations in Sections 7.06,
11.05 and 11.06 shall survive.
Section 11.03. Conditions of Defeasance. The Partnership may exercise
its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option with respect to
Debt Securities of a particular series only if:
(a) the Partnership irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee
money or U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal of, and
premium, if any, and interest on, the Debt Securities of such series to maturity
or redemption, as the case may be;
(b) the Partnership delivers to the Trustee a certificate from a
nationally recognized firm of independent accountants expressing their opinion
that the payments of principal and interest when due and without reinvestment on
the deposited U.S. Government Obligations plus any deposited money without
investment will provide cash at such times and in such amounts as will be
sufficient to pay the principal, premium and interest when due on all the Debt
Securities of such series to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;
(c) 91 days pass after the deposit is made and during the 91-day period
no Default specified in Section 6.01(e) or (f) with respect to the Partnership
occurs which is continuing at the end of the period;
(d) no Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such
deposit and after giving effect thereto;
50
(e) the deposit does not constitute a default under any other agreement
binding on the Partnership and, if the Debt Securities of such series are
subordinated pursuant to Article XII, is not prohibited by Article XII;
(f) the Partnership delivers to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to
the effect that the trust resulting from the deposit does not constitute, or is
qualified as, a regulated investment company under the Investment Company Act of
1940;
(g) in the event of the legal defeasance option, the Partnership shall
have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that the Partnership
has received from the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or since the date of
this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law,
in either case of the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel
shall confirm that, the Holders of Debt Securities of such series will not
recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of
such defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts,
in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such
defeasance had not occurred;
(h) in the event of the covenant defeasance option, the Partnership
shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the
Holders of Debt Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or
loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and
will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner
and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance
had not occurred; and
(i) the Partnership delivers to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate
and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the
defeasance and discharge of the Debt Securities of such series as contemplated
by this Article XI have been complied with.
Before or after a deposit, the Partnership may make arrangements
satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Debt Securities of such series
at a future date in accordance with Article III.
Section 11.04. Application of Trust Money. The Trustee shall hold in
trust money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to this
Article XI. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from U.S.
Government Obligations through any paying agent and in accordance with this
Indenture to the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on,
the Debt Securities of the defeased series. In the event the Debt Securities of
the defeased series are subordinated pursuant to Article XII, money and
securities so held in trust are not subject to Article XII.
Section 11.05. Repayment to Partnership. The Trustee and any paying
agent shall promptly turn over to the Partnership upon request any excess money
or securities held by them at any time.
Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and any
paying agent shall pay to the Partnership upon request any money held by them
for the payment of principal, premium or interest that remains unclaimed for two
years, and, thereafter, Holders entitled to such money must look to the
Partnership for payment as general creditors.
51
Section 11.06. Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations. The
Partnership shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee and the Holders against
any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against deposited U.S.
Government Obligations or the principal and interest received on such U.S.
Government Obligations.
Section 11.07. Reinstatement. If the Trustee or any paying agent is
unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this
Article XI by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or
judgment of any court or government authority enjoining, restraining or
otherwise prohibiting such application, the Partnership's obligations under this
Indenture and the Debt Securities of the defeased series shall be revived and
reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article XI until
such time as the Trustee or any paying agent is permitted to apply all such
money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article XI.
ARTICLE XII
SUBORDINATION OF DEBT SECURITIES AND GUARANTEE
Section 12.01. Applicability of Article; Agreement To Subordinate. The
provisions of this Article XII shall only be applicable to the Debt Securities
of any series (Debt Securities of such series referred to in this Article XII as
"Subordinated Debt Securities") designated, pursuant to Section 2.03, as
subordinated to Senior Indebtedness and any related Guarantee of such
Subordinated Debt Securities. Each Holder by accepting a Subordinated Debt
Security agrees that the Debt evidenced by such Subordinated Debt Security and
any related Guarantee of such Subordinated Debt Security is subordinated in
right of payment, to the extent and in the manner provided in this Article XII,
to the prior payment of all Senior Indebtedness and that the subordination is
for the benefit of and enforceable by the holders of Senior Indebtedness. All
provisions of this Article XII shall be subject to Section 12.12.
Section 12.02. Liquidation, Dissolution, Bankruptcy. Upon any payment
or distribution of the assets of the Partnership or the Subsidiary Guarantors,
as the case may be, to creditors upon a total or partial liquidation or a total
or partial dissolution of the Partnership or the Subsidiary Guarantors, as the
case may be, or in a bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, receivership or
similar proceeding relating to the Partnership or the Subsidiary Guarantors, as
the case may be, or their respective property:
(a) holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Partnership or any Subsidiary
Guarantor, as the case may be, shall be entitled to receive payment in full in
cash of such Senior Indebtedness of such Person (including interest (if any),
accruing on or after the commencement of a proceeding in bankruptcy, whether or
not allowed as a claim against the Partnership or the Subsidiary Guarantors, as
the case may be, in such bankruptcy proceeding) before Holders of Subordinated
Debt Securities and any related Guarantee shall be entitled to receive any
payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Subordinated
Debt Securities from the Partnership, or any payment in respect of the Guarantee
from the Subsidiary Guarantors; and
(b) until the Senior Indebtedness of the Partnership or any Subsidiary
Guarantor, as the case may be, is paid in full, any distribution to which
Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities and any related Guarantee would be
entitled but for this Article XII shall be made to
52
holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Partnership or the Subsidiary Guarantors,
as the case may be, as their interests may appear, except that such Holders may
receive shares of stock and any debt securities that are subordinated to Senior
Indebtedness of the Partnership or the Subsidiary Guarantors, as the case may
be, to at least the same extent as the Subordinated Debt Securities of the
Partnership or the related Guarantee of any Subsidiary Guarantor, respectively.
Section 12.03. Default on Senior Indebtedness. The Partnership and the
Subsidiary Guarantors may not pay the principal of, or premium, if any, or
interest on, the Subordinated Debt Securities or any related Guarantee or make
any deposit pursuant to Article XI and may not repurchase, redeem or otherwise
retire (except, in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities that provide for a
mandatory sinking fund pursuant to Section 3.05, by the delivery of Subordinated
Debt Securities by the Partnership to the Trustee pursuant to the first
paragraph of Section 3.06) any Subordinated Debt Securities (collectively, "pay
the Subordinated Debt Securities") if any principal, premium or interest in
respect of Senior Indebtedness of such Person is not paid within any applicable
grace period (including at maturity) or any other default on Senior Indebtedness
of such Person occurs and the maturity of such Senior Indebtedness is
accelerated in accordance with its terms unless, in either case, the default has
been cured or waived and any such acceleration has been rescinded or such Senior
Indebtedness has been paid in full in cash; provided, however, that the
Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors may make payments on the Subordinated
Debt Securities or any related Guarantee without regard to the foregoing if the
Partnership and the Trustee receive written notice approving such payment from
the Representative of each issue of Designated Senior Indebtedness. During the
continuance of any default with respect to any Designated Senior Indebtedness
pursuant to which the maturity thereof may be accelerated immediately without
further notice (except such notice as may be required to effect such
acceleration) or the expiration of any applicable grace periods, the Partnership
and the Subsidiary Guarantors may not make payments on the Subordinated Debt
Securities or any related Guarantee for a period (a "Payment Blockage Period")
commencing upon the receipt by the Partnership and the Trustee (and if such
Designated Senior Indebtedness is Debt of a Subsidiary Guarantor, the Subsidiary
Guarantor)of written notice of such default from the Representative of any
Designated Senior Indebtedness specifying an election to effect a Payment
Blockage Period (a "Blockage Notice") and ending 179 days thereafter (or earlier
if such Payment Blockage Period is terminated by written notice to the Trustee
and the Partnership (and if such Designated Senior Indebtedness is Debt of a
Subsidiary Guarantor, the Subsidiary Guarantor) from the Person or Persons who
gave such Blockage Notice, by repayment in full in cash of such Designated
Senior Indebtedness or because the default giving rise to such Blockage Notice
is no longer continuing). Notwithstanding the provisions described in the
immediately preceding sentence (but subject to the provisions contained in the
first sentence of this Section 12.03), unless the holders of such Designated
Senior Indebtedness or the Representative of such holders shall have accelerated
the maturity of such Designated Senior Indebtedness, the Partnership and the
Subsidiary Guarantors may resume payments on the Subordinated Debt Securities
and related Guarantees after such Payment Blockage Period. Not more than one
Blockage Notice may be given in any consecutive 360-day period, irrespective of
the number of defaults with respect to any number of issues of Designated Senior
Indebtedness during such period, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section
2.03 for the Subordinated Debt Securities of a series; provided, however, that
in no event may the total number of days during which any Payment Blockage
Period or Periods is in effect exceed 179 days in the aggregate during any 360
consecutive day period. For purposes of this Section 12.03, no default or event
of default which
53
existed or was continuing on the date of the commencement of any Payment
Blockage Period with respect to the Designated Senior Indebtedness initiating
such Payment Blockage Period shall be, or be made, the basis of the commencement
of a subsequent Payment Blockage Period by the Representative of such Designated
Senior Indebtedness, whether or not within a period of 360 consecutive days,
unless such default or event of default shall have been cured or waived for a
period of not less than 90 consecutive days.
Section 12.04. Acceleration of Payment of Debt Securities. If payment
of the Subordinated Debt Securities is accelerated because of an Event of
Default, the Partnership shall promptly notify the holders of the Designated
Senior Indebtedness (or their Representatives) of the acceleration.
Section 12.05. When Distribution Must Be Paid Over. If a distribution
is made to Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities or a related Guarantee that
because of this Article XII should not have been made to them, the Holders who
receive such distribution shall hold it in trust for holders of Senior
Indebtedness and pay it over to them as their interests may appear.
Section 12.06. Subrogation. After all Senior Indebtedness is paid in
full and until the Subordinated Debt Securities are paid in full, Holders
thereof shall be subrogated to the rights of holders of Senior Indebtedness to
receive distributions applicable to Senior Indebtedness. A distribution made
under this Article XII to holders of Senior Indebtedness which otherwise would
have been made to Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities is not, as between the
Partnership or the Subsidiary Guarantors, as the case may be, and such Holders,
a payment by the Partnership or the Subsidiary Guarantors, as the case may be,
on Senior Indebtedness.
Section 12.07. Relative Rights. This Article XII defines the relative
rights of Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities and holders of Senior
Indebtedness. Nothing in this Indenture shall:
(a) impair, as between the Partnership or the Subsidiary Guarantors, as
the case may be, and Holders of either Subordinated Debt Securities or Debt
Securities, the obligation of the Partnership or the Subsidiary Guarantors, as
the case may be, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay principal of, and
premium, if any, and interest on, the Subordinated Debt Securities and the Debt
Securities in accordance with their terms; or
(b) prevent the Trustee or any Holder of either Subordinated Debt
Securities or Debt Securities from exercising its respective available remedies
upon a Default, subject to the rights of holders of Senior Indebtedness to
receive distributions otherwise payable to Holders of Subordinated Debt
Securities.
Section 12.08. Subordination May Not Be Impaired by Partnership. No
right of any holder of Senior Indebtedness to enforce the subordination of the
Debt evidenced by the Subordinated Debt Securities and the Guarantee in respect
thereof shall be impaired by any act or failure to act by the Partnership or the
Subsidiary Guarantors or by its failure to comply with this Indenture.
Section 12.09. Rights of Trustee and Paying Agent. Notwithstanding
Section 12.03, the Trustee or any paying agent may continue to make payments on
Subordinated Debt
54
Securities and shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of facts
that would prohibit the making of any such payments unless, not less than two
Business Days prior to the date of such payment, a responsible officer of the
Trustee receives notice satisfactory to it that payments may not be made under
this Article XII. The Partnership, the Registrar, any paying agent, a
Representative or a holder of Senior Indebtedness may give the notice; provided,
however, that, if an issue of Senior Indebtedness has a Representative, only the
Representative may give the notice on behalf of the Holders of the Senior
Indebtedness of that issue.
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may hold Senior
Indebtedness with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. The
Registrar and any paying agent may do the same with like rights. The Trustee
shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article XII with respect
to any Senior Indebtedness which may at any time be held by it, to the same
extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness; and nothing in Article VII
shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder. Nothing in this
Article XII shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or
pursuant to Section 7.06.
Section 12.10. Distribution or Notice to Representative. Whenever a
distribution is to be made or a notice given to holders of Senior Indebtedness,
the distribution may be made and the notice given to their Representative (if
any).
Section 12.11. Article XII Not to Prevent Defaults or Limit Right to
Accelerate. The failure to make a payment pursuant to the Subordinated Debt
Securities, whether directly or pursuant to the Guarantee, by reason of any
provision in this Article XII shall not be construed as preventing the
occurrence of a Default. Nothing in this Article XII shall have any effect on
the right of the Holders or the Trustee to accelerate the maturity of either the
Subordinated Debt Securities or the Debt Securities, as the case may be.
Section 12.12. Trust Moneys Not Subordinated. Notwithstanding anything
contained herein to the contrary, payments from money or the proceeds of U.S.
Government Obligations held in trust under Article XI by the Trustee for the
payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Subordinated
Debt Securities or the Debt Securities shall not be subordinated to the prior
payment of any Senior Indebtedness or subject to the restrictions set forth in
this Article XII, and none of the Holders thereof shall be obligated to pay over
any such amount to the Partnership, the Subsidiary Guarantors or any holder of
Senior Indebtedness of the Partnership or the Subsidiary Guarantors or any other
creditor of the Partnership or the Guarantor.
Section 12.13. Trustee Entitled to Rely. Upon any payment or
distribution pursuant to this Article XII, the Trustee and the Holders shall be
entitled to rely upon any order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction
in which any proceedings of the nature referred to in Section 12.02 are pending,
upon a certificate of the liquidating trustee or agent or other Person making
such payment or distribution to the Trustee or to such Holders or upon the
Representatives for the holders of Senior Indebtedness for the purpose of
ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such payment or
distribution, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and other Debt of the
Partnership or the Subsidiary Guarantors, the amount thereof or payable thereon,
the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent
thereto or to this Article XII. In the event that the Trustee determines, in
good faith,
55
that evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of
Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to
this Article XII, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the
reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness
held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate
in such payment or distribution and other facts pertinent to the rights of such
Person under this Article XII, and, if such evidence is not furnished, the
Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as
to the right of such Person to receive such payment. The provisions of Sections
7.01 and 7.02 shall be applicable to all actions or omissions of actions by the
Trustee pursuant to this Article XII.
Section 12.14. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination. Each Holder by
accepting a Subordinated Debt Security authorizes and directs the Trustee on his
behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or
effectuate the subordination between the Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities
and the holders of Senior Indebtedness as provided in this Article XII and
appoints the Trustee as attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.
Section 12.15. Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior
Indebtedness. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the
holders of Senior Indebtedness and shall not be liable to any such holders if it
shall mistakenly pay over or distribute to Holders of Subordinated Debt
Securities or the Partnership or the Subsidiary Guarantors or any other Person,
money or assets to which any holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by
virtue of this Article XII or otherwise.
Section 12.16. Reliance by Holders of Senior Indebtedness on
Subordination Provisions. Each Holder by accepting a Subordinated Debt Security
acknowledges and agrees that the foregoing subordination provisions are, and are
intended to be, an inducement and a consideration to each holder of any Senior
Indebtedness, whether such Senior Indebtedness was created or acquired before or
after the issuance of the Subordinated Debt Securities, to acquire and continue
to hold, or to continue to hold, such Senior Indebtedness and such holder of
Senior Indebtedness shall be deemed conclusively to have relied on such
subordination provisions in acquiring and continuing to hold, or in continuing
to hold, such Senior Indebtedness.
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 13.01. Successors and Assigns of Partnership Bound by
Indenture. All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this
Indenture contained by or in behalf of the Partnership, the Subsidiary
Guarantors or the Trustee shall bind their respective successors and assigns,
whether so expressed or not.
Section 13.02. Acts of Board, Committee or Officer of Successor
Partnership Valid. Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture
authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or
officer of the Partnership or the Subsidiary Guarantors shall and may be done
and performed with like force and effect by the like board, committee or officer
of any Successor Partnership.
56
Section 13.03. Required Notices or Demands. Any notice or communication
by the Partnership, the Subsidiary Guarantors or the Trustee to the others is
duly given if in writing and delivered in Person or mailed by registered or
certified mail (return receipt requested), telecopier or overnight air courier
guaranteeing next day delivery, to the other's address:
If to the Partnership or the Subsidiary Guarantors:
TEPPCO Partners, L.P.
TE Products Pipeline Company, Limited Partnership
TCTM, L.P.
TEPPCO Midstream Companies, L.P.
Jonah Gas Gathering Company
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Telecopy No. ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
If to the Trustee:
First Union National Bank
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: Corporate Trust Department
Telecopy: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
The Partnership, the Subsidiary Guarantors or the Trustee by notice to
the others may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent
notices or communications.
All notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given:
at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after
being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; on the first Business
Day on or after being sent, if telecopied and the sender receives confirmation
of successful transmission; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to
the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.
Any notice required or permitted to a Holder by the Partnership, the
Subsidiary Guarantors or the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of this
Indenture shall be deemed to be properly mailed by being deposited postage
prepaid in a post office letter box in the United States addressed to such
Holder at the address of such Holder as shown on the Debt Security Register. Any
report pursuant to Section 313 of the TIA shall be transmitted in compliance
with subsection (c) therein.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any notice to Holders of Floating Rate
Debt Securities regarding the determination of a periodic rate of interest, if
such notice is required pursuant to Section 2.03, shall be sufficiently given if
given in the manner specified pursuant to Section 2.03.
In the event of suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any
other cause it shall be impracticable to give notice by mail, then such
notification as shall be given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute
sufficient notice for every purpose hereunder.
57
In the event it shall be impracticable to give notice by publication,
then such notification as shall be given with the approval of the Trustee shall
constitute sufficient notice for every purpose hereunder.
Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in
it or any defect in any notice by publication as to a Holder shall not affect
the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. If a notice or
communication is mailed or published in the manner provided above, it is
conclusively presumed duly given.
Section 13.04. Indenture and Debt Securities to Be Construed in
Accordance with the Laws of the State of New York. THIS INDENTURE, EACH DEBT
SECURITY AND THE GUARANTEE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE NEW YORK CONTRACTS, AND FOR ALL
PURPOSES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF SAID
STATE.
Section 13.05. Officers' Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to Be
Furnished upon Application or Demand by the Partnership. Upon any application or
demand by the Partnership to the Trustee to take any action under any of the
provisions of this Indenture, the Partnership shall furnish to the Trustee an
Officers' Certificate stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this
Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion
of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions
precedent have been complied with, except that in the case of any such
application or demand as to which the furnishing of such document is
specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such
particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be
furnished.
Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and
delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant
provided for in this Indenture 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 has made such
examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an
informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been
complied with and (d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such
Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
Section 13.06. Payments Due on Legal Holidays. In any case where the
date of maturity of interest on or principal of and premium, if any, on the Debt
Securities of a series or the date fixed for redemption or repayment of any Debt
Security or the making of any sinking fund payment shall not be a business day
at any Place of Payment for the Debt Securities of such series, then payment of
interest or principal and premium, if any, or the making of such sinking fund
payment need not be made on such date at such Place of Payment, but may be made
on the next succeeding business day at such Place of Payment with the same force
and effect as if made on the date of maturity or the date fixed for redemption,
and no interest shall accrue for the period after such date. If a record date is
not a business day, the record date shall not be affected.
Section 13.07. Provisions Required by TIA to Control. If and to the
extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with
another provision included in this
58
Indenture which is required to be included in this Indenture by any of Sections
310 to 318, inclusive, of the TIA, such required provision shall control.
Section 13.08. Computation of Interest on Debt Securities. Interest, if
any, on the Debt Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of
twelve 30-day months, except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to Section
2.03.
Section 13.09. Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar. The
Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Holders. The
Registrar and any paying agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.
Section 13.10. No Recourse Against Others. The General Partner and its
directors, officers, employees, incorporators and stockholders, as such, shall
have no liability for any obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors or the
Partnership under the Debt Securities, the Indenture or the Guarantee or for any
claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their
creation. By accepting a Debt Security, each Holder shall waive and release all
such liability. The waiver and release shall be part of the consideration for
the issue of the Debt Securities.
Section 13.11. Severability. In case any provision in this Indenture or
the Debt Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be
affected or impaired thereby.
Section 13.12. Effect of Headings. The article and section headings
herein and in the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not
affect the construction hereof.
Section 13.13. Indenture May Be Executed in Counterparts. This
Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be
an original; but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the
same instrument.
ARTICLE XIV
GUARANTEE
Section 14.01. Unconditional Guarantee.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Article XIV to the contrary,
the provisions of this Article XIV shall be applicable only to, and inure solely
to the benefit of, the Debt Securities of any series designated, pursuant to
Section 2.03, as entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee of each of the
Subsidiary Guarantors.
(b) For value received, each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby fully,
unconditionally and absolutely guarantees (the "Guarantee") to the Holders and
to the Trustee the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if
any, and interest on the Debt Securities and all other amounts due and payable
under this Indenture and the Debt Securities by the Partnership, when and as
such principal, premium, if any, and interest shall become due and payable,
whether at the stated maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for
redemption or otherwise, according to the terms of the Debt Securities and this
Indenture, subject to (i) the
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limitations set forth in Section 14.03 and (ii) in the case of the Guarantee of
the Subordinated Debt Securities, to the subordination provisions contained in
Article XII.
(c) Failing payment when due of any amount guaranteed pursuant to the
Guarantee, for whatever reason, each of the Subsidiary Guarantors will be
jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately, subject, in the
case of the Guarantee of the Subordinated Debt Securities, to the subordination
provisions contained in Article XII. The Guarantee hereunder (other than the
Guarantee of Subordinated Debt Securities) is intended to be a general,
unsecured, senior obligation of each of the Subsidiary Guarantors and will rank
pari passu in right of payment with all Debt of such Subsidiary Guarantor that
is not, by its terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the
Guarantee. Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agrees that its obligations
hereunder, shall be full, unconditional and absolute, irrespective of the
validity, regularity or enforceability of the Debt Securities, the Guarantee
(including the Guarantee of any other Subsidiary Guarantor) or this Indenture,
the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any
Holder of the Debt Securities with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof,
the recovery of any judgment against the Partnership or any other Subsidiary
Guarantor, or any action to enforce the same or any other circumstances which
might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of the
Subsidiary Guarantors. Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agrees that in
the event of a default in payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or
interest on the Debt Securities, whether at the stated maturity or by
declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, legal proceedings
may be instituted by the Trustee on behalf of the Holders or, subject to Section
6.04, by the Holders, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Indenture,
directly against such Subsidiary Guarantor to enforce the Guarantee without
first proceeding against the Partnership or any other Subsidiary Guarantor.
(d) The obligations of each of the Subsidiary Guarantors under this
Article XIV shall be as aforesaid full, unconditional and absolute and shall not
be impaired, modified, released or limited by any occurrence or condition
whatsoever, including, without limitation, (A) any compromise, settlement,
release, waiver, renewal, extension, indulgence or modification of, or any
change in, any of the obligations and liabilities of the Partnership or any of
the Subsidiary Guarantors contained in the Debt Securities or this Indenture,
(B) any impairment, modification, release or limitation of the liability of the
Partnership, any of the Subsidiary Guarantors or either of their estates in
bankruptcy, or any remedy for the enforcement thereof, resulting from the
operation of any present or future provision of any applicable Bankruptcy Law,
as amended, or other statute or from the decision of any court, (C) the
assertion or exercise by the Partnership, any of the Subsidiary Guarantors or
the Trustee of any rights or remedies under the Debt Securities or this
Indenture or their delay in or failure to assert or exercise any such rights or
remedies, (D) the assignment or the purported assignment of any property as
security for the Debt Securities, including all or any part of the rights of the
Partnership or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors under this Indenture, (E) the
extension of the time for payment by the Partnership or any of the Subsidiary
Guarantors of any payments or other sums or any part thereof owing or payable
under any of the terms and provisions of the Debt Securities or this Indenture
or of the time for performance by the Partnership or any of the Subsidiary
Guarantors of any other obligations under or arising out of any such terms and
provisions or the extension or the renewal of any thereof, (F) the modification
or amendment (whether material or otherwise) of any duty, agreement or
obligation of the Partnership or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors set forth in
this
60
Indenture, (G) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale or
other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets, marshaling of
assets and liabilities, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the
benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment
of, or other similar proceeding affecting, the Partnership or any of the
Subsidiary Guarantors or any of their respective assets, or the disaffirmance of
the Debt Securities, the Guarantee or this Indenture in any such proceeding, (H)
the release or discharge of the Partnership or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors
from the performance or observance of any agreement, covenant, term or condition
contained in any of such instruments by operation of law, (I) the
unenforceability of the Debt Securities, the Guarantee or this Indenture or (J)
any other circumstances which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable
discharge of a surety or guarantor.
(e) Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby (A) waives diligence,
presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of
the merger, insolvency or bankruptcy of the Partnership or any of the Subsidiary
Guarantors, and all demands whatsoever, (B) acknowledges that any agreement,
instrument or document evidencing the Guarantee may be transferred and that the
benefit of its obligations hereunder shall extend to each holder of any
agreement, instrument or document evidencing the Guarantee without notice to it
and (C) covenants that the Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete
performance of the Guarantee. Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors further agrees
that if at any time all or any part of any payment theretofore applied by any
Person to the Guarantee is, or must be, rescinded or returned for any reason
whatsoever, including without limitation, the insolvency, bankruptcy or
reorganization of the Partnership or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors, the
Guarantee shall, to the extent that such payment is or must be rescinded or
returned, be deemed to have continued in existence notwithstanding such
application, and the Guarantee shall continue to be effective or be reinstated,
as the case may be, as though such application had not been made.
(f) Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be subrogated to all rights
of the Holders and the Trustee against the Partnership in respect of any amounts
paid by such Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture,
provided, however, that such Subsidiary Guarantor, shall not be entitled to
enforce or to receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of
subrogation until all of the Debt Securities and the Guarantee shall have been
paid in full or discharged.
Section 14.02. Execution and Delivery of Guarantee. To further evidence
the Guarantee set forth in Section 14.01, each of the Subsidiary Guarantors
hereby agree that a notation relating to such Guarantee, substantially in the
form attached hereto as Annex A, shall be endorsed on each Debt Security
entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee authenticated and delivered by the
Trustee and executed by either manual or facsimile signature of an officer of
Subsidiary Guarantor, or in the case of a Subsidiary Guarantor that is a limited
partnership, an officer of the general partner of each Subsidiary Guarantor.
Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agree that the Guarantee set forth in
Section 14.01 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure
to endorse on each Debt Security a notation relating to the Guarantee. If any
officer of the Subsidiary Guarantor, or in the case of a Subsidiary Guarantor
that is a limited partnership, any officer of the general partner of the
Subsidiary Guarantor, whose signature is on this Indenture or a Debt Security no
longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates such Debt
Security or at any time thereafter, the Guarantee of such Debt
61
Security shall be valid nevertheless. The delivery of any Debt Security by the
Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due
delivery of the Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the
Subsidiary Guarantors.
The Trustee hereby accepts the trusts in this Indenture upon the terms
and conditions herein set forth.
Section 14.03. Limitation on Subsidiary Guarantors' Liability.
(a) Each Subsidiary Guarantor and by its acceptance hereof each Holder
of a Debt Security entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee hereby confirms
that it is the intention of all such parties that the guarantee by such
Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to its Guarantee not constitute a fraudulent
transfer or conveyance for purposes of any Federal or state law. To effectuate
the foregoing intention, the Holders of a Debt Security entitled to the benefits
of the Guarantee and the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the
obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under its Guarantee shall be limited to
the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and
fixed liabilities of such Subsidiary Guarantor and to any collections from or
payments made by or on behalf of any other Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of
the obligations of such other Subsidiary Guarantor under its Guarantee, result
in the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under the Guarantee not
constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under Federal or
state law.
Section 14.04. Release of Subsidiary Guarantors from Guarantee.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the
Guarantee of any Subsidiary Guarantor may be released upon the terms and subject
to the conditions set forth in this Section 14.04. Provided that no Default
shall have occurred and shall be continuing under this Indenture, any Guarantee
incurred by a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to this Article XIV shall be
unconditionally released and discharged (i) automatically upon (A) any sale,
exchange or transfer, to any Person that is not an Affiliate of the Partnership,
of all of the Partnership's direct or indirect limited partnership or other
equity interests in, or all or substantially all the assets of, such Subsidiary
Guarantor (provided such sale, exchange or transfer is not prohibited by this
Indenture) or (B) the merger of such Subsidiary Guarantor into the Partnership
or any other Subsidiary Guarantor or the liquidation and dissolution of such
Subsidiary Guarantor (in each case to the extent not prohibited by this
Indenture) or (ii) following delivery of a written notice of such release or
discharge by the Partnership to the Trustee, upon (x) the release or discharge
of all guarantees by such Subsidiary Guarantor of any Debt of the Partnership
other than obligations arising under this Indenture and any Debt Securities
issued hereunder, except a discharge or release by or as a result of payment
under such guarantees and (y) after giving effect to the proposed release and
discharge, the aggregate total combined assets of all Subsidiaries of the
Partnership that are not Subsidiary Guarantors do not exceed 2% of consolidated
assets of the Partnership.
(b) The Trustee shall deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing any
release of a Subsidiary Guarantor from the Guarantee upon receipt of a written
request of the Partnership accompanied by an Officers' Certificate and an
Opinion of Counsel the Subsidiary Guarantor is entitled to such release in
accordance with the provisions of this Indenture. Any Subsidiary
62
Guarantor not so released remains liable for the full amount of principal of
(and premium, if any, on) and interest on the Debt Securities entitled to the
benefits of such Guarantee as provided in this Indenture, subject to the
limitations of Section 14.03.
Section 14.05. Subsidiary Guarantor Contribution. In order to provide
for just and equitable contribution among the Subsidiary Guarantors, the
Subsidiary Guarantors shall agree, inter se, that in the event any payment or
distribution is made by any Subsidiary Guarantor (a "Funding Guarantor") under
its Guarantee, such Funding Guarantor shall be entitled to a contribution from
each other Subsidiary Guarantor (if any) in a pro rata amount based on the net
assets of each Subsidiary Guarantor (including the Funding Guarantor) for all
payments, damages and expenses incurred by that Funding Guarantor in discharging
the Partnership's obligations with respect to the Debt Securities or any other
Subsidiary Guarantor's obligations with respect to its Guarantee.
[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]
63
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be
duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written.
TEPPCO PARTNERS, L.P.
By: Texas Eastern Products Pipeline
Company, LLC
Its General Partner
By:
------------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Senior Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer
TE PRODUCTS PIPELINE COMPANY, LIMITED
PARTNERSHIP
By: TEPPCO GP, Inc.
Its General Partner
By:
------------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Senior Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer
TCTM, L.P.
By: TEPPCO GP, Inc.
Its General Partner
By:
------------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Senior Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer
TEPPCO MIDSTREAM COMPANIES, L.P.
By: TEPPCO GP, Inc.
Its General Partner
By:
------------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Senior Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer
64
JONAH GAS GATHERING COMPANY
By: TEPPCO GP, Inc.
Its Managing General Partner
By:
----------------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer and Treasurer
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK, as Trustee
By:
--------------------------------------
Name:
------------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------------------
65
ANNEX A
NOTATION OF GUARANTEE
Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors (which term includes any successor
Person under the Indenture), has fully, unconditionally and absolutely
guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the
provisions in the Indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of,
and premium, if any, and interest on the Debt Securities and all other amounts
due and payable under the Indenture and the Debt Securities by the Partnership.
The obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors to the Holders of Debt
Securities and to the Trustee pursuant to the Guarantee and the Indenture are
expressly set forth in Article XIV of the Indenture and reference is hereby made
to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Guarantee.
TE PRODUCTS PIPELINE COMPANY,
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By: TEPPCO GP, Inc.
Its General Partner
By:
------------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Senior Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer
TCTM, L.P.
By: TEPPCO GP, Inc.
Its General Partner
By:
------------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Senior Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer
TEPPCO MIDSTREAM COMPANIES, L.P.
By: TEPPCO GP, Inc.
Its General Partner
By:
------------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Senior Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer
A-1
JONAH GAS GATHERING COMPANY
By: TEPPCO GP, Inc.
Its Managing General Partner
By:
----------------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer and Treasurer
A-2